Sherrone Moore quick-hitters: Injury updates, the challenges Washington presents, visit with Jay Harbaugh
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media Monday afternoon ahead of his team’s game at Washington. Here are bullet points on the most notable things he said.
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Sherrone Moore quick-hitters
• The Michigan head coach revealed that senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart, junior cornerback Will Johnson and sophomore wide receiver Semaj Morgan — all of whom warmed up but did not play against Minnesota — “look like they’ll be in good shape for this week.” Fifth-year senior left tackle Myles Hinton, meanwhile, left Saturday’s game with an injury but “probably could’ve gone back in.” He is “working through something.” Graduate safety Makari Paige also left the game early, but Moore said he will be “good to go.”
• The undisclosed injury to senior cornerback Ja’Den McBurrows is long term. Those to graduate safety Wesley Walker and junior safety Jaden Mangham, though, are not.
• Michigan’s pass game is a “work in progress” and has “gotta be better.” It starts with the head coach, Moore said. He noted that junior quarterback Alex Orji did “some good things and improved,” and also that the receivers have to do a better job of getting open.
• Moore also said Michigan will alter its practice plan to make sure the passing game improves more. He said that’s not uncommon, making tweaks to how the Wolverines practice. They made a change before the USC game that he was happy with and the Maize and Blue have continued to do (he didn’t say what it was).
• Moore said the second-half struggles have nothing to do with a “speech” that needs to be had in the locker room. Instead, he believes execution has been lacking and that his team needs to “finish better.”
• Good road teams “pack their defense and run game” and play sound and disciplined. Moore said his team is excited to get on the road. When playing away games, the team is more secluded and in a “cocoon.”
• Washington is a “really good football team.” Moore mentioned quarterback Will Rogers and running back Jonah Coleman as standouts. He said the defense is “sound” and plays a lot of man coverage and cover 1. He noted that Washington will load the box, and Michigan will have to make some plays on the outside.
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• Sophomore safety Brandyn Hillman is one of the most athletic players on the team, pound for pound. During preseason practices, Moore noticed that he was “always around the ball.”
• Michigan will leave earlier than normal for its trip to Washington since the travel time is longer, but it’ll keep the rest of its road game routine intact.
• Michigan has to get the call in quicker and get lined up when opponents go with up-tempo offense. When asked if the Wolverines may change the way it substitutes on the defensive line, Moore said starting some possessions with backups in the game is to get his guys fresh. He alluded that he trusts the backups to get the job done until the starters are put back in.
• Former Michigan assistant coach and current Seattle Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh visited the facility today since his team is set to take on the Detroit Lions Sunday night. Harbaugh reminded Moore about how important and hard it is to win and that there should be “joy” after a victory. But it “doesn’t mean you’re satisfied.” That was in response to being asked about weighing the happiness about winning but the lack of joy with how his team won against Minnesota.
• Michigan graduate running back Kalel Mullings has great “vision.” Moore lauded the way he gets extra yards even when it looks like they’re not there.
• Michigan was more creative with senior running back Donovan Edwards last week, putting him in the game at the same time as Mullings. Moore was happy with the “eye candy” they showed the defense, giving them a lot to “think about.” He alluded that the two-back look will continue going forward.
