Sherrone Moore quick-hitters: Oregon, Will Johnson status, Michigan QB Davis Warren, more

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media Monday afternoon ahead of his team’s game against Oregon. Here are bullet points on the most noteworthy things he said.

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Sherrone Moore quick-hitters

• Moore made an opening statement about the scuffle following Michigan’s third-straight win over MSU last weekend, saying that he will deal with the incident internally but that it was “unacceptable and not how we handle ourselves.” He noted that he hasn’t heard from the Big Ten on it and that he doesn’t expect any suspensions. Click here for our full story on his comments.

• Michigan had fifth-year senior left tackle Myles Hinton back in the lineup after he missed the previous two games, and Moore said it was “huge” for the team’s pass protection, saying the protection had “synergy.” He noted that the timing of the pass game was strong, and that senior quarterback Davis Warren made some good throws. He missed a couple throws and was “beating himself up” over them, but he played “well enough for us to win.” The flea flicker throw was “a dime, a dot.”

• Moore said the dynamic between Warren and junior Alex Orji both playing roles against MSU was “awesome” and “what you hoped it would be.” He said they both “worked well in tandem together.”

• MSU ran on Michigan’s exotic looks on third down, and Moore said the Wolverines have to “be gap sound and understand what they’re thinking and adjust.” He said Michigan has to “be better and make the changes necessary to be better in those situations.”

• Moore said the plan is to go with Warren as the starter and Orji the backup with a role again this week against Oregon.

• On Oregon, Moore said it starts with quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is “elite in every way, making plays down the field, controlling the offense, with his feet.” He said the Wolverines have to “do things to make him uncomfortable.” The offensive line is “really good, one of the best in the country.” He added that the skill players are “fast” and “twitchy,” with Evan Stewart standing out. He said running back Jordan James is “a smaller guy but a violent runner.” The defense “plays really good team defense” with a great scheme by head coach Dan Lanning.

• Moore said there’s no extra novelty with Oregon coming to town ranked No. 1. He said every game is a big game and the Wolverines will prepare to execute and win. He said his players understand the challenge that the Ducks present.

• Senior center Greg Crippen has started the last three games and has “been good” and is “giving us a good chance to win.” He did say, though, that Crippen has to continue to “elevate his game in certain things and situations.” He’s “taken command” of the group.

• What Warren improved on against MSU versus his first three starts of the season was taking care of the football. He said there was one instance where the ball was low while he was scrambling, but other than that the ball wasn’t in harm’s way. He lauded Warren’s key third down plays and “big plays down the field.”

• Moore said Michigan will ride with Warren as the starter going forward having “earned the opportunity.”

• Moore didn’t have an update on junior right tackle Andrew Gentry and sophomore safety Brandyn Hillman, each of whom left the game with injuries.

• Junior cornerback Will Johnson‘s status is still in doubt for this week’s game, after he missed the MSU contest with injury, but Moore said that he expects him back at some point this season “for sure.” He added later in the press conference that there’s “no plan” for Johnson to shut it down and that he would have been playing if he could. He relies on the trainers and the doctors to clear players, “and then we go from there.”

• Michigan has “always” had an emphasis on protecting the ball — and it’s been solid in practice — but Moore said the Wolverines just executed better in that regard against MSU.

• From getting blown out by Texas to now heading into a clash with No. 1 Oregon, Moore has seen improvement from his team in the following areas: “The never-flinch mentality. Regardless of the situation, all the guys are ready to fight. That’s all you can ask to start off. There are enough flashes of execution, especially in that second half of football offensively, and I’ve seen our defense do it enough. And when we put our defense in a good situation and people don’t have short fields, it’s harder to drive the field on our guys, and it takes time. The first drive, they drove the field and missed a field goal. I’ll take that all day. … I think our guys will be prepared and ready for this matchup.”

• Moore was asked about the balance of putting players in games between winning and wanting to prepare them for the future. “Winning. That’s it. Win, win, win,” Moore replied.

• Moore mentioned “no sacks” along with no turnovers and no penalties against MSU. He was also pleased with winning “the middle eight” minutes, the portion of the game before and after halftime.

• Moore said all Warren needs to do is “be you” and not prove people wrong. He said that it was impressive how when Warren was benched before Big Ten play that he was “the same person” in the building, and that says a lot about him.

• Moore believes Michigan’s offensive performance against MSU “can be sustained.”

• Junior defensive tackle Mason Graham “is a game-wrecker.” He’s “in the backfield every other play,” and he “plays so hard, plays so physical.”