Monday Presser 10-9-17: Jim Harbaugh
[Fuller]
They said on the broadcast that Wilton had a couple broken vertebrae. Is he out for the year and can you comment on that?
“Multiple weeks. I don’t know that he’ll be out for the year.”
The vertebrae part is accurate though?
“Yeah, there’s some cracks in there. Yeah. And not a doctor, but think it’s similar to…yeah, I don’t want to say. Yes.”
After watching the film, would you have liked to have gotten the ball to Karan Higdon more? He was averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Should he have gotten the ball more, especially in the rain and the wind?
“Uh, yeah, he had—Karan played well.”
But no answer to my question?
“What do you—you want to question the play-calling? That usually is the case when something doesn’t work, so…”
But you don’t question that, how much he got the ball there or don’t want to with us?
“No. What I want to do is yeah, I want to look at the film, I want to learn from it. I’m not gonna get into questioning the play-calling.”
[SID calls on next person]
“It’s a very convenient thing, right? Play worked and hey, it was a great play because it worked. Play doesn’t work: would you wish you had done something else, had a different play call? Sure, that’s very easy to do. That’s a very—hindsight is 20/20.”
Just thought maybe there was something I was missing.
“That’s a standard question that when a play works, hey, great play call. You run a third-down draw against Florida and it works: hey, great call. You call a play that doesn’t work: would you wish you would have called a different play? That’s a very easy thing to do.”
[After THE JUMP: finding the offense’s identity, Indiana’s defensive standouts, and the final say on play-calling]
Simplistic in 20/20 and hindsight but is it entirely wrong to question play-calling?
“No, it’s your right to do.”
Do you disagree with it?
“I think that’s what people do. It’s just a fact of what anybody does. We should have throw it or should have run it; if you threw it and it didn’t work, you wish you would have run it. If you ran it and it didn’t work then hey, would have been better to throw it, and you’d be right.”
Do you do the same thing as a coach? Do you say, well, we did make the wrong play call here?
“No. You go through it and you look at where you can make corrections and where you can make improvements.”
After being able to watch the film, what’s your assessment of John at quarterback and is he still going to be your quarterback going forward?
“Yes. Again, we’ll go through it, make corrections, make improvements, and move on.”
I don’t want to compare season to season but in the past we kind of knew what this offense’s foundation and backbone was, whether it was the Power play or whatever it might be. Do you think you have one right now through five games or maybe not all the way to where you want it?
“Yeah, in the process of doing that.”
Has it been more difficult because they’re young and coming along or just not as fast as you would like? You say it’s a process but is it not where it should be or where you want it to be?
“Yeah, we had a ballgame that, you know, stuff happens. Things happen. We had fumbles, we had turnovers, we had things that just occur. We had a shotgun snap to their quarterback, he fumbles and then picks up a critical first down. Things happen during the course of a game and you don’t necessarily know why they’re happening but they keep happening and that’s where you go back and you learn from it, you look at it, you make corrections, and you move on with the mindset of not letting it happen again.”
I’m wondering if you’ve made a decision on the right tackle or whether that will be something that will happen during the week?
“Listen, I can understand there being a quarterback question, there being a quarterback controversy. We never really discuss a right tackle or a guard or a center controversy. To answer your question exactly the way you asked the question, yes, we’ll look at that during the week.”
Given the defense’s performance through the first five games, is there a sense with them yet as the offense has struggled of frustration or waiting for the offense to come? What is your feeling from them right now as far as having to carry the load?
“I don’t sense—no, we’re not frustrated. We look forward to getting back today and doing everything on both sides of the ball and special teams to contribute to a victory. We’re fortunate to have an opponent to play this week and opportunities ahead of us.”
As a coach, I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrating’ but when you look at the way the defense has been able to perform but still the offense not catching up, what is your thought about that?
“I answered your question. Not frustrated. Attacking this week’s opportunity.”
People in the fanbase but a lot of weight on beating Michigan State and Ohio State. Do you put any weight on winning those rivalry games as compared to normal games?
“Yes, we do.”
Are you concerned with your record in them to date?
“The record is what the record is. I mean, well aware of what the record is. Against Michigan State and Ohio State we’re 1-4. The record against all other opponents is 23-3. We know what the records are. We want to win those games. We want to win every game we play. We want to win ‘em all, and most importantly, we want to win this one, our next game.”
Ty Isaac and Chris Evans have had some costly fumbles over the last few weeks. How concerning is that for you and who would you say has a leg up at that position moving forward?
“Again, just like the previous question, we’ll evaluate that during the week.”
I wonder what you see as the primary challenges vis-a-vis Indiana this week and what they present to you.
“Yeah, very good football team. In fact, very competitive games with them. I think they’ve played very well. They’re playing very good this year, especially at home. Very good football team. That’s what we’re doing today, we’re making those preparations.”
What players and what numbers jump out so far on the Hoosiers when you take a look at them offensively and defensively?
“No. 16, excellent cover corner. No. 8, very athletic, fast linebacker. Again, another—tough safeties. Movement up front in the defensive line, stout. No. 4, another very good linebacker. Very good defense. Very athletic. Tough.”
I know you say week to week every game is the same, but given the loss Saturday, the Indiana game, is there an extra premium put on it or a little bit of extra motivation going into this week?
“Yeah, we’ve already felt the next game is the most important game and that’s our next game.”
Is there nothing--
“110% as opposed to 100%? I guess we could have that debate but 100% focused on them.”
About the play-calling, you talked about on the radio a couple weeks ago with Pep, but what is the hierarchy? Is it Pep [Hamilton] and Tim [Drevno] call the plays and you’re third, I think you said? How does that work?
“Yeah, we call the plays together as a staff. The final say, I have the final say, the final say of the play-calling.”
October 9th, 2017 at 10:54 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 6:46 AM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 7:17 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 9:47 PM ^
negged
October 10th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:12 PM ^
you sound stupid. is this really the first time you have heard a coach that was dissapointed in the outcome of a game? what the hell are you a mind reader?
October 10th, 2017 at 10:51 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:37 PM ^
You don't hate Sparty. Unless you hate yourself
October 10th, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 10:50 PM ^
October 10th, 2017 at 6:12 PM ^
Winning over 85% of non-MSU/OSU games. Over 75% of games overall.
What would you like? Which coach out there could do significantly better than that with a roster fillled with a lot of Brady Hoke recruits?
October 9th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^
...for Coach, or the players, or any of us.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^
This, unfortunately, is true.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:57 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:16 PM ^
I get the sense that Harbaugh has to feel kind of helpless at this point at a couple positions. Doesn't want to throw kids under the bus, but in regards to reviewing the situations at RT and QB, seems like he would answer "these are the best options we have" if he could be completely honest.
I'm not saying it's his fault, but seems like the honest answer is that there really is no answer at those positions, yet.
October 9th, 2017 at 8:19 PM ^
I'm with you, man... I've never heard him throw a player under the bus, not even in the NFL. It's simply not what he does. And he's better at not answering questions without bus driving than Hoke was. Hoke tried to never drive a bus, but he couldn't make himself sound intelligent while not doing it. Rich Rod? That dude has a Class III commercial license and dropped kids off at school everyday - regardless of what poor sap got in the way of his bus.
October 9th, 2017 at 9:00 PM ^
Praise in public......reprimand in private.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
Yet some of these smarmy dumbass reporters act all dumbfounded when he comes back with a sarcastic response to a question that he was never, ever, ever going to answer under any circumstances.
What were they expecting when you asked a question you knew he wasn't going to be willing to answer?
They were expecting exactly what they got, so that they can run and print it and generate controversy and intrigue -- so why act surprised then? What's with the charade?
I don't blame Jim for wanting nothing to do with these clowns. It's like Bo said: "We don't need them when we're winning, and they can't do anything to help us when we're losing."
October 9th, 2017 at 6:16 PM ^
I think it reflects well that there weren't a bunch of softball-like questions. Interesting to say that Pep, Drevno and Harbaugh all have a hand in playcalling. Not sure how you can be consistent like that, but they've had a lot of success in the past. It does leave me wondering how it was when Fisch was here. Was it the same process or did Jedd pretty much run the show?
October 9th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:56 PM ^
I think it reflects well that there weren't a bunch of softball-like questions.Why?
October 9th, 2017 at 7:17 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 7:26 PM ^
Do you think he's going to coach better if the media asks him a "tough" question?
October 9th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
Well, you know that the team only plays better when the guy behind me yells at the team to "get your heads in the game".
October 9th, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^
Glad someone asked the last question.
October 9th, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:23 PM ^
I'm assuming that just means he can/will veto if he feels like it. Probably should have vetoed that fade to McDoom.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
Drevno better be looking over his shoulder all week. Harbaugh is not gonna fuck around.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 7:19 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 7:30 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 8:03 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 8:09 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:47 PM ^
i havent rewatched it but i recall thinking after that play that maybe it was on okorn - he mightve noticed the 1v1 coverage (with single high, no safety help) and decided to throw outside to mcdoom.
bc it appeared to be the same call as his initial 3rd down conversion to perry (where okorn needs to do better with his eyes by the way) earlier in the drive - motion out higdon to empty gun, DPJ clears with perry breaking on his heels, and mcdoom with fade to his left (and i think mckeon or someone running underneath flat route). pretty sure its same formation, same call.
just saying okorn couldve liked what he saw and pulled the trigger himself, maybe he made the call not the staff. either way im not big fan of fades to mcdoom (or crawford for that matter)
October 9th, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^
we didn't execute today
October 9th, 2017 at 6:23 PM ^
I'm kind of surprised he's so defensive when things that aren't going well are brought up.
Nothing much to glean from this presser besides the info on the Speight injury.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
Since Harbaugh has been at UM, and even in his time with the 49ers and before, he rarely if ever has delved into questions about playcalling no matter good or bad (see: http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/harbaugh-instruction-manual-offense-v-defen…).
I guess I'm more surprised people expected different.
October 9th, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^
I think there was some sarcasm there
October 9th, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^
the offense hasn't been going well for the last month, and some could say all season. The old saying is pretty true - winning cures a lot of ills. Since UM was winning they were still able to keep a bounce in their step and a smile on their face whiled they tried to get better. If the fans cjould tell something was wrong with the offense, you can be sure the coaches have know there were issues. Now with a loss to Sparty, the weaknesses become even more pronounced.
October 9th, 2017 at 9:03 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:24 PM ^
although he had already said that he hadn't watched film of the game so why ask that question about having watched the film on O'Korn...which would be quite unsightly, we all must admit.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:37 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:28 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^
That's pretty much as far as he can go with saying 'they got lucky', which isn't wrong. The game is completely different if their fumbles don't bounce right back to them, especially the muffed punt.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:31 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
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