Insider Report From Schembechler Hall, Vol. 1
These are reports that I receive from reliable sources that are close with a number of individuals within the athletic department (specifically football and basketball). I can’t say how often I’ll have these reports, but I’ll pass them along when I receive them.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy them and let’s jump right in!
1. David Molk is an excellent leader for this team. He just has great leadership abilities that this team looks for. Coach Hoke and Molk are in tune with each other and are very compatible with one another. Molk says, “What happens in the 1st quarter helps the team get used to their opponents and figure out their opposition’s strengths and weaknesses”. This would explain the slow starts that team have been having throughout the first games of the season. David continues on that the 2nd quarter usually has the issues fixed and the team is ready to hit its stride to the point where it the games feel likes practice. I suspect as they grow as a team they’ll be able to do get it to feel like “practice” mentality sooner and sooner. That’s the goal at least.
Conversely, Junior Hemingway and Mike Martin have been very concerned about the 1st quarter dominance that the opposing teams have had. Martin said the blame lies within him for not taking on a bigger leadership role when they’re on the field. This in turn has translated into VERY INTENSE practices. These guys are just hungry to win and will do anything it takes to win.
2. Roy Roundtree is one of my favorite players on the team. Roundtree said, “Now 3-0, but I’ll feel better when it’s 4-0!”. Roundtree continued on, “San Diego State is up next. We just have to keep climbing up that hard mountain that we’ve been preparing for all year. It’s just one game at a time.” The main change that I’ve noticed in him and a LOT of the players is how they’ve become so serious about their academics. It’s indicative of an attitude shift…And you can take that any way you want. That’s just my opinion. Coach Hoke has instilled how important academics are to him and how they need to be important to the student athletes and the team has responded. Hoke has also instilled that self-awareness should permeate throughout your student career, including academics, social life, and on the field. This has truly been a wonderful change to watch.
3. Along with Roy Roundtree, Jordan Kovacs is another one of my favorites on the team. Kovacs has really enjoyed the transition from Robinson to Mattison. The one thing that Kovacs has really picked up from Coach Mattison has been how to study game film more effectively and interpret scouting reports. We don’t have “all the horses in the stalls” yet, but Mattison’s “bend don’t break” attitude is working thus far.
4. This is my opinion, but I honestly feel that Dave Brandon is a gift from god from everyone I’ve spoken too. He is doing such an excellent job in rebuilding the Michigan brand. Add in the success that Brady Hoke is having in recruiting and I’m VERY excited about what the lies ahead in the short-term and long term for this program.
5. Cameron Gordon should be playing this week. He likely won’t start, but expect to see him get on the field for the first time this season.
6. The running backs are getting better. The goal of the team is to have a lot of guns and just not have to rely on Robinson so much. They’re just trying to keep the tread on Denard’s wheels as fresh as they can. The secondary goal of this team is that each back has their own style, which is great for a team that has a really great stable of backs who excel at a variety of skills. With this, it’s harder for the defense to adjust and will hopefully lead to good things for the offense. It’s just taking time to get to that point where everything clicks.
7. Coach Hoke has said that Denard is excellent at throwing the ball. The main problem is that his decision making is where he needs to improve on. Because Denard has been forced to run so much, he’s not setting his feet firmly and hasn’t been able to step up into the pocket to make a solid throw.
This is from Coach Hoke: “That really is what it comes down to with all quarterbacks, your feet and your hips. We took a couple shots, and they were just a little long. He stepped up in the pocket nicely a couple times, scrambled a little bit and got some yardage,” (he was talking about the Eastern game) ” There are a couple of those shots where he stepped up a week ago and hit that were just out of the guy’s reach a little bit.” (He was talking about Notre Dame) He said Denard is working extremely hard.
Coach Hoke hoped to have had every position concretized by now, but it just hasn’t happened. He says, “you always look for that guy or that combo that’s going to give you the perfect game all the time”. He also said that he’s very proud about the ownership that the players have taken in regard to who they represent, which is a BIG change from last year in my opinion.
Also, just so we’re clear, San Diego State is not a throw away game! This team has played well when they’re on the road (Look at Army and Washington State) and have very well coached. They’ve got a great combo in QB and RB and their defense is fast.
8. Thomas Gordon is FIERCE! And boy does this guy dislike Michigan State. Hell, I admire it! As we know, he’s great friends with Will Campbell since they both went to Cass Tech. He said Will has a lot of room to improve, but is doing a job on the field. He’s working very hard every day trying to get better.
9. Russell Bellomy has been a great kid. He’s taking it all in stride with it being his first year on campus. The attitude that he has taken is so different than some of the other freshman on the team. He’s really doing a great job. He’ll be a valuable piece to this team in the next few years.
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