Michigan football coaches say defensive line not good enough, Wolverines barely scratched surface of offense on Saturday
A Michigan defensive line anchored by senior captain Mike Martin, 68, didn't play up to the coaching staff's standards against Western Michigan.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
That’s what good coaches do.
It was defensive coordinator Greg Mattison’s turn Tuesday, and he emphasized the need for the Wolverines’ defensive line to become more imposing than it was in Saturday’s 34-10 win against Western Michigan.
“When I looked at that tape, I knew what I would see, and that is not totally how we want to play defense,” Mattison said at his weekly news conference.
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Together, they have a very specific way they want the defensive line to be played, and Saturday was not it.
"Not good enough," Hoke said when asked about how the line executed against the Broncos. "We had much higher expectations for how we want to play up front. I thought we didn't stop the run very well. We didn't get off blocks like we'd like to."
Michigan’s starting front four of junior Craig Roh and seniors Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen and Will Heininger had some nice moments, but mostly struggled to get to the quarterback.
Roh might have had the worst day of them all. He didn’t even show up on the stat sheet after the game because he didn’t record a tackle.
“He has to play better,” Mattison said. “One of the things we addressed was we had too many players in that defense who did not get production.
“Craig’s one of those guys. We got to get more out of him, and I think he knows that. He understands, he saw the film himself, he understands he’s a better player than that.”
Michigan will face Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees on Saturday after Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly announced Tuesday the sophomore would replace senior Dayne Crist.
With star senior receiver Michael Floyd at wideout, Michigan will need to get to the quarterback to take some pressure off its secondary. It also would provide Mattison more options -- “more bullets,” he likes to say -- to attack Notre Dame’s offense.
“We won’t sit back and play zone coverage until we have the ability to get a rush with a four-man rush,” Mattison said. “It’s not fair to the secondary and it’s not fair to that underneath coverage.”
Offense ‘barely scratches surface’
The Michigan offense ran only 39 plays during its weather-shortened win Saturday against Western Michigan. Did offensive coordinator Al Borges get to unveil all he wished?
"We didn't even scratch the surface," he said. "There was so much left in the bag. Just the way the game went -- which I guess is kind of good -- but we didn't even begin to approach our menu."
Stephen Hopkins
Hopkins enters running back mix
Borges said sophomore running back Stephen Hopkins -- who was held out against Western Michigan due to a "team issue" -- is back in the tailback mix and is expected to see some touches this week.
"Now that he's back, he's going to be a factor," Borges said. "He's that big back that you like to have."
Barnum, Schofield will compete up front
Reserve offensive lineman Michael Schofield impressed Borges against the Broncos, when he started in place of guard Ricky Barnum. Hoke said Barnum, who also sat out the game due to a “team issue,” would dress against Notre Dame, but Schofield will challenge him for the spot at guard. "They'll compete. Mike had a good game and did a good job," Borges said. "We'll see how the thing goes, but it's nice to know he can -- if that makes any sense."
Ball distribution not an offensive concern
Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson completed nine passes to six receivers against Western Michigan, giving the Wolverine offense solid balance in its 2011 debut.
"Once you get into the battle, you don't know how it's going to go," Borges said. "You design certain plays for certain guys, but you're not always able to get it to that guy. You always want a degree of distribution, but I'm not obsessed (with who catches what). What I care about is taking what the defense gives you. And if that means one guy catches 10 passes, so be it."
Mattison speaks on son making Ravens' cut
Mattison got a good bit of personal news this week when his son, Bryan, made the Baltimore Ravens' 53-man roster.
Bryan Mattison, an Iowa product, began his career as a defensive lineman before switching to the offensive line -- a move that was encouraged by his father.
Greg Mattison joked Tuesday that he's glad the piece of advice worked out.
"He looked at me like I was a traitor, because all the time at our supper table, I would always say that if a guy can't play defense, he can always go to offense," Mattison said. "So I reminded him the other night (of that) and told him, 'Boy, I'm glad you made it, because I would have really felt bad if you wouldn't have.' "
Odds and ends
Junior wide receiver Roy Roundtree said wideout Darryl Stonum, who is redshirting this season, is playing the role of Notre Dame senior wideout Michael Floyd this week at practice. … Mattison said although Troy Woolfolk sprained his left ankle on kickoff coverage, he won't argue with Hoke to keep the senior off special teams. "There's three equal parts in this thing," he said. "I've seen too many coaches say, 'I've got to have that guy only on defense.’ And I say, OK, fine, put another guy in there that doesn't do as well as you'll see how fast that ball comes back.'”
AnnArbor.com's Nick Baumgardner contributed to this report.
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
Mick
Thu, Sep 8, 2011 : 2:10 a.m.
Will you look at this, Hoke has managed to bring together The Ghost and Mr. Steelmen, way to go guys, I'm proud of the both of you, we are all UM Fans and Family, Go Blue!!! Lorain, I don't consider you a part of the MCC anymore, your comments lately have been "True Blue" and reasonable, way to go buddy, enjoy the game Saturday, I'm envious I won't be there. UM 31 ND 20, Go Blue!!!
Blu n Tpa
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 1:43 p.m.
Mick, are you starting to listen to Josh Groban all the time? Remember "fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." "You are a better man than I Gunga Din."
Lorain Steelmen
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 8:21 p.m.
DonAZ. This article pretty much sums up the concerns I had after the game on saturday. The coaching straff, is being pretty direct, and I think they are both motivating the team, and being frank. The Wolverines are 'not yet ready for prime time'. I think ND will give all of us a much better reading on both the players and the coaches. This game, WILL be physical! My hope is that the ND quarterback situation will help UM this weekend. The younger kid my not 'pick up' the blitzes that Mattison can dial up. BUT....UM needs more dominate play out of it's Dline. I'm not at all satisfied with Roh, Campbell, and Washington yet. On offense, I think there is 'more in the tank', than we have seen, but in the end, Borges will also try to keep the ND 'O' on the bench. He'll go back to a solid run game (if he can), with posession passing. I like having Hopkins back, to spell Fitz. Scholfield was a pleasant surprize, at guard. I'm hopful, but VERY apprehensive. Our kicking game may be called upon in a typically tight UM/ND game. hmmm...I like that UM is the early underdog. That takes the 'pressure off' the young kids, and puts it back on 0-1 ND. So, I'll be there with about 115,000 of my 'closest friends'....and, as the the beer commercial says..'Stay thirsty, my friends! Go Blue! I love the new pre-entry film..and the way it ends, with the Hokmeister...'this s MICHIGAN for god's sake.....oh yeah!!!!!!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Sep 8, 2011 : 1:13 a.m.
Good analysis, LS. Agree 100%. Add to it that the D-Line needs to be able to put some pressure on the QB w/o the help of the blitz And I sure hope someone is working on the Kickoff team--poor coverage combined with not-very-deep kicks. Good Night and Good Luck
chiro19
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.
Carder was getting hit hard on every play during the 2nd quarter. I dont know how that will translate to the ND game because I am sure that ND up front is better than WMU at picking up blitzes. Westerns season would have been over if he got hurt and Cubit is not an idiot. The score was going to be 41-10 before the 4th quarter and I dont think he would have been left in the game. Thus there is no point in restarting the game because it is over. Just think though what time ND has to spend now on blitz package pick ups with Rees! Instead of focusing on what ND needs to do they are focusing on what Mich. is going to do! What is michigan focused on when they are running their offense this week? They are finding weaknesses and problem areas that ND has. ND looks the same to me as the last two years, mediocre at best and I think Michigan is already showing that it is much better defensively when it comes to positioning, technique, and intensity! The only thing that WMU was able to do passing was the little wr screens and 10 yard out because Carder has a good arm. No other passes downfield were there. The screens were taken away with tight man bump and run coverage and the 10 yard out was gone by taking the time away from Carder and making him throw it perfect well before his receivers break. Plus if Herron was more comfortable with his positioning he could have had 2 more interceptions of balls that were going right next to his head on the pass.
GoblueinNE_PA
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 4:31 p.m.
What you're seeing here is the real results of calling that game on Saturday. We still don't know what we got with this team. On Offense, Denard was barely able to work up a sweat and he certainly never got his arm loose. His downfield passing game looked suspect, frankly not much better than last year. Who knows if it's really that bad though, since he only had 2 deep balls. The running game looked better, but again, it wasn't allowed to fully develop. On defense, who's to say if Roh wouldn't have turned it on over the last quarter and a half as we'd (hopefully) started really pulling away? This first game is designed to work out the kinks, but that couldn't happen. There are still "kinks" left that will show up in game 2. About the only thing good coming from this is that ND doesn't have a lot of game film to study. That dang storm was definitely inopportune.
thecompound
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 6:44 p.m.
i miss you're other avatar ;)
Blu n Tpa
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
Crist was overheard telling Rees that the "last thing you do before hiking the ball on a passing down is find number 32". "He's just a former walk-on but if you dont know where he is before you get the snap, you will feel him soon afterwards." Rumor has it that the WMU coach wanted the game called, not because of lightning, but because he didn't want to lose his QB for the rest of the season. But that's just a rumor.
friend12
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 3:25 p.m.
DL was an issue, but, play off the receivers 10-15 yard for most of the 1st quarter also killed us. They moved the ball right down the field with quick 5-10 yard passes that first drive. The same stuff they did last year. Big difference is that they adjusted and started playing the receivers tight and hitting them off the line in the 2nd quarter. The OL started to become more effect. Adding more pressure and taking away those quick routes changed the flow of the game. If they give the Irish receiver that kind of space we will get killed.
MRunner73
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 11:33 a.m.
This coaching staff wants and expects RESULTS. I admire that they singled out a few players: Craig Roh or Stephen Hopkins. If we can see Roh make a few key tackles or Hopkins busting through for a first down, then we will be in a position to win this game. If Al Borgess says they only scratched the surface on play calling, then this game against ND will be very exciting. Yes, I am seeing this with some Maize and Blue glasses and can't help but be very optimistic about this weekend, and then next and then next month, etc. I am very cautious about the ND game and see it like this; it might be a nail biter or we could see another 38-0 blowout. ND seems to be the wild card as what team will show up. Hopefully, ND Head Coach Brian Kelley can implode again. The first ever night game at the Big House will also be a positive factor for the Maize and Blue and the 114,000 fans. I too, am amped up for this game...GO BLUE!!!
towny
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 4:57 a.m.
Things sure do sound right a U of M these days. What a change from past years. You go Bo Hoke. Was right on with prediction of 34-10 for opener and going with 27 U of M 17 ND. Go Blue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DonAZ
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 2:41 a.m.
I'm telling you what ... I *like* this coaching staff. Watch this and tell me Hoke isn't in command: <a href="http://mgovideo.com/inside-michigan-football-2011-episode-2" rel='nofollow'>http://mgovideo.com/inside-michigan-football-2011-episode-2</a> The "not good enough" philosophy is taking hold. The "not the individual but the team" philosophy is taking deep root. These players are ready to eat glass and walk across hot coals for these coaches. Borges: "We didn't even scratch the surface," he [Borges] said. "There was so much left in the bag. Just the way the game went -- which I guess is kind of good -- but we didn't even begin to approach our menu." Borges is a TRUE offensive mind ... working with the tools in the box; taking what the opposing defense will give. More: "You always want a degree of distribution, but I'm not obsessed (with who catches what). What I care about is taking what the defense gives you. And if that means one guy catches 10 passes, so be it." Regarding Hopkins: "Now that he's back, he's going to be a factor," Borges said. "He's that big back that you like to have." One more hammer in the tool belt. Regarding Craig Roh, who was noticeably silent this game: "He has to play better," Mattison said. "One of the things we addressed was he had too many players in that defense who did not get production. Craig's one of those guys. We got to get more out of him, and I think he knows that. He understands, he saw the film himself, he understands he's a better player than that." Expect more ... demand more ... and the committed players will dig deep and deliver. I have a $25 bet with my fourth-line manager ... my Vice President ... that Michigan beats Notre Dame. I sent him a Michigan T-shirt. I want to (gently) rub his nose in a Meeeechigan victory. I am so GEEKED. GO BLUE!!!!!!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Sep 8, 2011 : 1:14 a.m.
Great post, Don. Good Night and Good Luck
BornInA2
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 3:52 a.m.
Yep.