Brady Hoke opens Michigan football practice: 'A ton of things we need to do'
Michigan senior David Molk says there is less yelling at a Brady Hoke practice.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
It took only one day of practice for players to feel a difference between the Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke eras of Michigan football.
And hear one, too.
“There’s less yelling,” center David Molk said. “Coach Rod was a big yeller. I mean, it’s nothing against him, great guy, but he liked to yell.”
Hoke might be yelling less, but his message is being delivered just fine.
After three lousy seasons under Rodriguez net zero bowl wins, zero wins against Ohio State, one winning season and an embarrassing defensive display, it hasn’t taken long for players to buy into Hoke’s message.
“I’m coming on my fifth year,” Molk said. “I came here under Lloyd (Carr), we had that first season when we went out and beat Florida, but still that wasn’t a great hoorah season. We should have been better.
“And then Coach Rod came in, and we had three of maybe the poorest seasons in the past decade or two decades.
“It’s time, and everyone is seeing it — and especially for me. This is it. There’s nothing more than I want this year than to win every game, and beat every opponent by as many points as possible.”
So is the team's pulse as it opens camp.
The Wolverines practiced without pads Monday for the first time as a group since spring. Their first practice with shoulder pads and helmets will be Wednesday, and their first full-padded workout will be Friday.
Players can’t wait to start hitting.
“Good to put cleats on, good to put helmet on,” Molk said. “Wish we would have had shoulder pads and all the full pads on, because this isn’t really practice yet, this isn’t really fun yet.”
Michigan will have a full camp, as it’s implementing a new pro-style offensive scheme and 4-3 defensive scheme, as well as new philosophies that emphasize physicality over finesse.
There’s a lot to do before the Wolverines open against Western Michigan on Sept. 3.
“There’s a philosophical difference,” Hoke said. “We kind of ground ourselves every day when we meet because we have so many things that we know we have to be better at. There's a ton of things we need to do.
“We talk about Michigan every night and being Michigan and those expectations that we all have. As far as us believing anything, we have to prove it every day.”
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
Trisha
Wed, Aug 10, 2011 : 12:16 p.m.
Whatever this season brings, I love my Wolverines. Always have...always will...win or lose. No "fickle" or "fairweather" fan here. I will be a Wolverine fan til the day I die, and after! That said, I believe we will see marked improvement on both sides of the ball. I'm not sure how the season will end up, but, for these players, I hope it is nothing but success after success. I can see Martin, Van Bergen, Roh, and Campbell on that front line...mowing over the OL on the other team. I hope Woolfolk and Floyd stay healthy. If they do, I can see a backfield that will be very effective against the pass. The rest should fall into place. I believe our OL will be even better that last year. Much success to our Wolverines this year. I am looking forward to the new season (as I do every year)! GO BLUE!!!
1st Down
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
Yelling all the time = poof goes over the players heads... no lessons learned, just tuned out. Teaching all the time = coaching and improvement! Go Hoke and Staff. Go Blue!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
As always, 1st Down, spot on. Good Night and Good Luck
Frankyhollywood68
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 7:10 p.m.
Hoke doesn't yell as much. For sure, they said the same thing at WV when RR left that school in shambles. What blows my mind are the Michigan fans that are still on the RR band wagon, the fans that still believe he should have had one more year, I'm no fan of Michigan but I wish Denard all the best and I hope these fair weather fans don't turn on him if things don't go their way.
Tesla
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 6:38 p.m.
Eh, this will go over like a ton of bricks because the only people that open these stories are football junkies, but good grief do we really need THREE stories about U of M football on the front page of your website? I mean it's up to you but realize it's a turn off for those who couldn't care less about football. Which is most people.
Blu n Tpa
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.
It's the football site and if you couldn't care less about football why would you bother to post something on a football thread/link? The bad news was there weren't more than THREE stories, They'll try harder. TiM Go Blue!
Blu-dogg97
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 5 p.m.
Mr Kyle any news on how the new freshmen are adapting to they're first Blue practice ? Specially Mr. Rawls,I'm very excited to see him carry the ball this yr.. any news is good news.. Thanks in advance !! GO BLUE..
D21
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
"There's a philosophical difference," Hoke said. Somewhere else, Theo212 is busily buying up Hoke memorabilia including life sized posters of Hoke. GO BLUE! HOKE IS IT! Hoke is it Michigan is it Ann Arbor is it Where the BC trophy shall reside at soon.
Michigan Man
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
Do feel bad for the guys that got caught in the RR debacle for three+ years! Those who stay will be champions = very true!
Blu n Tpa
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 11:43 a.m.
There is no doubt that this TEAM will be better led, better coached, and better prepared. Sure, I would like to see 9-10 wins but what I really want to see is a Michigan TEAM getting after the ball and offensive players standing over their blocking assignments, and special TEAM's units getting Michigan into good field position and occasionally 3 points. I expect all those things this year. Coach Hoke, make it happen! Leadership isn't yelling. It's teaching people how to succeed. TiM Go Blue!
Silly Sally
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 11:28 a.m.
Wow, if Michigan loses more than one game, these fickle fans will turn on you! And if you were to lose to Ohio State once again, God help you. Far too many Michigan fans show no mercy, and are fair-weather fans. Yes, there are the other kind of die-hard fan, but fear these fickle "fans".
Terry Star21
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 10:11 p.m.
Now thats pretty silly, Sally. I'm sure you're thinking of the columbus fans who are extremely violent after Michigan thrashes them. Since they cheated the last ten years, all for winning, they have mellowed a bit to 'extremely dangerous' - but this year I'm sure that will go much higher. buckeye fans........worst in America, hands down !
Mick
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 3:54 a.m.
I want to personally thank all the 5th year Seniors and what they've had to go through. To stick it out and stay Michigan Men means so much to me and many others I'm sure. This years team I feel has a sneaky chance of being a very special squad. They will be coached better than ever and they have so much incentive to leave U-M with their heads held up. I hope this season is a great one for all those guys, good luck this year and Go Blue!!!
Terry Star21
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 3:41 a.m.
It's only one practice, but a very positive one and that's what counts. Michigan is moving forward and the time is now. David Molk; ""It's time, and everyone is seeing it — and especially for me. This is it". Very well said David ! MgoBlueForTiM............and David Molk and for Michigan Faithful - This is It !
10dz
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 3:36 a.m.
Cant wait to see what we look like on defense this year. Our defense has to be significantly better. If we can be at least average on defense, meaning only giving up 300 yards per game and less than 24 points, this team can win 8 games this year. Our offense will need to find it self especially with Drob playing a different style. Again, if they can move the ball against the GOOD teams (thus helping our defense stay out of miserable situations over and over again) , they can keep us in games. Of course special teams have to be good too. Can't forget about that part of the game, although you can't blame me after last year. Go Blue!!!!!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
My computer malfunctioned on the comment above. It is a quote of Mick52. My comment: Sorry, but you first need to look at last season's six losses--none of them close, four of them by more than 17 points. All of them against quality teams. Conclusion: there is a vast difference between last year's team (and hence, the 20 returning starters) and quality football. Next, you need to look at the Seven wins--none of 'em against a Top 25 team, only two against teams with winning records, four of 'em by a margin of less than one touchdown. Conclusion: last year's team (same 20 guys) could just as easily have lost 2 or 3 games to rather poor teams. Finally, you need to look at this year's schedule and, considering the above, find the games you expect UM to win with the same players who did the above. I look at the schedule and see EMU, WMU, Minnesota, Purdue, and Illinois as games we ought to win. I see Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Ohio State as games we likely will lose. That leaves 4 games as tossups--Iowa, SDSU, Northwestern, and MSU. If we take three of those tossups, we win 8 games. Given last year's record, and especially given the late season collapses of the last three seasons (finishing the seasons 1-7, 0-6, and 2-6), I think 8 regular season wins is a good season. Anything more is frosting on the cake. Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 3:46 p.m.
Eight games? I expect no less than nine. Eight is only an improvement of one win and with so many returning experienced players I think 9-3 is very attainable.
Mick52
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 4:21 a.m.
Eight games? I expect no less than nine. Eight is only an improvement of one win and with so many returning experienced players I think 9-3 is very attainable. Last year two games were lost by ten points. The MSU game was a 17 point loss but that game was riddled by mistakes and turnovers. Improve the defense like you noted and end the turnover flood and I think 9-3 is in reach, but if the defense isn't there, the offense will need to produce like last year.
ChrisW
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 3:22 a.m.
Just teach them how to tackle and it'll be an improvement.
aarox
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 3:15 a.m.
we are already working our best to distance ourselves from our last Great Leader and align with our newest Great Leader. Go Blue!
Jaysham
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 2:48 a.m.
I haven't been this excited for a upcoming season of Michigan football since 2007. Everything that has happened since Brady Hoke was hired has been a super positive experience and has really brought back hope and better days ahead for us fellows fans and alums! This is Michigan and GO BLUE!
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.
Try forever, David. Not last decade or two. Forever. Like the Judy Blume 'tween epic about STDs.
1st Down
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
Are you there God?....its me Tressell
thecompound
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
extra thumbs up for sliding in a judy blume reference, lol.