Kalen DeBoer praises Michigan run game in respectful dual head coach presser

HOUSTON — Alabama coach Nick Saban made the final moments of the last Rose Bowl press conference with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh uncomfortable a week ago when he answered a “sign stealing” question by talking about the importance of “integrity” in the sport. That seemed to put Harbaugh in salty mood, though he got the last laugh when he and his team beat the Crimson Tide, 27-20 in overtime.

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There was no such moment Sunday in Houston when Harbaugh and Washington coach Kalen DeBoer took the stage together. They shook hands and spoke glowingly of each other’s teams, talked for a while after trading compliments, and then left to finish prep for tomorrow night’s National Championship Game.

This one will be a tale of different styles — running and brawn vs. a wide open attack and speed — and both sides feel they’re prepared. There was nothing at all new from the presser, with everything said having been stated several times over the last few weeks.

“My message to our guys is going to be play as hard as you can, as fast as you can, as long as you can and don’t worry … just go have at it,” Harbaugh said. “It’s been a group of guys that I’ve had to pull them back at times. I have never had to talk them into anything, and I just can’t wait. I can’t wait to watch them compete, watch them have at it. That’s going to be my overwhelming feeling is, let’s just go let it rip.”

They’re going to have to play well against a “tremendous and thorough team,” Harbaugh added. They’re well aware of the Huskies’ elite passing game.

DeBoer, though, was just as wary of the Wolverines’ running game. Michigan may not have seen a passing attack like Washington’s, but the Huskies have yet to face a running game like U-M’s, DeBoer admitted.

“I think there are some experiences we’ve been through, where we’ve been challenged against teams that really pride themselves on being physical and running the football,” DeBoer said. “I do think that Michigan is a different animal when it comes to that, just as far as what their intentions are and how well they execute. A lot of credit, again, to everyone up front on their offensive line and their running backs.

“It takes a whole team. I think we’ve seen, even running the football, it takes everyone. When the receivers and the tight ends and all of those position groups are heavily involved and bought in, playing at a high level, playing physical, executing, it makes a big difference. It’s going to take, for us, guys just physically tough, but also we’re going to have to really execute. We can’t be missing gaps as far as the defensive line doing their own thing or linebackers doing their own thing. You’ve also got to know where your help and support’s at, and just everyone doing their job and doing it at a high level. That’s what it takes to be able to hang in there and do a good job against a team that runs a football like Michigan does at such a high level.”

Harbaugh talked about Washington’s receivers, of course, but he insisted the Huskies were much more than just that. He praised their offensive line, the turnovers generated by the Washington linebackers, and quarterback Michael Penix.

“He’s a quarterback that is special, has the “it” factor in every way,” Harbaugh said. “The two teams in a lot of ways are mirror images in that regard, in my opinion. I think of ourselves as a thorough football team, as well.”

But if Michigan controls the clock, the Huskies are going to have a hard time winning. DeBoer seems aware of that, and he’s done his best to prepare his squad for what’s coming.

“We know what Michigan’s done with their running game and their offensive line and just how it controls the tempo of the game,” he said. “The physicality … I’ve always felt that if your offensive line has got that physical presence to them, your whole team probably has that physical presence as well. because that’s what they’re going against each and every day in practice.

“So, the running game is critical, not just what Michigan’s trying to do but what we are, as well … to be able to offset anything as far as them attacking Michael and just keeping away from being in a one-dimensional type of spot where it’s obvious pass downs all the time.”

The same applies to Michigan, as well. Which style works better? We’ll know Monday night.