Michigan players quick hitters: Setting a new identity and weighing in on position battles
ANN ARBOR – Michigan Wolverines players TJ Guy, Giovanni El-Hadi and Zeke Berry were made available to the media on Monday to open Fresno State week ahead of Saturday’s opener in Ann Arbor.
Here is the recap and rundown from what was said after head coach Sherrone Moore left the podium at Schembechler Hall.
Senior EDGE TJ Guy
• There has not been a quarterback that has given the defense more trouble than the others. Alex Orji has given them issues with his legs, but praised the mobility of Davis Warren, too.
• Has focused on details and staying prepared and proactive in his game.
• Says that Sherrone Moore has always believed in him and that he has done an “amazing job” as Michigan’s head coach thus far and has been on him. Says that is a blessing to have a coach that cares about him that much.
• Asked what he has seen from Fresno State on film (note: players begin game week prep on Monday’s after press conferences), Guy said that the matchup will provide them a ton of opportunities to make plays.
• Having mobile quarterbacks on the roster is something that should help them prepare for Fresno State’s Mikey Keene, who is athletic under center.
• Called senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart one of the most talented players on the roster and one who practices the hardest, which is good to see from your top players.
• Guy says the best part of the season being here is that he is ready to “turn up and have fun with the fans” at Michigan Stadium.
• Competition in EDGE room has been high throughout camp.
• With knowledge that snap counts will be higher for everyone with tougher games, the emphasis all offseason has been on conditioning. Says almost everyone on the roster passed the conditioning test in fall camp.
• Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is running essentially the same defense from the last few seasons, but that “pressure breaks pipes” and that Martindale has a ton of them.
• Guy singled out Michigan freshman Dom Nichols as a future player with a ton of potential, along with Lugard Edokpayi. Says when Edokpayi will be “really freaky” when the game slows down for him.
• Texted Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell after their big performances last week for the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans in the NFL preseason, stays in touch with former teammates.
• Approach has been no different coming off national title, Michigan knows it always has a target on its back.
Senior guard Giovanni El-Hadi
• Offensive line competitions have gone great for Michigan, he is confident about whomever starts at center between seniors Greg Crippen, Raheem Anderson and Dom Giudice and Andrew Gentry or Evan Link at right tackle.
• Also said he has confidence in sophomore Nate Efobi as a potential next man up on the interior, in addition to the above names.
• Giudice is a “strong dude” and he and Link have been “great.”
• The offensive line has worked hard all offseason to build its new identity. El-Hadi said the message was that they did not need replacements for five guys, they needed 10 guys to step up to maintain depth.
• Fifth-year left tackle has labeled “Invictus” – Latin for “undefeated or unconquerable” as the group’s rallying cry this year and the team has taken to it.
• El-Hadi had no takeaways from Florida State’s loss to Georgia Tech.
• Asked by a reporter if he would watch the Connor Stalions documentary, El-Hadi said he will be watching film instead.
• Last year does not matter anymore, he says, and that the focus for the group is making their own history.
• Both quarterbacks have inspired confidence and he does not believe it matters who Michigan starts back there.
• Biggest offseason emphasis for El-Hadi was the move back to the right side, where he played in high school. He got his body and footwork right and says the muscle memory has returned.
Junior nickel/safety Zeke Berry
• Says it feels good to have the strong endorsements he has gotten all offseason.
• Berry is adjusting to getting equal reps at both safety and nickel as he tries to learn both positions, says his confidence came back in spring game practices.
• The quarterback that has given the defense the most issues is “all of them.”
• All of the defensive backs have helped make each other better and he says the presence of Rod Moore, Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson has been invaluable for him.
• Moore and former Michigan star Mike Sainristil are great role models to him and he looks like pick their brains in both life and football. Says that Moore is both a player and a coach presence for U-M.
• Berry says the Michigan defense plays with aggression regardless of the situation or who is out there.
• Right now, the day-by-day focus turns to Fresno State.
• The Moore injury hit everyone hard in spring ball, but continuing to have him around has helped everyone in the building.
• Berry does not believe one specific player will replace what Moore brings on the field and that he believes it will be a group effort: “We can all fill in for Rod.”
• He did not know there was a Stalions documentary and will not be watching it.
