Key takeaways from Sherrone Moore’s pre-Northwestern press conference

Michigan

Football head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media on Monday to preview the game this Saturday at Wrigley Field against Northwestern (noon, FOX). Here is a recap of the key things he had to say.

• “Getting guys healthy” is what stood out to Moore during the bye week, and he said that was the top goal. He said he feels good about Cole Sullivan, but “we’ll see where Jimmy (Rolder) is, see where Jaishawn (Barham) is.” He also mentioned that Justice Haynes is being considered “week-to-week,” and that Evan Link’s recovery is “going well” and that he is “walking around, moving around.” Finally, he said Donaven McCulley and Marlin Klein will “both be good.” Overall, he feels the team is in a positive place.
• Continuing with injuries, Hogan Hansen “could be this week, could be next week” regarding his return to the field, but they will take it day by day. He mentioned the same thing with Rod Moore.
• Moore with effusive with praise regarding Jordan Marshall, saying he is a “physical runner” and that he’s gotten better with more carries. “He’s a back that, in November, he’s going to thrive.”
• Moore also gave some praise to TJ Metcalf, when asked about him. “He’s a great tackler in space, vocal leader … he’s done a great job for what we’ve asked him to do.”
• When asked about Bryce Underwood being under center vs in the shotgun, Moore said they are working on both of those with him. They are self-scouting to make sure they have a good balance.
  • In a follow up question, Moore said during the bye week, they worked on spacing and timing — “all those little things” that make the pass game work efficiently.
• “Win today” is what the message Moore is telling his team heading into the final three-game stretch of the season. He also discussed Northwestern a bit, saying they are a “really good football team … they’re well-coached, they’re tough, they’re physical … they execute in all three phases, so it’s going to be a great challenge for our team.”
• “I think it’s awesome” is what Moore said about playing at Wrigley Field this weekend, but it’s just the venue they are playing at. The team sounds fully focused on playing and winning the game.
• Moore said he will be involved in discussions between the Big Ten and the proposed private capital deal with UC Investments, but all his focus is on the team finishing out the season right now. “There’s a lot of people at the university that can handle those conversations for right now.”
• With the game between Michigan and Western Michigan next season officially being played at the Big House and not in Germany, as initially reported, Moore said it “wasn’t really a big deal in the building, especially” but that he’s excited to have it back “in the home stadium.”
• True freshman running back Jasper Parker is “in a great place,” according to Moore, and he “keeps getting better and better.” Moore said both Parker and Bryson Kuzdzal will both get carries on Saturday to help take the load off of Marshall. Surprisingly, Moore said Kuzdzal is probably the second-fastest running back on the team behind Haynes.
• When asked about Northwestern again, Moore shouted out quarterback Preston Stone, who he said does a good job distributing the ball to his receivers. He also said their offensive line works really well together and that they are a physical front. Defensively, they do a good job “rallying to the football” and they “just don’t make mistakes … you’ve got to execute at a high level to beat this team.”
• “We’ll see” is what Moore said when asked if there would be any changes on special teams. “We’ll just keep working, put the best personnel in the places we need to be and we’ll continue to attack it.”