Harbaugh met with reporters to discuss the Spartans, Joe Milton and how Michigan lost.
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Everything Jim Harbaugh said after Michigan's loss to MSU
ByZACH SHAW 15 minutes ago
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Following the No. 13 Michigan football team's upset loss to Michigan State Saturday afternoon, Wolverine head coach Jim Harbaugh met with reporters to discuss the Spartans, Joe Milton and how Michigan lost. See what he had to say below.
On Michigan State’s trench play holding Michigan back
Well, defensively, they played a little bit more over, front defense early and got some tackles for loss. Early in the game, we were making some plays or they were negative plays. And then their offensive line did a really good job protecting. We didn’t get any sacks or any havoc-type plays defensively. So up front, it was pretty darn even. I mean both sides, the statistics were even throughout the game.
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On Michigan State’s downfield passing attack
(Michigan State) getting behind our defense, getting the big play was a huge difference in the game. We were making adjustments, and they got by us a couple times on a double move as well. So I think maybe five, five times, two in the first half, three in the second or three in the first half, two in the second.
On Hassan Haskins’ pass attempt on third down in the end zone
It was a difference in four points, close. Thought it was a good play call, and thought they needed more height on the throw.
On the emotions in the game and the pressure for players
I thought players on both side fought extremely hard. It’s a big game. Very emotional for all the players, that’s something that happens every year in this rivalry game.
On where the team stands now after two games
The team is going to own this. Congratulations to Michigan State, but we’ve got to own the loss and come back and find out where we can improve. This is a high-character team, and I believe they’ll do just that. Each person looking at themself — player or coach, all of us — and strive to be a lot better. Try to find the places that we can make improvements.
On what about Michigan State surprised him
I thought they were really good. They darn-near won last week, and they turned the ball over seven times, and it’s nearly impossible to win a game doing that. And today no turnovers, they didn’t turn the ball over and we didn’t turn the ball over, but they found a way to win.
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Thought they protected well, the downfield throws and catches. They got … they were able to finish drives a bit better than we did. We’d get into a rhythm offensively and not be in a rhythm. And then get back in and then not finish the drives the way we want to or the way we’re capable of, and that cost us.
On the cornerbacks’ struggles
As I said, each person, we’ve got to look at that, every single guy, what they can do to be better. Every coach, too, we’ve got to look at all facets of it.
On Joe Milton
He made a lot of plays, made a lot of incredible plays. Early in the game, I felt like he was tucking, bringing the ball down too much and trying to run the ball in the first quarter too much. I felt like settled down and hung in the pocket pretty well after that, stood in there and made some big-time throws. Threw the ball, no turnovers. There were some exceptional throws, and as I said earlier, my take of it before I rewatch it is that we would be in rhythm and then we wouldn’t be in rhythm, and it just didn’t finish the drives and be in rhythm throughout the drive like we wanted to.
On why Michigan’s offense couldn’t find a rhythm
There was … well they tackled well, and you’ve got to give them credit for the tackling. But when we get the ball in our hands on the perimeter, we weren’t doing, we weren’t able to do a lot after the catch, and you’ve got to give credit to Michigan State in the way they tackled.
On Cam McGrone’s status
Yeah, Cam couldn’t finish the second half. Wanted to, but doctors held him out the second half.
On trying to generate excitement in a mostly empty Michigan Stadium
It’s a challenge, but we know it, we’re aware of it, and I thought they played with a lot of energy. I thought they played hard, and then every reason why we weren’t as productive as we’re capable of, we’re going to have to look at it. But I thought the guys played hard, they hustled, they played physical, and I think both teams did.
On Michael Barrett and Jalen Mayfield limping off the field
Jalen had X-rays after the game and they were negative.
On third-and-longs adding up
We weren’t nearly as efficient on third downs as we want to be. At one point we were 1-for-6, and 2-for-8. Finished the game (5-for-14) and picked up some third downs in the second half and the third quarter, but that was definitely part of the issue, not getting a new set of downs and being able to keep those drives going and turning into scoring drives.
On Michigan amassing 10 penalties for 86 yards
Yeah, penalties, you look at the statistics, there was definitely quite a difference in the penalties, so played a big factor.
We have been emphasizing it. We’ve been emphasizing it a lot. The DPIs, we had some defensive holdings, an offensive holding, an offsides. They called a delay-of-game on our defense, that was an unusual call. But definitely, you’ve got to play smart, penalty free football. We didn’t have the personal fouls, that was a difference, but too many penalties that resulted in helping extend their drives for sure.
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