Gattis and McDonald Orange Bowl Interviews

https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/mike-macdonald/5529

Macdonald*

The one thing I gathered from Macdonald and his approach is he’s gonna be a hot commodity in the coaching world. I’m selfishly hoping he’s a settler and not a guy with aspirations that go beyond Michigan. What a great hire this guy was. 

Was hoping I would be able to order the Josh Gattis meal at McDonald’s but a good interview is nice too!

What Coach Harbaugh did with the staff make over was and is remarkable. And its not just the new guys the holdovers like Gattis, Nua and Moore, Jay...all seem to be operating on a different level. It looked risky as hell to bring in a zero experienced DC and so many other pieces but then you just have to trust a guy with Harbaughs experience (and family and program ties) to find away to figure it out. 

Man, the first reporter to ask a question. Was that Farmer Fran from The Waterboy?

Gattis' Interview:

The reporters are really focusing on Haskins, and it is well deserved. First question to Gattis (and asked about during the player trio interviews). Blake's ankle/health was the 2nd question. I love the admiration/respect Gattis shares about Harbaugh...yet, the acknowledgement to perseverance. Respects Georgia D and dismisses the idea of a 'blueprint' based on a single matchup with Alabama. Battle adversity, wearing down the opponent, sustain success...positive plays even if explosive plays do not occur. 

JJ grown to learn to play calm and relaxed, relying on the play-calling versus having to make the play. He has the perfect guy to look up to in Cade. The two have done a tremendous job. Cade is the old school junkyard down who out works everyone. The success on offensive comes from the cohesiveness and trust of the players. Key to explosive plays...explosive players. 

Macdonald's Interview:

Reflection on Georgia days and the recommendation that led him to Baltimore. Jay cited as a big part of the internship connection that connected him to John. 

Both Georgia QBs have command of the offense, and they complement each other (similar to us). Both good players. Chemistry between David and Hutch, Ojabo watched Aidan's approach and modeled after it. Was asked why he chose DC at 2-4 Michigan vs position coach in NFL on a successful team. More than halfway in, finally asked a second question about the Georgia players/matchup. Says they have great skill guys across the board, and they will be playing an interesting chess game to limit them. It's been a team effort, and 11 guys playing off each other. The success this year has come fast...Ross and Hutch had the hunger look in their eyes from the start and got the ball rolling. It's like they just started spring and now they're in Miami. A system is built on a foundation...so they focused on that and build. When you can hear a defense with your eyes closed and visualize what is happening, you know you have a defense that understands what it is doing. 

My Impressions:

All interviews I have heard pre-Orange Bowl have come across as professional and focused. I can only imagine that the coach's cohesiveness, attention to detail, and respect for each other has trickled down into the identity of the team (as being witnessed in the player interviews). That, and the media still doesn't really know what to ask about the matchup.