Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has championship goals for first season, but still needs 'championship effort' from defense
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke talks to reporters at Sunday's media day.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The Michigan football team's defense finished 108th in the country last year. Its field-goal kicking unit was 120th — dead-last in Division I. The offense was eighth, but now is learning a new scheme.
It's hard to peg where expectations should be for this Wolverines team.
Unless you're Brady Hoke, in which case they never change.
"This is Michigan. There aren't going to be any excuses," the first-year head coach said Sunday during the team's media day at Schembechler Hall.
"If we don't win the Big Ten championship, we've failed these kids as coaches."
Nothing like setting the bar high.
If Michigan is to meet that goal, it'll have to get to work this week as the Wolverines' fall camp kicks into high gear with perhaps its most important practices other than those that lead up to the Sept. 3 opener against Western Michigan.
They will have three two-a-days this week, the first of which is Monday, and a scrimmage on Saturday. Players will be in full pads for those practices. There have been only three padded practices so far.
Hoke said the imposing schedule is by design. He wants to see how his players respond to the test, then he will begin penciling in a two-deep roster around Saturday based on those observations.
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"It's just a struggle, part of fall camp. It's got to be hard. We're going to scrimmage pretty good there in six days, on Saturday, put them in a lot of different situations and see how they respond."
On Hoke's agenda for the week certainly will be his defensive unit. He's a longtime coach on that side of the ball, was hired by Michigan largely for his expertise there and has preached how a turnaround will be predicated on sound fundamentals and technique.
He likes to call it a "championship effort" — and he said Sunday he has not yet seen that kind of intensity from his defense.
"I don't think we've played to the standard that's going to be acceptable," Hoke said. "We need to be more physical at the point of attack. We need to have a mentality of how we want to attack the football. It's coming, but it's not like you'd like to have it."
Effort can be coached, Hoke said. He'll get it out of his players, or they'll pay for not delivering.
"If we accept them not to get to the football, if we're not chasing them, if we're not doing what we need as coaches, you accept a lack of urgency," Hoke said. "We're not accepting that. That's not how we're going to play defense. If guys don't practice that way, we're not going to play them.
"We'll take (just) 23 kids on defense and go play games (if we don't get that urgency)."
Hoke singled out safeties Thomas Gordon and Jordan Kovacs and linebacker Kenny Demens as players who have stood out for their play and effort on defense.
There remain a lot of uncertainties at several positions — either because of job battles at running back, defensive back or wide receiver; or changed schemes for established starters — and Hoke likes the fierce competition it has spawned at his first camp as head coach in Ann Arbor.
Now, he'll look to start solving some of those riddles as he "separates the boys from the men" this week.
"We've had a good first seven days," Hoke added. "We're 20 days away (from the opener), and we're not ready to play. We've got a lot of work to do."
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
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 5:34 a.m.
In management effectiveness seminars, they teach: Own the problem. Well - obviously Coach Brady Hoke is owning this problem (3 years of disgrace and building a working football team from the wreckage). No one can point to a single thing that Coach Hoke has gotten wrong so far. In fact, it's almost unreal to see how he's handled so many supposedly insurmountable obstacles and nagging problems. And now he's saying that if the Wolverines don't win the Big Ten, then he and his coaches will have failed these players. That's not arrogance, that's self imposed accountability: something we don't see hardly at all anymore. Is this team "arrogant?" - you don't "do" arrogance by enduring two-a-day drills or by working in the weight room until you can barely move your limbs. You don't "do" arrogance by doing all the work involved in coaching 24/7/365. "This is Michigan!" "We ARE Michigan!" These are not arrogant statements, they are statements of pride. Pride in this case which is earned by work and pain and endurance. This is saying: We are proud of of our effort and of our standards AND of our Wolverine brotherhood. These two sentences are meant as self-reminders - that the speaker and the listeners are parts of an elite effort and organization which - requires - of itself the best effort and -requires - winning.
D21
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 8:24 p.m.
Lighten up, M-Live Are you actually a Spartie or just an unglued PC person? Nothing wrong in comparing Franics to Danner, isn't it? Hail to Freedom of Speech!
ChelseaBob
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 8:03 p.m.
10dz we can spot a buckeye a mile away. Go back to Columbus. We will be 10-0 going into Nebraska game. It's not arrogance, we just really are better than everyone else. We're Michigan. Go Blue!
missionbrazil
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 7:47 p.m.
First the naysayers were saying in January that recruiting would be hurt because of the late hire of BH. And BH and staff responded by pulling out a top 25 class for 2011. And they responded again even more emphatically by having the # 1 class for 2012. When BH says that their goal is the BT championship, I believe him. If we don't win it this year, we will be very competitive and people will know on the field and off that we are back. After this year ... expect BT championships and possibly more. Go Blue !
D21
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 7:30 p.m.
I want you TiM supporters to know that I voted for every one of you in here. Hoke is not being unrealistic and he didn't say that we gotta win every damn game from now on except to focus on winning the B1G title which every other B1G team wants to, too. Remember Hoke also is a Michigan fan, too. I wouldn't worry too much about his perceived arrogance since he bleeds maize and blue. In a SI B1G issue, he replied that he hasn't worn anything red for the past decade. Sure, Hoke didn't say his proper byes to SDSU but that is up to him to rectify it and the SDSU president casually acknowledged that Hoke is nothing but a TiM man and respected Hoke for that at the same time. Meanwhile, Hoke already had a Michigan clause in his SDSU contract. Will support Hoke no matter what as long he keeps the Michigan Man ideals unlike you know who. GO BLUE!
Blu-dogg97
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
@ 10dz its confidence not arrogance ... here is a past post of 10dz 10dz : Commented on "Michigan athletic department announces 5-year radio deal with CBS less than month before football opener" 8/8/2011 8:50 PM If Beckman is in, I am out!!!!!!!!!! Frank & Brandy are Michigan !! you sir are NOT !! AZWolverine said it best.. TiM & GO BLUE..
10dz
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
Not scared, just pointing out the OUR arrogance hasn't gotten US very far lately. And the Arrogance goes back years before RR. I count two years (97 and 06) in the last 20 that WE were a legit contender for a National Championship. Where do people get off acting like WE are a contender every year?????? This is why most fans hate US. You can talk all you want about tradition, but tradition has only one win vs OSU in 10 years and Sparty has owned US for 3 years. And don't be surprised when they both beat US this year. This team is still young, has lots of holes to fill and is implementing a new offensive and defensive scheme. I hope all you TRUE Michigan fans are there supporting this coach and this team if WE go 7-5 this year. I still think 8-4 is possible, but it will be tough. Can't wait to see how you act after the first loss.......
1st Down
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
"We"? lol whatever
D21
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
Michigan will be fine after their first loss and other losses as long as they give it their best effort. Are you that politically correct (everyone is the same no matter what)? Brady is PIC (politically incorrect) and I like that! Hoke Is It!
1st Down
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
OSU, Sparty and Fake Michigan fan Trolls are here in full force... Hurts to be scared doesnt it boys and girls?
Jarhead
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:30 a.m.
When Rich Rod first came, a lot of people were turned off by his statements, they called him arrogant, he wasn't a Michigan Man. Now we have a Michigan Man and talking like a Michigan Man and he is called arrogant. I'd rather hear what Hoke says and call it confidence. What else should he project to his players?
ChelseaBob
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:28 a.m.
Wow! The MSU and OSU trolls have nothing better to do on Sunday night than sign on here and bash Michigan. Michigan will be big ten champ this year. OSU, MSU mean nothing, as it should be. Nebraska will be tough, but we'll get it done.
RWBill
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:02 a.m.
It's not arrogance. It means you are expected to coach and play to a standard of excellence... like not accepting a lack of urgency to get to the ball.
missionbrazil
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.
excellent response RWBill ... it is not arrogance ... BH and staff have established a high standard of excellence and they are holding themselves up to that high standard.
bigblue
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 11:54 p.m.
in order to win championships MICHIGAN is going to have to expand the recruiting base! i hope coach hoke knows that!
Blu-dogg97
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.
bigblue.. Hoke & co. will win this year with RR's and some of Carr's recruits... Then he'll be working with the #1 recruiting class in 2012.. The cupboard is not bare !! and you have NO basis behind your post !! GO BLUE..
Terry Star21
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 5:29 a.m.
bigblue are you joking ! Recruiting goes on for another for another 7 months, Michigan has the number one recruiting class and may be turning away the Floridians, Texan's, and Californians come February !
bigblue
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 3:55 a.m.
@Bill all but two or three of the recruits are from MICHIGAN or ohio! i just hope hoke is not trying to over-compensate for the false narrative that RR didn't recruit the state of MICHIGAN hard enough!
1st Down
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:52 a.m.
Currently having the #1 class in the country is not enough for you? bah humbug again
RWBill
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.
Well they're recruiting from Virginia and Florida to California and Idaho, and Michigan and Ohio. I guess they do need to expand to Samoa.
10dz
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 11:13 p.m.
I'm already tired of this "this is Michigan" talk. Last I checked it's been a while since we won a big ten title. Long before RR was here, so you can't blame him. I agree with mmppcc, that arrogance is troubling. Hoke better deliver or he sounds even worse. The Michigan I grew up watching was less about talk and more about substance. I get that he is trying to rally the troops, but save that for the locker room.
Hebner
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:06 a.m.
This is not arrogance, it is a standard... something we haven't had in three years. The coach is making it second nature for the players to think this way. Without confidence and a standard to play by means forgetting about the tradition and great players that came before.
Terry Star21
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 5:26 a.m.
You keep using the term 'we' - come on buck up, be a spartan here and tell it like it is and say 'them'.....at least be honest.
azwolverine
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 11:26 p.m.
See my reply to mmppcc above...it applies just as well here.
Hailmary
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 11:04 p.m.
I think Brady has the right idea about everything having a time and place, hard work and the right attitudes and in my unsolicited opinion, "the game" is western michigan. One game at a time Wolverine's.
garrisondyer
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 5:12 p.m.
True enough, Hailmary! Good point on "the game"! I'd say I approach each season with a healthy mix of this philosophy and the philosophy of The Game. Go Blue!
D21
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 11:02 p.m.
mmppc, My reply to your baseless concern is this line from the movie, "Stripes" Sgt Hulka: Lighten up Francis Hoke Is It TiM
mmppcc
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.
"This is Michigan. There aren't going to be any excuses." "If we don't win the Big Ten championship, we've failed these kids as coaches." What an arrogant statement and a slap in the face to the other programs in the conference. Michigan is supposed to win just because they're Michigan? As if the likes of Nebraska, OSU, PSU, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, haven't proven that they also deserve to win. How about quotes like these instead: "Michigan is going to be a team our players and fans can be proud of every week." "We'll always give it our best effort and play by the rules." "Our students will graduate." No, I guess not. Apparently, winning is all that matters at Michigan.
rightmind250
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
Jaxon5, UM and OSU are both serving 2 years ncaa probation. What's with all the attitude. It doesn't count if you are a loser?
barnz378
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 6:17 a.m.
Like that the guy is full of zest and pride. Now he's got everyone looking over their shoulders. Must get sick of reading about the Wolverines. Or maybe RR's record would of been "OK" at most places....Not.
Terry Star21
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 5:23 a.m.
Coach Hoke is being honest, and is telling the truth - geez look at the 132 years of Michigan football...America expects Michigan to win every championship. Arrogant is like the coach down south, cheating the fans and university with cheap bragging - then they realized what a liar and cheat he was. Or up north, where there coach recently supported the lying/cheating coach.
Jaxon5
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:48 a.m.
Hoke's quote is much better than this ... "This is OSU. There are going to be rule violations and questionable conduct. If we don't win the National Championship, we've failed our boosters as pawns that we are.
1st Down
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
well then...after 3 years of "the winged helmets wont help us win games" and "every game is the same" type of comments from the fired coach who led us to a 6-18 BT record... one would think that setting goals a little higher, and emphasizing Michigan's WINNING tradition would be exciting for fans... guess not for everyone eh mmppcc? bah humbug. Go Ohio or whatever team that you actually root for.
Nic schweigert
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
We'll give it our best effort- that sounds more like a quote from a guy who plays Justin bieber at a football banquet and cries. Ya we want them to give it their all and graduate the young men, but why do you play football? It aint just to play. You play to win the game. Every game. I love what hoke is doing. He isn't saying they fail if we don't win a big ten championship. It's their goal every year and the coaches failed the players if they don't. It's not just because oh we should win because we are Michigan. It's a winning mentality. You don't go oh well we will give it our best. That's loser talk. You play to win the game. Go blue
azwolverine
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 11:25 p.m.
I LOVE those quotes. Much like Schembechler said the expectation was for the position, not the player, Hoke is saying that there are certain expectations for the program, regardless of the circumstances (new coaches, new system, etc). THAT is what he means by 'this is Michigan, there aren't any excuses.' How refreshing is that after the last coach? Further, when he goes on to say that 'if we don't win BT Championship, we've failed the kids as coaches.' He is quite literally practicing what he preaches to the team all the time: ACCOUNTABILITY. He's taking accountability for his job and rallying the troops to back him up. Again, this is getting back to the Michigan of Schembechler and Carr, and I for one am all for it. Call it what you will, but I'm all for it. Hoke knows what's expected of this program, and he's taking full responsibility for meeting those expectations. Go Hoke and GO BLUE!!!
GoBucks
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:39 p.m.
Every coach has goals, but can they deliver? Michigan's "Lil Sis" will determine the team's fate this year. If UM falters and falls to Mich State, the season is over.
Blu-dogg97
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
I have a feeling that Sparty is under that bucknut costume ! Warning Sparties from what i have been reading,your coach Danner is on the bucks short list to be HC at ohio..
barnz378
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 6:14 a.m.
I'd worry more about the crooked and undereducated.
Terry Star21
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 5:18 a.m.
Could be worse GoBuck...the season is already 'over' down south there .
mmppcc
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
Lil sis? That's pathetic coming from a fan of a disgraced program who's only ally is MSU's Coach Dantonio.
garrisondyer
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
I wouldn't quite say "over". There would still be the small matter of The Game. I would think you'd know that!
Terry Star21
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.
Sounds good to me....get your tickets now faithful - just 19 days until the Greatest Show on Earth begins it's 14 date tour. MgoBlueForTiM..............Brady Hoke for President, Michigan Football for Championship.