Sherrone Moore: Michigan football urgency 'at an all-time high'
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The College Football Playoff doesn’t start for more than a month, but Michigan football is already in playoff mode.
The No. 17 Wolverines (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) have three games remaining on their schedule and are well aware that a victory in each is paramount if they are to make the postseason and not just a bowl game. The journey continues Saturday, Nov. 15, against a Northwestern (noon, Fox), fighting for a bowl berth at Wrigley Field.
“Everybody got, got to leave Ann Arbor for a couple days here, and now we’re back, and everybody’s juice done feels fresh,” tight end Marlin Klein said Monday afternoon in Schembechler Hall before practice. “We know every single game is a playoff game, like, we lose one of those next three ones, like, we’re probably out, and that’s how we’re attacking it every single day.
“We’re preparing for Northwestern like it’s a playoff game.”
The Wolverines have been in this position since falling Oct. 11 against USC to drop to 4-2. Their task at that time was to win six in a row.
Michigan has completed half of its task, ripping off wins over Washington, Michigan State and Purdue to go into the bye week with momentum.
Michigan football injury report
Running back Justice Haynes will not play vs. the Wildcats after foot surgery. Coach Sherrone Moore called him “week to week,” but linebackers Jaishawn Barham, Cole Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder are all in different spots.
Moore said they “feel good” about where Sullivan is and “we’ll see” about the status of Barham and Rolder, who grew up in Orland Park, Illinois, went to high school at Marist in Chicago and is a lifelong Cubs fan.
Moore said “we’re in a positive place with all of them,” which leads to optimism.
Safety Rod Moore Jr.’s return seems less promising, while tight end Hogan Hansen could return soon, possibly this week, if not, then next week at Maryland.
Klein said he feels essentially “100%” going into the final three weeks, while wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who left the previous game against Purdue in the third quarter, “will be good” according to Moore.
Michigan football urgency ‘at an all-time high’
Michigan intentionally had a lighter day of practice on Sunday and will ramp up activity day by day this week to keep players fresh, while also keeping them sharp. Michigan played Northwestern in a similar spot last season − coming off a bye in mid-November − but didn’t have any major goals left to compete for.
Moore said this week is similar in the sense last year is when the Wolverines hit their stride, but also clarified having an opportunity to make the CFP and Big Ten title games makes this year even more important.
“We’re playing for a lot more and you know, the urgency is at an all-time high in the program, the urgency with me, with the coach, the players, is it at an all-time high to make sure that we’re prepared,” Moore said.
“When the opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare, right? So you got to get to go attack it right now.”
Moore said there’s a “lot of juice” in the building this week with the group rejuvenated and “champing at the bit” to get back on the field.
Damon Payne, a transfer from Alabama, said the message from coaches this week felt familiar.
“You got much needed time, got your body right, but don’t let off the gas,” Payne said. “Keep that mental strain, keep that edge to you, don’t let it all go to waste. Got a few days off, enjoy, but keep the main thing, the main thing.”
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Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sherrone Moore: Michigan football urgency ‘at an all-time high’
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