Presser Notes: Michigan Week
An oldie but a goodie. To start with, I love Beanie “Warrior” Wells more than Nutty Bars.
With that out of the way, let’s move on to this week’s presser. The thing was damn near comical as Tressel struggled to gloss the Wolverines in his opening statement resorting to comments about their passion and never say die attitude:
So I’ve been impressed with the way they continue to play and get after it and they’ve had the ball bounce some ways that you wish they wouldn’t and they’ve found themselves in a situation that they haven’t been in before, but you sure can’t tell as you watch the film that there’s any less passion. They look like the maize and blue from an effort standpoint that I’ve watched for many, many years, and I’ve been very impressed.
I, for one, totally agree with Jim. I thought the Michigan players played like their hair was on fire during the 4th quarter of each of those eight defeats. All joking aside, we all know anything can happen in The Game but if there was ever a mismatch favoring the Buckeyes it’s this season.
Taking it a bit further, Tress glossed the Michigan defense and its coordinator, Scott Schaeffer, along with RichRod for his offensive genius:
When you look at their defensive front, it perhaps is the most talented defensive front that we’ve faced with Terrance Taylor and Jamison and Graham and Johnson, those guys have been here forever. We’ve played against them, some of them, three and four years. Those guys are outstanding football players. They’ve got some good young guys behind them, their linebackers are younger and very talented. Their secondary has been a group that’s had a lot of starts and in the games that I’ve watched most recently this morning, they’ve been a lot of their nickel package, so all those guys that have been around, Brandon Harrison and Stevie Brown and Donovan Warren, who’s young, but he’s in his second full year of starting and Morgan Trent and all those guys, it’s the Wolverines that we’ve watched. I think Scott Schaefer, their defensive coordinator, has done a great job of giving you problems, putting pressure on you, and I think everyone in the country that’s been around coaching would agree that Rich Rodriguez has been one of the most creative and really one of the founders of the spread style attack.
Feel the hyperbole. Since Tress forgot to mention it, UM is 10th in the conference in total defense (27.7 ppg) while Dick’s creative offense is last in the conference in yards per game (299).
The reporters offered up another softball asking Tress if was surprised at Michigan’s record:
The thing about football is there are so many good football teams and you watch games and when you see a score, you say, man, I maybe wasn’t expecting that score and then you see a game and you see a mishap or whatever it happens to be, but certainly did I expect the records to be what they are going into this game? No, absolutely not. But that doesn’t change how you look at them. You still look at can they block, can they tackle, can they get rid of blockers, can they make plays. There’s still a field full of names. Greg Matthews, every time you turn around he’s jumping up and catching the ball we tried like crazy to recruit Greg Matthews. So, yes, I’m surprised at the record, but the record, I hate to say it, the record is irrelevant.
Boy…I have a feeling this is gonna be a shorter post than usual.
After warming up, Tress had a beauty answer to when talking about what OSU has riding on the game and if he’ll be rooting for Sparty:
Well, Ohio State has the Ohio State-Michigan game riding on it and what happens outside of that won’t be decided for a few weeks, couple weeks, I guess, the way it is. Am I rooting for Michigan State? I root for all the Big Ten teams.
Love it.
Senator Tressel then spoke about Rich’s dynamic offense:
The thing I like about watching Rich with his offense or I remember facing Paul Johnson when he had his offense at Georgia Southern and now at Georgia Tech, is you know those guys know if you decide to stop them this way, they’ve got a package ready, so I know they’re not concerned with well, which of Ohio State’s things are they going to do because they know they have an answer to all of them.
Again, history has taught us anything can happen in The Game but if Michigan is able to actually sustain drives all day thanks to countering what the OSU defense is doing, not only will I be shocked, I’ll guzzle a gallon of kerosene. Even the best Wolverine scenario has to be built on the windfall of crazy trick plays, turnovers and an uncharacteristic amount of big plays.
What I enjoyed was the follow up question asking Tressel why he isn’t wedded to a system like RichRod:
Right. Well, there’s probably two reasons. I’ve always felt that doing what your personnel can best do is the best answer and that that’s going to be ongoing change. And two, I’ve always felt that I would like to have a little bit of a lot of things because the team that my defense faces most in the course of a calendar year is us and I want them in the spring to face some spread. I want them to face some power. I want them to face some option. I want them to face some dropback, et cetera, et cetera. And then in preseason, there’s 44 practices — or 29 in the preseason and in the spring, they’ve got 44 practices against us, I want them to be as prepared as they can for those 12 games coming up and they’re going to have all kind of different looks that they face. So it’s really been for two reasons, for the sake of the defense and sake of the personnel.
That, my friends, is a hell of an answer and one RichRod should study. Being a one trick pony might help you catch lightning in a bottle but it also provides seasons such as the one Michigan is currently experiencing.
On the sensitive topic of Beanie Wells, Tressel noted Beanie is fine:
Beanie’s fine. Beanie, I’m not exactly — mentioned Harrison Dillard in my post game and all these young guys gave me that brook trout, they’d never heard of Harrison Dillard. When he hurdled, he might have tweaked something, but Beanie will be fine. The only guys I’m concerned about that might not make the bill will be Jermale Hines.
On the topic of Boeckman seeing the field, Tress was non-committal:
Well, we haven’t talked about that, although we’re not very deep into the week. One time I remember I had so many seniors on offense in particular I started 11 seniors on the first play and then on play two, it was back to the rest of the group. I’m not sure that that’s in the cards here, but I haven’t really talked about that.
I don’t know about you guys, but I think it’s safe to say Boeckman will get a series barring an unforseen nail biter. If anything, I hope the fact Tress wants to get Boeckman some time will lead to an open playbook and an intention of building a sizable cushion instead of getting up 17 points and choosing not to step on Michigan’s neck.
That’s about it for this week. The presser was longer than usual but I didn’t think most of it was worth rehashing. As usual, you can read the full transcript here.
That, my friends, is a hell of an answer and one RichRod should study. Being a one trick pony might help you catch lightning in a bottle but it also provides seasons such as the one Michigan is currently experiencing.
So true. Many times I’ve seen Michigan go into a spread/shotgun formation on 3rd and ones and not convert, and their fans were screaming for I-formation.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Boeckman sees the field, or hell even takes the first snap of the game.
I would love to see Boeckman come out and play like the entire first quarter and confuse the hell out of their defense, only to have TP come in and completely eff them up once they attempt to adjust. mwahahahahaha!
I would be extremely surprised to see Boeckman out there for the 1st snap. I think, actually, that the chances of that are approximately zero.
Assuming anything like decent field position on our 1st possession, I’d like to see the 1st play be the play-action bootleg that LiC scored on on Saturday.
Speaking of Paul Johnson, I’ll be attending the Miami v. Georgia Tech game Thursday night to kick-off my football weekend.
Boeckman will play and it will be meaningful minutes, not mop-up duty. In fact, I’d bet Terrelle is probably advocating it.
Under the radar Seniors have stepped up big in “The Game” under Tressel. Brandon Joe in ‘04, Andree Tyree in ‘05, and Roy Hall in ‘06 come to mind.
I hope Jermale is able to go. He’s a hitter.
Hines was my favorite new guy this year. But Moeller showed us he is more than capable of filling in. Actually, Im glad he got a shot at showing what he can do, because I was a bit worried about next years secondary. But after seeing Moeller, Hines, Sabino, and the other youngins out there playing hard nosed buckeye football my mind is at ease.
Boeckman will get at least a series, where he will only try to throw to Robiskie, but a series nonetheless. LiC will tear Meeeeeeeeechigan up on Saturday. He is just the type of player to not talk about it, but def. go out and show them what they missed out on, and to reinforce that he made the correct decision. You KNOW Beanie Warrior is going off in this game too, probably to the tune of 165+ with a pair of TD’s and a Beanie Hop OVER Trent Morgan. You heard it here first………
Hey Ski,
Why Beanie hop over Morgan when he can employ the SAoJ? I’d rather see that then him jumping over him. I think it makes more of a statement. I also think TB will get a series or two. I really think he will be out there for the first series. Oh, you are righ ski he will only throw to robo. In fact I wouldnt be surprised if the first play was a bomb to robo just to see if they could get it. Oh, and i have to give my props to Thaddeus Maximus.
Hey guys….don’t know if anyone caught this or not, but Ramzy Nasrallah, who does Ramzy’s Tuesday Morning Hangover on Bucknuts.com put up some advertising for 11W.
http://www.bucknuts.com/news/articles/2008/11/18/tuesday-morning-hangover-week-12
“If Ohio State rushes three on third and long and drops the other eight into passive zone coverage it still won’t matter. Throw out the records if you’d like. Start Todd Boeckman. Start Todd Boeckman’s aunt. It still won’t matter. When Michigan runs out onto the field to an undeserved chorus of boos (laughter would be more appropriate) they will have to spend about three hours staring across the field at one of the reasons that they find themselves with eight losses for the first time in the history of the Edison light switch: Lebron in Cleats.”
Thanks for the head’s up Ski. I also found this stat compelling:
Michigan’s freshmen have already lost more games than Ohio State’s seniors will lose in their college careers.
Wow!
Michigan would love to beat Ohio State and send them to a lesser bowl. Buckeyes need to score early and often and not try to run the clock out with Tressel ball.
“Ohhhhhhhh how the mighty have fallen!”
Perfect way for Boeckman to go out:
Pryor and the regulars build up a big lead and Tressel puts in Boeckman to reward the senior. He throws a pick six and loses a fumble that leads to another cheap Michigan TD before Pryor comes back in to run out the clock.
HAHAHA. Michigan gets two more shots to get past Toledo this year….Once on the way in to C-bus, and once again on the way back out…….
i agree in principle with tressels comments about his offense and how he wants to do a lot of different things. I just dont appreciate it in games like ohio, purdue, penn state, and USC.
im still not buying the offensive strategy that this coaching staff employs. i dont care if we beat michigan by 60.
Steve:
I agree,,,,,, but Tress is a class guy and if he gets up by 3 scores or more he is gonna shut it down a bit and go to Beanie time….. I don’t necessarily like it , but it is the way he is!
34-13
Its games like these I like to recollect on past meetings like the Biakabu-whatever nightmare and think to hell with Michigan, make these fuckers never want to play football AGAIN!!!
Go for the throat! Tress has actually showed a bit more heart in the games against scUm….not really running up the score, but not really shutting it down much either. He has been forced to run it the last few years due to weather…but look at the 06 game….WIDE OPEN OFFENSE
chances Todd B starts = chances scUM wins.
it could happen. and a meteor could strike the stadium too.
will it happen? uh, no. Tress knows this game isn’t about where we go bowling. it’s about not letting the enemy get off the mat with a huge win that would provide huge momentum for next year. we recruit against those guys all year long and Tress will want to send the message that the program isn’t on life support – it’s flat lined.
Bucks 38 scUM 3
iball,
it would be great if that name were never brought up again, too many nightmares after that one, no need for me to rehash that game. but yea, i too would love the score up on them!
34-21, OSU. Michigan scores a meaningless TD with less than a minute to go in the game.
I was shocked when Todd didn’t start on Homecoming. Mo Wells got the nod. I’d be shocked if Todd doesn’t get into this game, even if it is close (HAHAHAHAHAHA..sorry). I think he’ll start.
My favorite part of the pre-game festivities is when they always show E-George with the troops getting them fired up and explaining how much this game really means. I wanna suit up when that happens
If the guys are not ready to play this will be a close game. Michigan will sell out the whole game if we let them hang around. No turnovers we will win big. Whats the weather like for saturday?
37 degrees and sunny with a 10% chance of rain and 90% chance of ass-whuppin.
40’s and chance of rain…..rivalry weather
Rod sounds like the pressure of Michigan is getting to him, he does sound like Cooper, doesn’t understand the passion of the fans or the stature of the program.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3710474
Ramzy FTW. That was nice.
And there’s no chance TB starts this game. He should play and I’d be surprised if he didn’t, but he won’t start.
I live in the heart of SEC country and was just thinking about how much more civil the Michigan fans have been with WeasalRod than the ‘Bama fans would have been. He almost took the Bama job before they latched on to Saban. Had he gone to Tuscaloosa and tried his offense with J.P. Wilson and gone 3-9 he might not have made it out of town alive.
By the way…don’t ever let anyone tell you the Iron Bowl is a bigger rivalry. This is my third year down here and the Iron Bowl is more comparable to the Bowling Green/Toledo rivalry than OSU/Michigan. Laughable.
BrotherBuck-
I realize I dont need to say this to you, but OSU/Miiiiiiiich is THE BIGGEST rivalry in sports, bar none. I live in the heart of NY, and dont get me wrong, the Bo Sox are HATED here, but even that rivalry doesnt touch OSU/Miiiiiich…..not even close. It couldn’t seeing as how the football game is only once a year
I’ll love to beat up on Michigan this year. But next year, I hope they are a top 10 team. And that we beat them, again. Beating up on your arch-rival doesn’t do much for your BCS hopes when that arch-rival is 3-9 every year. We need a rejuvenated Michigan to make the most out of LiC’s years at Ohio State.
Agreed Matt, but it doesn’t look that way right now. Not to say it can’t be turned around…but it’s not looking good for DickRod when his players and his recruits are decomitting from the team. Shit his top lineman left AA for OHIO STATE…now thats a slap in the face
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=dash0812&sportCat=ncf
Check this link out boys, Pat Forde is an idiot most of the time, but half-way down the page is an awesome section from the Dead Schembechlers…they have a new cd coming out LOL here is an excerpt:
“Sure enough, just in time for Michigan Week (22), the Schems have released a (mostly) new CD, “Rodriguez To Ruin.” Among the new tunes that can be mentioned on a family Web site: “Rodriguez is a Weasel” and “You Lost to Appalachian State.”
The former has reportedly become a big hit on radio stations in West Virginia. The latter is a tender, introspective ballad that screams:
“You lost! You lost! You lost!
To Appalachian State!
We know! We know!
Your program ain’t that great!
You suck! You suck!
There’s nothing to debate!”
Running time: 18 seconds.
Reached by phone at his secure location somewhere near Ohio Stadium, Biafra lamented not having updated the band’s canon to include the latest great Wolverine embarrassment, the loss to Toledo (23) last month.
“A Toledo song is in the works,” Biafra declared. “Our Ohio brothers will not be forgotten. That was like a gift from Woody himself, that Toledo game. I was thinking, ‘Woody, Mary and Joseph! It’s too good to be true!’”
Biafra was generally euphoric over the Wolverines’ eight losses, the most in school history, and is taking credit for Michigan’s current misery.
Woody would be pleased
I hope to God Almighty that Tressel channels a bit of Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes on Saturday. I want him to run out onto the field without a coat, just his sweater vest and a Block-O hat. I’d love to see him toss a down marker at some point in the game and you’d better believe I want him to go for 2 “because we couldn’t go for 3″!
I have a buddy in the Navy flying all the way back from the middle of the Pacific just to see this game so I hope its a good old behind the woodshed butt whoopin!
I refuse to read anything from Pat Forde. It’s always garbage with an underlying SEC agenda. He’s not propping OSU, he’s kicking Michigan while they’re down.
I agree with you about the underlying SEC Agenda, but I just liked that they were not necessarily bashing OSU for once….
espn has the market cornered on obnoxious sports analysts….which makes me wonder how long before Gregg Doyel of cbs ends up working for the WWL.
Dick Rod is going to go the way of John Cooper… but lets keep the score close Tress so he stays around a few years —- fun to watch the meltdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBL2FaLG0Ck
One of Dick Rods latest statements:
“It’s amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature,” Rodriguez said Monday. “You almost want to tell them, ‘Get a life.’
“There’s a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy.”
I wonder if he realizes that a lot of fans use a 3 hour college football game as a way to forget about what they may be going through. I know while I am watching a game thats all that matters at that point in time. I hope he keeps this up for awhile, he isnt going to take meeechigan anywhere soon
It may be unknown to many that Scott Schaeffer, the Michigan D-coordinator, is a graduate of Tressel’s alma mater, Baldwin-Wallace College. Given that BW is a very small school, the comments he made about Michigan’s defense and their coaching probably stems from that reasoning. Although Tressel always says that the other teams are gamers regardless of how good or awful the team really is.
Being a graduate of B-W I’m happy to see that other people besides Tressel have also done well in their coaching careers even if they are coaching at that team up north.
I say go for two instead of the P.A.T. Every time!
Also, I bet if you happen to see a man STREAKING across the field buck naked, it is probably Rich Rod, running from the men in white suits! LOL!