Michigan football coach Brady Hoke on avoiding letdown against EMU, social media and more
Eastern Michigan is undefeated, but a team Michigan should handle with ease on Saturday (noon, BTN).
Coming off Saturday's emotional 35-31 comeback win against Notre Dame, though, there is potential for an emotional letdown.
Should Michigan football coach Brady Hoke be concerned?
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke: "We got to improve every week and we have to play better."
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
"There’s obviously a lot of things we need to do better if we’re going to win the Big Ten championship, which is our goal."
Eastern Michigan (2-0) is the Wolverines' third nonconference game, following wins against Western Michigan and Notre Dame. Michigan (2-0) concludes its nonleague slate next week against San Diego State, which Hoke coached the past two years before being hired by the Wolverines in January.
Hoke likes the challenge that schedule will provide his team before the start of conference play, and he cited an even tougher stretch next year, when Michigan opens the season by facing Alabama in Dallas, then traveling to Notre Dame.
"You're going to get beat up," he said. "In Division I college football, that’s going to happen. Going to happen in practice and going to happen in games."
Other notes from Hoke's teleconference:
Settling down Denard
Hoke said junior quarterback Denard Robinson is working to settle his nerves early in games.
Robinson struggled early against Notre Dame, going 2-for-9 passing in the first half.
"We all mature, and his maturation process as a quarterback ... I think he handles it pretty well," Hoke said. "His preparation is what we want to have as a team."
Hoke not social on social media
Robinson joined Twitter on Monday night, and already has garnered 9,800 followers, despite just seven tweets. His handle is @DenardX.
Hoke, though, said he's "not a big believer" in social media such as Facebook or Twitter.
"I only care if it's not representing this team in a correct manner," he said.
Bounce to their step
Hoke said Robinson and seniors Kevin Koger (tight end), David Molk (center) and Junior Hemingway (receiver) are the spark plugs for Michigan on offense.
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
BigWolverine13
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
I am also concerned with the lack of a running game (except for Robinson) and a lot of other stuff is troublesome. DR's passes are still very erratic. He seemed to get lucky with some jump balls. The defense is still struggling with the DL and with the secondary as ineffective as last year and -- there has not been one field goal attempt. I'm afraid we are heading toward another year of some early success against the patsies and disaster later when we face good teams. RR's recruiting was atrocious (outside of DR). Until BH gets his guys (in two to three years), I don't expect much success. But -- I do hope I am wrong and BH can do better in the meantime.
Blu n Tpa
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.
First you have to remember the team has played two games under a totally different coaching staff and are learning and doing all at the same time. No one thinks DRob is another Tom Brady but Tom wasn't Tom as a junior either. DRob wants to be a better throwing QB and is willing to stand in there and try to find those guys who are open. This team is trying to get better so by the time the second half of the season comes around they will be as ready as they can be. This coaching staff wants to win but they want to teach too. That measn you have to take the good with the bad. No field goals? Is that a problem? The offense is 100% inside the red zone making touchdowns. Why would you kick a FG? There will be some similarities in regards to the records between the first and second halves of the season and previous years. But, I wouldn't use the word "disaster" just yet. Michigan beat ND so that's one rivalary game won. If Michigan can beat msu, Iowa, UNeb, or tsopio and go to a bowl game then it's a good first season for Coach Hoke's staff and his players. It won't be acceptable to this coaching staff and that's the way it ought to be. TiM Go Blue!
tulsatom
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.
I have some of the same concerns, BigWolverine13 .It sometimes looks like sumo wrestlers pushing a bunch of 7th graders down the field at times and the U-M defensive backs sometimes look as puzzled as my labrador trying to answer a math problem. However, one big improvement is that the defense is causing turnovers and they appear to giving 100% effort. The rest won't get fixed until more talented players arrive.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 8:25 p.m.
Puzzled here: with a crowd of running backs and one of the best coaches (Jackson), we are in Week #3 and still without a finalized running back corps? With continuing concerns about Defense, Denard's "maturation process" - etc., I view this 'try out' period for running backs with my own real concern. IOW: I don't like the look of this. But I am glad Michigan still has weeks to practice and to hone on the field before they go to East Lansing. I hope (crossing fingers) that the Wolverines face MSU with a 6-0 record. Fun fact: if Big Blue does go 6-0, that'll bring Coach Hoke's career record to 55-50. (it's 49-50 now).
Blu n Tpa
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
Maybe that's why the coaches couldn't pick a No. 1 RB during camp. Maybe no one stepped out of the pack enough to earn the title. If your a coach you have to go week to week until something gives. It might come down to the last guy standing.
Matt Patercsak
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
please, for gods sake. play thomas rawls. i was once on the hopkins train, but you cant cough up the rock on the goal line. and 2 yards per carry is shameful. its apparent that our running game needs to be completely revamped. thomas rawls is the horse running back that michigan needs. i hope he plays saturday and has a breakout performance because we need to find our workhorse sooner rather than later. fitz is banged up, shaw is a non factor and hopkins has no idea how to lay the boom on someone. jackson said rawls gets under a defense and moves the pile. well, id like to see that. EMU is a great game to give someone the rock that maybe you wouldnt gamble on against a notre dame team. its a shame that our best and toughest running back is vincent smith, bless his 5'6 172 pound frame. we need Rawls to become the man. i wanna see some power running! or am i the only one who salivates at the concept of a back running people over... play rawls!!!
tulsatom
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
Sometimes you get a glimpse into the personality and demeanor of a coach just by observing him on the sidelines. So far, I like what I see with Brady Hoke. He seems to have an unflappable level-headedness about him that is very rare these days and I think it will rub off in a positive way on the U-M players as the season progresses because players generally take on the personality of their coach. On more than one occasion in the Notre Dame game when something bad happened for U-M, the camera panned on Hoke for a reaction but he still looked calm and didn't go berserk like many other coaches do. This is a pleasant change to the rants and frantic frenzy of Rich Rodriguez and an improvement over the constant snarl and scornful looks of contempt that Lloyd Carr seemed to wear on the sidelines. I think U-M is in good hands.
Matt Patercsak
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 11:42 p.m.
I liked when brady got fired up over a bad call, he handled himself very well and did exactly what i wanted to. walk down to mr. official and make his presence known. then return to the sidelines. I loved that. i felt as though he was a pissed off dad yelling at a bad teacher who gave his kids bad grades that didnt deserve it. brady is a poppa bear and thats what these kids need in the program
garrisondyer
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 2:06 a.m.
I appreciated Carr's intense scowl. I didn't, though, appreciate the Rodriguez regime's intra-arguments nor the looks of resignation. I REALLY appreciate Hoke's demeanor. I think he's shown a perfect balance of intensity and calmness. It's just professional, really.
tulsatom
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.
The despondent resignation from RR was usually toward the end of the game when U-M was on the wrong end of a blowout. The ranting and hyperactivity occurred early in the game when the outcome was still in question. Lloyd Carr's look (to me) was a cross between an angry scowl and determined aggression.
RWBill
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 7:25 p.m.
I never saw any frantic frenzy from Rich Rod, mostly a smirk and despondent resignation.
MRunner73
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 6:50 p.m.
It is both refreshing and encouraging to read about Coach Hoke's comments and views about the task at hand: beating EMU this Saturday. The refreshing part is his criticism about the team's progress to date. He gives them an unsatisfactory type grade. You can't argue with that. Hopefully, we'll see many more of the back-ups play if we can get a sizeable lead. It would be nice to see us make a few Field Goals as well. I hope I am not asking for too much. Go Blue!!
umgoblue47
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.
hopefully this game will help work out some of the kinks in th D and O. . . also i hope DG can get some reps in this game and we can see RAWLS in action, we will need both down the road! GO BLUE!!!
Blu-dogg97
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 10 p.m.
agreed.. really want to see T.Rawls..
Meangoblue
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
A day late but......... happy MEANday to all!!! :) Hoke and MEAN have a score to settle, Hokes not Hansel, MEANS not Gretel Hokes a winner, he's not a beginner He'll squash all the trash you hear on twitter MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEANchigan football will return from the ash!!! If Y'all don't believe this...................... then you might be twitter trash!! (Aka..the WcIMFH tweeted) PS...thanks to all who showed up at section 72 during halftime Saturday night....good times and hot chicks for all who attended.
Meangoblue2
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
We love the MEANIE, yes we do!! We love the MEANIE, how about you!! MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEANchigan football is back from the_______.(fill in the blank-hint...it rhymes with twitter) If y'all don't believe this, then just check twitter!