Presser recap: Jim Harbaugh praises Josh Gattis, Shea Patterson ahead of Penn State

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh just left the podium at Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor for his weekly press conference ahead of this weekend’s game at Penn State. Here is a recap of the topics covered throughout his media availability.

• Hassan Haskins has been good at both positions at linebacker and running back and now focusing at running back. Harbaugh feels he helps team most at running back and he continues to ascend each and every week. He and quarterback Shea Patterson were named Michigan’s two offensive players of the week for the performance at Illinois.
• “Playing good football” has been key to home team in Michigan-Penn State series being decisive games in last two matchups. “Better team usually wins. Challenge we are very excited about.”
• Not looking ahead to upcoming stretch of games, says they continue to look at things one game at a time and say the goal this week was to win and improve as a football team and they feel that they did that.
• Josh Gattis first came on his radar while at Western Michigan before his stops at Penn State and Alabama. Everything he feels about him has been “validated” by working with him and he called him a “tremendous coach at the highest level.”
• Harbaugh called the system in place on offense as a spread system with a west coast-emphasis in the passing game.
• Harbaugh called offensive improvements as the offensive line taking a step forward and playing physical, smart and tough football. He also said that the quarterback (Patterson) has been the best quarterback on the field in every game that they have played this year and also cited the wide receivers improving in the run game as blockers as steps forward.
• Michigan is “locked in with laser-like focus” on this game against Penn State and not looking ahead. Says they will have to play their best this week and are looking forward to the challenge.
• Harbaugh praised the play of Josh Uche and the multitude of things he brings to the field.
• Midway through camp, Cam McGrone began to ascend at linebacker and has continue to do so with each passing week.
• Harbaugh has been impressed with Penn State QB Sean Clifford: “Very talented. Athletic ability, got the arm talent. Also makes really good decisions. You can see the leadership and the focus.”
• Asked about the developing offense, Harbaugh says like any profession, it takes time and reps to get good at something. Confidence will continue to grow as they do it in a game setting.
• Quarterback Dylan McCaffrey was cleared to play at Illinois last week and should be good moving forward. As far as DE Kwity Paye, CB Lavert Hill and WR Nico Collins go, he declined to comment but said that if he did comment, it would be a positive comment.
• Harbaugh said it was good to see his team fight back through adversity at Illinois and take momentum back when things started to go poorly.