The Michigan Wolverines lost yet again Saturday to the Wisconsin Badgers 49-11.
Following the game, Jim Harbaugh fielded a number of questions from the media.
Thoughts on Michigan’s loss
“Yeah, we were thoroughly, thoroughly beaten, in every phase. Didn’t really do anything well, and did not play good. Did not coach good. Not in a good place with the execution, not in a good place adjusting and what we were doing schematically. So not in a good place as a football team right now. That falls on me, and gotta get after, really going back to basics. Look at everything we do and everything that we’re doing and everybody’s got to do better. And as I said, I’m at the front of the line in accountability.”
On Michigan’s run defense
“They had extra blockers on the perimeter, and we couldn’t, didn’t set an edge all night. There’s things that we weren’t containing.”
On why Michigan seems to be going backwards
“As I said, every part is not close to where it should be. Stopping the run, stopping the pass, running the football offensively, throwing in the passing game, all things thoroughly not where they need to be in terms of execution. So that starts with me, starts with our coaches and also every person here. Understanding what we’re supposed to do, and then going and executing it. If somebody’s not executing it, then why is that? Are we communicating? Are we coaching it well enough? There’s nothing right now to say that an acceptable job is being done right now, players or coaches.”
On how to stop the regression
“Go back and look at every fundamental possibility, and address it. So look at what we are doing schematically, because it can only be those three things. Schematically, who’s doing it, what you’re doing, how you’re doing it, who’s doing it. We’ve got to look at all those things right now, and right now I’d say all three need to be addressed.”
Evaluating the QB situation
“We’re going to re-evaluate all things. Everything that we’re doing.”
On body language and a lack of confidence
“In all areas, really, that was … underperformed in every area. Coaching, execution, every man here. Ultimately, that was my responsibility.”
On Michigan trying to avoid a spiral
“Come back to work on Monday, players. Coaches will be back tomorrow morning, and you’re looking to fix things, you’re looking to … we’re going to go back, and gotta go through everything that you’re doing. Look for all ways to improve and all ways to win by all means necessary.”
On Joe Milton’s INTs and Cade McNamara’s TD drive
“That’s something we really have to look at. Did Joe understand the keys, where he was looking? Threw a ball, you know, right to another guy. … I think the first one, he was rolling out of the pocket, thought he threw a good ball. It was a contested catch, thought it should have been made, but it was tipped and they were very opportunistic and made the interception. The second one, threw it right to them. Didn’t have a lane, didn’t have a throw and made the throw anyway, and it got intercepted.”
On the focal point in practice next week
“Process of, everything we do, we got to try to win by all means necessary. That’s going to be our training, that’s going to be our workouts, that’s going to be our meetings, that’s going to be our coaches and all of us in terms of putting our plan together. Every meeting, every walkthrough, every practice, nutrition, recovery, everything we do is going to be aimed at improvement.”
Really all areas. Anything we can identify of a way to do it better. I’m thinking of things, but gotta address all areas.
On how he can coach differently
“Yeah, the thing that stands out the most is the coaching. The players to do what they’re asked to do, so making sure that they have an understanding of what to do, and therefore they can go for it. There seems to be hesitation, there seems to be some confusion, some lack of communication on both sides of the ball offensively and defensively and getting things adjusted to, getting things fixed, just identifying how to improve in those areas are some of the first things that we’re going to address.”
On keeping buy-in during a 1-3 start
“Identifying the players who have pride. Have pride in their own personal performance and want to fight like hell for Michigan.”
You can watch Jim Harbaugh’s press conference below:
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
