Everything Chip Lindsey said on Inside Michigan Football pre-Ohio State

On whether he believes the Maryland game was the most complete offensive performance

Yeah, I think you could say that for sure. That’s one of the things I really talked about all week, stressed with the guys. Let’s go out and play our best game. That’s something, I know it’s cliche-est to say that, but for us, put four quarters together, good, solid football, take care of the ball, not have a lot of penalties, and really play clean, and really proud of the guys, and I thought we did a nice job of playing clean football on Saturday.

On whether the offense is close to his vision 11 games in

I think we’re getting there. I think any time you go into a season, you have an idea of what you think you want it to look like, and what it’s gonna be, but I also think there’s times, as the season plays out, a lot of things that dictate maybe what that kind of looks like early on, and then as you grow, some of it injury-based, obviously, some of it being the growth of your players, you know?

For us, watching some young players grow right in front of our eyes is really kind of cool to see that happen, and when you talk about the O-line, and the receiver room, and obviously the quarterback room, for sure, but no, I think it’s something that I think we’re getting closer to where we want to play. At the end of the day, I think the goal is just to play good, solid football, clean, execute at a high level, complementary football, and this time of the year, you better be able to do that, and something that I think we’re improving on each week.

On whether he’s been part of an offense that is this young

Not in college football, for sure. It’s unique, but you know what that is, though? It’s exciting. I mean, we’re in a great spot right now. We still control our own destiny in some respect, and really still got everything out there to play for, and to be where we are with that group is exciting for now, but also for the future, and just really proud of the growth those guys are making each and every week, and you can see it, and I said it earlier, but it’s really kind of neat to watch it happen and unfold, and watch those guys start playing with a lot more confidence.

On what he’s learned about himself as a playcaller and coach this season

I think I’ve just learned that no detail is too small. Don’t assume just because you’ve presented it and taught it and then actually walked it and then even practiced it, don’t assume that the smallest things are easily understood all the time. There’s just so many, in this day and age we’re in, there’s so many distractions in the world anyway with social media and phones and all the things that go along with it.

We never had to deal with it when we were playing. So I think you have to go back to your roots. I was a high school teacher at one point, and my parents were, and you better be able to teach what you’re wanting at a high level and then try to get as many reps of it as you can, but never take anything for granted. You have to make sure that you do a great job explaining not only what they’re gonna do but why we’re doing it, and that’s something I think this unit as a group has really, really improved on as the years gone by.

On where Bryce Underwood has shown the most growth

I think just getting comfortable playing at a high level at this level. It’s a huge jump to go from a high school player to the Big Ten and on this stage and so forth, but what I see with him is a guy that the moment’s not really ever been too big for. He’s had some ups and downs, just like any young player would, but he still believes in himself.

He’s never lost his confidence, and at the same time, he’s the first one to point at himself and say, you know what, that’s not good enough. I made a mistake or whatever, and, again, I say it, when coaching this position, the quarterbacks, this is like my 29th year to do it. The guys that don’t repeat mistakes are the guys that end up being great players, and so far, that’s been him. He doesn’t repeat a lot of mistakes. Once he sees it and understands it, whatever’s going on, whether you’re talking about progressions or defenses you’re looking at or pressures, he doesn’t repeat those mistakes a lot, and I think that’s gonna go a long way in his development.

On what he’s seen from Andrew Marsh as a receiver

I said this the other day in practice, he made an unbelievable over-the-head catch, I said, I made the comment on the headset, it’s, this guy’s growing up right in front of our eyes. It’s really cool to see. You see a lot more confident kid than maybe at first in the spring and early training camp, early season.

I think that goes along with moving him around and doing a lot of different things with him early on, and he’s probably just trying to figure all that out. I just see a lot of confidence oozing out of him, and I think that’s when guys are confident, and they’re very comfortable with what they’re doing. I think you see the best version of them, and he’s got a lot of things I know he wants to improve on, but he’s headed in the right direction for sure.

On growing the offensive line in conjunction with growing the youth

I think that group, I’m really proud of that group. As a unit, from playing the position, the best offensive lines, they just gel. They play with each other, they understand. The calls become easier. The communications becomes easier. And like I said, just really proud of the growth that unit has really shown.

And from my standpoint, you gotta be able to run the football to be successful. We’ve been able to do that, and that’s been a tribute to those guys, because as you mentioned, we’ve had some bumps in the road with missing some guys and losing some guys, and kind of our mantra, and it goes along with, I think, our place here is the next man up, be ready. And I don’t think there’s ever been a year that that’s been more evident than this group. And still a lot of improving to do, but it’s good to see that unit continue to gel.

On how it changes his coaching style to have different backs with some similarities

I think once you get the game plan set and you feel like, okay, we can use these guys this way, this is their strengths, the trick in coaching is figuring out what your guys can do, and then try to do it as well as you can, or as many times you can, different ways. And I think that’s, each week, that’s been a little bit challenging at times, just for who’s available. Don’t get me wrong, some guys can do whatever you want them to do, but at the end of the day, whether they’re a young player who’s just figuring it out, or an older player whose skillset kind of defines what he’s gonna be good at, that’s the trick every week, is figure out, okay, can we get a plan together that highlights our guys’ strengths, along with, that fits against the defense we’re playing?

I think a tribute to the staff that we have here, with Grant Newsome and Steve Casula and Ron Bellamy and Tony Alford, and just being able to put our heads together and say, okay, what can we do that gives our guys the best chance to be successful? And that’s really, in the simplest form, what you should be doing every week.

On what he’s been told about the Ohio State rivalry and whether he’s familiar with it

Well, I’ve had a ton of respect for it, growing up, even down South, and seeing this from a distance, it’s The Game for a reason, right? And so I’m excited to be a part of it. I know once it kicks off, it’s a football game that we gotta focus on what we’re trying to do.

I know you can feel the energy around here this week, and this is what you get in the business for, to coach and play in these kind of games, if you’re a player, so looking forward to it, and just really trying to stay focused on preparing and getting our guys the best plan we can to be the most successful we can on Saturday.

On where college defenses are right now compared to NFL schemes like Matt Patricia runs

I think there’s probably some truth to it. I think they would, people would say that about Wink on our side of the ball, right? You know, his NFL background.

I think at the end of the day, the good defensive coordinators, they’re gonna do the best job they can of trying to take away what you do well, no matter what it looks like on that side of the ball. This defense is extremely well coached, and they do what they’re supposed to do, and they make you earn everything you’re gonna get, and it’s gonna be one of those old-fashioned football games where you’re gonna have to earn everything you get, I think, on both sides. He’s doing a really good job with that group for sure, but at the end of the day, I think we gotta focus on trying to execute at a high level, understand that each play’s gonna be extremely important, and take one play at a time mentality.