[Upchurch]

I knew exactly who I wanted to talk to when I saw the list of players available Monday. It was the perfect confluence of events: a great overhead angle of a Michigan touchdown run, Poggi mashing two guys at once on said run, and a question stem using The Big Lebowski that popped into my head after watching the replay just once. It seemed related enough to ask. This is a very professional website. 

What were you expecting from them at that point and what did you get?

“Yeah, I think we were down at what, the five- or six-yard line? Not sure what exact front they were in but we knew they were going to be heavy run there. We were I think in like a wing, pretty much just a regular Power play. Down, down, guard pulls, and I have everything off the edge—Ty [Isaac] made a great cut—and just fitting right up off of that edge.”

Once you do engage the safety you’ve got that corner behind him. Are you trying to turn him so you can block two at once or is that just the way timing worked out on this play?

“Yeah, just kind of hit ‘em how you see ‘em.”

Walk me through the finer points of a goal-line kickout.

“I think just the most important thing is you can’t let much penetration and you’ve got to win inside and upfield, so you want to go attacking at his outside shoulder and just kick him out and push him upfield. Kind of create that running room.”

I can’t let a one-on-one go by without a Big Lebowski question. Who were you trying to channel on that play? Was it Walter and the red Corvette, because it seemed like Walter and the red Corvette.

“Definitely Walter. Had to let #2 know that he’s entering a world of pain.”