Brandon Graham: "I could see" Saturday's momentum shift
1:54 p.m.: Brandon Graham, on the defense's mentality during Illinois' 99-yard drive for a momentum-changing touchdown Saturday:
"We just have to keep our composure, play smart and get the ball back," he said. "It didn't happen like that. They took over. The momentum shifted, and I could see it. They just looked ready to go. That's what we were trying to take away from them."
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1:50 p.m.: Defensive end Brandon Graham, on whether the team has played too uptight in recent games, and whether the Illinois loss will be in the back of his mind Saturday against Purdue:
"I don't think we'll be so tight," he said. "We know it's an important game. Hopefully, after we beat Purdue, it will calm down a little, and we'll have a little pressure off of us. But we know we let a couple games slip, and we need to keep working and progressing." ________
1:32 p.m.: More from Stephen Schilling on Michigan's failure to score on four consecutive runs from the half-yard line against Illinois:
"We could have been a lot more physical on the goal line. It definitely wasn't the scheme, to me," he said. "The running backs ran hard. We could have opened some bigger holes for them."
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1:30 p.m.: Offensive lineman Stephen Schilling, on whether Michigan was overconfident after starting the season with a 4-0 record.
"When we got to four quickly, it was easier to think, 'Oh we'll get six,'" he said. "I think people thought it would come a little too easily. And it hasn't. ...
"We had four straight wins, and we had a lot of confidence. It sucks when you lose some close games we thought we could have won. Now we're in a position where we just have to worry about how we play, and how the team plays. " ________
1:23 p.m.: Offensive lineman Stephen Schilling, on Illinois' goal-line stand that stopped MIchigan four straight plays at the half-yard line:
"Something that sticks out to me, the first month of the season, the offensive line was playing really well," he said. "Our physical play was up, in terms of where it was from last year. I think it took a step back Saturday." ________
1:06 p.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on whether freshman quarterback Tate Forcier has regressed throughout the course of the season:
"I think he's had freshman moments, for lack of a better term," Rodriguez said. "Earlier in the year, he had freshman moments too. They just weren't featured, because we won. Tate is conscientious. He needs to learn to take care of the ball better, but Coach Smith is working with him on that. We don't have a lot of time with these guys, despite what you think." ________ 1:03 p.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on his timetable for being successful with the Wolverines:
"We have to recruit the right guys and develop them once you get them," he said. "The formula is the same as any other college. ... We've got some players. But we've got a lot of guys that need developing as well, and there's a process to get them to a championship level.
"It's not the first time me or my staff has been involved in that process."
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12:15 p.m. Rich Rodriguez discussed Brandon Minor's ongoing high foot/ankle sprain.
Minor carried one time for a two-yard loss against Illinois after carrying 12 times against Penn State the previous week. He's listed as day to day on the team's injury report.
"We were just using him for a couple of plays to get into the end zone," Rodriguez said of Minor's carry against Illinois. "He's our biggest, most physical runner. I didn't know if he could handle the stress of 20-30 plays, but he could handle that one." ________
12:12 p.m. Injury report: The only new injury of note from the Illinois game is defensive lineman Greg Banks' foot sprain. He's listed as day to day.
Rich Rodriguez said Martavious Odoms, Brandon Minor and Floyd Simmons are all still day to day.
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12:10 p.m.: Cornerback Donovan Warren on whether this team has the confidence to turn the season around:
"This isn't last year's team," he said. "This is a new team. We're not going to back down from a challenge." ________
12:02 p.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on the team's goals over the final three games of the regular season:
"A bowl game for the fans and players is important," he said. "A bowl game for the coaches is important for those extra practices. You get a chance to develop those young guys, and it's basically like another spring."
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11:58 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on replacing Obi Ezeh in the starting lineup with Kevin Leach:
"Kevin graded out the highest of any player on defense," Rodriguez said. "But Obi is still in the mix. Really, it's a schematic thing." _________
11:49 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez said that he didn't expect any "issues" from the Big Ten regarding offensive tackle Mark Ortmann's run-in with Illinois' Corey Liuget during Saturday's game.
Video appeared to show Ortmann striking Liuget in his mid-section.
"I wasn't aware of that until last night, and I watched all the angles we had and could see," Rodriguez said. "I met with Mark this morning. He was upset that a lot of folks were telling him it was a cheap shot.
"He told me, 'it was an open hand. He was leaning up against me, and I just shoved him away real quick.' Mark is a great young man, and I'm sure with a guy leaning on him. ... There shouldn't be any issues there." _________
11:40 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on his program's struggles and what the coaches are doing to address them:
"We're not going back in the office and, you know, 'woe is me.' We're trying as hard as we can to do as well as we can right now - and so are the players," Rodriguez said.
"Our issues did not appear overnight, and will not be solved overnight. I promise you, I'm less patient than any of you or our fans - and we have great fans. Progress is being made. I wish it was faster. It's not going as fast as I would like, trust me."
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11:36 a.m.: Rich Rodriguez, on his team's struggles and inconsistency:
"If we had 12, 13, 15, 15 senior players, you're playing with men who are 22 years old, and not 18-year-old kids, and if you don't think there's a difference, there is."
Comments
marineblue
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 8:14 p.m.
nice spin chosen. what he said was there were upperclassmen that weren't getting the job done. because of that, RR has to play younger less experienced players. the fact that you have those people in key positions is going to be detrimental too your team. answer this, where are all the upperclassmen defensive backs at? you know the ones that lloyd recruited. you should check out the recent article on our defense that is posted on mogoblog. it may enlighten you.
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 4:51 p.m.
dzuck, then u would agree that the "we're too young" excuse is getting old? How about we're not talented enough or we're not playing with pride or heart? I think that's a better excuse and obvious observation
ecmichman
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 4:44 p.m.
Let's face it. They lost to a more talented, more physical team. Illinois may not win another game, but when they decided to step up and win the game, there was nothing UM could do about it. That is sad.
oldmanblue
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 4:13 p.m.
Say what you want now. Mark me down for one of the people that stayed on board. I understand that people are frustrated and that is fine. I would be more upset if we would have won nine games this year and then next year went back words like what MSU is doing right now. We will beat Purdue and maybe win one of the last two games. If we don't though, I'm happy with the coach we have now. To even think of firing him after two years is foolish.
81wolverine
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 3:03 p.m.
I think Schilling and his linemates need to be A LOT more aggressive and develop a sense of urgency here. If they can't push back a poor Illinois run defense in 4 plays, maybe they need to let some other guys on the team try. Stay on the sideline. Coach Rod's unwillingness to use Brandon Minor more is baffling and hurting the team. Judging by Minors post game comments, although not 100%, he's more than capable of carrying 12-15 times. Finally giving him the ball on 4th down to try and get the TD cold, after sitting the entire game, was stupid. Rodriguez's comments on this situation don't cut it. He's not telling everything, that's for sure. With only 70 players on the roster who were recruited athletes, this team is clearly at a big disadvantage personnel wise. I hate to say it, but we're probably looking at 2011 before this team is a Big Ten contender again.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 2:50 p.m.
Michigan is among the less experienced teams in the country. And the Big Ten is unusually inexperienced this year, which explains, in part, why the conference has had less success than usual in inter-conference play. But Michigan is only in the middle of a cluster of seven Big Ten teams with a little less experience than the average college team. Brought back 73% of the letter-winners from last year, and the offensive line was fourth in the Big Ten in career starts going in. At some point, we have to stop make excuses for RichRod's historic inept coaching.
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 2:03 p.m.
good read here from the big ten espn blogger http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/6357/patience-wearing-thin-for-michigan
KeepingItReal
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 1:58 p.m.
At this point in the season, using the excuse that we have a lot of younger players is not good. These players have had nine games to gain experience, plus some of them spring practice and all of them summer and fall practice and on-going practice. To have a bunch of no challenge games at the beginning of the season does not to prepare a team for the challenges they will face down the road. M became overconfident by beating up on lesser opponents. Something doesn't feel right about the program.
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 1:12 p.m.
actually there are 58 players brought since rich has been here. Redshirt sophomores have been on campus and with the team for 3 years, so there is no "young" argument for them. Thats 3 years in the team environment and working out. http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mich-m-footbl-mtt.html
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 1:01 p.m.
actually they have 33 listed seniors on the team....so are u telling me that there is only 1 jr? seeing how ezeh and warren are both juniors i guess your argument is out the window
FlintMaize
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:58 p.m.
Again, 89 of 120 players are freshman or sophomores. Enough said.
rightmind250
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:56 p.m.
How can you say this guy (Richrod) is not a Michigan man? He uses all the same excuses. We are too young Wah, Wah,. Take the shades of richrod. Lets see those tears again. Moosman, Ortmann GS/SR Fifth year seniors. Graham Sr. What are they going to do next year? This program is in big time trouble. The schedule will be much harder next year? Should we expect 2-10. I'll have to search for those 2 non-conference wins. Didn't we see this Richrod denial thing earlier this year? I thought Richrod said he was going to search every b10 game and notify the commissioner of any infractions. Lieing, cheating, stealing, no talent wannabe. All in for Richrod
treetowncartel
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:48 p.m.
Coughing up the ball when you are the general on the field is not so good, look where it got Chuck Long. On a side note, we should all send cards to Jim Brandstater. He has to spend all day Saturday at the U of M games only to wake up on Sunday and go watch the Lions. Condolences Brandy!
aareader
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:42 p.m.
I think "tater" is correct.
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:26 p.m.
what "couple plays" was he in on to get in the end zone? He should have been in on the first down at the one, not brown. But thats just another coaching mistake. Why do the rr disciples justify and excuse all the mistakes our coaching staff makes?
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:22 p.m.
offensive line isnt freshmen and sophomores and yet they still cant protect or block...Brown is a senior and couldnt get it from the 1 on 3 attempts....williams is a junior and cant tackle to save his life. Obi looks like he's regressed back to a sophomore in high school on defense...
chosen1
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:16 p.m.
tater, still doesnt justify a blow to the midsection/groin area. Both guys should be suspended for a game. And if the big 10 steps in now and suspends ortmann it will be the 2nd time rich has excused his players inaapropriate behavior on the field, so what else is rich excusing in the program. Integrity doesnt deliver low blows. Leaders dont react to people trying to incite them. Michigan is no longer playing with class and discipline and it starts at the top......
John Galt
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:14 p.m.
"Hail to the Vicitors".....oh, wait.....
Jim Knight
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:13 p.m.
A comment was removed because it contained a personal attack.
Jaxon5
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 : 12:11 p.m.
The 11:40 AM quote is almost identical to the quotes we heard last year following the 9 historic losses. I think it's almost word for word - progress is "not going as fast as I would like" (aka blaming the players). Also - "our issues did not appear overnight" (aka blaming Carr by saying the issues were here before RR arrived).