Brady Hoke to fans: Expect to see a work in progress at the Michigan football team's spring game
Michigan football fans should temper their expectations when they see the new-look Wolverines at the annual spring game on April 16.
First-year coach Brady Hoke said Wednesday that after three days of spring practice -- one in pads -- and with 11 remaining spring workouts, he doesn’t think his team will ready for a full blown scrimmage at Michigan Stadium.
“I’d like to, but we don’t have the depth,” Hoke said.
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke says fans should temper their expectations of what they will see in the Wolverines' spring game.
Hoke anticipates the spring game to be more of a glorified practice with situational drills, similar to the spring games of recent years under former coach Rich Rodriguez.
In Hoke’s words, there is a “Grand Canyon”-sized gap between where the players are and where he wants them to be.
“We’ll never be where I want us be,” Hoke said jokingly, yet at the same time seriously. “I think it’s pretty typical. The last two places where I’ve started, Ball State and San Diego State, I think it always takes a little bit of time in the spring to move the dial.”
Hoke hopes to have 50 to 60 percent of the offense and defense installed by spring, and at the most 65 percent.
The area that likely will need the most work is defense, Hoke said. The Wolverines are coming off a season in which they allowed 5,860 yards (450.7 per game) and 458 points (35.2 per game) on the year, both team records.
“You see it more on the defensive side of the ball because it’s a reaction game,” Hoke said.
Comments
paperstreetsoap
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 12:58 a.m.
What part of my post violated your 'guidelines'? It is funny how similar posts don't break guidelines and others do. Guess it is about who you know and the other part.
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 1:07 a.m.
Papersoap, we all get our wings clipped occasionally, don't take it personal, this is all about having fun.
TruBlue
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
This is not what I wanted to here.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 9:54 p.m.
You boys and girls are reacting like you have a nervous twitch with a smidge of excuses thrown in. This is the same malarkey that coaches from Florida, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, Oregon, ohio state, LSU, Nebraska, Auburn, etc., etc. and yes even our own Mich. (Brady) throw at their fans. You know boys and girls," Santa is not coming this Christmas" or, "Nope, the fish aren't biting today". Michigan is going to come out swinging and taking no prisoners this year. This is the year of, "Revenge". You are going to see something special this year and you are never in your lifetime going to forget this year of Michigan Wolverine football and neither is the rest of the country. Look boys and girls, this team is hungry, there is blood in their eyes, and there will be anger in their play especially against the rest of the ten that's been beating them up. I truly believe that most opponents will think, it's only been one year since we kicked Mich. blu butts and no way could they improve enough to beat us in one year. It's a head thing nothing remarkable except, you and I know these kids aren't mostly freshmen and sophmore's anymore and we have a battle tested defensive coordinator and we know Rich Rod recruited some very solid talent and we know there were all those Red Shirts. Mich. is going to surprise the rest of the 10 and you can take that to the bank.
Dusty
Mon, Mar 28, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.
Murrow, you NEVER saw the o-line unable to block. The o-line was stellar all season, against ALL competition. You can't point to a single game when the o-line didn't perform extremely well. Not a single game.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 2:22 a.m.
@ecmichman: I think Dusty and the rest of the MCC watched different football games that did the rest of us. I saw Denard so beat up that he didn't play a single game this year from beginning to end. I saw offensive linemen unable to block opposing D-lines and linebackers. If they were 15 yards downfield, it was because the guy they were supposed to block had gotten by them. I saw defensive linemen pushed around like one would hope the starting team might push around the scout team. I saw Michigan defenders with hands on their hips by midway through the 3d quarter of most games and bending over to catch their breaths by midway through the 4th. Yeah, that Barwis guy turned some miracles. Good Night and Good Luck
ecmichman
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.
You are right - I did not see a fresh Denard Robinson at the end of games. I saw a kid that was beaten up by bigger, stronger defensive players. How many games did he have to come out of because of injury? The O-linemen were blocking 15 yards down the field after Denard had run by everybody. What is your point there? The defense could not stop anyone and could not get any pressure on opposing QBs. Mike Martin couldn't do it alone. If I am reading your post correctly you are blaming RR for Barwis' ineffectiveness. They came together from WVU so this was not their first time working together. Mike Barwis is overrated. Period.
Dusty
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 6 a.m.
Barwis had to work with the players Rich Rod recruited, did he not? You recruit a guy who is 5'10", 170 and put 15 pounds on him in a year, that's great. If you recruit a guy who is 6'0", 195 and put 5 pounds on him in a year, that's not as impressive, but the final result looks better, but that isn't indicative of the quality of the strength and conditioning each had. But maybe you didn't see the offensive line blocking 15 yards down field all season long? Maybe you didn't see Denard at the end of games looking as fresh as he did at the beginning. Maybe you didn't see the team in the third overtime against Illinois looking like they just came out of the locker-room after halftime. Again, Mike Barwis is one of the best S&C coaches in the country. Period.
ecmichman
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 2:15 a.m.
Dusty - What team were you watching? Barwis' "conditioning" left us with a bunch of undersized kids that could not get off the ball effectively especially late in games. They were easily moved off the ball by bigger, stronger players. Perhaps Barwis would be a good trainer for Dancing With the Stars, but not in big time college football. Unfortunately I got sucked in to all of the Barwis hype early on, but RR's teams performed no 4th quarter miracles. In fact that was when the "tater mashers" of Wisconsin, Ohio State, etc. would destroy U-M's undersized linemen. So at what point did he prove he was one of the best S&C coaches in the country? I must have missed that game. Enlighten me please.
Dusty
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 11:38 p.m.
He's not here because Hoke brought in his own guy, not because he wasn't good at his job. Lumping him in with Rodriguez and GRob is unfair, and I was just pointing that out.
Blu n Tpa
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
Dusty, "and he remains one of the best...coaches in the country". Yeah, maybe, but he's not here anymore, either. Or didn't you notice theres been a change?
Dusty
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 6:29 p.m.
There was nothing wrong with Mike Barwis. He was and remains one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the country.
ecmichman
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.
Absolutely Portage. Now that Rodriguez, Barwis, and Robinson are gone we can see what these kids are REALLY capable of. We finally have a staff in here that can teach these kids how to play the game the right way - not just run around the field like a fart in a bottle.
missionbrazil
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
Even though it will take time to recover from the 3 worst years in UM football history, we should see some progress and improvement as the season goes on.
Meangoblue
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 11:15 p.m.
THEO and Portage MCC president and vice president Ann Arbor chapter 52-14 Whatshisname has nothing to do with this..... Advice coming to you from a......... Wheelin and dealin Kiss stealin Jet flyin Limousine ridin Frankenstien playin poetry sayin Ryhme nailin elitist slayin son of a gun!! MEEEEEEANchigan football will return from the muck If Y'all don't believe this GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK!!!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!
rekot
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 8:29 p.m.
I am just hoping to see smash mouth football very soon . . . .Good Luck Coach HOKE
Yeah buddy
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
I don't mind seeing a work in progress as long as I don't see Rich Rodriguez.
ecmichman
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
The kids on the defensive side of the ball are probably not used to getting this much attention from the coaching staff. That alone will take some getting used to. Some solid fundamental coaching is in order to reverse the damage done over the last three years.
bluemax79
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
I had no idea the D was not only Michigan's worst ever it was NCAA Worst ever.
Pete Cunningham
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 8:04 p.m.
That was a typo. The correction has been made.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Let's face it, there was a lot of work left to do. Good Night and Good Luck
Meangoblue
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 11:14 p.m.
THEO and Portage MCC president and vice president Ann Arbor chapter 52-14 Whatshisname has nothing to do with this..... Advice coming to you from a......... Wheelin and dealin Kiss stealin Jet flyin Limousine ridin Frankenstien playin poetry sayin Ryhme nailin elitist slayin son of a gun!! MEEEEEEANchigan football will return from the muck If Y'all don't believe this GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK!!!! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Bogie
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 7:11 p.m.
Fans should temper their expectations??? Uh oh. It must be as bad as it has looked.