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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After six weeks of spring ball, the 15-practice session came to a close with Michigan football holding its annual spring game at The Big House.
The Blue team, led by freshman phenom quarterback Bryce Underwood, beat the Maize team, led by second-year quarterback Jadyn Davis.
Neither QB had a particularly impressive showing, with Underwood throwing for just short of 200 yards (but 88 yards came on the final play) while Davis struggled to hit open targets with regularity. Thus, it was more of a defensive showing, culminating in a 17-0 game once everything was said and done.
After the game, head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media to discuss the game. Here is everything he had to say.
I thought overall the team played well. You know, a couple penalties that we got to clean up on both sides, but all in all, I just wanted to see everybody have fun, injury-free football game, and that's what we got accomplished.
Uh, did well. You know, did well, made some really good throws and had some things that we got to clean up and get better at, but he's a continuing work in progress, and he's working his tail off to do it.
Yeah, I mean, the competitive nature, but the relationship that they both have, it's been really cool to watch them this spring compete against each other, but you know, root for each other at the same time, so that's been super fun to watch, and you know, both of them great kids, great character kids, and it's a battle that's going to go all the way into fall camp.
Yeah, no, Jalen has really picked up his game, and he's really changed his body, done different things. I think he's about 245, 250 pounds, and a super athletic kid with really great ball skills and hands, and a guy we definitely look forward to watching in the season.
Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest piece is that they get challenged by the defensive line every day, and I think our D-lines is going to be really deep, and it's always different in the spring games because everybody's split up, and there's different combinations of people. And there's ones playing with twos, and twos playing with ones, and threes playing with twos, so you don't get really caught up in that, but I've seen them progress, and I think Coach Newsome's done an unbelievable job with that group, and they've really fought every practice, and you can see them getting better and better.
Yeah, just more individual battles that you're really looking at versus the whole team, because it's just different, but it was fun to watch. You can watch guys compete, and some guys get their first action in the big stage, and, you know, thank you for you guys. Thank you for the crowd.That was an outstanding show and turnout. I don't know what the number was, but probably as good as we've had in the last four years, so that was exciting for the young guys.
Right before the spring that kind of came upon us. So handled it, and he's doing well now. He's throwing, he's in a good place, and just didn't feel like pushing it to end the spring that way, so he's in a great place. I did a study about guys who's played the most college snaps in football, and he's played like 2,220 snaps in college football, so he's OK to miss the spring.
Yeah, really excited. You saw the little flash with Justice Haynes when he bounced that one to the left, and he's a guy that's got home run speed and ability, but he's been a great leader, a guy that's obviously came from a different program in Alabama. And he showed us what he's done.
And Jordan, you know, he just worked his tail off and tried to emulate him as much as he can, so it's been a great combination, and you know, they push guys like Bryson Kuzdzal, who's been out there, who ran really well today, who we really feel highly about. And Micah Ka'apana. So, I think we got a good room, and we'll continue to push it and drive to get the best guys in there.
We'll look at different options and what we need to do. We've got Chase Herbstreit coming in this summer, as well, we'll have Mikey, evaluate, see where Davis is, but we'll see what that situation looks like.
Yeah, he got better, he progressed and did things, every single day he got better, and really, Bryce made him better, and he made Bryce better. So that was cool to watch throughout the spring, and just the temperament that he had, and the relationship, it was really cool to watch two guys compete every day, and just after every throw, they'd dab each other up, and high-five each other, pick each other up when one of them made the mistake, or celebrate each other's good, so it's been fun to see.
Yeah, I mean, it's part of the reason I brought Chip in, you know, so it's been fun, you know, we've created some shots, and created some different pass concepts to help us in that, and we'll continue to do that. It's not like the offense isn't just put together right now, but it's a whole summer to evaluate, and see, and do what we need to do to go win the game, so, but it's been fun, it's been a fun, fun, fun spring, and the receivers have gotten better, which has helped.
It's huge, a guy that's done it, he did it here last year, and obviously won one of the biggest games here, you know, going down south, and winning that game, and it's huge to have him, it's huge to have a guy like Mikey Keene, who's who's done it at so many places, and done it at a really high level. So those guys have been awesome for the young guys, supporting those guys, and pushing them in a positive way, and it's been fun to watch the whole crew.
I could be here for a while talking about that. I mean, you just talk about the whole defensive line, I feel like there's 10 guys that can play. A guy that stood out today was Dom Nichols. Every day, it's trying to figure out ways to block him, and TJ, and Derrick, and Cam Brandt up front. It's Tré, it's Rayshaun Benny, it's Ike, it's Trey Pierce, it's Enow Etta, so it's a group of guys that have been really fun to watch, and watch them evaluate, and push each other. So that's been really good too.
And in the back end, it's, it's a slew of guys as well, but to watch a guy like Mason Curtis flying around, you know, with 6-5, safety, that can run, that can move, flips his hips, it's been cool. Brandyn Hillman has really taken the next step to be one of those dynamic players in college football, I'm excited for him.
No, nothing's really surprised, I kind of had a good beat on how he would be, the work ethic. He's a night owl, that's true, so I try to give him sleep more, but, because he's in the building a lot, and he's doing a lot to get better, so, but nothing surprised me in the way he carries himself, and what he does. Just knowing his family, his mom and dad, Jay and Beverly, just an outstanding job raising a young man, and it's been awesome to have him around.
Yeah, I mean, we'll see, you know, we'll evaluate this film and see where we need to go, so there's always pieces that we'll look at, but they've always going to be a right fit, you know, so the exact place and the exact people, not really, you know, we have a number on that, but we'll see where that goes after we look through, after the tape.
Oh, I don't know, it's a good -- probably Jalen Hoffman. Yeah, probably Jalen Hoffman, but Blue team will go to Texas de Brazil on Monday. Maize team, tough.
I mean, probably the biggest piece is just the knowledge of knowing where he's going, what's going on, his teammates, and watching the other teammates grow towards him, because you're coming with a guy that's such highly ranked and highly touted, so easily for a lot of guys to deflect and not want him to be a part of the team, and they've just embraced him like they embrace everybody else. And he's embraced the team, and he's very humble, very selfless. So it's, that's been probably the biggest thing to watch.
And then from the football standpoint, there's, you know, there's a countless number of things that he's watched and seen -- knowledge of playbook and things like that. But we continue this process as we go into the summer.
I mean, I think mentally at some point in practice you get a little tired of those guys coming off the edge and Jaishawn Barham and Ernie and all those different angles and the way they can attack you. So for sure, but I think ultimately they know it's going to make them better, and it has made them better already, so it's been fun to watch the competitive nature of both sides, and it's really made the offense take it up to the next level. And usually the defense is usually ahead of the offense, just in general, but they've really taken the steps necessary, I think, to be an explosive offense. I look forward to it.
I don't know, because we've been circulating guys through, so on purpose to know that we're going to go into fall camp and have a starting five at some point, so there's not really a solid starting five. I know that Gio El-Hadi would be a starter, (Greg Crippen) would probably be a starter, and Andrew Sprague, you know, and then there'd be a rotation that could be Brady Norton, could be Andrew Babalola, could be Efobi, could be Evan Link in different spots, so it's going to be fun to watch these guys in the summertime and watch them through fall camp to see who the starting five are.
Yeah, I mean, I go in those quarterback meeting rooms, and he's like a coach, you know, he's run a lot of the stuff that Chip's done before, so that's been cool to watch him teach those young guys and his thought process, but he's just played football for so much, and college football, and he had a pretty good grasp on how to execute our playbook.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Sherrone Moore Michigan post-spring game press conference transcript
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The Blue team, led by freshman phenom quarterback Bryce Underwood, beat the Maize team, led by second-year quarterback Jadyn Davis.
Neither QB had a particularly impressive showing, with Underwood throwing for just short of 200 yards (but 88 yards came on the final play) while Davis struggled to hit open targets with regularity. Thus, it was more of a defensive showing, culminating in a 17-0 game once everything was said and done.
After the game, head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media to discuss the game. Here is everything he had to say.
What he saw from the team
I thought overall the team played well. You know, a couple penalties that we got to clean up on both sides, but all in all, I just wanted to see everybody have fun, injury-free football game, and that's what we got accomplished.
What did you see from Bryce?
Uh, did well. You know, did well, made some really good throws and had some things that we got to clean up and get better at, but he's a continuing work in progress, and he's working his tail off to do it.
What were some of the differences that you've seen between both your quarterbacks that make them so special?
Yeah, I mean, the competitive nature, but the relationship that they both have, it's been really cool to watch them this spring compete against each other, but you know, root for each other at the same time, so that's been super fun to watch, and you know, both of them great kids, great character kids, and it's a battle that's going to go all the way into fall camp.
With Hoffman, is that something you'd be seeing from him this spring? It was kind of a surprise to be here.
Yeah, no, Jalen has really picked up his game, and he's really changed his body, done different things. I think he's about 245, 250 pounds, and a super athletic kid with really great ball skills and hands, and a guy we definitely look forward to watching in the season.
In the offensive line, obviously they were split up today, but what have you seen from them this spring that gives you confidence?
Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest piece is that they get challenged by the defensive line every day, and I think our D-lines is going to be really deep, and it's always different in the spring games because everybody's split up, and there's different combinations of people. And there's ones playing with twos, and twos playing with ones, and threes playing with twos, so you don't get really caught up in that, but I've seen them progress, and I think Coach Newsome's done an unbelievable job with that group, and they've really fought every practice, and you can see them getting better and better.
How do you kind of evaluate in a game like this when you have the group split up between the receivers, and obviously the line, and all of that?
Yeah, just more individual battles that you're really looking at versus the whole team, because it's just different, but it was fun to watch. You can watch guys compete, and some guys get their first action in the big stage, and, you know, thank you for you guys. Thank you for the crowd.That was an outstanding show and turnout. I don't know what the number was, but probably as good as we've had in the last four years, so that was exciting for the young guys.
When he found out they wouldn't have Mikey Keene
Right before the spring that kind of came upon us. So handled it, and he's doing well now. He's throwing, he's in a good place, and just didn't feel like pushing it to end the spring that way, so he's in a great place. I did a study about guys who's played the most college snaps in football, and he's played like 2,220 snaps in college football, so he's OK to miss the spring.
On the running backs
Yeah, really excited. You saw the little flash with Justice Haynes when he bounced that one to the left, and he's a guy that's got home run speed and ability, but he's been a great leader, a guy that's obviously came from a different program in Alabama. And he showed us what he's done.
And Jordan, you know, he just worked his tail off and tried to emulate him as much as he can, so it's been a great combination, and you know, they push guys like Bryson Kuzdzal, who's been out there, who ran really well today, who we really feel highly about. And Micah Ka'apana. So, I think we got a good room, and we'll continue to push it and drive to get the best guys in there.
You guys only have a couple of quarterbacks out there. Did you look to add someone to this off-season?
We'll look at different options and what we need to do. We've got Chase Herbstreit coming in this summer, as well, we'll have Mikey, evaluate, see where Davis is, but we'll see what that situation looks like.
On Jadyn Davis
Yeah, he got better, he progressed and did things, every single day he got better, and really, Bryce made him better, and he made Bryce better. So that was cool to watch throughout the spring, and just the temperament that he had, and the relationship, it was really cool to watch two guys compete every day, and just after every throw, they'd dab each other up, and high-five each other, pick each other up when one of them made the mistake, or celebrate each other's good, so it's been fun to see.
Jordan Marshall was talking about how he's liked most this spring is more of the deep shots, and not running into as many eight, nine, ten-man boxes. Is that, Is that something you've seen as well?
Yeah, I mean, it's part of the reason I brought Chip in, you know, so it's been fun, you know, we've created some shots, and created some different pass concepts to help us in that, and we'll continue to do that. It's not like the offense isn't just put together right now, but it's a whole summer to evaluate, and see, and do what we need to do to go win the game, so, but it's been fun, it's been a fun, fun, fun spring, and the receivers have gotten better, which has helped.
Having Davis Warren in the QB room
It's huge, a guy that's done it, he did it here last year, and obviously won one of the biggest games here, you know, going down south, and winning that game, and it's huge to have him, it's huge to have a guy like Mikey Keene, who's who's done it at so many places, and done it at a really high level. So those guys have been awesome for the young guys, supporting those guys, and pushing them in a positive way, and it's been fun to watch the whole crew.
What depth guys in the defensive backfield, in the defensive line stood out to you, either today, or just spring in general?
I could be here for a while talking about that. I mean, you just talk about the whole defensive line, I feel like there's 10 guys that can play. A guy that stood out today was Dom Nichols. Every day, it's trying to figure out ways to block him, and TJ, and Derrick, and Cam Brandt up front. It's Tré, it's Rayshaun Benny, it's Ike, it's Trey Pierce, it's Enow Etta, so it's a group of guys that have been really fun to watch, and watch them evaluate, and push each other. So that's been really good too.
And in the back end, it's, it's a slew of guys as well, but to watch a guy like Mason Curtis flying around, you know, with 6-5, safety, that can run, that can move, flips his hips, it's been cool. Brandyn Hillman has really taken the next step to be one of those dynamic players in college football, I'm excited for him.
Has anything that Bryce done surprised you in any way, positively, negatively, in any way?
No, nothing's really surprised, I kind of had a good beat on how he would be, the work ethic. He's a night owl, that's true, so I try to give him sleep more, but, because he's in the building a lot, and he's doing a lot to get better, so, but nothing surprised me in the way he carries himself, and what he does. Just knowing his family, his mom and dad, Jay and Beverly, just an outstanding job raising a young man, and it's been awesome to have him around.
Where are you looking to maybe add this during the transfer portal spring window to bolster the team before the fall?
Yeah, I mean, we'll see, you know, we'll evaluate this film and see where we need to go, so there's always pieces that we'll look at, but they've always going to be a right fit, you know, so the exact place and the exact people, not really, you know, we have a number on that, but we'll see where that goes after we look through, after the tape.
Who is your spring game MVP?
Oh, I don't know, it's a good -- probably Jalen Hoffman. Yeah, probably Jalen Hoffman, but Blue team will go to Texas de Brazil on Monday. Maize team, tough.
With Bryce, in what ways have you seen him grow the most since he's been here since December?
I mean, probably the biggest piece is just the knowledge of knowing where he's going, what's going on, his teammates, and watching the other teammates grow towards him, because you're coming with a guy that's such highly ranked and highly touted, so easily for a lot of guys to deflect and not want him to be a part of the team, and they've just embraced him like they embrace everybody else. And he's embraced the team, and he's very humble, very selfless. So it's, that's been probably the biggest thing to watch.
And then from the football standpoint, there's, you know, there's a countless number of things that he's watched and seen -- knowledge of playbook and things like that. But we continue this process as we go into the summer.
You mentioned multiple times that this defense is going to be the best that the offense is going to see. What kind of impact does that have?
I mean, I think mentally at some point in practice you get a little tired of those guys coming off the edge and Jaishawn Barham and Ernie and all those different angles and the way they can attack you. So for sure, but I think ultimately they know it's going to make them better, and it has made them better already, so it's been fun to watch the competitive nature of both sides, and it's really made the offense take it up to the next level. And usually the defense is usually ahead of the offense, just in general, but they've really taken the steps necessary, I think, to be an explosive offense. I look forward to it.
Do you have right now what would your starting five OL be?
I don't know, because we've been circulating guys through, so on purpose to know that we're going to go into fall camp and have a starting five at some point, so there's not really a solid starting five. I know that Gio El-Hadi would be a starter, (Greg Crippen) would probably be a starter, and Andrew Sprague, you know, and then there'd be a rotation that could be Brady Norton, could be Andrew Babalola, could be Efobi, could be Evan Link in different spots, so it's going to be fun to watch these guys in the summertime and watch them through fall camp to see who the starting five are.
And as far as Mikey, I mean, has he grasped the playbook? Has he had the time of not participating? Is that what his goal is?
Yeah, I mean, I go in those quarterback meeting rooms, and he's like a coach, you know, he's run a lot of the stuff that Chip's done before, so that's been cool to watch him teach those young guys and his thought process, but he's just played football for so much, and college football, and he had a pretty good grasp on how to execute our playbook.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Sherrone Moore Michigan post-spring game press conference transcript
Continue reading...
