2022 Michigan Football Game 2 – Michigan 56 Hawaii 10 Photos
Michigan Football Week 2 – Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
9/3/22 Michigan 51 Colorado State 7
9/5/22 Week 2 Press Conference
9/10/22 Hawaii @ Michigan
Q:
Jim, after reviewing the film for Saturday’s game what did you like about what Cade did and what do you think he could have improved upon?
Harbaugh:
I thought Cade had a really solid game, I think he walked away mad at himself for missing CJ Johnson on the crossing route and threw the ball to CJ a little wide on the opposite boundary. But, you know, other than that, he made some terrific throws, heck of a two minute drive. You know, I think that’s just the way he is, he’s a perfectionist. So I thought it was a really solid game.
Q:
Do you think the offensive line performed especially considering he had a lot of pieces in different areas? And do you have any update on Karsen Barnhart?
Harbaugh:
Yeah, he’s got a sprained ankle and probably not gonna be available this week. But he played really good, very well. Olu played really good. Keegan and Zinter graded out the highest, played the best. I’d give the game ball to Trevor Keegan, the way he played and also played in there at left tackle when Karsen went out. So that was really good, really pleased. Also the second O line when they went into the game, you know, they put together a heck of a good drive. Persi, Greg Crippen played very well, Reese Atteberry, he’s gotten it out there, he played good. Trente had some some really good snaps. So overall, we felt like we were 10, 11, 12 deep in the offensive line. I thought they played good.
I think you know exactly where I stand on that, well documented that I do believe the players should receive a revenue share, you know, from the massive TV deals that are being worked out. Don’t you agree?
Jim Harbaugh
Q:
Jim, when we talked to you during fall camp, you mentioned being open to playing both quarterbacks in each game into the season, you didn’t want to withhold anything that would be good for the team. After the game, Cade kind of said that you suggested to the quarterbacks that you didn’t want to do the alternating system that you would prefer having one over the other, I guess which which way are you leaning at this point?
Harbaugh:
We plowed this ground about as thoroughly as it can possibly be plowed. I mean, dating back to the summer, when you asked this question, so yeah, one could start, the other could start or could be a combination of both in the game. So those are the options. You know, happy that we’ve still got another another week to look at it. As we said that each would each would get a start. And, you know, make it as fair as it possibly be.
Q:
I guess, is there a reason Cane doesn’t seem to think you’re open to the back and forth?
Harbaugh:
Well, I think I said same thing to you guys, I’d prefer to have have a starting quarterback going in to each ballgame…been very transparent with that. And also said that if things are exactly the same as they were coming out of camp, which is pretty close to dead even then we were going to have to as coaches find a way to maximize both of their talents, you know, and for the best use of the team and that’s, that remains a very viable option.
Q:
Jim, your thoughts on the expanded playoff? And as someone who often advocates for student athletes, do you have any innovative ways to help them get a cut, especially if they play 17 games?
Harbaugh:
You talking about the expanding to 12 games? Yeah, it’s great. All for it.
Q:
And with players maybe playing 16-17 games?
Harbaugh:
I think you know exactly where I stand on that, well documented that I do believe the players should receive a revenue share, you know, from the massive TV deals that are being worked out. Don’t you agree, what do you think?
Q:
I think they should get a cut, if they play 17 games, especially. You usually have those ideas…
Harbaugh:
You know, as I said, back in the summer, I think a large piece of come from the ones who are negotiating those TV deals- The Big 10- I mean, it’s seven point something billion? It’s a lot of billions. It’s a lot of money. You know? Yeah, I think that players should receive a revenue share.
Q:
Coach, could you talk about recruiting Roman Wilson and that whole sort of timeline?
Harbaugh:
It really helped that both Mom and Dad had Michigan ties, both went to Michigan, Western Michigan Mom from from the up originally. Same time as Barry Pierson, I think I’m right on that, she was a track runner. So that really helped, even though Roman was in Hawaii. I think it helped with the parents having the Midwest ties. But yeah, he’s just a great guy all the way around. Great competitor and tough as nails. Love Roman, great fit, you know, Roman Wilson, Michigan, you’ve always thought that was a great fit.
Q:
Did you fly out to recruit him?
Harbaugh:
Of course, I think just the one time that I was allowed to during the contact period, which was, they got it now the head coach can only get to the guy he wants once, pretty much sometimes twice. But I get the one visit during the contact period.
Q:
First impressions of Jesse Minter on how he called the defense on Saturday?
Harbaugh:
Really good. I mean, the headsets were clean, smooth. I mean, the operations were clean, smooth in all three phases, I thought it was really good. He’s a calm, cool collected guy, you know and just the whole operation, signaling, communication. That was a plus plus, from what I saw.
Q:
I think you mentioned at 84 players playing on Saturday, when you have three games where you can potentially get that deep in the roster, how do you balance playing younger guys versus maybe holding out for richer?
Harbaugh:
Well, you can have four games and still receive a red shirt. So our philosophy has always been that they’re going to be better in the fifth year than they would be in their freshman year. But if they can make it into the two deep, and get playing time, every week, we feel like there’ll be better football players for having played football. I mean, you get better at football by playing football. So that’s really it, if they can be in the too deep we play them in over four games. And if it’s going to be something equivalent to not important time in the game, then, you know, we were just playing up to four games. But those will be individual decisions based on how much they can contribute versus being that much better in their in the fifth year.
Q:
With the read option threat how much does JJ open up the inside running game?
Harbaugh:
I think he definitely pulls defenders some and they have to know where he is. I mean, our our defensive coaches him the same way…There needs to be a plan when somebody when a quarterback can run in the four-fives, and that’s faster than linebackers. So you gotta have a plan to contain that. So you definitely can see even if he’s carrying out fake somebody’s paying attention.
Q:
Going back to 2020 when Cade got hurt on a run against Penn State. I mean, how much did that kind of change your mindset as far as using him as a running option?
Harbaugh:
We still use him as a running option. I mean, we called a quarterback draw in the Big 10 championship game, if you’ll recall.
Q:
On JJ- do you encourage him to get out of bounds, slide a little bit when he takes some contact, like the Georgia game, he took some hits? How to do you temper that so he doesn’t limit his playmaking ability?
Harbaugh:
I like to see him get down, you know, a little more. I mean, it’s something to keep improving. Once he gets the first down, try to get down…Also understand that as a quarterback I mean, you’d like to get some kind of contact, you know, early when you’re out there. I mean, that’s really why I try to simulate hitting them with the pads and you know, in the front, the back and pounding on the helmet a little bit just because it’s always good. You gotta get the butterflies out, you know, just blocking somebody or getting hit or running and it helps to get the butterflies out I found every everybody’s a little different. But yeah, to answer your question, I’d like to see him get down a little quicker once he’s got the first down.
Q:
Jim, after the game, you mentioned playing 84 guys. Is that a trend that you’d like to continue with the next two non conference games or is there a point where you taper down to get ready for Big 10 play by giving the primary contributors more reps?
Harbaugh:
You can get better at football by playing football and if we have opportunity, you know, always gonna play guys as much as we can. Right now we got over 100 on the roster that have played in games. I’d like to set a record, I’d like to get to 120 or 130, hopefully maybe we get everybody have played football I mean, that makes the team better. Great for the morale of the team. Everyone wants to play, let’s see how many we can get hopefully we’ll be in that position. You don’t know if we’ll be in that position or not but if we if we are we’re going to get as many guys in there as we can.
Q:
Jim, did CJ Stokes surprise you with how prepared he was to play right away and what allowed him to get out there as quickly as he did?
Harbaugh:
No, I really thought he was going to have a big game. I mean, I told him in the days leading up to the game, I don’t if it’s this game or the next you’re gonna be one of those freshmen that everybody’s talking about- he’s just good. Super important to him, he’s a studier and very, very focused player and a really talented too. So it’s fun to see his first run be a long 13 -14 yard pickup.
Q:
Now that you’ve had some time to kind of look back what what did you see with Derek Moore?
Harbaugh:
Yeah, I saw a lot of good things from a lot of people.
Start defensively, Mike Sainristil was all over the field. I mean, he was everywhere and pretty much what I loved was just how many how many winged helmets were showing up in the picture frame of every clip. Just great pursuit right to the football.
Jaylen Harrell had a phenomenal game with four tackles and a sack. Rod Moore an interception, four tackles, a sack. Also super pleased with Makari Paige, who is he was running, hitting, I mean just how far he’s come. I remember back in his freshman days of being a little slender and you know, a very good athlete but now he comes up and hits and we’re really, really excited about that.
Mike Barrett as another one, I’m gonna I’m gonna take a little deep, long bow on that one. Because when he we were recruiting him as a quarterback out of Georgia…people were like, well, there’s no position he can play, “he’s gonna be a safety, he’s going to be a linebacker, you know, he’s gonna be one of the two, you can see that?” And now to watch him and he’s made his mark on special teams, and the linebacker position these days especially as much nickel is we play and all teams playing football, he’s just out there running, hitting, and tackling, what did he have eight tackles, six tackles, and a sack? and doing a great job on special teams I mean there’s a there’s a real football player right there and I’m just super super happy and proud of him. I guess the days of the middle linebacker you know kind of went the way of the down safety in cover three. You need to be able to run sideline to sideline, tackle and play and I’m just really happy with Mike…he’ll be playing this game for a long time. So really proud of him.
Other guys…Giovanni El-Hadi got significant snaps in the game great to see his developments been very good. And another guy Eamonn Dennis, he’ll be our special teams player of the week, he had both tackles on the two punts that we had in the game, really good, punting, Brad Robins 47 net, Jake moody continues his streak, I think it’s around 12 in a row, something like that. Great to see him get some, some kicks and be successful there.
So you know, a lot of really good positive things we can improve on. I want to prove more on our coverage, punt coverage and kickoff coverage and field goal protection was a little loose and some other stuff, so. But yeah, as I said after the game, smooth, a really clean type of football game.
Q:
Coach, it looked like the players had a sticker acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the Title IX legislation on their helmets. Is that something that you and the coaching staff wanted to emphasize this year, either either in public or with the players?
Harbaugh:
Yeah. We wanted to recognize that both internally and publicly that anniversary, and how important it is.
Q:
When preparing your team for Hawaii, what do you tell them to respect the team this lost 112 to 27 in their first two games?
Harbaugh:
Yeah, we’re just trying to get as good at football as we can as fast as we can. I mean, you always respect your opponent. And that’s it, you take nothing for granted. And also, we’re going to need to improve, we have to improve I mean, I saw some, some darn good football teams playing after our game, able to watch them on TV- teams like Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama. Notre Dame was real good. There’s a lot a lot of good football teams playing playing good. So we got we got to get better and better, better, better, better. That’s, that’s what we’ll talk about.
Edits made for clarity.
Michigan Football Camp Report – WR Roman Wilson
8/23/22 Availability
Q:
How does Sainristil look at cornerback?
Wilson:
Mike, looks really good out there. He’s got a good feel for things not only because he’s athletic, but he plays offense so he kind of knows where routes are going and he’s got a good feel, looks good.
Q:
What’s different for you in year three?
Wilson:
Something big for me is, you know, I put a lot more effort and energy into things. I gotta stop caring about what people think and I just gotta go out there and bring good vibes and just have fun.
We don’t want to be what old Michigan was, we want to set a new standard…It’s no surprise that we haven’t done that well in the past few years…We want to be considered one of the best when we leave this program.
Roman Wilson
Q:
How is the competition for reps in the wide receiver in this year been different compared to your first couple of years?
Wilson:
For me it’s been different…I feel like you’re no longer fighting to be a starter, you’re just fighting to get like reps in practice and just better yourself. Like no matter like where you are on the depth chart, like all 19 receivers are just trying to get as many reps as they can. So like, it’s not just fighting to start, it’s fighting to get better.
Q:
Now that last year is gone, can you explain how badly the wrist bothered you even after you came back?
Wilson:
I can still feel it. Like it still hurts, like I can’t do push ups and when I push off, I can’t really bend it. But I wouldn’t say it bothers me though.
Q:
Is that way in perpetuity- it’s just going to be that way?
Wilson:
It’s gonna be like this rest of my life. I just got to deal with it.
Q:
What’s it been like watching Darrius Clemons from when he got on campus to now. I know when he came in physically ready but how was he looking with route running and figuring all those things out schematically?
Wilson:
For all the freshmen it’s been amazing to watch them just learn new technique and watch them like develop into like a real receiver. And you know…he’s a big guy, it feels good to watch him not just like be big all the time and really like focus on his technique, even though he had good technique before, but just a different level now.
Q:
When you said you want to stop caring what people think about you what do you mean by that?
Wilson:
I want to say like not caring but stop thinking so much. Kind of just be in a space where you know I’m just focused on football and focus on winning games. That’s all that really matters.
Q:
Who’s the fastest guy on the team?
Wilson:
I’m gonna say it’s me all day. DJ shocked me this year, he was moving pretty fast in the summer. Eamonn Dennis, Amorion Walker. AJ. Yeah…a couple freshmen in there.
Q:
Who are the fastest running backwards?
Wilson:
Running backwards? [ laughter]
Q:
From your view, what is the quarterback situation like?
Wilson:
You know, they’re both been really good but if I had to be honest, I feel like our best option is probably me. But now, they’re both doing good. It’s gonna be hard to pick one. So you never know.
Q:
Cade a couple weeks ago said this team wants to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. Is that something that you all talked about? How does that manifest when you’re preparing for a season?
Wilson:
Our goals for the season is different you know last year was more you know, beat our rivals but this year is more like we want it all, we want to beat our rivals, go the playoffs, like Big 10 Championship, like all that. We want to come for it all. We don’t want to be what old Michigan was, we want to set a new standard for us.
Q:
When you say old Michigan what do you mean by that?
Wilson:
It’s no surprise that we haven’t done that well in the past few years. And you know, we want to take our game like up here, we want to be like considered one of the best when we leave this program.
Q:
How do you separate yourself in such a crowded receiver room when you have so many guys?
Wilson:
That’s a good question. I feel like the one way to separate yourself is being consistent and reliable. You got to know what’s going on at all times and you got to make plays when the ball comes your way.
Q:
You talked about old Michigan and how you guys have sort of changed a bit. At what point do you think you guys turned that corner? Whether it was last year, maybe this offseason when you turn that corner and if you haven’t turned that corner what do you think it takes?
Wilson:
Just like effort and energy like when I was a freshman I always felt like we was working hard, but, you know, just the difference we’ve come and the amount of like energy and the guys like really want to. It just feels different. It’s like, you can’t even explain it.
Q:
You think it’s like the language among the team is how you guys talk to each other in practice?
Wilson:
Yeah, I mean like people talk shit to each other, like they get upset over plays and like nobody likes to lose, like everyone’s a sore loser…It’s competitive.
Q:
What does it mean to your room to have Ronnie Bell back both as a leader as well as production-wise?
Wilson:
It means a lot having Ronnie there, he’s a vocal guy. He’s always saying something and you know, kind of telling the coaches how we feel about certain things and it’s great, he brings a lot of energy. He has a lot of fun in practice, just another guy to have around. He’s a great leader and helps out a lot.
Q:
What’s it like to have Ron Bellamy as your position coach?
Wilson:
Coach Gattis, he was cool, I really liked him a lot but Coach Bell he played receiver here so it obviously means more like to him, I would hope so.
Q:
Kind of piggybacking off that what’s the biggest difference in coaching style between coach Gattis and coach Bellamy?
Wilson:
I wouldn’t say like, there’s too much [different] like both of them are competitive and just push us to the limit.
Edits made for clarity.
Michigan Football Camp Report – EDGE Jaylen Harrell
8/19/22 Availability
Q:
How has the pass rush is gone so far for your unit in fall camp without having some of your predecessors around?
Harrell:
We really have been working on that each and every day, just getting better. Each and every day stacking days, competing against our o-line, just finding different moves and techniques just to get past them, get back to the quarterback.
Q:
Mike Morris was talking last week about Mazi’s influence on the pass rushers and just the defensive line as a whole. What kind of influence he’s had on you?
Harrell:
Mazi’s had he’s had a huge influence on me actually, you know, he wants the d-line to be working together in everything we do. So I really just stand together you know, we’re running games and stuff like that. We’re on the same page that’s the biggest thing.
Q:
What was your reaction to you guys adding another edge player this late in fall camp?
Harrell:
Eyabi is cool. You know, he’s a good player. He’s really here just to compete each and every day. You know, he’s a great guy to have in the room, we’re just excited to have him.
Q:
What did you and your teammates learn from guys like Aidan and David- trendsetters, guys you can look up to, that you can take in this season?
Harrell:
Aiden and Ojabo they were great leaders, Aiden was a great leader on and off the field. So was Ojabo, he brought that fire like when he made plays and stuff like that. They also were great technicians, Aiden and Ojabo, Ojabo was a big speed guy. Aiden was a good technician but they both had great tools that we can apply to our games to make us elevate and bring us together as a unit…
Q:
Did you guys know a Hutchinson could sing?
Harrell:
No, sir. I didn’t. I watched the Hard Knocks…he killed it for sure.
Q:
If somebody in your room had to go do that in front of the team who would you nominate?
Harrell:
I’ll go with probably Taylor Upshaw.
Q:
You were on the field last year because of your ability to set the edge…where do feel you are from pass rush standpoint to marry it up with what you showed last year against the run?
Harrell:
I was on the field a lot on run downs but I’ve really been honing in on my pass rush, my pass coverage, my running game, everything just to be a more complete player, adding that juice, adding that package, and those moves to my bag…to elevate my game and take it the next step.
Q:
You said that Eyabi was a great addition to your unit. Is he already already here. Have you met him? Is he in the building?
Harrell:
Oh, yes, sir…He’s around. Welcome a man with open arms you know, cool guy. Excited, he’s ready to learn you know, I’m helping him a little bit with the playbook and stuff like that…Another man on the ready to compete and get after it.
Q:
Can speak to the impact that Mike Elston has had on you so far this offseason?
Harrell:
Coach Elston, he’s a great coach. You know, he really hones in on those little details. So is a Coach Dylan Rooney he’s also been a great great coach to the edge room so you know, those two guys, those two coaches, they’ve really done a great job helping us each and every day pushing us to attack each and every day.
Q:
How has this team avoided complacency coming off of last season?
Harrell:
Coach Harbaugh really hones in on that you know, don’t fall in love with their own stuff. We had a great year last year, but it’s a new year. We really just work at each and every day, we’ve been working hard just grinding getting after it ready for September 3.
Q:
You’re still kind of an up and comer yourself but who’s really impressed you some, whether it’s in your unit or just remotely where elsewhere defensively?
Harrell:
Derrick Moore…on the edge, he’s been really impressive. Also, Kody Jones nickel back, he’s been playing a lot of physicality flying around. A lot of guys, Braiden McGregor, TJ Guy is coming along as well, Makari Paige. A lot of good guys.
Q:
What are your thoughts on your schedule this year? I mean, obviously, a lot of home games and some non conference games starting off at home as well?
Harrell:
Oh, you know, I kind of just I go one game at a time. I don’t look too much at the whole schedule, I just go one game at a time. You know, one week at a time, one team at a time that’s really to focus on just one game at a time.
Q:
On the addition of Eyabi Anoma, how did you find out? The edge rushers were told as groups…how did everyone else find out?
Harrell:
The whole defense was told that Eyabi was coming in, and Coach Harbaugh also told us he was coming in coming in, great addition to the team like I said, welcome with open arms, ready to get after it compete.
Q:
Has he talked much about previous defensive schemes he was in and how closely related Michigan’s is, how was he adjusted to the playbook?
Harrell:
As far as Eyabi? He’s still learning the playbook, so not too much not like I’ve just been helping him learn the defense stuff like that…
Q:
When the coaches told you guys about Eyabi did they talk at all about some of these issues he said has at past schools?
Harrell:
No, we keep that out of it, I don’t even know why he left other schools. He’s here. You know…he’s cool. He’s gonna bea great teammate for us. We don’t really worry about what happened in the past.
Q:
How closely have you been following the Big 10 TV deal and all of the revenue and the gigantic number of zeros that are attached to the deal?
Harrell:
Like Blake said, I really don’t know too much about you know, I got a couple of like Bleacher Report links, but I didn’t really read into it much…I did see a lot of zeros on the deal. That’s awesome.
Q:
What is your impressions when you look at Blake now that he’s added those pounds on and what does he look like on the field?
Harrell:
That’s a dog right there, hard running back, make you miss in the open field. Adding that 10 to 11 pounds you really can take more hits, more durable, Blakes a dog.
Edits made for clarity.
Michigan Football Camp Report – WR Cornelius Johnson
8/19/22 Availability
Q:
How would you describe the depth in the wide receiver room?
Johnson:
That’s a good question. I would say, for our receiver room, we always pride ourselves on being prepared for anything, especially as route runners. You know, our job is to get open no matter what, like even if it’s a run, pass, we’re always trying to contribute any way and that allows us for once we do get the opportunity for all all receivers, we got to be ready once it comes to us…
Q:
With so many guys will it be hard to keep everybody happy?
Johnson:
I feel like we got a good group of guys and our chemistry right now is really high within the receiver room.
Q:
With a couple of years of time on task now being a starter where do you feel like you have made your biggest improvement this offseason? And what do you what do you think you can go? Like? What level do you think you can go to this season?
Johnson:
With this being my senior season I’ve been in the program, this being my fourth year and I feel like being here for that long I’ve improved on just knowing what to expect more and being on track with the quarterbacks. I’m looking forward to this fall, being there every day for my teammates, and making sure that I contribute that way.
Q:
How much do you think the offense changed when Ronnie went down last season?
Johnson:
When Ronnie went down last season, I feel like the offense was definitely hurt because he was our team captain and a big contributor for us.
Q:
Getting him back in the fold. I mean, how much does the offense change again?
Johnson:
I feel like with Ronnie in the mix, it’s good to have a weapons all over the offense and using those weapons I feel like that’s just great for our entire program. I mean, no matter what, just production everywhere.
Q:
What have you seen from Mike, on the defensive side? Is it unique going up against someone who’s sometimes also in your room too?
Johnson:
For my whole time here, I feel like I’ve been in the same lineup right next to him on the offensive side of the ball. And then with him being on defense, that’s a good advantage for him because he can see both sides of the ball and it’s fun to compete against him in practice. because it’s even more personal because he’s also a route runner too.
Q:
Does it come naturally for him that defensive side?
Johnson:
Definitely in my eyes. I feel like it does, because I feel like he played that right in like high school and other than in his past. So it’s good to see how versatile he is and hoping for the best one.
He’s a great young receiver…He’s got a lot of speed and he can go down the field and catch passes…I feel like he could definitely contribute early.
Cornelius Johnson on Darrius Clemons
Q:
Do have to have a different mindset to play special teams? And if so, like, what is it? What do you have to flip the different switch?
Johnson:
It’s not necessarily flipping a different switch, it’s just obviously not the same phase, but it’s the same switch that goes off at the beginning of the game. Once you step on that field by playing your pads, that switch gotta go off…If you wait till it’s way too late, and like it’s not something that can just be on and off.
Our coach always talks about that, you know, treat practice as if it’s like the game so then like, once the game comes, it’s just like practice, you know, I mean, it’s kind of like, something like that. I think about my head. You can’t just be on and off for games. That’s not really realistic. So it’s all the time even in practice, you got to have that switch even on special teams.
Q:
Have you blocked any punts in practice?
Johnson:
We don’t go necessarily like live punts in practice, I’m not gonna be diving our punters. But we definitely are trying to put in schemes and put in different techniques, so that I can improve to block punts this season.
Q:
We’ve heard a lot about Darrius Clemens, what have you seen from him and why might he be able to contribute early?
Johnson:
I feel like he’s a great young receiver. He’s got a lot of speed and he can go down the field and catch passes. To have Darrius in as a friend and as another member of our wide receiver crew has been really awesome because I’ve got to know him better. We were on that Michigan trip, we were roommates and everything and to get to know him and to learn from him and also I can tell him different stuff. I feel like he could definitely contribute early.
Q:
Coach Bellamy said that Ronnie’s return might make it harder for other teams to shade their coverage toward you or do some of the bracket things that maybe you saw at times last year, I guess, are you eager for that opportunity to maybe have somebody else that can attract attention? And maybe there’s more open space for you?
Johnson:
It’s involves like schemes and offensive play calls. I’m definitely excited for the opportunity to go out there and be on the same field as Ronnie and the other receivers as well because once we get each other going, that opens up the door for other opportunities for other players. I mean, obviously, everyone knows that’s the game of football. I’m definitely excited for the opportunity.
Q:
Have you watched Hard Knocks, and if you have, what was your thoughts on watching that with a former teammate kind of featured on there?
Johnson:
I remember watching that we were in the hotel room, and we turned it on and I remember seeing Aiden and he was doing the Billy Jean thing…It was fun to watch, especially knowing Aiden last year and seeing how he was welcomed into the Lions program. That was just fun to turn on that week and I’m looking forward to watching the next one coming on HBO.
Q:
Did you know that he could sing like that?
Johnson:
Not necessarily, that kind of surprised me. Did you know that? Like I had no idea? I’m excited for him, I mean, I’m hoping to go to a game in November at the stadium.
Q:
We talked about Darrius a little bit already but what have the freshman wide receivers added to your group that maybe the team didn’t last year or something you’ve been impressed by?
We focus on not necessarily being strictly an outside receiver, strictly playing on the left, or the right, or the middle, or in a slot. We just call ourselves wide receivers in general…
Cornelius Johnson
Johnson:
Like I mentioned earlier, just depth and being able to run every route. For us, we try and focus on not necessarily being strictly an outside receiver, strictly playing on the left, or the right, or the middle, or in a slot. We just call ourselves wide receivers in general, so we got to know everything and getting them to know the playbook, getting everything going, that makes it that much more fluid for everyone else.
Q:
What were your impressions when you Blake back in camp with an extra 11 or 12 pounds… Still lightning and lightning he said but maybe there’s a little more thunder?
Johnson:
You said lightning and thunder? Yeah, seeing that just really excites me because I feel like he’s in great shape, just like our team, having him as that weapon, maybe more thunder, more lightning, just everything. I feel like that if he can get that goal, then it’s good.
Edits made for clarity.