News and Views: Sherrone Moore’s confidence in team 145, RBs, no Harbaugh as honorary captain
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore looked calm and comfortable in front of the media Tuesday, and extremely confident in his first U-M football team. Though there are still question marks at quarterback, Moore reported the offensive line is holding its own against the defensive line and that there’s a lot of talent on his squad.
RELATED: Sherrone Moore on NCAA and text messages, O-line and D-line battles, Rayshaun Benny
We break down Moore’s comments in news and views format:
NEWS: Sherrone Moore has high expectations for his first Michigan team. He talked about how the tougher teams on the schedule had to play U-M, too, when asked about the strength of schedule.
SHERRONE MOORE: “We’ve got an undefeated record, and we keep track of everything … just watching our guys in practice, and when you have the vision of the head coach and you stand behind and you see everything going on — you watch the quarterback, you watch the line, you watch the D-line, you watch the defense’s eyes, you hear the communication that the defense does and you hear the pads [crack] — we’re going to be good. You can feel it; you can sense it.”
VIEWS: They don’t care what other people think, he added — they’re just ready to go. The guys are “working their tails off,” he added, and nobody is complacent. It’s a whole new group fighting for playing time, and that hunger is going to elevate team 145, he believes, to great heights.
“We say it’s upper class, and we’ve been dealing with 4th and 5th and 6th year guys. To watch those guys be leaders amongst their groups and keep the standard where it is, they’ve done a really good job,” he said.
Great programs expect to reload every year, not rebuild, and we’re seeing that. Moore estimates there are “four or five” first round picks on this team, and while some are expecting a significant drop-off and worry about the year after this … well, there’s still a lot of good, young talent on this team.
Michigan doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon, and there’s great confidence — championship confidence — in that beautiful new locker room. Brady Hoke would be proud of being able to “hear football,” as he liked to say. These guys are bringing it.
NEWS: A few reporters tried to bait Moore into responding to an article in which a former staffer said the culture at Michigan was to “approach the line and maybe cross it” when it came to rules.
MOORE: “When you’re at the bottom, they don’t respect you. When you’re in the middle, they ignore you. When you’re at the top, they hate you. So, for us, we’re just going to keep rolling.”
VIEWS: Moore nailed it, and he could have been talking about just about any great organization. Losers try to do everything they can to disparage those who are bigger or better rather than focusing on themselves or working harder, and it often leads to a torrent of negativity and flat-out craziness on social media, etc.
The best course of action here is to do exactly what he’s done — ignore the idiot competitors with agendas and clowns on social media and continue to work at a high level. The people who really matter will appreciate it, and he and his staff will continue to win. He almost laughed at the “culture” talk, as he should have, especially since that comment appeared to come from a disgruntled former employee who likely can’t find a job.
“We’re great,” Moore said with a grin. “We’re excited about game one. We’re excited about the next day, and yeah, I can’t really control what people want to say about us. So, we’re just going to keep rolling,”
NEWS: The Michigan offensive line is holding its own against the Michigan defensive line and coming together nicely.
MOORE: “As long as I’m here, we’re going to be — up front, we’re going to be tough, relentless, all the things you want. We have a couple guys that are cementing themselves as ones, but not a whole first group yet. We’ve still got a lot of battles still going on.”
VIEWS: Former coach and the late Bo Schembechler would love Moore. Winning starts in the trenches — something a few Big Ten teams still haven’t figured out — and every season, year in and year out, Michigan is going to be tough up front as long as Moore is here. He’ll demand it, just like Schembechler did.
We remember before the 1988 season when Schembechler was questioned about his team coming off a 4-loss season.
“Michigan is no creampuff,” he said with a scowl on his face. “Don’t you ever think that.”
Frankly, we hope many do this year. Several teams are in for a rude awakening, and there could be a few that won’t react well to getting punched in the mouth.
As for the solidified starters — the guards, for sure in Gio El-Hadi and Josh Priebe.
NEWS: Jim Harbaugh won’t be Michigan’s honorary captain for the Aug. 31 opener after all.
MOORE: “Really, what went into the decision …. we made that decision in I think it was January or February, and it was really to honor him for what he’s done for Michigan. He came back for nine years and and took us to where we are now.
“Yesterday he called me told me that he didn’t feel he could leave his team. In true coach Harbaugh fashion, he wanted to be in the foxhole with his team and not want to make it look like he was taking a deep, long bow.”
VIEWS: It could be that — that’s believable — but it was more brazen than Michigan usually is to do something like that in the face of an NCAA investigation, especially when it appears the organization has a vendetta against him (and, possibly, Michigan). The way they’ve proceeded here is unprecedented, and there’s no doubt they would have taken the move as a slap in the face (or a “screw you”).
So — it wouldn’t surprise, either, if this was a mutual decision to let things cool down and the NCAA stuff pass before Harbaugh was welcomed back. His parents will take their place, and they’ll be thrilled. Like their son, they are also Michigan royalty.
NEWS: The Michigan running back room is loaded with Donovan Edwards, Kalel Mullings, Ben Hall, and frosh Jordan Marshall all impressing.
MOORE: “Jordan Marshall is probably the next guy … he’s got a chance to be special; dynamic. Having guys like Jordan Marshall in the room will make you play fast and physical, and Ben Hall has played all of 230 pounds. He’s run physical … fast. Super excited how he’s hitting and how he’s gaining momentum.”
VIEWS: We told you early this month Marshall was already turning heads. He’s one of those guys we spoke of earlier that are going to keep this program humming for the next several years, a next-level talent with great skill. Some of the young receivers, too — Channing Goodwin earned mention — are in that boat, as well as many of the young defenders.
This is going to be a run-heavy offense, and guys are going to get their bumps and bruises. We love this group, and it’s clear Moore does, too. We can’t wait to see them “smash.”
The post News and Views: Sherrone Moore’s confidence in team 145, RBs, no Harbaugh as honorary captain appeared first on On3.
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