Everything Michigan RB coach Tony Alford said during his pre-USC press conference

On whether he expected what he’s seen from Justice Haynes

He’s faster than I thought he was but to say that we expected certain things, expect him to come in here and compete and play at a high level, which he’s doing and has done since the day he’s gotten here, so I’m glad he’s with us.

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On where he’s seen Haynes make improvements

I would say just, I think his leadership qualities are getting better and more enhanced, I should say. He’s becoming more comfortable in his space, if you will. But yeah, you know, he’s a student of the game. He’s in this building all the time, watches a lot of film, a film junkie, if you will. So yeah, he’s been great. He’s been great in the meeting rooms. The players have embraced him as he’s embraced them in the culture. And like I said, he’s a joy to be around, a joy to coach.

On Jordan Marshall’s play to begin the season

Jordan’s been great. He’s done a great job. He’s very, very selfless and just an unselfish player. He came in with all these people talking high accolades as far as what the expectations were, and he’s met those expectations as far as we go within the building. He’s a great teammate. Is he giving up some carries for the betterment of the team? Obviously, Justice is taking those carries, and he hasn’t complained one bit. He’s been great. He’s been great in the meeting room. He’s a leader. I’m not displeased with the way he’s playing because any opportunities he gets, he does well. And so it’s been working so far.

On whether the lack of carries for Jordan Marshall simply boils down to Haynes’ game being at another level right now

Yeah, I think that Justice so far, through five games, has done exceptionally well. We kind of like to say we go with the hot hand, and he’s, in some regard, had the hot hand, if you will. And so we’ve gone with it, and that can flip and change at any moment, as we know.

So I feel like we have two guys that can really go in and play as starters. We still believe that and hold true to that. And one guy’s got more opportunities right now, as we’ve said so far.

On the relationship he’s built with Haynes through recruiting and the conversations he had with him when he entered the portal

Yeah, they were real short, actually. He and I have had a great relationship dating back to when he was a junior in high school, whatever year that would have been. I mean, it’s been, what, four or five years now. So, yeah, when he decided to go to the portal, he called. He said, this is what I want to do. I’d like to be coached by you.

And this happened to be where I was at, and so it worked out. I won’t go too far into detail with all of it, but kind of roundabout, that’s how it went.

On whether Haynes reminds him of any running backs he’s coached

I try to shy away from comparisons. I do. I just don’t think that’s fair. And again, that’s just my own personal — I don’t want to compare him to other players that I’ve had. I’ve been very, very fortunate in my career that I’ve had some outstanding players. When I was at Ohio State, some really good guys. At Notre Dame, I had some really good players.

I think every man is his own guy and that’s what I wanted. I just wanted him to be the best version of him and not like somebody else. Or, you know, I could name some of the good ones, but I try to shy away from that.

On Haynes being in the Heisman discussion

Oh, I don’t know. Listen, I don’t decide on that. That’s what you guys do in the media. And you’re the ones that make comparisons and who should get what award, who shouldn’t. I just want to get better. I just want to go play the best we can against USC.

And the chips will fall where they fall. And what I want from him and everybody in that room is just be the best player that they can be in the moment. And then the rest of the other stuff will take care of itself.

On whether he felt that Haynes believed he was underutilized at Alabama during discussions with him

Yeah, let him answer that one. Yeah, let him answer that. I don’t want to speak for him or what he thought or how he felt about his days at Alabama. That would be unfair for me to comment on that. I think you should ask him those questions.

On whether he sees another level Haynes can reach

Oh, well, I mean, yeah. I mean, we’re going to do what we do. We run the ball, and those carries are going to be shared as he knew coming in. He’s kind of taken off with some things. But he’s earned what he’s gotten, too. It wasn’t like he came in here, we talked about those conversations we had. The conversation wasn’t about you’re going to come in and you’re going to be the starter. You’re going to get all the carries. That was never part of the conversation.

The conversation was you’re going to be a part of this culture, a part of this room. You’re going to integrate into how we do things and what we do. And you’re just going to be one of the guys in the room and in the locker room.

And then what you do with it from there is entirely up to you. But, yeah, so, again, what happened prior to him coming here, can’t speak on that. I can just tell you since he’s been here, he’s been great.

On whether he believes the USC game can be the defining moment of the season before Ohio State

Well, I do. I think every game is big. And I like your words on a faceless, nameless opponent. We’re playing a really good football team, and they’re well-coached. They’ve got great tradition. It’s an iconic venue we’re going to be playing in, the Coliseum. Lincoln obviously has those guys ready to play. They’ve got some really, really good players, athletic guys.

Their linebacker crew, I think, is really good. It has all their defensive ends. Yeah, so this is a big game for us. And they’re all big, but this is the big one. Hopefully, we can go out and take care of business and kind of go from there.

On whether USC’s rush defense is similar to Oklahoma’s

I think they’re different in some of their structure. But as far as their athleticism, and guys that can make plays, are similar in that regard. Again, they have some big-time players and some high-end guys. Those two defensive ends, they can collapse pockets. I think the linebackers are extremely athletic guys. You know, particularly Gentry. He’s all of 6’5″, 6’6″, you know, 2 1⁄4″, whatever, but he’s athletic. And can run from sideline to sideline, I think 23, Desmond, is a physical guy.

And then their nickelback, he’s number seven. He’s a really good player. So they’ve got really dynamic players. But it still comes down to just executing and do your 1/11th, as we like to say. And see how we go.

On whether he wanted a 50/50 split of carries between running backs or have one lead guy this season

Yeah, I’ve got to be honest. I hadn’t really given a ton of thought to it until we really started going. But originally, I would have thought it would have been more 50-50. But as the season has progressed, it’s kind of flipped a little bit. And kind of slanted his way a little bit. And, again, that’s not to say that someone hasn’t done a good job.

I think it’s really attributed to the success that he’s had. And he’s excelled in some areas. And like anything else, if somebody’s doing well, you continue to give them those opportunities. Obviously, he’s shown some big play potential in every game. Every game is some big run. And he’s shown the ability to be able to take one to the house pretty much at any given time.

But he’s done a good job, not just in that aspect. We’ve got to continue to work on some other things. But he’s done a good job holistically within our offense.

On the importance of players helping in the recruiting process

Oh, it’s critically important. I believe the last time I spoke to you guys, I talked about the best recruits we have are players. And I think that great players, they want to be surrounded by other great players.

They want to know who the guys are going to be hanging out with in the locker room and in the apartments and the dorms and spending that time away from the building, who they’re spending time with. And so I think when those guys are able to befriend one another and speak on the culture as they see it, because those kids tell the truth, I think that’s critically important to know who you’re playing with and who are going to be the guys that are lined up with you every single day. I think it’s critically important. Getting those guys involved is very, very important.

On opportunities for other running backs with Haynes and Marshall performing so well in Big Ten play

Yeah, that’s a great question. You always kind of have to have that third and fourth guy prepared to play, right? And you never know when that time’s coming.

When they tap you on the shoulder, you’ve got to be prepared to go in and play. We talk about competitive excellence, if you will. But they’ve just got to be ready. And there’s only one ball to go around, right? There’s only one ball to go around with the running backs. Generally speaking, there’s only one guy in the game at a time.

And they should do some personnel things, of course. But that third guy, fourth guy, they’ve all got to be prepared to go and play. And the key component is how do you practice? Because you can’t have a letdown, especially in the Big Ten, as we get into the thick of the season, as you said. So they’ve got to be prepared. And how do you go about your practice habits every day?

Coach Martindale talked about it best. I think he worded it the best when he talked about your practice habits becoming your game realities. And so it’s my job, our job, as coaches, to make sure that our players are practicing at the standard that’s needed.

On Haynes being faster than he realized something he didn’t see beforehand

Yeah, I didn’t see it. I’ve got to be honest. I mean, I knew he could run, and he would tell me he could. He had those things. But I didn’t, I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t see it. I didn’t see it last spring. I started to see glimpses of it in the summer, and during training camp in particular.

But, yeah, and that’s not to say I thought he was slow, but he’s faster than I thought he was. I was just watching him from afar before.

On whether Haynes has done anything to increase his speed

I don’t know. Listen, I don’t run with him, so I don’t know. I don’t involve myself in that. But whatever he’s done, just keep doing it.

On the outside zone run game and how it is game planned

Yeah, I think it’s just like anything else. That’s part of your offense. You have a multitude of things that you can do, and our players have gotten pretty good at those particular things.

There are some things, obviously, defensively that we saw that we thought those plays would work, obviously. And so that’s a lot of game plan stuff. But, yeah, that’s been a bigger staple than it has been in the past, and the kids seem to like it too.

On the outside zone runs impacting Haynes

Oh, it gives the opportunity to get in space a little bit. I mean, you’re not jamming everything in between the tackles. So it gives him an opportunity to kind of get the ball in the perimeter somewhat, which all of a sudden, you get him in one-on-one situations.

We believe he has an opportunity to win those at a pretty high rate, those one-on-one battles. I think it’s all about match-up stuff and where do you put a ball at in the structure, what you’re trying to do in the offense.