Everything Michigan DC Wink Martindale said during his pre-Wisconsin press conference

Opening Statement

Well, it’s been a while since we’ve spoken. We had our bye week. We worked on a lot of fundamentals and technique week with everybody, getting people back healthy. The vets who played a lot of reps, we cut their time a little bit so they could get with Tress and do all the things they need to do with him during the bye week. And we’re excited about taking the next step and playing the next game.

But first, we’ve got to have the best Wednesday slash Thursday slash whatever. When you’re old, try to keep up with these schedules. It’s tough.

But I’m excited about where we’re at right now. And I just know that the way we practice, the way we compete, the competition at different position groups, that the end product’s going to be fun to watch. With that, we’ll wrap it up.

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On whether he agrees with Max Bredeson’s analogy that the team is like an airplane ready to take off

Yeah, I think that the standard that Sherrone has established with the team itself, every day you’re looking to get better, coach better, and play better. And if it’s not there, he lets you know. And I see us taking off as far as ascending.

But each game’s different. Each team’s different. So it’s going to be a tough battle any time you’re in the Big 10.

On whether he pleased with the results of the second away game

Well, sure, because we won. I mean, and in the bottom line, at the end of the day, that’s what it comes down to, is winning and losing. But yeah, I thought that we played really — I thought we played very well.

I thought that we showed some toughness and tenacity, and getting after the quarterback the way we did in Nebraska. But like I said, that’s over with. And we just got to get better every day, continue to get better every day.

On what he’s learned about Lou Esposito during his time with him

A, he’s a great guy. He’s a great person. He’s a great dad. And I think that with all the coaches that we have, position coaches that we have, that they’re all really good fathers and great coaches and enthusiastic. They teach the technique of the scheme very well. But saying that about Lou, I could say that about B.J., LaMar, and the other guys that go with it.

On what he’s seen from Jayden Sanders and Elijah Dotson and his thoughts on the depth at corner

I think that E-dot is a fiery competitor, which I love. He’s the same way in practice. He loves football. And the same thing with Sanders. You could see from day one that he really likes football. And he’s a smart kid, attentive in meetings.

Is he perfect yet? No, but I have full confidence whenever he goes into the game. And that falls into the other thing with how we’re practicing.

There’s still competition everywhere on the field. And that’s a good thing for our depth. I think our tackles, talking about Lou, I think our tackles are playing a lot better than where they were when we first started out.

And you’re seeing guys starting to jump out at you there as well. But there’s competition across the board, even in the linebacker room. You look at a kid like Cole Sullivan. I mean, how can you not play him, how productive he is? But when you go and watch practice tape, he’s playing faster than a lot of guys out there. And he’s just going to continue to get better.

That’s the fun part about coaching. There’s a lot of crappy parts. You liked how I cleaned that up? (Laughs). All right, but that’s the fun part of coaching, seeing a guy like that that’s taking off. And there’s others, too, talking about the corners.

On whether he believes Cole Sullivan is one of his best 11 defenders and Jaishawn Barham’s move to edge opening up more time

Yeah, I think that’s all part of trying to get the best 11 out there consistently. And like I said, Rayshaun Benny said in one of the first meetings we had in training camp, he said, the same 11. We want it to look like the same 11.

So whoever your starters are, the next 11, you want it to look the same. And I thought that was a great goal for a kid, or I shouldn’t say a kid, a grown man at his age to say that. And we’re not there yet, but we’re practicing to get that way. And that’s why you’re seeing different guys on the field.

On his thoughts on linebacker fits and coverages

I’m pleased. I think that BJ does a great job with the linebackers. I think I’ve told you this before. Kevin Wilkins said last year, Wink, I think this is the first linebacker coach you’ve actually liked. Because when you’re a coordinator, and I’m not saying anything bad about any of the linebacker coaches I’ve had before, but when you’re a coordinator and you’re, like, I come from coaching inside linebackers, probably my entire life almost, that you’re the toughest on those guys. And BJ just hit the ground rolling, and he sees it the same way I see it.

He coaches the same way I coach, and he’s taught me some things. So I think that it’s just been a perfect fit. I said that before about how lucky that I am to have the assistance that we have.

On what the level of the defense could reach with Rod Moore being healthy

Well, we’ll see. It’s different in college football, compared to pro. You need a lot more competition than what we already have. Especially in the back end, because those guys rotate so much. Like LaMar and Stokes, and B-Hawk, those guys do a great job of getting all of them ready for the game. And if they’re not ready, they’re not going to play.

That’s also a comforting feeling for me to see the guys and how they coach them and where we’re at there.

On the injuries at defensive back impacting how he calls games

I think it’s different with each guy and really each position. It’s not just the corners. That’s a good thing that I’ve always talked about, which is the flexibility of the system that we’re able to call different things.

To cover up a guy’s weakness or to show a guy’s strength. Take a guy like Jaishawn. He’s playing all over the place, and he’s going to continue to play all over the place.

That’s his work ethic, his training camp, his coaching, his coaches, both BJ and Fee. Don’t talk about Fee enough because he’s doing a great job with those guys on the edges.

On whether he believes that Jaishawn Barham strikes fear into people

I don’t know. I want you to say something to him. No, I mean, he is, that’s who he is. That’s his personality. I think some people take him being quiet and just looking at you as being mean. He’s just trying to figure people out, just like we all do. But he hits. Those guys are unique. Enjoy it while you’re seeing it.

On whether he sees a softer side to Barham off the field

No, I mean, I don’t know. I have fun with him. I talk to him all the time. He gets a bad rap sometimes, when I’m saying bad rap from other places that he’s been because he’s been so quiet. Once you get to know him, it’s a back-and-forth. It’s a trust. It’s a relationship. He’s fun to be around. If anything happens, I’m glad he’s on my side.

On trying to determine personnel when there’s an unknown at quarterback

I think that’s a guessing game pretty much every week. They’re going through some injury battles at the quarterback position. I think you’ll know when I know when it comes out, they do a nice job of not saying a whole lot in the press and anything else. That’s fine. That’s the way it should be.

On how quickly it took him to realize there was more to unlock with Barham

I mean neither Matt or myself are going to draft anybody. It’s really easy to just throw out a top 10 pick because you don’t know the rest of the country and who’s coming out and everything else. I just know he’s a good football player.

I don’t think that he has a ceiling. I think he’s just going to keep getting better. I know he loves playing in this defense.

On his message to keep TJ Guy engaged who might be losing snaps to Barham’s move to edge

I think it’s all of them. It’s not just TJ. I think that when you move people around we said it before about getting the best 11 on the field. The facts are facts. You’re just honest with everybody and if you want to play more, practice better. That’s the way life works.

Perform better. Produce like coal. We know what we want to look like as a defense. I’m talking about we as the coaches and the players. When it’s out on the field, that’s what we look like as a defense. You could say the same thing about Dom.

Dom’s a really good pass rusher, and he’s still climbing and fighting. He could pass up somebody to go play. We talk about it all the time in meetings.

There’s the great Bobby Knight video. For you people old enough to remember Bobby Knight about the bench. Go look it up. Google it. It’s very entertaining. It’s the truth. The only thing that you have is playing time. Practice better. Play better.

That’s with everybody. That’s not just TJ or Dom or whoever. That’s at each position group. That’s the Cole Sullivans. You talk about Cole and his production. How about Jimmy Rolder? He is smashing people out there and playing really well. Same thing with Ern. It’s that inside back room with BJ.

Very talented. He’s done a great job of building that room. You guys are starting to see some of the results of who’s all in that room. You talk about Troy Bowles. Talking about getting Wusu back. He’s going to be fun to watch.

I like where we’re at, but we’re still not where we want to be. As far as that goes. Every day in practice, you’ve got to get better and play better and execute and stay locked in. It’s a lot of fun to watch.

On whether he thinks linebacker is the deepest position on the team right now

I really haven’t sat and thought about it because I just got done telling you the tackles are playing better. Moving Jaishawn to the edge. That’s improved the edge play.

The corner position is where we’re the youngest. You just don’t know where they’re going to end up at yet with those guys. Who’s going to step out and step up? That’s why they play the games and they’re all on TV.

On the lack of holding calls called

You’re trying to skew it one direction. Although we all know that’s not the case. It kind of negates your advantage. There you go. I’ll leave my answer as this. I’m going to be a very good podcast guest when I retire. Alright? That’s where I’ll leave it at. There you go.

On the toughest position to go out and play as a freshman

If they’re good enough, I said something about Nate last time I spoke to everybody. He’s going to be a guy they’re going to be talking about here. If they’re good enough, they’re going to play. Whatever position there is. I think coming in as a true freshman, they’re all tough. It’s completely different than high school football.

To a man, if you talk to those guys, it’s terminology. You’re just not playing. No longer are you the big man on campus as a freshman where you can show up to the game, eat a bag of Doritos, don’t practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and still be the best player to play because all you’re playing is cover three.

It’s different. Each level, it keeps growing in knowledge of the game. The ones who study and understand it and ask questions, just like a classroom, sit up and are locked in. Those are the ones that advance faster than the other freshmen. Sometimes they can advance past some of the veteran guys, some of the older guys. As far as nailing it down to position, it’s hard to just say that it’s this or it’s that.