Press Conference Comments from Michigan Football Players
10/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Player Comments from
Weekly U-M Football Media Luncheon
Previewing Illinois (Oct. 16); Reviewing Minnesota (Oct. 9)
Fifth-Year Senior Fullback Kevin Dudley
On Michigan's offensive effort compared to Minnesota's last weekend ... "You can't take anything away from Minnesota's backs. They were good, but I think we came out and proved something on Saturday."
On not looking past the Illinois game ... "It is tough not to overlook games, but Coach Carr keeps us pretty focused on the task at hand. We just have to keep focused on Illinois and go in there and get a 'W'."
On staying motivated for the game against the Illini ... "Coach Carr just keeps us so focused on knowing that we have to win this week. It's just like any other week; we've got to accomplish our goals. We've got to make sure that we go in every week knowing that we have to play our best and that we get better and better every week."
On being upset in the Big Ten Conference ... "In the Big Ten, things like that can happen. Going into games, especially on the road, there's so much talent in the Big Ten. You're supposed to win them, but you never know."
On his impressions of the running game against Minnesota ... "I was very happy with the outcome. Mike Hart is just stepping up unbelievably. Each week he's getting better. He's a tough kid; he took 90-some snaps on Saturday. To be 18 years old and come out and do that in the Big Ten against a good team is just unbelievable."
On the recent play of Michael Hart ... "It's unbelievable, especially in his pass protection. Being able to pick up the reads and everything, it takes some people two years to figure it out. The way he's come in and done it in two months, it's just unbelievable. Knowing the reads he has to pick up and knowing the stunts, all of that is just really unbelievable."
On the play of Chad Henne and Michael Hart ... "Each week, they're getting better and better and gaining more confidence and just helping our team out. It is pretty unbelievable having a starting quarterback and tailback both being freshmen. Coming into the season, I would never have guessed that. They've both done a tremendous job and they just keep getting better and better."
On David Baas moving to center ... "He's doing a great job. You put Baas anywhere on the offensive line he's going to do a great job. The coaches thought that moving him to center was a good idea and I think it was a good idea. He's doing just as good of a job there as he did at guard."
On his laid-back demeanor ... "I pretty much let my actions on the field speak for themselves. I'm definitely laid back, but I pretty much just lead by my play. When it gets intense, I'll start yelling."
On the offensive as a unit ... "We struggled for a little bit. But each week we're getting better and gaining more confidence. People are starting to feel more comfortable in their roles. We're on our way."
On the improvement in offensive possession ... "Early in the season, we were going three-and-out quite often. Now you are seeing that we're getting the first down and we keep driving the ball. In the last game, we had the ball 15 more minutes than Minnesota did. It's a big part to just move the ball."
Senior Defensive End Pat Massey
On getting ready for Illinois and not looking ahead to Purdue ... "It's a lot like coming off a loss or a big win -- you've got to put it behind you. It's a one-game season. You just need to concentrate on the week ahead. We've got to learn from our mistakes, and against Minnesota, we had plenty of mistakes. Other than that, it's just moving on and taking one game at a time. Anytime you're coming off a big win at home, it's always tough to go out and play an away game. It's a challenge, but it's a challenge every week."
On his sack against Minnesota ... "I would attribute it to all the guys on the defensive line. If you look at those sacks, every single one of them can be attributed to someone doing their job on the line. Last Saturday against Minnesota, that sack was all due to Gabe Watson; he came through, he went first and took out two or three blockers. All I had to do was come around, keep it tight and get to their quarterback. So, it seems every single one of our sacks so far are due to the guys in the secondary; it just makes my job easy."
On the play of the defensive line and teams trying to double-team guys ... "It seems like almost every play, two out of the three guys are getting double-teamed, usually it's Gabe (Watson) or Larry (Harrison). It comes with the job and it's part of our territory. Both of those guys are excellent players. It's great to be able to play with both of them. They are different -- in body type and the way they play -- but they both get the job done and they're both great football players."
On forcing turnovers ... "I don't think we're too worried about it. If anything, we're a little disappointed that we haven't been getting more turnovers. That is our role, to get the ball back. We've done it in different ways, like last weekend with a couple of big three-and-outs. It's still a goal of ours. Even though we didn't really get them the last two games, it's not like we stopped concentrating on it. We're definitely still trying to get the turnovers, but it does mean a lot that we don't have to rely on it as much as we did earlier in the season."
On the Minnesota halftime break ... "It was an angry locker room, but there was no lack of confidence in there. We knew what we did wrong in the first half, and it was a matter of us going out and executing the coaches' game plan. We absolutely knew we could stop those guys; it was about us just going out and executing our assignments. It was a remarkable game plan, and we were fully confident we could do it in the second half."
On the defensive line ... "If you look at the amount we rotate, the guys who are coming in play just about as much as the guys who are starting. Having those guys come in and helping to keep us fresh is important. There are a lot of guys on the defensive line playing great right now. Alex Ofili has been playing well. We've got Jeremy Van Alstyne back now; in the spring, he was by far one of our top defensive linemen. His presence out there is really helping us."
On the improvement in the defensive line ... "Guys are playing with a lot more confidence. Earlier in the season, I think guys were just worried that they were going to mess up. They were just playing within themselves and not really going out there and being athletes and playing like they can. I think it all comes down to experience and confidence. As soon as you start making a play or two, then you start feeling better about yourself and you start making progress from there."
On Jeremy Van Alstyne ... "We all knew he'd be back this season. If you could see the way that kid works, you'd have known the same thing. Over the summer, when we did defensive line drills, he'd be out there snapping the ball for us. He'd want to be out there just to stay in the groove; even before he knew if he'd be able to come back, he would be watching film with us, every single night. It might take a while for him to get to where he was in the spring, but just having him back is a positive for our defensive line. Even if he isn't at full strength, he will definitely be a positive influence on us. He's an all-around player; he quick off the ball and the he's a great example for our young guys of the way you want a defensive lineman to play. He stops the run, and he's a good pass rusher; he's always moving forward."
Senior Strong Safety Ernest Shazor
On receiving the Big Ten Player of the Week award ... "I just found out this morning. It is great. It is about time someone from the Michigan defense got a little recognition."
On leading the team in tackles ... "I think this year I have been playing more in the box (closer to the line of scrimmage). Coach (Jim) Herrmann wants me playing up closer to the line this year and that is probably why I have more tackles."
On why the team has no turnovers in the past two games ... "I think it is just one of those things we have to get better at. In practice, we are still doing the strip drills and putting our hats on the ball. In the Indiana game, I think we had two or three chances but we just couldn't get one."
On the atmosphere at halftime against Minnesota ... "At halftime, we were playing good defense, but we weren't playing great defense. We came out in the second half and played great defense in the second half."
On not slipping in the Big Ten season ... "Now we have to start taking that more seriously. We have to get better with our technique and better with the angles we take. We can't leave our feet and we have to wrap up. We are in the Big Ten race now and we are right in the thick of it. We have to get better and start competing a little bit harder."
On not looking past Illinois to Purdue ... "I think here we take each game seriously. The coaches don't really look for the next game. We just take the next game very seriously. We are just looking at Illinois and to go down to Champaign and compete."
On how to get motivated against Illinois ... "I think they run the West Coast offense, but I am not sure about that. We just have to continue to get better each week. We have a young offense. Our defense is pretty solid, but we just have to get better each week and continue to improve."
On how the defense can get better ... "Defensively we have to stop the big plays and not allow any plays over 25 yards. That is one of our main goals and one of our goals as a unit: no plays over 25 yards."
On if there is a challenge for the Big Ten championship ... "I think it is a challenge every year in the Big Ten. Anyone can win the Big Ten this year. Anyone could have won it last year. We are always in the race and in the thick of it. We just have to take each game seriously. The Big Ten is the Big Ten and it is a challenge every week."
Junior Defensive Tackle Gabe Watson
On getting double-teamed ... "At times it gets frustrating. It's a tough position. You want to go against one guy, you focus on one guy in film (session), but in the game you have a guy here, or a guy there coming down on you and you're like, Oh my goodness. Sometimes you get mad about it, but I notice on film that some guys make plays because I am double-teamed. It's all a part of the job."
On being blocked differently the last couple games ... "During the first couple games I wasn't getting doubled-teamed and I was getting into the backfield pretty easy. I've gotten noticed the last two or three games, and just about every play I had two guys on me. It is kind of hard at times to split the double team, but you just have to keep rushing."
On competition between teammates ... "There is a lot of competition amongst everybody. Sometimes LaMarr Woodley and I will be in the game and say, I'm going to get to the quarterback first. When one of us is on the sidelines we will tease one another and say, I got him, you didn't. It's good competition, because you're helping your team while you do it."
On losing weight ... "Well, I didn't go on the Subway Diet. It was tough at first. I came in here at 366 and you can lose a lot of water weight in two-a-days and I would hop on the scale and see I lost eight pounds. The next day you would weigh 10 more pounds. Because your weight can fluctuate so much you get down on yourself. You feel that not only did you let yourself down, but you let your team down as well."
On the defensive line being a question mark coming into the season ... "It was a lot of pressure, but it was wanted pressure. You want to be in that position, where people say the defensive line is the weakest part of the team, because it puts something on your back and gives you something to strive and fight for. We are getting the job done, but we can always improve. We are trying to get better and better every week."
On senior safety Ernest Shazor ... "Ernest (Shazor) keeps his head up throughout the game. He keeps talking to guys throughout the game, saying things like, 'We need you to get to the quarterback on this play.' If a certain player or team hits a big play he'll say, 'We need to get the ball now.' It's nice having him around, because he is high intensity and has a motor. It is natural to follow upperclassmen, but especially when they are playing as well as he is."
On having quality depth ... "I believe it is very important to have people backing you up. It's a man's game. You are playing against scholarship players who are 300-pounders and it's tough going against guys like that every play. When you have people who can come in and still get the same job done, it's good."
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