TheWolverine.com Podcast: Balas and Skene break down Michigan win over ECU
Michigan handled ECU, 30-3, in the season opener in Ann Arbor, getting elite play from quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The junior threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, completing 26 of 30 passes in dominating the game with his arm. The Wolverines didn’t run the ball as well as expected, but defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, filling in for suspended head coach Jim Harbaugh, said part of that was the result of ECU stacking the line.
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Minter will go back to his full time defensive coordinator duties this week with Michigan assistants Mike Hart and Jay Harbaugh assuming head coaching duties for a half each against UNLV. He appreciated the experience, though, and enjoyed the opportunity.
“For me, I’m so used to just focusing on the defense, so when we were on offense, being able to listen into the offense talk about some of the fourth down, are we going to go, punt, get into field goal range … what’s our thought process here?” the Michigan assistant said. “Not being on the defensive adjustments quite as much … I sort of talked to those guys real quick, said, ‘hey, here’s what I’m thinking on the next series — you guys handle it.’
“I thought they did a great job. Just that back and forth that you see still trying to call one side and manage the game in a way that would allow us to be successful. I’m sure there was some good and bad, but it was definitely a great experience.”
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Harbaugh only had one bit of advice for him in his Michigan head coaching debut, he said — “be you.”
“He’s such an advocate for us; an advocate for our players,” Minter continued. “It’s like we’re trained for this situation the way we operate, the way he empowers our players, the way he empowers our coaches. He breathes confidence into our team just with how he operates.
“There’s a level of respect everybody has not only for him, but the way he builds us up, as well, and I think it allows us to thrive in those situations if we have to. Certainly, we will be better when he’s back, because he’s our head coach and I think he’s the best head coach in college football. We’ll definitely be excited to get him back, but glad we were able to be a guardian of victory for the first week.”
Chris Balas and Doug Skene break down the Michigan win over ECU, talking about line play, pass rush, and more in this segment.
