Sherrone Moore talks Michigan QB battle, goals for end of fall camp, more

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore joined Big Ten Network as part of its training camp tour stop in Ann Arbor. Moore discussed his team’s quarterback situation, with an ongoing battle between junior Alex Orji and senior Davis Warren. Graduate Jack Tuttle is also in the mix, but he’s been slowed by an injury this offseason that is likely to prevent him from being the opening-day starter.

The first-year head coach was asked about the traits he’s looking for in the quarterback that will emerge.

“The No. 1 thing for us as we look for those guys is the person that’s going to take care of the football,” Moore said. “When the pressure situations come, are you going to take care of it? Are you going to keep the team together when adversity hits? Are you going to be a leader for the team? And you have to be a playmaker with the ball in your hands, whether it’s with your arm or on the ground.

“I think we got a couple guys that have really taken themselves to that level, and it’s gonna be exciting to decide who the quarterback is. It’s always great when you go into championship run season and you have a couple guys, so that’s what we want to have.”

Michigan still has 11 days before its opener against Fresno State, but a tough schedule is upcoming, including a Week 2 matchup against Texas. Moore is intending on using all the time he has.

“We’re trying to cross all of our t’s and dotted all i’s and make sure we’re at the best we can be,” Mooe said. “Enjoy the process, enjoy attacking the process and being good at attacking the process. That’s what we want to do, and make sure we get better every day.”

Here’s everything else the Michigan head coach said in his Big Ten Network interview:

On how much pressure he felt as interim head coach for four game days last season

Really, the only thing I thought of was, ‘Don’t mess it up.’ Every single day, I came here to Schembechler Hall wanting to do everything I can to help our team win and do my part. It wasn’t just me. Obviously, Jesse being a huge part of that on the defensive side, Jay Harbaugh [with special teams] and Coach [Jim Harbaugh] during the preparation during the wek — and the players, most importantly. Those guys just played their tails off every game. So it was a team effort; I’m just glad I was a part of it.

On how he’ll put his imprint on Michigan football

I don’t want to change much. When you win, you like to keep the formula the same. And I think the culture is in a place where we can do that. We have a lot of the same guys that are here, that have been here. Being here, this is going on Year 7, I’ve seen the ups, I’ve seen the downs, I’ve seen what it’s looked like, and I know what the culture’s supposed to look like when it’s successful. Really just trying to keep that aligned and in the right place.

On what he was looking for with staff hires

The first thing I wanted was great human beings, great people — and I have that. They just care about the players so much. They don’t care about their own accolades or what they’re doing or what it’s supposed to look like for them. They really just care about the players and what this team’s success is. That was the No. 1 thing. And then, obviously, great coaches. At every position, you have guys that could be head coaches at some point in their life or have been or been coordinators at different positions.

You start on defense: Wink Martindale is the OG of the defense we have. Both guys that we’ve had previously both coached under Wink. For me, it was a home run to have Wink here, and he’s been outstanding. The kids love him, he loves the kids. It’s just a great match. I love being around him, the energy he has is unmatchable.

All the guys on the defensive side of the ball have been coordinators. That’s something super special, something cool that I’ve never been a part of. They all combine together and make it their defense. It’s gonna be pretty fun to watch.

On the offensive side of the ball, Coach [Kirk] Campbell has done an outstanding job with the offense. He really has the same identity and thought process that I do, but has his own twist on it. And we’re collaborative to do that, to make it the best offense we can.

On the offensive line coming together

It’s been awesome. In the spring, I think they kinda took a step but were trying to figure each other out. And it’s really been all the lines that we’ve had the last couple years, it’s taken some time for them to really adjust and get together and jell. So this fall camp, you got no choice but to buck up against our D-line. If you don’t, you’re going to get punched in the mouth all the time. Those guys have really done a good job of coming together, getting a little unison, getting in sync and getting better and better.

On what adjectives that will be used to describe a Sherrone Moore-led Michigan team

Together, physical, tough, love. We take care of each other. We do it for the team, the team, the team — and we always will. Those are the things we’re always going to do, and how we’ll live our lives.