11/11: Coordinator Press Conference Questions
This is always fun...I'm guessing this week won't disappoint.
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***My question (for Borges):***
"The past few weeks opposing players have come out after the game saying that they knew what was coming or what play was going to be called...how do you prevent the offense from being predictable?"
Predicted answer: "The players just have to execute better."
***My question (for Mattison):***
"In the past two years, your defensive playcalling has seemed to be more aggressive...was that the result of having someone like Kovacs on the back end? What do your current safties need to show to allow you to call a more aggressive game?"
Predicted answer: "Kovacs was a heck of a player, he was consistent and played up to the expectation for the position. This group needs to do the same."
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...you guys fire away MGoReporters!
November 11th, 2013 at 12:28 PM ^
Absolutely.
November 11th, 2013 at 12:58 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 2:08 PM ^
About to make the next play call.
November 11th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
You win
November 11th, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^
My take on the picture: Certainly not fit to run an offense, but more than qualified to critique every player's performance, second guess every coaching decision, more effectively run a major university...
November 11th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 12:29 PM ^
Borges, where do you think you'll be working next year?
November 11th, 2013 at 12:33 PM ^
Is there a specific reason you continue to run Fitz up the middle against a stacked box?
Does Gardner have freedom to check out of these run plays when he sees that the box is stacked?
November 11th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
Questions:
Boxers or briefs?
How many licks to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
Why does Michigan struggle so much in the running game?
The asnwers to each of these questions are equally likely to relate to Michigan football.
I mean with respect to boxers or briefs, wouldn't the answer be that it doesn't matter, because the expectation is for the position? If one fails, it is a "next man up" mentality.
As for the tootsie roll pop, the answe is sure to be, "as many as it damn well takes. We are going to keep licking until ww get to the center, even when it appears that licking is doing nothing because we are actually just licking the little white stick holding the candy part."
The chicken and the egg is obvious - as long as both of them continue execute as planned, play with requisite toughness, and have accountability to each other, the team and to poultry everywhere, we will be fine. It doesn't matter which one came first.
And finally, as to the running game, "we have to coach better, work on the toughness element of the physicalness of this team, preach accountability and toughness and fundamentals and getting older - definitely getting older - and continue to lick the little white stick part of the pop while chacing the chicken wearing boxer-briefs.
November 11th, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
What will you do in the next three weeks to save your job?
November 11th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
I really hope that he considers OSU to be an audition for his next coaching position and pulls out all of the stops and goes against all of his tendencies in that one.
Of course the one drawback there is that beating OSU might increase the chances of Borges returning next season. I would like to think that we would not retain Borges after winning one big game after crapping the bed over and over again during the rest of the season, but at this point I have no faith that he will really be gone regardless of whether or not the offense scores a single point in any of our remaining games.
I will believe that Borges is gone when I see it.
November 11th, 2013 at 2:40 PM ^
No worries, that won't happen. Or I should say, in 999 out of 1000 scenarios, that will not happen. We win if all the Ohio State players sleep in and miss the game.
November 11th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
For Al:
"Do you use one of those sleep masks when you're napping up in the pressbox or does the shade pulled down on the window make it dark enough for you?"
November 11th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
When do you think we'll start executing?
November 11th, 2013 at 12:48 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 12:52 PM ^
This is coming from someone who is admittedly a bit of a football novice. On Fishduck.com (excellent Oregon site that breaks down Chip Kelly's offense) they note that CHip Kelly often announces before the play (by formation) whether they will be running an outside zone read or inside zone read. The overreaction by the defense creates holes, but could this possibly be what Borges is doing with formation? Is it that uncommon for a defense to be able to figure out what the play is based on formation?
I am the furthest thing from a Borges apologist, just curious about this given the comments about defenses knowing his formations.
November 11th, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^
The whole "giving the play away" thing for Oregon is moot. They have options built in to just about every play, so if they're giving away inside zone or outside zone and the defense is moving in to stop the run they can just pass it out to a bubble/tunnel in the flat. Oregon has a system that if they show something you still can't cheat and try to stop it or they will hit you with something else from that same look.
November 11th, 2013 at 1:32 PM ^
Also, part of outside zone blocking in general is using the aggressiveness of the D against them by having a quick decisive back hit the first crease and take off even if the edge is well defended.
The problem with Michigan is they run a lot of formations but very few plays from each which makes it easy to key on those plays especially when considering down and distance.
November 11th, 2013 at 12:54 PM ^
What does it feel like to be out coached and out smarted by the opposing teams Defensive Coordinator, week after week?
Does you wife make you sleep on the coach after a game like Nebraska's, because, "She can't even look at you" because of you grade school level performance?
My wife is not much of a football fan, but she knows your name and curses at the TV now, because of you idiotic play calling. Can you feel her rage up the press box during the games?
November 11th, 2013 at 1:10 PM ^
love the "Does your wife make you sleep on the coach" ..... it's even better than "sleep on the couch" ... uhhh ... which coach?
Go Blue!
November 11th, 2013 at 12:59 PM ^
For Mattison: How does your defense feel being let down again and again by their offense every week?
November 11th, 2013 at 1:05 PM ^
Serious question: Explanation on why the defensive backfield completely flipped. Countess out (injured or is leading D1 in interceptions and interception returns yards not good enough?) Wilson (senior starter for 3 years - good enough to play special teams)?
I would love to hear these answered.
November 11th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
I am never sure exactly what to think of these threads, but it is an interesting mental exercise if you do have serious questions. As for one to ask Borges, the OP might have hit the best one now that a representative of a team we have played has essentially called us predictable on offense. That actually is something I would like Al to discuss if he would be willing. I don't know if a coordinator is going to directly answer a question which stems from something a player (an opposing one at that) said though.
November 11th, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^
Have you ever read MGOBLOG?
November 11th, 2013 at 1:35 PM ^
For Borges:
With your obvious game planning keyed in on banging your heads against a brick wall, what are your concerns with possible self-inflicted concussions? Is there a plan in place to better execute long term brain damage? Lastly, do your players often complain of frequent headaches, vision impairment and/or nausua?
November 11th, 2013 at 2:13 PM ^
What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
Predicted answer: Anything but bubble screens and quick slants.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:00 PM ^
What the hell do you do during practice? Or better yet, how often do you attend practice? For Borges, obviously.
November 11th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^