2004 FBL vs. Iowa -- Postgame Quotes
9/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr
On the Michigan defense ... "Well, I said they were magnificent in the second half a week ago. I think they were magnificent all day. They had a big play to start the game, but we helped them with a penalty. I thought after that we settled down. I thought we had great field position today because our kick coverage teams did an excellent job. Our defense controlled the line of scrimmage. Any time you hold a team to that few yards rushing you are really controlling things up front."
On defensive pressure ... "Well we had two great interceptions, both of them were the result of very good pressure. I think (defensive coordinator) Jim Herrmann did a great job in terms of coming up with a scheme that gave us an opportunity to get some pressure. I think the guys really played hard. We obviously wanted this game. I think we got better as a football team today. We improved offensively, we improved defensively, and out kicking game was the best it has been all year."
On the rushing defense ... "Iowa is a program that prides itself on running the football. I think the last three or four years it's been difficult for both teams to run the football. They have some injury problems just like we have some guys who are banged up and not playing. It's all part of Big Ten football, I just think we got better and that is a good feeling. Now we've got to go on the road and see if we can win a game on the road."
On the running game and Michael Hart ... "David Baas really helped us at center. We're more physical right now. I think we have a chance to have a good line and Michael Hart can find the holes. I think Michael Hart took another big step today. Our offensive game plan was excellent and I give our coaches credit because we are working a young quarterback. I thought that was a big play when we hit Braylon (Edwards). I don't know how he caught that ball, but the ball was on target and he made a magnificent play to score our first touchdown."
On Chad Henne ... "I think he has really made some progress. I think he stood in there and made some great throws after we got behind. I wanted to play Clayton Richard and I plan to play him because I think it is important to our football team. But I think Chad Henne took another big step today."
U-M Junior Defensive Tackle Gabe Watson
On Iowa's opening scoring drive ... "I don't believe we were stunned. We had a lot of things built up in us and we were just so amped. We just needed to settle down a bit and after we did that, we were fine."
On what it means to beat Iowa ... "It meant a lot for both the underclassmen and the upperclassmen. We lost to them two years in a row and we didn't want the seniors to go out with three losses. We worked hard on the game plan and we came out and executed."
On the defense creating turnovers ... "All year, Coach (Jim) Herrmann talks about getting the ball back for the offense and making big plays and stripping the ball. We pride ourselves in doing that. We want to make other opportunities for the offense as well as score ourselves."
On earning a starting role ... "The time I was sitting out, I learned a lot about patience. It builds a lot of character. Staying here and staying behind the seniors, I've learned so many different things. I had to lose weight and that was my part. After I got my weight down, I was able to move better and I was able to execute more."
On holding Iowa to negative rushing yardage ... "The coaches always talk about stopping the run. Iowa has a very good team and they're very physical and it's hard to get off their blocks."
On being familiar with Iowa's offense ... "You have to know your opponent. You can't go out there and be oblivious to everything. We talked to our offensive guys and asked about their defense. We knew who we were going against. Mike Hart did a good job and he runs hard and he got the job done."
U-M Senior Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards
On Chad Henne's performance ... "I think the one thing about Chad is that he's getting better each week. Chad is out there making it happen for us. Because of Chad's willingness to be a player as well as a rookie, he's making it happen. Any time a receiver has a chance to get to the ball, it should be a catch no matter where the quarterback puts it. The quarterback is not always going to make a good throw, especially in a scramble when he's being pressured. So whenever Chad throws the ball and it comes my way or Jason's (Avant) way or Steve's (Breaston) way, we have to catch the ball."
On his touchdown catch ... "All week long and all season long, once we found out that Chad was the starter, I told him to throw the ball out there and let me make a play on it. He threw it out there and it was exactly where I wanted the ball. All I did was stretch my arms out and caught it in stride. The defender was playing so far back that it looked like a bad throw but it was actually a perfect throw."
On the progress of Chad Henne ... "He's continuously getting better and better. He played with poise today. His huddle poise was tremendous. He came out there and just made plays. When we needed a third down, he set his feet and he was calm and we got the third-down conversion. Chad played an exceptionally well game. He's getting better every weekend and that's all we can ask for."
On the keys to making catches ... "I catch the football but I sometimes drop the football. These things happen. I think focus and concentration are always a must. A lot of time when it's a hard catch, it takes an extra level of focus and concentration to make that catch. Sometimes, it's just you and the ball and you don't see anything else. You work on it each weekend and each weekend you get better at it. It takes hard work. It's always about trying to improve yourself and taking yourself to the next level."
On the defensive performance this season ... "Our defense is definitely carrying their load. They're providing us with so many turnovers and so many opportunities, especially in the red zone. Every time I sit down after an offensive possession and I look up at the scoreboard, the defense is getting a fumble or an interception and I have to stand right back up and get back on the field. But I'm not complaining. They're just making it happen for us. If they keep doing what they're doing, there's no telling what this season is going to hold. All I can say is that it's going to be positive."
On the importance of the win ... "It's very important for a lot of reasons. One, it's a home game and you never want to lose at home. It's also the Big Ten opener. You never know what's going to happen through the course of the Big Ten season. I think that 82 percent of teams that win their home opener win or tie for the Big Ten championship. To come out here against Iowa, who has a good football team, this was not by any means an easy game. Do not let the score fool you. It was a struggle, there was some highs and lows. To come out with a victory against Iowa, it is a springboard for the next game."
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz
Opening statement ... "First of all, congratulations to Michigan. They played a hell of a game today. I thought it started out as a good football game, both teams came ready to play. I think what happened out there today is pretty obvious. Mistakes played a major role. It's been that way in this series over the last four years. Turnovers and special teams have really factored in. We didn't do a very good job protecting the football. Obviously they had something to do with that, the way they play defense. They were leading the country coming in today. They've done a great job. We helped them add to their lead today. Credit goes to them, they played an excellent game, and we're back to work tomorrow."
On the game today compared to last week's loss ... "If we played any worse than we did last week, it would have been hard to live with. Once again, I think both teams came ready to play. Our guys did a much better job over the course of the week, and I think they showed up focused and ready to go. We played a team that was better than us today."
On turnovers ... "In this series, if you turn the football over and if you don't play well on special teams, you're probably going to come out the loser. We have great respect for Michigan's ability to create turnovers. Again, it's not us helping them out, they help themselves. They've done a great job in that regard."
On penalties ... "We suffered from a couple dumb ones, that's for sure. We're going to have to get that cleaned up, we've talked about that. Hopefully we'll get better. I think we're out of the personal foul territory, at least that's an improvement."
Iowa Junior Cornerback Jovan Johnson
On having to cope with the five turnovers by the offense ... "We don't really pay attention to what goes on on offense as the defense. We just know when our number is called that it's our turn to get on the field. No matter what the situation is, whether they get the ball on our 20-yard line or are backed up inside their 20 it doesn't matter. We go out as a defense and try to stop them. We don't pay attention to what the offense does. If they turn the ball over then our number gets called and it's our turn to go out there and play."
On how much time the defense spent preparing for running back Michael Hart ... "After watching last game we kind of figured that we'd see Hart because he had a great game last week. We just have to prepare for any back. It doesn't matter what number they are or what their name is. You just prepare because they're going to have to have a running back out there. We just prepare for whoever they're going to have out there."
On the game plan to defend Michigan's wide receivers ... "We wanted to contain Braylon Edwards and keep him under 100 yards receiving. He's a great player and he makes great plays. You can't take anything away from him. He's probably going to be a first-round draft pick. More credit to Braylon. He's a great player and I wish him luck for the rest of the season."
Iowa Senior Tight End Tony Jackson
On the turning point in the game ... "I can't really pinpoint any particular moment, but definitely turnovers played a big part in our loss. If I had to pick one thing I'd say that."
On if the offense felt encouraged starting with a touchdown on the first drive ... "Yes, definitely. Our coaches all week have been stressing the concept of us starting fast and we were able to get the chance to do that. We came out fast and that felt great but we lost so that overshadows the fact that we started fast."
On if the offense felt it had to run the ball to be able to win today ... "That's pretty much our philosophy. Every week we want to run the ball, we want to establish the running game. That's definitely an important part of our offense."
On if the ineffectiveness of the running attack resulted in the loss ... "I don't think it's one thing that you can say, 'We didn't do this, so because of that we lost.' It was a combination of a couple of things. The biggest thing was they just played better than us today. That's the number one thing if I had to pinpoint something."
