A number of topics were covered on the Sports Huddle with P.J. Fleck today, including recruiting, fall and summer preparations, 2017 schedule, early signing periods, balance attack, receive or defer to second half, weather reports, changing sides to the sunny side in the stadium.
1) Sid opened questioning by asking if the early signing period for recruits will help Minnesota;
Fleck answered saying anytime you can improve and make things better for the players is a good thing. However, while he’s glad to have the December signing date in December this year - “It’s still after the season” - he hopes to see a signing date in June which “would make things better.”
In a follow-up question, Fleck said recruits can take official visits in April and May starting in 2018, which would benefit recruits and families expense-wise and seeing the campus and facilities in springtime as opposed to late fall and early winter.
2) Mike Max asked if they pretty much know who they’re going to recruit after their junior season:
Fleck acknowledged they follow players during their sophomore and junior seasons. However, he quickly added, “There’s always late bloomers!” (Fleck said he was a “late bloomer.") As a result, Fleck said they always keep open scholarships for recruits who come on the scene during their senior year of competition.
3) Sid asked if all the players will be in school this summer:
The players are currently visiting their homes, but they’re scheduled to return next week. Fleck said emphatically, “The players are in school!” It sounds as though the players did well during the second semester. Fleck didn’t give any hints of any academic troubles.
4) Sid asked what the players can do during the summer, as far as practicing:
“Can do anything on their own,” Fleck replied. He said the players will meet frequently with the strength coaches during the summer months. But the coaches will have little if any contact (NCAA rules) until the start of fall camp, He said he doesn’t want the players to come the start of fall practices “sick of us.”
5) Sid asked if the players have 6:30 morning meetings/workouts:
“There’s an early morning group,” Fleck answered. He didn’t elaborate.
6) Dave Mona asked a three-part question – pass ratio, receive or defer at the opening coin toss, and changing sides (to the sunny side of the stadium):
Fleck said he wants to run a balance attack – “51 to 49 ratio,” however, the type of offense they’ll run will be dictated by what type of players they have available and what they can do (strengths).
As to the question of receiving or deferring to the second half, “It depends; wind, weather, sun” are factors as is the location of the game. He added that they continually monitor the weather forecasts through 3:00 p.m. He then said his preference is to defer; likes to get the ball after making half-time adjustments.
When Dave asked about changing sides, Fleck sounded perplexed and said he hadn’t heard anything about changing sides in the stadium. (Laughing) Fleck said he’ll have to check out the question further.
7) Sid wanted to know if the coaches are scouting next fall’s opponents:
Fleck said the coaches are on the road recruiting (final week) meeting with school administrators, coaches and teachers. When they return they’ll have some time off, and then they’ll start preparing for summer camps, fall practices and scouting next fall’s opponents.
8) Sid asked about the upcoming Big 10 schedule and it being tough:
“Any game in the Big 10 is tough,” Fleck replied. He later said that they have a “demanding schedule.”
9) Dave Mona asked the final question. He wanted to know how soon before the opening game that they’ll announce their starting quarterback:
Fleck told Dave that “I’d like to name” the starting quarterback in the first week of fall camp. He said the first week the players will show what they can do and how much growth (ability to handle position) has occurred since spring ball. The named starting quarterback will receive a lot of reps.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened questioning by asking if the early signing period for recruits will help Minnesota;
Fleck answered saying anytime you can improve and make things better for the players is a good thing. However, while he’s glad to have the December signing date in December this year - “It’s still after the season” - he hopes to see a signing date in June which “would make things better.”
In a follow-up question, Fleck said recruits can take official visits in April and May starting in 2018, which would benefit recruits and families expense-wise and seeing the campus and facilities in springtime as opposed to late fall and early winter.
2) Mike Max asked if they pretty much know who they’re going to recruit after their junior season:
Fleck acknowledged they follow players during their sophomore and junior seasons. However, he quickly added, “There’s always late bloomers!” (Fleck said he was a “late bloomer.") As a result, Fleck said they always keep open scholarships for recruits who come on the scene during their senior year of competition.
3) Sid asked if all the players will be in school this summer:
The players are currently visiting their homes, but they’re scheduled to return next week. Fleck said emphatically, “The players are in school!” It sounds as though the players did well during the second semester. Fleck didn’t give any hints of any academic troubles.
4) Sid asked what the players can do during the summer, as far as practicing:
“Can do anything on their own,” Fleck replied. He said the players will meet frequently with the strength coaches during the summer months. But the coaches will have little if any contact (NCAA rules) until the start of fall camp, He said he doesn’t want the players to come the start of fall practices “sick of us.”
5) Sid asked if the players have 6:30 morning meetings/workouts:
“There’s an early morning group,” Fleck answered. He didn’t elaborate.
6) Dave Mona asked a three-part question – pass ratio, receive or defer at the opening coin toss, and changing sides (to the sunny side of the stadium):
Fleck said he wants to run a balance attack – “51 to 49 ratio,” however, the type of offense they’ll run will be dictated by what type of players they have available and what they can do (strengths).
As to the question of receiving or deferring to the second half, “It depends; wind, weather, sun” are factors as is the location of the game. He added that they continually monitor the weather forecasts through 3:00 p.m. He then said his preference is to defer; likes to get the ball after making half-time adjustments.
When Dave asked about changing sides, Fleck sounded perplexed and said he hadn’t heard anything about changing sides in the stadium. (Laughing) Fleck said he’ll have to check out the question further.
7) Sid wanted to know if the coaches are scouting next fall’s opponents:
Fleck said the coaches are on the road recruiting (final week) meeting with school administrators, coaches and teachers. When they return they’ll have some time off, and then they’ll start preparing for summer camps, fall practices and scouting next fall’s opponents.
8) Sid asked about the upcoming Big 10 schedule and it being tough:
“Any game in the Big 10 is tough,” Fleck replied. He later said that they have a “demanding schedule.”
9) Dave Mona asked the final question. He wanted to know how soon before the opening game that they’ll announce their starting quarterback:
Fleck told Dave that “I’d like to name” the starting quarterback in the first week of fall camp. He said the first week the players will show what they can do and how much growth (ability to handle position) has occurred since spring ball. The named starting quarterback will receive a lot of reps.
Go Gophers!!
