NigerianDonDada
FFOE
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan finished its opening week of spring football on Friday (Feb. 27) with the first padded practice under Coach Jim Harbaugh. It was a spirited, four-hour session featuring game situations and drills that seemed to bring out the best in the Wolverines.
Senior linebacker Joe Bolden, donning his No. 35 white road jersey, was all smiles afterward at Al Glick Field House.
"Wearing the game jerseys is a little bit different than last year," said Bolden. "Last year, we wore the plain, mesh, typical practice jerseys. This year, it's more of a game feel going into practice with a higher intensity.
"It felt good. You get the first pop in, and it's the season again. Even though, what is it, February? But we've got things rolling, and we'll come back in fall camp and put the pads on again."
Harbaugh, wearing a blue baseball cap with the maize block M, a blue sweatshirt and khaki pants, moved around the field to make observations and shout instructions.
"He was excited," said Bolden. "You could see it in his eyes. Obviously, he's got enthusiasm unknown to mankind -- as we've all heard about and have now seen."
Harbaugh uses the "enthusiasm unknown to mankind" line to describe his approach to coaching football, and Bolden has picked up on it.
"He brings it to practice every day," Bolden said, "and you've got to love it. He brings a very high intensity and is unpredictable. He keeps us all on our toes."
What's an example of Harbaugh's unpredictability?
"Last year," said Bolden, "we knew what we had coming in practice. But now, your guess is as good as mine. He might use a comparison to a baby coming out of the womb for the beginning of the football season. He's definitely unique."
Bolden said Harbaugh didn't speak to the team about the significance of wearing game jerseys but said the players liked it.
"They've got our names on the backs, and they don't know all of us yet," said Bolden. "So, I guess that helps, too."
"He's a high-intensity guy," Bolden said of Durkin. "Coach Matti is a little bit more laid back than Coach Durkin. Coach Durkin might have an aneurysm some time. But it's all right. Coach Durkin is intense, intense, intense. Coach Matti is a very intense guy, too, but didn't show it as much. There's more movement from Coach Durkin on the field. Sometimes it's hard to find him."
Bolden said there was another boisterous voice at practice, pointing to safety Jabrill Peppers, who has converted from cornerback.
"Jabrill -- I've never heard anybody yell the call as loud as he has," said Bolden, referring to the plays and adjustments communicated before the snap. "And I don't know why he does it. And sometimes he's just saying stuff, but he does it loud, and I love that about him. It's a game of intensity, and the kid's intense. You've just got to love a guy like that."
Peppers was a five-star recruit at Paramus (New Jersey) Catholic High and was USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. But he missed almost the entire 2014 season with injuries.
"He's so outgoing," said Bolden. "Some of those (top recruits) come to college and are real stuck up -- it's all about me. But Jabrill came in, and he's humble. And I think the injury last year opened his eyes. Football can be taken away from you just like that. And his intensity is definitely transferring over to other guys. When you see a guy like him and other guys with passion, it's hard not to be excited."
And it leads to better on-field communication, according to Bolden.
"Guys are making all kinds of hand signals and yelling at one another," said Bolden. "You're definitely going to see that now in practices and games. And if everybody's on the same page, we're fine. As long as we're on the same page (in the secondary), we can't get beat deep if we play our technique. That relays it to the linebackers, and if we're all on the same page then they aren't going to be able to run the ball. Which relays it up to the defensive line, and if they've got gap control they know what they're doing."
Bolden said the physical improvements made by players under new director of strength and conditioning Kevin Tolbert also are noticeable.
"The gains the guys made in the offseason in terms of speed and from the lifting stands out to me," said Bolden. "And on the defensive side of the ball, guys are more physical. The defensive backs are coming down and hitting the ball. The running backs are getting downhill; the offensive linemen are getting off and trying to get to the second level.
"It's pretty intense, and there's a lot of competition."
Bolden was asked if the intensity level is higher than it had been in practices.
"Definitely," he said. "It's new. I loved Coach (Brady) Hoke and his staff. They are the reason I'm here at Michigan. But at the same time, it's new, and it's a good changeup at this point. And I think all the guys would agree with me."
Harbaugh gathered the team at the end of practice to make his closing points.
The Wolverines are adjusting to a new defensive coordinator in D.J. Durkin, while last year's coordinator, Greg Mattison, is coaching the defensive line.
"Coach Harbaugh was talking about spring break," said Bolden. "Obviously, this was our last practice before we head off (for one week). A lot of guys are going home. A lot of guys are going somewhere warmer. But just to be safe; he wants everybody back. There's a lot of temptation, and a lot of things you can get into on spring break. He said to keep your head on straight, focus and do what's best for the team."
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022815aaa.html
Senior linebacker Joe Bolden, donning his No. 35 white road jersey, was all smiles afterward at Al Glick Field House.
"Wearing the game jerseys is a little bit different than last year," said Bolden. "Last year, we wore the plain, mesh, typical practice jerseys. This year, it's more of a game feel going into practice with a higher intensity.
"It felt good. You get the first pop in, and it's the season again. Even though, what is it, February? But we've got things rolling, and we'll come back in fall camp and put the pads on again."
Harbaugh, wearing a blue baseball cap with the maize block M, a blue sweatshirt and khaki pants, moved around the field to make observations and shout instructions.
"He was excited," said Bolden. "You could see it in his eyes. Obviously, he's got enthusiasm unknown to mankind -- as we've all heard about and have now seen."
Harbaugh uses the "enthusiasm unknown to mankind" line to describe his approach to coaching football, and Bolden has picked up on it.
"He brings it to practice every day," Bolden said, "and you've got to love it. He brings a very high intensity and is unpredictable. He keeps us all on our toes."
What's an example of Harbaugh's unpredictability?
"Last year," said Bolden, "we knew what we had coming in practice. But now, your guess is as good as mine. He might use a comparison to a baby coming out of the womb for the beginning of the football season. He's definitely unique."
Bolden said Harbaugh didn't speak to the team about the significance of wearing game jerseys but said the players liked it.
"They've got our names on the backs, and they don't know all of us yet," said Bolden. "So, I guess that helps, too."
"He's a high-intensity guy," Bolden said of Durkin. "Coach Matti is a little bit more laid back than Coach Durkin. Coach Durkin might have an aneurysm some time. But it's all right. Coach Durkin is intense, intense, intense. Coach Matti is a very intense guy, too, but didn't show it as much. There's more movement from Coach Durkin on the field. Sometimes it's hard to find him."
Bolden said there was another boisterous voice at practice, pointing to safety Jabrill Peppers, who has converted from cornerback.
"Jabrill -- I've never heard anybody yell the call as loud as he has," said Bolden, referring to the plays and adjustments communicated before the snap. "And I don't know why he does it. And sometimes he's just saying stuff, but he does it loud, and I love that about him. It's a game of intensity, and the kid's intense. You've just got to love a guy like that."
Peppers was a five-star recruit at Paramus (New Jersey) Catholic High and was USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. But he missed almost the entire 2014 season with injuries.
"He's so outgoing," said Bolden. "Some of those (top recruits) come to college and are real stuck up -- it's all about me. But Jabrill came in, and he's humble. And I think the injury last year opened his eyes. Football can be taken away from you just like that. And his intensity is definitely transferring over to other guys. When you see a guy like him and other guys with passion, it's hard not to be excited."
And it leads to better on-field communication, according to Bolden.
"Guys are making all kinds of hand signals and yelling at one another," said Bolden. "You're definitely going to see that now in practices and games. And if everybody's on the same page, we're fine. As long as we're on the same page (in the secondary), we can't get beat deep if we play our technique. That relays it to the linebackers, and if we're all on the same page then they aren't going to be able to run the ball. Which relays it up to the defensive line, and if they've got gap control they know what they're doing."
Bolden said the physical improvements made by players under new director of strength and conditioning Kevin Tolbert also are noticeable.
"The gains the guys made in the offseason in terms of speed and from the lifting stands out to me," said Bolden. "And on the defensive side of the ball, guys are more physical. The defensive backs are coming down and hitting the ball. The running backs are getting downhill; the offensive linemen are getting off and trying to get to the second level.
"It's pretty intense, and there's a lot of competition."
Bolden was asked if the intensity level is higher than it had been in practices.
"Definitely," he said. "It's new. I loved Coach (Brady) Hoke and his staff. They are the reason I'm here at Michigan. But at the same time, it's new, and it's a good changeup at this point. And I think all the guys would agree with me."
Harbaugh gathered the team at the end of practice to make his closing points.
The Wolverines are adjusting to a new defensive coordinator in D.J. Durkin, while last year's coordinator, Greg Mattison, is coaching the defensive line.
"Coach Harbaugh was talking about spring break," said Bolden. "Obviously, this was our last practice before we head off (for one week). A lot of guys are going home. A lot of guys are going somewhere warmer. But just to be safe; he wants everybody back. There's a lot of temptation, and a lot of things you can get into on spring break. He said to keep your head on straight, focus and do what's best for the team."
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022815aaa.html
