There was no credit on this when I pulled it, but hopefully one appears by the time it's up

Things discussed

• Shea Patterson's impressive day
• The targeting call against Khaleke Hudson
• Injury updates on Karan Higdon and Chris Evans
• Donovan Peoples Jones is real good
• Where the team is going into the Big Ten this season

[After THE JUMP: Questions, and answers]

Jim, through the first three games, Shea (Patterson) has been incredibly efficient as far as completion percentage. Can he keep up that kinda clip, and I guess what is leading to his efficiency?

 

“Accuracy, really. His reads feel really good, he’s making really good decisions. Receivers are helping out a lot. Zach Gentry was — kind of broke things open for us, getting in the seam route and Donovan (Peoples-Jones) had another monster game. Everybody’s running good routes for him, catching the ball. He’s getting out of trouble and creating plays when sometimes there isn’t one to be there. Just playing really — playing the position really well. And then making the throws when they present themselves. He’s hitting the short ones, he’s hitting the intermediate ones, he’s hitting the deep ones. Good quarterback play.”

 

Coach, just your thoughts on the targeting call, Khaleke (Hudson’s) play

 

“Well, my thought on that is, that’s — I don’t know, are we going down that road of, we’re gonna review every play that’s now in the box? That box area, running backs are gonna be going through there, they’re gonna be lowering their heads. Defenders are — it’s a battle to see who can get lower. And when you have a runner versus a tackler. So, interesting. There wasn’t a call on the field, it came from the booth. That’s a really high level of scrutiny to be placing on a play between the tackles.”

 

Coach, talk about how pivotal that moment was, where you got the fourth down, and a flag on them, and then you hit for a touchdown there in the second quarter, kinda how pivotal that early moment in the game (was)

 

“Yeah, which one was that?”

 

Fourth down and one, got a middle of the field —

 

“When we were on offense? Yeah, right at midfield, we went for it on fourth down and picked it up, converted to points. That was good. Think we did a really good job on fourth down today. 3-for-3 on our fourth down conversions. Kept drives alive. And the offense was able to stay in rhythm, stay with the omentum they had been creating. Consecutive drives, again, that led to points, a real positive.”

 

What are the statuses of Karan Higdon and Chris Evans?

 

“Karan was a game-time decision, just didn’t feel like he could go. And then Chris, we’ll see how — what his situation is exactly, is it like a strain or a cramp.”

 

Do you expect both of them next week? How does the running back rotation shake out?

 

“Yeah, we’ll see. Really look forward to a great week of practice for their football team. We’re getting closer to being good, really good, but we’re still not quite there yet. See improvements can be made. And really looking forward to a great week this week in preparation.”

 

Jim, kind of a follow up to that: now that you’re through the non-conference, do you feel like you got done what you wanted to get done and saw progress where you needed to see progress? Do you feel good about that going into the Big Ten season?

 

“Yeah. It’s always a process. But definitely seeing progress, so — and there’s more to be had. Can’t wait to attack it this week. Good to come off a hard-fought good win and keep going.”

 

Coach, Don Brown’s defense led the nation a year ago in getting off the field on third downs. What’s the key to getting that towards that level, and getting out of those situations?

 

“All 11 really playing at a high level. Our defense does as good as anybody in the country, so, like I said, I think that progress has been made, getting better, and you want to keep — day by day. Better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today. That’s our approach right now.”

 

What made (James) Proche so difficult to contain for you guys today?

 

“Well, he got outside of our contain a few times. They threw the ball pretty accurately from the pocket, and I don’t know exactly how he got out — how he broke contain each and every time, but that’s where he was very effective. It was good. It was a hard-fought game. They made plays. We made plays.”

 

Jim, we talked to you before and you just asked the former veteran teams about their preparation, rhythm — battle rhythm, whatever you call it. Does this team (have) that at this point, is that kind of where you want it to go, or is it still the process of being week by week, day by day?

 

“They’re really doing well. They really practice well, they practice hard. Really focused group. I enjoy it. I enjoy going out every day to practice with this team, and chomping at the bit to get back out there this week. Lotta positives — thought the offensive line, thought the pass protection was really good today. And coming along. Coming along steadily. Several areas — the receivers are really doing a good job. They’re getting separation, catching the ball, and there’s been, there’s things we can get better at. Attacking the ball when it’s in the air, we had the one interception of — that was a great teaching point. Can’t wait to make that one for all of our guys. Just all those little things. Just really excited about getting to coach, getting to practice, continuing on. Onward.”

 

How about the chemistry Patterson and Peoples-Jones have, particularly on the back-shoulder touchdown throw?

 

“Yeah, there was — that was a beautiful route, great catch, terrific throw. The post that Donovan ran from the slot, terrific route. As much separation as you can get, and a really good lay by Shea. Right on the money. Good protection again on that one. Just like you drew it up. Nice play fake, set that play up. … Well-designed play and well-executed. And then (Zach) Gentry, too. I thought — great, big target he is, and he broke the big play off, at least three times in this game that I can think of. So, there’s things to be excited about. I thought Tru Wilson took another step in the right direction. Good, solid contributing back. Happy to see Quinn Nordin hit the field goal. That was a big field goal at that point in the game. To make it a three-score game. 43-yarder? 45? 45-yarder. That was big, nice to see that operation coming through to make a field goal. So, lotta things to build off, lotta things to also improve. Think our guys know it.”

 

Jim, talk about Will Hart for a second

 

“Yeah, another highlight there. Continue to talk about stacking good game after good game. Again, he was over 50 yards a punt again, second week in a row. That’s a real bright spot. Really happy for Will, and the whole operation of our punt.”

 

Big Ten games coming up, what’s your mentality coming into those games?

 

“They’re big games. Really almost count as two, you know. What you do and what they do. One game almost counts as two. So, think our guys are excited about it. I know I am. And, not before we get a great week of preparation and practice.”

 

Jim, piggybacking on Chris (Balas)’ question about the targeting — when you see 12 penalties on the statsheet, how do you evaluate that?

 

“I thought there was 13. 13?

 

13, sorry, 13

 

“We had two on offense, one a holding penalty by Tru and then we had a false start by Zach and maybe Juwann (Bushell-Beatty), but that definitely was legit. I didn’t see the Tru penalty, but you just go back and look at them and you evaluate ‘em. You look at the exact … what they’re being taught, see each one of them, see where you can address it. … Some — a couple — I don’t agree with them now, I don’t think (I will) when I see the tape but wait until you see that. We also turn them into the Big Ten office and get their feedback. That helps us address.”

 

Which ones did you disagree?

 

“The one where — Aidan Hutchinson at the end. That seemed like the quarterback was throwing, was leaning back and throwing it out of bounds. He’s going to land on his back. I don’t think Aidan drove him (back), or drove him down, or into the ground. Looked like a winning tackle. But, my point is, you address each of them. … And penalties are hurting us. That’s something we have to clean up and get better at. We address each one — technique, what we’re using, the discipline that we have. Get them corrected, get them coached, get improved. Don’t want 13 penalties in a game. Don’t think anybody does. Including for Michigan.”