Rutgers Postgame Presser: Jim Harbaugh
[Upchurch/MGoBlog]
Our friends in Rutgers’ Athletic Communications department were kind enough to send out a transcript of the highlights from Jim Harbaugh’s postgame presser (in the middle of the night, no less), so even though I wasn’t at the game you still have some Sunday content to consume.
On the play of Jabrill Peppers and Chris Evans: “We put some plays in for (Peppers) last week where he was operating as a quarterback and then more this week, because he’s just so darn good at it. That was really the turning part of the game, I thought was his long run. The first downs were coming hard. It was looked like it was going to be one of those nights. His speed was dramatically different than everyone else on the field. Chris Evans, he showed early he was going to be tough to bring down. He was lightning fast and quick tonight. To me, that’s what broke the game open was Jabrill’s and Chris’ play. Chris said something really interesting in practice. He didn’t say it to me, he said it to my dad and Al Glick. He later told me that, quote from Chris Evans, ‘it’s a sin to be good, when you are sent to be great.’ That was really profound. He was really dynamite tonight.”
On limiting Rutgers’ first downs: “I don’t know how many three and outs it was. I know there were only two first downs and not until late in the game. We were playing on half the field all night. The guys up front had a great game. There was constant pressure. The team has been tremendous. Didn’t allow a third down conversion all night defensively. There’s been incredible play on third down. (Defensive Coordinator) Don Brown is an amazing coach. I know I’ve been saying that a lot. It’s obvious to everyone, to our team, to our whole defensive staff.
On the intensity of the backups: “As a coach, the two weeks you worry about are the week going into a bye week. We call it an improvement week, but still that week you are going in and the week you are coming off that bye week. Our players were as focused as I’ve seen them. To your point, when the two’s got in there, they were playing with the same kind of motivation, the same kind of fire. They wanted to show what they can do. A lot of freshmen were playing in this ball game and playing well. There wasn’t any real sign of drop off when our two’s were in the there. Our two’s were in the entire second half, except for a series on offense and a series on defense.
[After THE JUMP: the darndest thing Harbaugh’s ever seen]
On Jabrill Pepper’s ability to do many things and not overburden him: “That’s something you have to take into consideration. He’s so good at it fortunately most of the time. He wasn’t taking any hits. Did he look that way to you? He was so athletic and so fast. It was really, really impressive. Gosh, if there’s a better player in the country, I don’t know who it is. I know there’s a lot of great players out there, but this guy, to be able to coach a guy like Jabrill Peppers is a real joy. There’s so much more. There’s nothing he can’t do. It’s the darndest thing I’ve ever seen. My humble opinion is we are looking for a Heisman trophy winner, candidate.”
“Jim Thorpe, it just came to me. Only player I can think of comparing Jabrill to.”
On the two-point conversion: “It was something we practiced all week. We had it. We saw a look we could get a two-point conversion on. We had it called on each of the extra points. We didn’t’ call it after that. That fourth touchdown, it was dialed up. It was called off the first three times. The fourth time we got the look we prepared for. Our guys executed it very well.”
On the rebuilding of the Rutgers program: “It certainly wasn’t the intent to make the score what it was. You look at (Chris Ash’s) team, he’s doing it the right way. He’s doing it very well. His team will be a factor soon. I have no doubt. He’s a great coach. Our players were better. Not to take anything away from his players, they’ve got a lot of good players, a lot of talented players, but we have more of them and one great player, Jabrill Peppers. He really ignited everything in this ball game. I don’t know if you saw it the same way. The speed that he out there was at a different level.”
On the pass rush: “It was constant pressure. One of the biggest and best, the spine of our team, is that defensive front. (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach) Greg Mattison does a great job coaching our guys. They were fast. Our whole team was really fast tonight. It really showed tonight. They are executing at a really high level. The pressure was tough to deal with.”
October 9th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
Is the video posted anywhere yet?
October 9th, 2016 at 12:31 PM ^
Don't know about Harbaugh's video, but found Chris Ash's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN0XRkSyhwM
Important comments start around 17 seconds in
October 9th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
You will reap what you sow.
October 9th, 2016 at 7:40 PM ^
Got me.
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October 9th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^
Another vote for it.
October 9th, 2016 at 12:58 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 1:19 PM ^
Put my name in this camp. Tremendous quote from a tremendous young man!
October 9th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
that's an incredible quote!
October 9th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
Nike should be making T-shirts with this quote.
October 9th, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^
If I could co-sign any more, I would've posted it myself.
+1 times infinity
October 9th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^
October 10th, 2016 at 7:52 AM ^
October 10th, 2016 at 7:58 AM ^
about the banner at the top of the page for MgoBlog. Not the banner the players touch.
October 9th, 2016 at 12:32 PM ^
Very impressed with a true freshman having that intellect to make a statement like that in practice. It is clear that he is extremely motivated and dedicated on continuously improving. He ran real hard last night and it's going to be a pleasure watching him continue to evolve throughout his career. Every time he touches the ball he has the chance to break one loose.
October 9th, 2016 at 12:54 PM ^
“Jim Thorpe, it just came to me. Only player I can think of comparing Jabrill to.”
Insightful.
October 9th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
Or Tom Harmon?
October 9th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 1:53 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
but Chris Evans nailed it. It's that attitude on this entire team that is making this so fun and so successful.
October 9th, 2016 at 2:01 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^
The perfect way to go into a bye week...rest up boys!
October 9th, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 5:29 PM ^
They could have lost to App State or Toledo.
October 9th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 10:32 PM ^
it could have been worse. I am not sure what you mean by a lot, but we punted 3 or 4 times.
October 9th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
that remind me of his position coach.
October 9th, 2016 at 7:15 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^
when he's asked about Speight's pass to Chesson.
"When he scrambeld up in the pocket I wanted him to run. run just run. Just be his own check down and then he cut it loose and I said 'WHAT IS HE DOING?"' and Jedd Fisch said over the head phones 'He's throwing a touchdown.' Oh okay.
Pure Gold
October 9th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
Between fullback dives and tight ends and WR bombs and jet sweeps and 2 point conversions on extra points and Peppers in the zone read . . . it has to be an absolute BITCH to prepare for Michigan.
Compare that to previous Michigan teams when opponents would say "We knew exactly what they were going to do."
October 9th, 2016 at 7:18 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 7:00 PM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 7:22 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 7:57 PM ^
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October 9th, 2016 at 7:58 PM ^
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October 10th, 2016 at 7:56 AM ^
October 9th, 2016 at 9:20 PM ^
Didn't have the right Michigan flavor. Solution? Just sprinkle on some Peppers.
October 10th, 2016 at 12:40 AM ^
Everything gets better with Peppers.
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