Why Greg Schiano believes Michigan has ‘one of the better outfits in America’ on offense.
Then 8-0 Michigan Wolverines will hit the road this weekend for the third time this season. The maize and blue will take a trip east to Piscataway to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
The Scarlet Knights have a 4-4 record this season. Rutgers started out 3-0 before losing three games in a row. The Scarlet Knights are 1-1 in the last two games, winning against Indiana and getting shutout against Minnesota.
The Wolverines lead the series against Rutgers, 7-1. Michigan has won seven-straight games against the Scarlet Knights. The last time the maize and blue traveled to Piscataway was in 20202 and Michigan won 48-42 in triple overtime.
Greg Schiano had his weekly press conference on Monday and he had plenty to say about the upcoming game with Michigan. He talked about the Wolverines’ run game, who will get the start at quarterback for Rutgers, and much more.
On what he wants to see from his young players in the next four games
I’m not really looking at the four games, I’m looking at this one game. It’s real dangerous to start looking past anything. What I look for, you know, a lot of people say, well, that’s coach speak like, and people like more exciting stuff but if it’s true, it’s not coach speak, it’s how I do it. Right now, I’m totally focused on game planning Michigan because that’s what we do on Mondays and totally focused with meeting with my leadership counsel. Those are the things that I really focus on because that’s what’s here right now. And you know, we have a saying around here: The journey is the destination. The world isn’t made like that, right. The world is, you’ve got to get to that spot. I really believe what we are doing today is really that spot and doing the best you can and that may sound corny, that may sound coach speak but I give everybody a little advice. It’s kind of a good way to roll. That’s the way we do it. That’s what we are on right now is how do we get better today and those are the only things we can control. Tomorrow we’ll have a Tuesday practice, and that will be the only thing we control.
Any concern that Rutgers has one tunnel like Michigan?
You know, I witnessed the same thing, so I understand the question. We’ve never had an incident that I know of, at least when I’ve been here, we have not had an incident. I think our guys do a great job with who goes when and it’s all very controlled and maybe some people feel like it’s too controlled but case in point, it needs to be controlled. That’s just the way we are built right now. There will be a day when we have two tunnels. I’m not worried about that. But right now this is the way we’re built so this is the way we’ll do it. But we have a plan, that’s for sure.
On Michigan's run game.
Well, it’s hard. Why do they have a good running game? They have a very good offensive line. They have two really good backs, probably more, but two that play a lot, and a quarterback that can run and pass. So you have to defend the pass, you have to defend his run. The offensive line is doing a good job blocking. They have got two upper echelon running backs. So it’s one of the better outfits in America on offense. That’s why you look at where they are ranked in all those statistical categories that are up in the top. Have we played against people like that? Yeah, we have. We have to do a great job. We have to be at our very best to have a chance to slow them down. Are you going to stop them? No. No one’s stopped them. But we’re going to do everything we can to the best of our ability and see where that stacks up.
On why the run game struggled against Minnesota
(…..)We’re working very hard to figure out what we can do to help that and Michigan is equally adept at stopping the run. They are really, really good, maybe even better. They have a really strong defense, the biggest front we’ll play against up front defensively. Their linebackers run very well and their secondary knows where to fit. It’s going to be a challenge.
Who will start against Michigan on Saturday?
No, Gavin (Wimsatt) is going to be our starter.
