Sid opened complimenting the defense throughout the game only allowing two touchdowns. PJ responded that he thought they were spectacular. They’ve had to insert players week to week that haven’t consistently been in the lineup, and that their effort inspires PJ. He gave credit to Robb Smith for his coaching on the defense.
As for the missed touchdown to Wozniak in the first quarter, Fleck said he thought it was a great call. The ball was thrown a bit where it didn’t need to be and instead of continuing to run, Wozniak started backpedaling. Coach said he would call it all over again, however they just didn’t execute.
Dropped balls were a consistent problem on Saturday. Coach did give credit to Demry and said he played better than last week against Illinois, but the receivers didn’t help him out much. Demry was more poised in the pocket and made better decisions. There was a deep ball to Tyler Johnson that was dropped that could’ve been a large gain.
When questioned about the passing game, PJ responded “It’s not very good right now. The reason why is consistency and execution. We’ve had two quarterbacks play and this is one of their second starts. We’ve had a lot of guys that haven’t played, and a lot of guys stepping into roles they haven’t done before. We have to continue to get better each week.”
Coach said from the Illinois game to Iowa there were many changes they made trying to highlight Demry’s strengths as a QB. They got Demry out of the pocket more this game, did runs they hadn’t run before, more sprint outs, etc. to have one or two reads and have the ball out, or just even one read. PJ commented this is part of developing him as a QB.
Offensive line played well this past game against Iowa. Coach said they know their strengths as an offense and know where they’re weak, and have to highlight their strengths. The offensive line’s first tie playing each other was in training camp and they’re finally starting to mesh. “We’ve been in every game down to the wire that we’ve lost, but you have to find out what losing feels like to win them. That’s what this team is finding out.”
At the end of the first quarter, all the players and fans waive to the children in the Children’s Hospital which is next to the stadium at Iowa. PJ called it the “greatest tradition in college football” waiving to the children, and wanted his team to be a part of it. “There are so many things that are bigger than football, and that is one of them. At that moment it wasn’t about football, it was about those children in that hospital.”
This young team has to learn how to win the game. “You have to lose enough to know how to win. Just because you know X, Y, Z doesn’t mean you know anything, you have to go out and take it. We’re learning valuable lessons that will help us going forward. Every situation we’re in, will going forward not be a new situation.”
Michigan on the road is the Gophers next opponent. Fleck said that it’ll be very physical, and was complimentary of Coach Jim Harbaugh, calling him one of the best coaches in the country. “One thing that I respect about Jim Harbaugh is that he wants to be himself. I think that’s powerful when someone can be themselves in every avenue, he’s won everyone he’s been.”
As for the missed touchdown to Wozniak in the first quarter, Fleck said he thought it was a great call. The ball was thrown a bit where it didn’t need to be and instead of continuing to run, Wozniak started backpedaling. Coach said he would call it all over again, however they just didn’t execute.
Dropped balls were a consistent problem on Saturday. Coach did give credit to Demry and said he played better than last week against Illinois, but the receivers didn’t help him out much. Demry was more poised in the pocket and made better decisions. There was a deep ball to Tyler Johnson that was dropped that could’ve been a large gain.
When questioned about the passing game, PJ responded “It’s not very good right now. The reason why is consistency and execution. We’ve had two quarterbacks play and this is one of their second starts. We’ve had a lot of guys that haven’t played, and a lot of guys stepping into roles they haven’t done before. We have to continue to get better each week.”
Coach said from the Illinois game to Iowa there were many changes they made trying to highlight Demry’s strengths as a QB. They got Demry out of the pocket more this game, did runs they hadn’t run before, more sprint outs, etc. to have one or two reads and have the ball out, or just even one read. PJ commented this is part of developing him as a QB.
Offensive line played well this past game against Iowa. Coach said they know their strengths as an offense and know where they’re weak, and have to highlight their strengths. The offensive line’s first tie playing each other was in training camp and they’re finally starting to mesh. “We’ve been in every game down to the wire that we’ve lost, but you have to find out what losing feels like to win them. That’s what this team is finding out.”
At the end of the first quarter, all the players and fans waive to the children in the Children’s Hospital which is next to the stadium at Iowa. PJ called it the “greatest tradition in college football” waiving to the children, and wanted his team to be a part of it. “There are so many things that are bigger than football, and that is one of them. At that moment it wasn’t about football, it was about those children in that hospital.”
This young team has to learn how to win the game. “You have to lose enough to know how to win. Just because you know X, Y, Z doesn’t mean you know anything, you have to go out and take it. We’re learning valuable lessons that will help us going forward. Every situation we’re in, will going forward not be a new situation.”
Michigan on the road is the Gophers next opponent. Fleck said that it’ll be very physical, and was complimentary of Coach Jim Harbaugh, calling him one of the best coaches in the country. “One thing that I respect about Jim Harbaugh is that he wants to be himself. I think that’s powerful when someone can be themselves in every avenue, he’s won everyone he’s been.”
