What Jim Harbaugh said about Michigan football before Indiana
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football is now 6-0 and after a two-game road trip, the Wolverines are set to return home for one game to face the Indiana Hoosiers.
Jim Harbaugh had a lot to discuss, from Mason Graham’s return, to the defense overall, to J.J. McCarthy and his play, to what Indiana presents, to his impending contract extension.
All-in-all, Harbaugh naturally likes where his team is, ranked No. 2 in the nation, but insists that the Wolverines have to continue ascending. With the Hoosiers on the horizon, here is everything that Harbaugh had to say about where his team is as of current.
On tight end blocking
Yeah, really terrific. As a group, been great. AJ Barner is really doing it at a really high, elite level right now. Been a great addition to the team. Max Bredeson continues — I thought he only had like one missed block in the game. Colston Loveland — the whole group is really excelling at a high level. Especially in blocking — and receiving.
Reaction to PJ Fleck saying Michigan is the best team he's seen as a head coach
Good, thank you! And then, I have a lot of respect for Minnesota. I think they are a heck of a good team. And we were really on our game and it’s great to get the win and came out pretty healthy, too, from the game. And yeah, just better. Really, really impressed with better each week, getting better and better.
Guys are locked in, really apparently locked in. See that in practice and in games and feel like we can keep on that trajectory. But yeah, it was very good to come out of that game with seeing the evidence that the team is improving, constant improvement. It’s a successful way to go about things. Improvement will lead to success — and want to keep doing that.
On Fleck's 'boa constrictor' comment -- credit to Ben Herbert?
You can’t give Ben Herbert enough credit — and the the entire staff in our strength and conditioning department. I mean, they’re the best — well-documented. Just, it’s a relentless pursuit that I’ve noticed, that our players are fully bought into and then a commitment to — like unyielding commitment — to really the basics, the fundamentals, the effort, the practice the preparation. It’s good.
How does he keep his team locked in when it looks easy?
That’s what I’ve noticed, that a real apparent locked in by our team.
Having Mason Graham back
It is great to have Mason back, he was really champing at the bit, too, didn’t really want to stay out the two games. And we could see as it happens — sometimes with a real player that is able to play we just miss it a lot. I mean, especially noticed it with him and he couldn’t wait to get back out there and he played really good. He was one of the players of the game and with the club — cool stuff. I think he’s becoming a lot of people’s favorite player. Had quite a few texts from different people and friends and people that know football that were really impressed as well.
Had he gone back to watch Kalel Mullings' high school tape to evaluate him at running back?
Yeah, I did. And then he was really playing really well at linebacker and I started having some conversations with especially Dale Mullings, Kalel’s dad. And we started talking about it. He reminded me of Kalel, his ability to be a running back, and what I thought of that. And went back and watched the tape again and some of the high school clips and, ‘Yeah, I agree with you, Dale.’
And I talked about this with the parents, how good they are, I mean, really, they know their son’s the best. They’ve been watching them for 18 years and get valuable input from them when they come to practice. They’re practically like a video camera, watching their own son at the practice. And we all work better, right? — when there’s a video camera on us, even if there wasn’t any tape in the video camera. Or — I know, it’s different. Now there’s a chip, but we’d all work a little harder, right? — if we knew somebody was watching and — especially when I went to parents, they’re watching it like a human video camera. And then give good feedback afterwards. I encourage that encourage also the coaching that parents give their kids.
So long story short there, that was that was something that was also driven by by coach Dale Mullings. And we’re very appreciative of that observation.
How much have these blowout situations set up the team for the future?
That’s a great observation. Just, it’s huge. I mean, how big? It’s historically very, very, very big, very huge. Not only with just when a player starts maturing and gaining that confidence and getting that time on task, and then they can see that they can do it. Just there’s a level of confidence and maturity that for all levels is very good for how that player is going to be three or four games down the road, or next spring, or next year.
And we’re hitting that spot where historically freshmen really start coming into their own. Game seven on the horizon here. Usually it happens, right? Just almost predictably, magically, somewhere or other, that seven. I know it’s a Biblical number, but it seems to be that way in football for freshmen. If they’re going to play this year, and they’re mature enough, good enough, they start showing up right around this time. So, them getting the opportunity to do that has been very valuable for us.
Jesse Minter's halftime adjustments
Yeah, I think we can say it’s not coincidence that some of these statistics that we’re seeing defensively, offensively special teams, we got we have really good coaches. I get accused of hyperbole and things of that nature. Not Nostradamus or anything. I see it when it’s occurring and know when it’s good. And we have really good coaches. Jesse Minter is outstanding, outstanding in every facet. And apple doesn’t fall too far from the branch. Rich Minter’s seen a lot of football, seen a lot of balls kicked off and he’s come about it really in his own way. I mean, he’s really a great coach at everything — at his knowledge and his teaching, his ability to adjust — I mean, he’s got it. He’s really smart — wicked smart. Just does so many things that are great. And he’s doing a tremendous job.
How amenable would he be to a new contract?
Yeah, I mean, like anybody — you want to be somewhere where you’re wanted and what they like what you do and how you do it. And then they tell you that, your boss is telling you that, and then that gets reflected in a contract.
But yeah, bottom line any of us, right? I mean, that’s what we want to be somewhere where they like how you do it and what you do.
On Aidan Hutchinson
Also, I think I did comment Aidan Hutchinson should have been the should be the No. 1 pick in the draft! Because right on that one as well, right? Did you see that interception on the screen pass, that one-hander? Wow. I’m so proud of him and the amazing job he’s doing. Statistics reflect very well to what he’s added to the Lions. Darn exciting to be around, a football fan in Michigan right now.
Mason Graham's ability to destroy blocks
Yeah, he’s a really good football player, was in high school. And I thought he was a good offensive lineman. He was a really good tackle and could play guard. But he was a really good defensive lineman, too. He was really good at both of those positions. And, it was just a gift from the football gods to get a defensive tackle like him and Kenneth Grant. And that was what we really needed at that time was two big defensive tackles. So Mason started defensive tackle, played defensive tackle, was starting as a freshman, had his best game the fifth game of his freshman year. And he’s continued on in a great way. So yeah, it’s all good there — effort, toughness, discipline, humility, attention to detail — it’s all turning out in a great way.
Did him playing offensive tackle help him at DT?
Yeah, I would think so. All that to say he’s a football player. It’s about the best thing you can say about somebody, the highest compliment you can give.
And another great player, too, Cam Goode, he had his best game. Kris Jenkins continues to be the talk about block destruction. Nobody right now that I’ve seen anywhere is doing it better than Kris Jenkins. So pretty, pretty phenomenal.
Biggest strengths to Cornelius Johnson's game
Oh, it’s so many. Talent, speed, route-running ability. He’s a very good catcher of the ball. He had the one drop, but then he had some real exceptional plays. The one, the post that he caught after being, we thought interfered with on the field and from the film, still make that, have that concentration and make that catch. His balance, I mean, Ben Herbert’s pointed that out before, his slack block control just keeps showing up. Ohio State last year, this year in this game a couple of times, pretty, pretty elite level that way. Yeah, we noticed, (gave a) game ball to Cornelius Johnson as well.
Reaction when he hears Michigan hasn't played anybody
I really don’t have one. It’s just — whatever’s being said, all that kind of thing, we’re just trying to get good at football. We don’t really pay too much attention to what’s been said — good or said bad. Just really about us. You want to talk about any subject, I mean, sounds like complacency was one earlier, the only antidote for any of those kinds of things, good or bad, leadership and character, that unyielding commitment to basics and the fundamentals of Michigan football. And a faith in each other, that we’re gonna continue to keep attacking. And when it’s the preparation, the meetings, the training, the practice, the games, and just do the best we can. That’s, that’s all we can ask of ourselves and our teammates.
Does he feel wanted at Michigan? And has he gotten any assurances?
I mean, that’s been a kind of a three-and-a-half-year thing about what that is. So, yeah — especially gets put into a contract. I mean, I can’t say that any more clearly, and definitely open to that. Like, I’ve shown that through the years. But, it’s like anybody, man, I’m just like, I’m concentrating and focused on having a good practice today. Got a team meeting coming up, and we got practices. It’s just coach the team time when you’re in the middle of the season.
On Tayven Jackson and Indiana
Yeah, I mean, they’re a great team. I’ve always thought that about them — gritty, leadership, tough, tough, tough outfit. I mean, we’re gonna have to play good. You’re right, they’re being more efficient in all phases, they’re improving, too. So like anybody, it’s a race to get better each week, and go out and find your identity and play as best as a team. I see them on an upward trajectory, as well. And we always know that they’re tough outfits.
So yeah, we’re gonna have to get prepared. Have a great week of practice. That’s really been key for us. I’ve noticed the last three, four weeks, just getting better and better. And having that focus, so just it’s what we’re doing.
On Karsen Barnhart's willingness to move on the offensive line
Super impressed. Always. He’s a trusted agent and known friend. Selfless player. Does everything for the team. He’s always locked in and pulling his weight. I mean, you go back, it’s no surprise. He is who he is. You know, Jenny and Jeff Barnhart. Nobody works like Jeff. Jeff Barnhart, it’s six, seven days a week operating the big machines. Man, that guy’s — he’s like a hero to me, man. I might have mentioned a few times, have gotten into some of the tools and kind of upped in my game when it comes to skid steers and tractors and chainsaws and that’s kind of who I idolize in that department is Jeff Barnhart.
I got a chance to work with him a few times on a project and watch him move that dirt around with a skid steer. Teach me how to do it. That was cool, you know? Yeah, you’d go back to those to know what they poured into Karsen and then be — wouldn’t be a surprise at all. See, apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, at all. Yeah, he’s one of my favorite guys.
On his comment that J.J. McCarthy is the best QB in college
And then I made the comment after that, I thought J.J. was the best quarterback in the country after the game and stuff. I had a chance to watch USC on the flight home. He’s really good, too!
I would say they’re both like, that’d be like — now you’re in the world of talking about who’s better Kobe or Michael or the Peyton Manning Tom Brady. Hey, they’re both good! They’re both really good. They’re both really great.
And we still love our guy. Even after watching the film, I mean, the playmaking ability, the control that the J.J. has. Now even when it looks like what is he doing? There was a point in the Rutgers game. No it was Nebraska, he rolled left to the touchdown to Roman in the back of the endzone. I’ve got to kind of help myself here. But as he’s running, he’s running left and rolling left, I’m telling him, ‘Run, run, run!’ And I see him cocking the arm to throw and I go ‘No! Don’t!’ Throw a touchdown and J.J. looked right at me. ‘I meant, yes! I meant throw! Throw!’
Yeah, even when it looks like, as it did in that moment, what he should be doing is running for the first down, not throwing that late in the down. But that was a perfectly, perfectly thrown pass to Roman Wilson in the back of the endzone. I mean, I’ll never argue with touchdowns. But it’s that kind of, to give that, paint the picture a little bit, that’s kind of what I’m talking about. He’s in control, even sometimes when it looks like he’s not in there. The really good ones, great ones to do that.
Did J.J. hear him?
Oh, he did because he looked right at me after he after he threw it. We had a we had a discussion about it. I stand corrected!
