Postgame Quotes: Minnesota 30, Michigan 14
9/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Michigan Head Coach Brady Hoke
BRADY HOKE: Minnesota, give them credit and give Jerry (Kill) credit, but at the same time we're very disappointed in how we played football today.
When you look at different aspects of our game, I don't think we played as well as we can. I don't think we executed as well, and that always comes back to me first, as a coach and what we can do better to help ourselves and help our team.
We didn't tackle well. That was disappointing. Part of that -- we needed to leverage the runs a little better. There were too many times that the ball got outside the defense, and that's never good for you when you're playing defense.
I think from an offensive perspective we struggled in a lot of different areas. I think De'Veon (Smith) had some nice runs early in the football game.
But, we struggled just in various areas at times, either a negative play that put you behind the sticks. You've heard that, probably heard it too many times, and I've said it too many times.
We're just not consistent in what we're trying to get done.
I think field position was a part of the game. We've got to do a better job on a couple punt returns that went for way too much yardage. I thought Will (Hagerup) made a couple good punts and a pooch punt and kind of drove the ball a little bit. But we have got to get better coverage.
From the standpoint of our team and their attitude, number one, they're disappointed, and they should be. We all are.
Secondly, I think the guys in that locker room, and I've said this before, and you may think I'm not telling you the truth, but they worked their tails off. And we're going to keep working for each other, we're going to keep pushing ourselves to be the best Michigan team we can be and goals are still out there. There's a lot of football to play.
We talked in the locker room about there's two things can you do. You can quit, you can shy away from it, or you can be honest with it and go back to work. And that's what we'll do as a football team."
Q. Can you share with us what you saw in Shane Morris this week that gave him the start that we didn't see today?
BRADY HOKE: I think that number one, and I said this before and I'm going to say it again, is we have two guys that we have a lot of faith in at quarterback.
Shane had a good week at practice. He's had good practices throughout fall camp. He had a good practice last week.
Q. So what do you think was wrong today?
BRADY HOKE: Well, again, I think sometimes we want to point the finger at one guy, because he's the quarterback. I don't think that's fair.
I think the interceptions, the tipped ball at the line of scrimmage that gets knocked up into the air, we have got to have better ball security, and he would be the first one to tell you that.
A couple times the ball was on ground. But as far as how he practiced and what he did to deserve to start, he's been doing that throughout camp and fall.
Q. Is it still his job?
BRADY HOKE: We'll evaluate it like we do, like we did last week. For me to sit up here when you haven't looked at all the film yet and, believe me, you can't see everything from down there. We'll evaluate it.
Q. Curious as to the decision to leave Shane in after he got hit.
BRADY HOKE: Well, I don't know if he might have had a concussion or not. I don't know that. Shane's a pretty competitive tough kid. Shane wanted to be the quarterback. So believe me, if he didn't want to be, he would have come to the sideline or stayed down.
Q. All week long you've been saying that it's the Big Ten season, it's time to get going. What do you think happened out there?
BRADY HOKE: I mean, we've got to play better, we've got to execute better, we've got to coach better. This is a hard working group.
I'm going to tell you, you've got to do a better job tackling, leveraging the football. You look at field position, and I think that will be an interesting study to look at. We didn't have great field position; we put ourselves in poor field position on some punt returns. Then offensively, we were 4-for-13 on third downs. That's not sustaining drives.
Q. You talked about after the game telling the team kind of you got to be honest with yourself and assess where you're at right now. What's your honest assessment of what this team's capable of at this point?
BRADY HOKE: Well, I think this team can still win the championship. I really do. But we've got to play much better and we've got to support each other as we do it.
Q. Do you feel you waited too long to put Gardner in, just based on how Morris was struggling?
BRADY HOKE: No. Shane was the guy who was our quarterback.
Q. So in retrospect you don't think it was a mistake benching Gardner for the start of the game?
BRADY HOKE: No, I don't. I would have started him if I would have thought differently, right?
Q. But now you have 20/20, you can look back and realize...
BRADY HOKE: Well, yeah, but that doesn't do any of us any good. You've got to be present in the moment, and we made a decision, because of how both of them compete and challenge and when you also believed in giving Devin a chance to watch a little bit and learn, and that's what we did.
Q. The struggles at quarterback and everything else, are you concerned about losing control of this season and in some aspects of the team?
BRADY HOKE: No, I'm not. Not at all. Not with the kids that we have.
Q. You tried to change the quarterback and tried some other things; where else do you look from within to try to spark the team?
BRADY HOKE: I think it's in all of us. I think it's in how we continue to go about our business and how positive the guys are with each other about what's going on. There's guys in there who are taking responsibility for what we have done, and I'm talking about players, coaches, everybody. So, when you look at what's ahead of us, we've got to go back to work and get better.
Q. (No microphone.)
BRADY HOKE: I don't know if I can give an honest, clear assessment. I think, obviously, there were some struggles today, and I think the thing to look at is the communication a little bit, making sure that we were targeting things right. I think that's part of it.
Q. I would like to switch to the other side of the ball. Michigan's on defense, last week -- they had a hard time throwing the football last week. What did they do as far as those underneath routes that maybe caught you off guard?
BRADY HOKE: I don't think it caught us off guard. Number one, they played a different quarterback last week. And (Mitch) Leidner got healthy; he's a guy who started against us a year ago.
I think we lost a little bit with our discipline with our eyes on a couple of those routes. Especially the ones that you're talking about; they did a nice job executing on the slide screen, to the tail back. The one time we got the guy in our hands, and he breaks a tackle.
So, a lot of that has to do with your discipline with your eyes.
Q. If you could give a message to the Michigan fan base right now, what would you tell them?
BRADY HOKE: Well, I would tell them that, number one, we know their frustration, because we share their frustration. I would also tell them that as a team, we all take accountability for it, and we also all are going to work together to rectify it.
U-M Senior/Junior Center Jack Miller
On his feelings on the game ... "Definitely disappointed. I think the whole locker room right now is disappointed. That's obviously not the way we wanted to come out and play today. We didn't get the job done."
On where we need to go ... "Graham Glasgow and I were just talking about that, about what we can do, what will we do different. I don't know if I have an answer for that right now, but I think the guys feel that we're willing to do whatever it takes to be successful."
On where the drive to change will come from ... "We need our leadership to step up and to take the reigns and get this team going in the right direction. That's the goal moving forward."
U-M Junior Linebacker Joe Bolden
On the sources of defensive struggle ... "We didn't execute through all four quarters the way we planned to. There were too many missed tackles and missed opportunities. In man coverage, everyone has to keep their eyes on their man. Everybody has to control their gap; you have to have gap control. We simply didn't execute from the first snap to the last snap."
On his own emotions after the loss ... "You're never happy with a loss. If you love to compete you're never happy unless you win, and even when you win, you still want to compete and keep winning. A loss is a loss, and that's as black and white as I can put it. I'm just as disappointed now as I was last week. I'm not happy to lose. Everybody is disappointed."
On the team's mentality moving forward ... "Our goal is still out in front of us. We just don't have as much control as we did, and it's going to be more difficult on us to reach that goal."
On where Minnesota found success ... "They do a great job moving their feet on contact. That's something you preach to a running back from the time they put the ball in their hand when they are a little kid. Today they did a great job of finding the hole, hitting the hole, and keeping their feet running."
U-M Junior Safety Jarrod Wilson
On the outcome ... "It was a tough loss. The guys, we grind it up, and we just have to stick together and get ready for next week."
On getting life back into the program ... "We just have to stay together, come to practice tomorrow and compete just like we usually do. We have to execute on Saturdays, but it starts tomorrow with competing."
On spending the majority of third quarter in their own half ... "It's tough, but we play defense, and we have to stop them from scoring. That's what we do."
On the frustration of the team ... "Guys are frustrated, but we are just going to stay together as a team and get ready for next week."
On how difficult it is to stay together through losses ... "It can be difficult, but I have faith in my coach and I have faith in all of my teammates."
On the first-half performance ... "Defensively we have to do a lot better job tackling and with our eyes in man coverage. That happened in the first half. We really were not satisfied because they scored 10 points, and our goal is to shut everybody out."
On the outlook of the team changing ... "It doesn't weigh on us at all. We are 0-1 in the Big Ten now, but we're going to prepare for next week and get after it."
On Minnesota senior RB David Cobb and the run defense ... "He did pretty good. He kept his feet moving and had a lot of yards after contact, but we have to do a lot better job of wrapping up. We can't arm tackle a big guy like that."
Minnesota Head Coach Jerry Kill
Opening statement ... "I'm so happy for our kids, and I can't say enough about them. They've been relentless, and they've been through a lot. They went through a lot here last year, and I can't tell you how proud I am of them. They are the ones who win games, and they did today. I'm proud of our players -- every single one of them -- and the ones back home who helped us get prepared for the game, and we can only travel only so many. Thanks to the players, and I believe they are enjoying the moment right now, which they should."
On how Minnesota matched up to Michigan previously during his tenure ... "I remember being here and saying, we better get stronger, faster and better athletically or we're going to be in trouble. I think we're getting there -- we still have a ways to go, I'm not stupid. In four years, it takes a while. This is certainly a good step for us. And what's amazing is that we're doing this with a lot of freshmen on defense, and the defense played outstanding. I'm really proud of all of them and really proud of Mitch (Leidner) and what he's been through. I thought he did a great job of leading our team today and making some plays when it was critical."
On the driving down late in the second quarter after starting from the one-yard line ... "The truth is, going back to a year ago, I wasn't here, but I believe it was one of the same plays that swung the game. It was kind of ironic, but we knew we had to get (the ball) out of there. It was critical to get it out of there. That may have been as critical part of the game as there was to get it out of there and out of that hole. We talked about field position before the game -- we talked about not turning the ball over -- and field position would be critical. We said those two things would be critical in the game, and they were. That was the difference."
On the offensive game plan in the second quarter ... "There is no doubt (that's how the offense can look). Give credit to the offensive coaches, and Coach Limegrover, for keeping (Michigan) off balance and mixing it up. Our kids worked hard, and it's one of those things that you just stay in there. We weren't as sharp earlier in the year, but that's part of it -- you go back to work, and you try to get better every day. This is really good for the offense's confidence and good for Mitch (Leidner). It's not easy to come in here at all -- it's a great road win."
On his message at halftime ... "I told them we were going to get out there quickly because I didn't want them lying around. And the second thing I said -- I said you did a great job in the first half, but I said before the game, don't ever look at the scoreboard -- you're at the University of Michigan. If we're up 14, you better play hard, and if we're down 14, you better play hard. There are X amount of plays in a game, and 10-12 are the difference, and that's why you've got to play hard all the time. I'll look at the film, and I'm sure there are 10-12 plays that were the difference. If you play hard, you can take care of that a little bit, and there's no doubt our kids played hard today."
On what the win means to him personally ... "It means a lot to me -- I got to hug my wife and my mom out there. I didn't participate in this game last year, and I let a lot of people down. I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without them there. This was pretty cute; my daughter (Krystal) sent me a picture of her and I at Saginaw Valley State right here in Michigan. And she is with me here today. A shoutout to my other daughter Tasha. It's a great moment, because my wife allows me to coach the game, and not everyone might. It's a great feeling and a great moment. But to be honest with you, I'm more happy for the state of Minnesota and the people of Minnesota and happy for you all, because I know there's been a lot of tough moments throughout the years. I'm happy about it and happy to be here. There are people here from Saginaw (Valley State) -- and that was 20 years ago. I got my first head coaching job here in Michigan 20 years ago here at Saginaw Valley State. I've got a few people here from that regime, some good people. A lot of good people. Certainly the state of Minnesota, I hope they have a great time now, I just want them to be safe, have a good time tonight."
On decided on playing QB Mitch Leidner despite his turf-toe injury ... "Tuesday he practiced about half the time, and then Wednesday we really pushed him. He did okay, and then we went after him again on Thursday. Friday he came out and moved around pretty good. You can tell -- I could tell last week he wasn't ready to play mentally, and I could tell this week that he was. I think we were smart with him today, we didn't run a bunch of options. We ran a lot of zone, but we weren't reading a bunch of stuff. And David Cobb, the guy is really playing right now. Someone said, 'Well you really gave him the ball a lot,' but when you've got a horse, you ride him -- that's what my daddy taught me long ago. And we rode him a little bit today."
On how RB David Cobb's performance opened up the offense ... "It helps you because you can throw the ball better and throw in play action and get people out of the box. We ran it sometimes with eight (in the box). But he runs in it there. He made a cut to make people miss. He's playing at a high level -- that's a credit to him and his hard work. You have a good back, and we've got good backs -- Rodrick (Williams, Jr.) did some good things, and Berkely (Edwards), and we played Donnell (Kirkwood) a bunch in situations -- it was a great team effort."
On the youth on the defensive side of the ball ... "We're playing great team defense, I don't know how many yards Michigan had -- I could look, but the only stat the matters is the (score). I think defensively, we've got to take care of our assistant coaches. Coach Claeys has taken care of me a long time -- he's a heck of a defensive football coach. I think our kids understand what we're doing, and they are not out there thinking -- they are out there playing. It takes you a while to get that. Our older kids taught our younger kids all summer long, they did a great job. We didn't think we'd have to play four freshmen up front as guys who would have to roll in, but our older guys did a great job of preparing those young people, and it's paying off."
On being pinned at the one before the half ... "I said we just want to get out of here and get to the half. Then we got up to the 30 and 40, and I said let's be smart, but let's go get us a field goal. I conversed with Coach Claeys and Coach Limegrover, and they were with me. I said be careful, and when (Michigan) ran pass defense, we ran a little bit. As the thing went, we knew we had a chance to score. We got to about the 35 and worked the clock. I didn't want them to get the ball back at all, so we worked the clock down. We kicked it at what, six seconds? So we did a good job controlling the ball and working the clock. Again, thinking of a year ago. And then how about our field goal kicker, how about that kid? (Ryan) Santoso is a redshirt freshman and he did a nice job today."
On shutting down Michigan WR Devin Funchess ... "Our secondary, I've said all along, they are pretty good. Eric Murray is going to play at the next level. Our whole secondary is a good secondary. And Derrick Wells got hurt today, we lost him, and he's a tremendous player. We have depth in that area, and it paid off today."
On getting this win with his Michigan roots ... "I grew up in a town of 2,000 people and grew up watching Michigan. I promise you, there's nobody in that town who thought I'd be coaching here at the University of Michigan and playing in the Big House. When I was at Saginaw Valley State, those guys would say the same thing. It's unbelievable how you start -- I was 32 years old when I got the job (at SVSU). It was a great time in my life and great opportunity. Then I lost my dad and life changed a lot. I worked my way through it with some good guys. I remember coming here when I was at Saginaw to learn things from Lloyd (Carr). But I had no idea I'd be here someday. There's a lot things, like this win, that are important, but there is nothing more important than what Coach Carr is going through with his family. My prayers go out to that man, he's a good man."
On Minnesota outperforming Michigan in all facets of the game ... "I don't think you ever expect those kinds of things happening, but we knew our kids were ready to play. I think all along we felt we had a good football team with a lot of good kids. We just needed to put it all together, and I think we put it all together today, and we did it with a lot of people. We had a lot of kids who stepped, and that's the biggest part of it -- everyone who has stepped up when we've had injuries early in the season."
On when his last Gatorade bath was ... "I don't know, you'll have to ask my wife. I've been fortunate to have a few. I'll take all of them I can get every week if we can win."
Minnesota Senior/Junior Linebacker De'Vondre Campbell
On preparing for both Michigan quarterbacks ... "Our coaching staff usually does a great job of preparing us for all types of situations. We were pretty well prepared for both quarterbacks. I think last night we found out that (Devin) Gardner wasn't going to start, but throughout the week we did a good job of preparing for both situations and both types of quarterbacks."
On the turnovers forced ... "Our coaching staff does a great job of emphasizing turnovers, and we know that in order to be the team and defense we want to be, we have to create turnovers to put our offense in better situations. We always try to get at least one turnover per game, whether that's an interception or a fumble recovery. We try to take advantage of the opportunities that the offense gives us."
Minnesota Senior/Junior Offensive Lineman Joe Bjorklund
On the ground game success and what it signifies ... "I think it says that we came back. When we played TCU, we didn't run the ball as well as we wanted to. We like to think of ourselves as a run-first team. We pride ourselves in getting our running backs down the field and into the end zone. We fought back after the TCU game and found our stride now."
Minnesota Senior Running Back David Cobb
On what coach Jerry Kill said in the locker room after the game ... "It was a lot of emotion coming from him. He has so much passion and love for us and he wants to see us do well. When you see all your teammates happy and you know all the work that they put in to prepare for the game, words can't describe the feeling and emotion. It's a good win for us to build off of."
On what this win can do for the team ... "We're going to go into the bye week and take it one game at a time. We're going to enjoy this one for sure, but this isn't the end of anything that we want to do. Our eyes are still on the prize and we know that it isn't the end of the season. We're going to look at the film and get better for next week."
Minnesota Fifth-Year Senior Defensive Lineman Cameron Botticelli
On winning this game after losing 58-0 last time at Michigan Stadium ... "To get ready for this game, we watched their film and went back and watched some of our film. It is night and day, what was seen from our offense and defense in comparison to three years ago. Words can't describe how I felt watching my teammates run over and grab the Jug. Words can't describe the feeling that I felt after losing 58-0 and what I'm feeling right now. It's a team win, and I'm proud to be a Minnesota Golden Gopher."
On stopping Michigan in the third quarter ... "We knew that they were going to make some halftime adjustments, like everyone does. The biggest sentiment coming out of the locker room was hit the restart button and come out and be more physical, more explosive. I think it was a three-point (Minnesota lead) at halftime. That doesn't mean anything in our league and with these two great universities. We had to re-double our efforts at halftime, and we did effectively."
