PJ Fleck calls Michigan the best team he’s faced as head coach
Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck didn’t disrespect Michigan after his team suffered a 52-10 blowout loss at the Wolverines’ hands. Instead, Fleck raved about Michigan’s talent.
“First and foremost gratulations to Michigan. They’re as good as advertised,” Fleck said during the postgame press conference. “They’re the best football team I’ve seen in 11 years of being a head coach. I’ve never seen a football team like that, that deep. I’m not sure if this is true, but I was told this walking off the field — I think they traveled 75 people and maybe played like 74 of them. I don’t know.
“They’re one of the deepest teams, one of the best teams, one of the biggest teams, fastest teams, strongest teams, and they do not make mistakes. They are truly like a boa constrictor, and they do not beat themselves. They’re very good at each position. They’re very aligned with everything that they do. They know who they are, and they go and execute that game plan. There were times they did it at will tonight.”
Michigan left quite the impression on Fleck. In fairness, the Wolverines exploded for 432 total yards in the win while holding Minnesota’s offense to less than half that number. When Michigan’s offense wasn’t moving the ball, its defense covered its slack.
In the win, Michigan’s defense forced Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis to throw two interceptions, both resulting in a pick-six. The win was Michigan’s 17th-straight conference victory, the second-longest streak in program history.
“They’re a really good football team, though, so you can’t take that away from them,” Fleck said. “We didn’t lose the game — they beat us, period, in every facet of the game. Every aspect of the game — offense, defense and special teams.
“You can’t win games by giving them two pick sixes. The main difference was they were really efficient and we were off schedule, and it felt like we were behind the chains the entire game. I thought we ran the ball well, and then all of a sudden we’d be behind the chains.”
Fleck shouldn’t take the lopsided defeat personal. No team is yet to come within 24 points of the Wolverines this season. With the Indiana Hoosiers up next, the Wolverines will look to continue this impressive pattern.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh certainly didn’t have trouble with the Hoosiers last season, defeating them 31-10. The two teams will face off on Saturday at noon ET. The game will be broadcast on FOX.