Press Conference Comments from Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Press Conference Comments from
U-M Head Football Coach Lloyd Carr
Reviewing Ohio State (Nov. 19)
Assessment of the Ohio State game after reviewing the film ... "I thought for 55 minutes, we fought our hearts out. I think the mark of this team, when they get down nine to nothing in a game like that, and they were tenacious, our defense made two great plays, Gabe Watson caused a fumble, and we got the ball back and went in for a touchdown to make it 9 to 7. And then our defense made a big stop at the end of the first half to hold them to a field goal.
"At the half, I told them I felt I was positive we were going to win that football game because I just felt like we were doing a great job in the kicking game. We had been very good with the football. And going into the game, I felt the keys to the game would be to win the turnover battle and to win the kicking game.
"And at the half, I felt good about the way we were playing, although, our inability to run the football was really problematic. I think looking back on the game that's certainly an area that was a big factor in the game. But then, of course, we came out in the second half and I think we played extremely well in the third quarter.
"We took advantage of a couple of opportunities, although we failed to -- when LaMarr Woodley made a great individual play in the third quarter to knock the ball loose, and looking at the film, it's a shame that when you are behind the line of scrimmage and the quarterback is on the ground, you would have liked to have seen us pick that ball up and score a touchdown, because Ohio State made a great stop there we had to settle for a field goal.
"But certainly at the end, when we took a two score lead with five minutes to go, I think we felt the way we had played defense the first 55 minutes that we were going to win the game.
"We let them score on that first drive too soon. We missed a tackle on Santonio Holmes on the touchdown play, so they didn't have to take enough time off the clock. And then when he got the football back, we had a play that we had designed for Tim Massaquoi, and, of course, he was injured, and we dropped the pass that would have given us a sure first down and taken more time off the clock. We didn't help our defense there.
"And, of course, the final drive, we just didn't make a play. I think the play from the 30-yard line, where the receiver ran out of bounds we got a terrible break because I think that ball should have come back. But we were just not able until last five minutes to make a play and you have got to give credit to Ohio State. They did what they had to do."
About the Anthony Gonzalez catch after going out of bounds ... "The rule states the receiver must be blocked out of bounds. Grant Mason was in man-to-man coverage. He turned back to the ball. He did not block him out. I mean that's clear. The defender has a right to a position on the field.
"It's not a penalty. The ball comes back and they lose the down. That's not to say they're not going to hit a field goal or hit the next pass. I am not saying that's why we lost the game. I am just saying that was a big play, and that's all I am saying."
Whether Anthony Gonzalez's catch on the last drive is reviewable ... " I don't know, honestly, if that play is reviewable or not. I do know this, if it is reviewable, even the official who may have been uncertain he can't ask for a replay. He couldn't ask for a review. I think those are some of the issues that are very difficult in this replay system.
"I think the replay system has been tremendous for college football, but there are some review questions that are going to have to be ironed out. And I think it's like anything else, there is no perfect system, but I think it has been very good."
What players will not return for the bowl ... "No, the only thing, Leo Henige, who has had so many surgeries is going to have another one because the break in his leg is going to necessitate surgery. Jake Long will have surgery tomorrow. And all of those other guys are going to take some time, when they'll be back, I can't tell you."
How will you shuffle your offensive line for the bowl game ... "I think a big question is whether Adam Kraus can come back. So we have got a lot of things to look at."
About the two fourth down plays in the fourth quarter and what went into his decisions ... "I think that's one of the real great things about the game. You get a chance to make some decisions that can weigh in on the game and can give your team a chance to win. And I think you are always thinking it's easy, you can make a lot of mistakes if you are greedy, and yet, I always try to go through in my mind before, in the week of the game, those situations, and a lot of times I will tell our team what they are. But I thought through a lot of those kinds of decisions.
"I will say this. I made that decision at the 38-yard line. I was deliberating and I don't know which way I was going. I had about a second to make up my mind. But Chad Henne, and the amazing thing, this kid is a sophomore. It would be one thing if he was a senior, if you get a senior quarterback.
"But Chad Henne convinced me and I knew because, if we don't make it there, we have really put our defense -- and we got a 6-point lead at the time. But Chad Henne gave me confidence. And so it was a beautiful moment for me because he really influenced me there. And I am glad he did.
"The other call, this Josh Huston has got a great leg. He had the wind. And I really felt that Garrett Rivas, that's a play we work on every week, and I felt very confident that Garrett would get it down close to the 10, and that bought us 20 yards, which is two first downs, and I just felt we had to do that for our defense, and that's why I did it and I would do it again."
Were you playing a prevent defense on the last drive ... "Listen, we blitzed several times. Now, the defense on the play where (Anthony) Gonzalez stepped out of bounds, we had a blitz called there, and it looks like -- and David Harris -- the quarterback set the pass. We had good coverage we had man-to-man coverage and now we started to scramble up inside.
"And David Harris stepped up. And the two rushers from the right, when they saw that, and that's one of the things that you have to work on with a guy like Smith. When they saw Smith go inside, they started to come out of their rush to help on -- because a lot of times he runs the ball inside the contain and of course, he made just an absolutely incredible play because he some way managed to evade David's tackle, and then he scrambled out. We still had contain, but we didn't have people in his face, and that's because of if you look at the entire play.
"But I think we mixed our coverages. We had one blitz in there that we should have had a sack on that one of our players miss fit the blitz. He didn't get to the right gap, and that would have been a big play. I think all those plays in that particular time of the game are big plays. But there was no prevent defense."
There has been a few times at the end of the game offenses have driven on your defense. Is there a common theme to what they're doing and did you guys play it differently on that last drive ... "I think we always talk about what we need to have a great offense. And you know, you've got to be able to score quickly, you have got to be able to run the football when you need to run it to use the clock, and protect your defense. And defensively, you have got to be able to stop a team at the end of games, and we have not been able to do that this season, that's a big disappointment. And you know, that's really been a disappointment because we have had some times.
"And so being the kind of defense we're trying to become, we just did not get that done. And yet, as I mentioned after the game, there are some plays in there, when you look at it. The thing that I can say unequivocally is that these guys played hard. They never quit. They fought their way back when a lot of teams wouldn't have. So I am proud of the guys on this football team. But we are deeply disappointed in the results because, even with all the things that we faced, we had chances and we weren't able to do them."
Should you try to maybe take more chances, take more risks when facing a spread ... "I think when you're dealing with spread teams, teams that use three and four wide receivers, you have to take some risk and we did. For example, at the end of the half, I think it was a third down play we blitzed them and hit (Troy) Smith off the edge with a free blitzer. And he got the ball off, but he had to throw quickly, and the ball was incomplete. They had to settle for a field goal. That's a big play. You don't know how that big play is because, if they scored a touchdown there, then we go into the half really in a precarious situation.
"And yet, when you are dealing with guys like Ted Ginn and Santonio Holmes and they line them up in a lot of different situations, they create some problems for you, just like we do. We don't get a lot of teams blitzing and playing man-to-man coverage without any secondary help, because offenses have ability to move people around with motions to get into bunches. When you get into a bunch and you get somebody picked off, it's a big play. So I think we played a significant amount of man coverage considering who we were playing because the quarterback in that game, you better take care of him first, and I think we did a very good job on him. But I mean what he did in the last quarter I have got to give him credit. I mean he is pretty good."
Would you ever consider running a spread offense ... "I like what we do offensively. I think we will always be able to recruit great quarterbacks here, and great tailbacks and wide receivers. I don't have any problem with the spread offense because I think it's had a lot of positive things. But I think to use a quarterback as a tailback is not something that I want to recruit to."
What's your schedule and the team's schedule for the next couple of weeks ... "We will be recruiting, and we will have to find out who we're going to play and where, and, of course, that will depend on what our schedule is."
Will you practice during the next two weeks ... "We're going to take this week off and then we will see what shakes up next week, but we will get back and do some conditioning. But we won't practice for the next two weeks."
Do you think the ineffectiveness of the running game was more of an issue of how banged up the line was Was it an issue of the young guys not being ready How do you look at that situation and evaluate it ... "Well, it's a good question, and I think the answer is very complex. I think we have run the football at times during this season extremely well and at times we haven't. I don't think you can look at it -- I had a meeting this morning and that very question is what I am trying to come to grips with because we were (not running the ball well) in this game. I knew this was a great defense, make no mistake about that. But we still felt like we could run the football for over 100 yards and had we been able to do that, I think the difference would have been significant. But I think you cannot look at that game without taking into consideration, for example, that Jake Long played with an injury that he is going to have surgically repaired tomorrow. And Adam Kraus didn't play and Tim Massaquoi went out, I don't know exactly what stage, and Mike Hart went out and Jerome Jackson did not play.
"And yet you still want to be able to run the football more effectively. I think, when you get in a game, I thought Terry Malone did an excellent job based on how the game developed. I mean we didn't expect Mike Hart to go out. And when he does, we're a different team. And so you have to adapt to the game, and I think he did that.
"But the answer to that question is pretty complex because they -- the other part of it is that (Ohio State) is an outstanding defense and a veteran defense. I mean a big, strong defense line with great (linebackers) -- (A.J.) Hawk is a great player. I mean Hawk made some plays in that game that only great players will make."
About the emphasis that he'll place on improving the running game ... "I can guarantee you this spring that becomes an area that we must improve in and we will. We will."
What do you try in terms of practice and learning during bowl preparation ... "I told them last night that a bowl game is about several things. No. 1, it's you get an inordinate amount of time to prepare for the next season, to work with young players, and that is very important in their development. It's really like another spring practice. If they practice with the attitude that it is important, and that's one of the jobs that you have as a coach, to impress upon them that every day they don't want to come with the idea that I am getting practice over. I mean, I am in the fall of next year, and I am preparing for a game. If you can get people to practice with that mentality, then you can improve and you can get better. Secondly, you are trying to develop a way to win, a plan that will enable you to win when you play the game. And the other part of it is to enjoy the experience of being together for the last time as a team and enjoy the bowl site and have a good time. Those are things that you try to do every year."
Can you compare this defense to last year's defense ... "I think we made significant progress. I think, if you look at the statistics in the Big Ten, I think we did an excellent job. If there is one disappointment I have, and it was something we did very well in this game, I mean we didn't give a very explosive offensive football team any big plays. I mean the biggest play they had was the play we just discussed earlier. But with that exception in that game, we did so many great things.
"If we could have made a play there at the end, we're talking about this defense playing their best game, but, of course, you can't do that. I think we're a much more physical team. I think our linebackers particularly David Harris will go into next season as one of those guys that going a chance to really have an outstanding career here. And we get a lot of linebackers. I think Prescott Burgess had a very good year. And so I think there is a lot of guys that made big steps. We're not a great defense, but I think we have the nucleus of having the kind of defense we'd like to have next fall."
About the near misses this season and having a 7-4 record ... "I think you can make a mistake when you gauge a team strictly by their record. This team, they could have folded. That team could have gone in the tank. When you lose a game like the Wisconsin game on the last play of the game and you come back and you have got to go to Michigan State to play a team that's undefeated and ranked and an explosive team, and you go up there, I mean because it always comes back to preparation, and it's hard to prepare for anything if you are thinking about something else.
"And here, when you lose, there are plenty of distractions, and that's part of the pressure that you have to be able to deal with. And a lot of times, in any locker room, I don't care if it's junior high, high school, college, pro's, when things go badly, there is always a tendency to point the finger, 'Well, it wasn't my fault. You know, if Johnny over there done a better job,' and this team didn't do that. They came back to work the next day on Sunday.
"I am extremely proud that the seniors, they were an unselfish group. They just kept fighting. And I know that some people may not buy into that, but this team had a chemistry and they had good leadership. And so here their playing in the final game of the season with a chance still to win the Big Ten Championship, after all those disappointments, to even get into a BCS Bowl. And with five minutes to go in the game, it's all there.
"So it's hard for me to be disappointed in a group of people who showed great grit and determination, toughness, passion, resilience. That to me is what this game will test. And in those areas, this team met the challenge."
What made this team different and special to work with ... "I think you'd have to ask them. All I know is that they had 'it.' Because without it, they wouldn't have won some of those games. I mean when you think about the Penn State game, you are facing, with 52 seconds to go, they're kicking off and they've just taken the lead and you have got one timeout left. I have always said this, I think the kind of people you have in those circumstances, they either quit or they draw back or they continue to believe and fight and this team did that.
"I mean going to practice, normally, for a coach and a player after losing, I mean it doesn't get much more miserable because you are thinking about what happened last week, and you know all the things that are out there, and there is a lot of things trying to tear you apart in those circumstances, and it takes some mental toughness to say okay, we're not where we want to be, but let's go win again, let's go get ready this week."
Has this season been trying on you ... "Every season presents its own challenges. And even when things are going well, when you have 120 people in the program, coaches, players, you are going to have some problems. You are going to have some issues and some of those are not fun. I mean for a player or a coach. You got to deal with injuries every year.
"And so I think this was as tough a challenge as I can remember for a team, and that's why I like them so much because, in spite of all those difficult times during the season, there was never a day that I went there, that I got up in the morning that I wasn't looking forward to seeing them. And because every time I went in that meeting room to start the day, they were ready to go, and they weren't feeling sorry for themselves. So I give them all the credit."
Do you have look back and second guess a play here or a play there and what could be of this season ... "Well, I am not immune to it, no. Not on the inner sanctum of my own mind, a very small area (laughter).
"Seriously, it doesn't do any good to talk about them. I think anybody who knows this season knows that a play here, a play there, but that's always true. And you can lull yourself into not being realistic.
"To me, it's all about the realistic evaluation of what we need to do to get better. I mean it doesn't matter what day you are talking about, you are trying to get better. Now, at the end of the season, you certainly have ample opportunity, although it's no more than the people you are competing against, to look at what you are doing, to see if there is some things that you can do to get better and to go be what you want to be."
About the play of Chad Henne ... "I thought Chad Henne was outstanding. I think he made great decisions. He made a lot of good throws where guys could catch the football and get up the field. (Steve) Breaston caught some balls, got up the field, and Chad had two or three balls dropped. He threw it well -- he made a great throw on the play where Jason Avant was interfered with, that was a great throw. He made a great play late in the game. I felt like we were going to be hard to beat when he made the long throw down to Mario Manningham. He stood in the pocket, he had good protection, he got up there against two-deep coverage, threw the ball away from the defender. Mario made a good catch.
On the fourth down play that Chad influence Carr into going for it ... "I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was something like, 'We're going.' I thought to myself, 'Yeah, we should.' You know. But it was a moment I am not going to forget because, after I made that decision, I am thinking that might be the dumbest decision you ever made."
Could your running game have been better against Ohio State if Mike Hart wouldn't have left early due to injury ... "I think one of the things that we wanted to do was -- the screens are really part of our running game and we had a good screen there early, and we had a number of screens that we wanted to attack them with and that's one the things that he (Mike) does so well. If your question is are we going to run the football a lot more, I am not saying that because that's a good (Ohio State) defense. I think certainly Mike Hart would have made a difference. Now how much, I am not saying."
Will Jake Long be back for spring ball or could his surgery cause him to miss spring ... "I would think he would be back for spring ball. It's his other foot, and it's a different type of injury. But it's on top of the foot, so I think it will be fine. I just think it's too bad for Jake, because this guy, he wants to play. He loves to play."
About Mark Bihl's play at center ... "Mark Bihl has earned my respect. He is really quite a kid. I mean he is a great person and he has improved significantly and he has had a great attitude because he was patient. And when he got an opportunity to help his team, he really went in that Northwestern game and did a good job. I am very proud of him."
Could Mike Hart's injuries have be alleviated with more weight or muscle ... "See, if his injuries were in other parts of his body. I have had people say to me, well, if Mike Hart were bigger, he wouldn't be hurt, that's not true in this case. It's an ankle. I don't think Mike Hart needs to change at all. When you can do what he did a year ago, the one thing you know, he is big enough, he is durable enough. Now he is going to mature, and I am not going to say he is not going to get bigger, but I don't think there is no issue with his stature. I don't see that."
About Mario Manningham and his play this season ... "I think he has done an exceptional job in what I consider to be a complicated position. I mean being a receiver today, because of all the coverages, and so you not only have to learn so many places where you are going to line up, your splits, your formations, the motions, the shifts. And now, when you come off the line of scrimmage, you have got to figure out is this zone or is this man-to-man. Now that's sounds pretty simple, but you have got about that long to do it (split second). And if you make the wrong mistake, the play is dead.
"I think he has made a lot of progress. I think like any player, the whole issue for me is this, does the guy have an attitude today, 'I have got to get better.' And a lot of times, when a guy gets a lot of acclaim and has a very good year as a freshman, and people write and pat him on the back, he starts believing it all, all the hype.
"And the guy that has the attitude, 'Hey, I've got to get better, today, I've got to get stronger, I have got to get better conditioned, I have got to learn more,' those are the guys, when they have that attitude, now you are dealing with a guy that has a chance to reach his potential. And really, as a coach, that's why you can't spend a lot of time telling a guy how good he is. You have got to tell him how good he could be."
About Mario Manningham and his role down the stretch ... "I think, No. 1, every week you go in there, what kind of week did this guy have in practice I mean is he really -- as a young player, the physical toll is you get to the middle of the season you are fatigued. And once you are fatigued then, the normal deal is you make some mistakes, you do some things. Sometimes, as a coach, the greatest discipline there is, is the bench. So you say, 'Okay, if you are not going to do what I am asking you to do, you are not going to play as much. Now, Mario -- yeah, Erik (Campbell) took him out in that (Iowa) game because he made a mistake, but that had nothing to do with the games following that."
What position might Rueben Riley play in the bowl game ... "Well, I asked him that last night. I said, 'Rueben, where would you rather play' And he didn't hesitate. He said, 'Guard.' So I think he deserves that now after all he has been through."
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