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IT IS GAME WEEK! So, with that, Brady Hoke of course held a press conference today. Here is the recap, paraphrasing on what Hoke said:
"Five days away ... game week is exciting, we've worked very hard since January to get to this point. Excited to see where this team is but you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Captains: the four guys are very deserving. The whole class has done a tremendous job as far as leadership and teaching, helping to coach young players. We are a young team. Also last night awarded three scholarships. They've set a standard for work ethic and toughness, love for teammates and Michigan. Joe Reynolds, Graham Glasgow and Joe Kerridge most deserving. Helping them and their families, but the guys have earned it.
Courtney Avery had surgery Saturday night for cartilage. Two-week setback. Everything went well. He's in great spirits. He'll be back on the field.
Jake Ryan ... doing some drill work with OLBs and pass rush at times with Coach Mattison. Want to be careful with him.
Josh Furman behind Avery, been here a long time. Dymonte Thomas stepping up.
Veterans have pride at RB. Drake Johnson has done a great job through his time at Michigan. Fortunate enough to redshirt him, job he did on the look team and bowl practice, this guy has a great chance. Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes have competed at a high level. Fitz is back, and you can see it. Saturdays some of the things we did and Friday, he looked and felt very good.
Fitz and Drake are good out of the backfield, not as clear cut for a third down back.
Feel better about the characteristics they all bring to our running back position.
Like how this team has practiced, how they've come out every day. Fast paced walkthrough. How they've learned from the offensive side of it, physicality up front is better. There are some targeting issues with young guys that haven't played a lot, footwork and fundamentals need to keep cleaning up.
Defensively the depth up front. The four guys who would start, only 17 starts between the 
four. They've come out and worked and been physical. Physical camp.
Miller and Glasgow have played well, intelligent. That is huge when you're a center. Calls, communication you need to have. Both have been physical.
Chris Bryant has fought hard and so has Ben Braden. Graham came in and five best on the field at the same time, he's one of the five.
We really like the five. I liked them last year, too. But I really like how Taylor and Mike Schofield have pushed and taught them.
The way they play, speed they are playing with together. You get used to each other. They are ready to play somebody else, need a benchmark. Won't be where we want to be, but how they come to practice, the tempo. It's been a really good teaching experience between older and younger guys.
We've always wanted to be physical.
Teammates voted for the captains. The way the votes came out made it four.
Stribling, Hollowell and Jourden Lewis competing for corner. Could be any of these three guys.
Lot of guys come in for summer school, on campus, expectations are higher. Older guys teaching them, but freshmen are going to hit a wall sometimes. Stress of academics, being away from home and being on the big stage.
Matt Wile and Kenny Allen have done a great job punting. Scott as a backup snapper has been valuable.
Brendan Gibbons has been very good, done a nice job. Matt is still part of kickoff and long field goals.
Dennis as return man better in catching punts. Much different than kickoffs. He'll do both.
Camp was a little different than last year's. You could feel the competition more. We gave them a little more time off. Officially broke camp so mentally they could be 18 to 22 for eight hours and then get back to work. They earned it in how they practiced every day.
Blake Countess injury did not change the way they approach special teams. He's still a backup.
Will play both odd and even fronts Devin Gardner had a very good camp. Good quarterback, darn right. Leadership has grown. No question. Now it's decision making, and that's been better. Making sure we're making the right decisions. Throwing the ball out of bounds vs. making a play. Have that ability. Have to be calculated in there.
More throwing the ball late over the middle, force a throw. Not going through progressions.
He loves the game and to study it, to talk about it. He's intelligent. As he's grown and matured, those elements and intangibles are there. Had a very good fall camp.
Offensive line wants to be a group that pounds the line of scrimmage. Open creases.
They are well coached. Pad level, defensively how they get to the football. 1,500 yard back. Always nice to have. They beat a good W. Kentucky team in the bowl game. They are a MAC school, have a lot of pride. They are a good program. 18 to 25 or 30 runs would be productive (asked about how many carries for Fitz).
Helps defense tremendously when going against our offense.
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