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Gopher FB Coach PJ Fleck appeared on the sports huddle on WCCO radio on Sunday. (Fleck was on by phone, with the hosts at the State Fair).
Sid: Scouting report on NMex St.
PJ: people got to watch them last night. they played a very talented Wyoming team. (Wyoming) may be the favorite team from the group of 5 for a NY Day's bowl. one game doesn't dictate how we think of our opponent. last year they won 1st bowl game in school history. one game won't dictate how we prepare for them. they're very talented on defense -have everybody returning. their offense is going through changes, with a new QB, new WR's. they're going to want to play a lot better against us.
Sid: have you ever had this young of a squad?
PJ: it's similar to our 2nd year at WMU. We might have more FR on the 2-deeps here. it's one of the most youthful teams we've had. when we got here, we knew that we got the '18 and '19 classes in here, people will see the future of Gopher FB. we're young, inexperienced, but we're also talented, led by some guys who have played football here, like Rodney Smith. the upperclassmen have got to do a great job of leading.
Sid: is this like the 2nd year at WMU when you went 8-5?
PJ: I don't like to compare seasons. everyone looks at results. it's 2 different places, different conferences, different types of situations. At WMU, I think we started the year 1-4, then it clicked for our young guys. here, we've got a chance to be good - just a question of how fast can the young players help us to provide depth. excited about Thursday.
Sid: name some of last year's red-shirt players who could play
PJ: Blaise Andries will start as a RS FR. have some RS who could start as WR - Bell, Douglas. Big O at DE (Otomewo) will play. a ton of other true FR, more RS FR. lot of players for fans to be excited about.
Sid: lost all those games at end of season. (something about losing close games........I think.....)
PJ: that was last year. as a staff we look at what could we have done better - what did we do well. we lost 4 close games that we weren't good enough to pull out. we wanted to win, but we didn't refuse to lose, and that may have showed up in those games at the end of the year. last 2 games were not close. we had lot of close games where, maybe if we win, it does more to impact the end of the year. games are not played hypothetically. this is a new year. Kick things off on Thursday at 6pm.
Mona: (asks 2 questions) decision on Annexstad? Use of red-shirts?
PJ: (RS's) staff will meet today. talk about who's going to play, who we use the RS rule on. when to use. may be some with an injury - don't want to play them right away, or we may happen to need them at the end of the year. look at all types of scenarios. every single player comes into play on how you want to RS them. it's more difficult, but allows us to be more creative.
As far as the QB - they're both good enough to play. it was the hardest decision I've had to make as a coach. Zack won the job, but Tanner was really close. If Tanner plays, he'll do a great job. I trust both QB's. Will Tanner play - that's a possibility as we go through the season. But Zack is the starter - he deserves the opportunity.
Sid: you were 11th in pass defense last year in the country but not good against the run.
PJ: lot of factors go into that. we're rebuilding this toward what we want to be. it takes personnel - schemes - recruiting - development. we know what we have to get better at, and how much time it's going to take. on defense, we want to make people 1-dimensional - force them to do something, and take away the success they have. (something about last year - I missed it..........)
Sid: healthy Cashman, Winfield make a difference.
PJ: helps a lot. they're 2 of the best players on the team. they've worked hard in the off-season. we're taking things one day at time. excited to get going.
Mona: who will you use in the return game?
PJ: Rodney on KR. as we go through year, could look at other RB's or WR's on KO Return. Punt return is up in the air. Winfield is one of the best athletes on the team. We could also look at Shenault or Douglas. need to develop more guys in that role.
Max: Kicker and punter?
PJ: Carpenter is our place-kicker. I know he wanted to be more consistent last year. proud of him. he's had a tremendous training camp. Punter - losing Santoso hurts. Alex (Melvin) and Jacob Herbers have done great job competing. we'll find out as we get closer to game day. we can improve at every position. need to do what we do well. as a team, we have different strengths and weaknesses than last year.
Sid: deeper at WR than last year.
PJ: we're a lot deeper at every position than last year. Our depth is filled with FR. FR everywhere you look providing backup roles. that's what we have to be able to do for long-term success. we have a lot of youthful players. 20-some FR on 2-deeps. very exciting for the future. I love to play young players. young people can surprise you in a lot of ways. need upperclassmen to lead the way.
Mona: win coin toss - do you defer or receive?
PJ: we always defer.
Sid: good ticket deals, Murrays
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers.
Sid: Scouting report on NMex St.
PJ: people got to watch them last night. they played a very talented Wyoming team. (Wyoming) may be the favorite team from the group of 5 for a NY Day's bowl. one game doesn't dictate how we think of our opponent. last year they won 1st bowl game in school history. one game won't dictate how we prepare for them. they're very talented on defense -have everybody returning. their offense is going through changes, with a new QB, new WR's. they're going to want to play a lot better against us.
Sid: have you ever had this young of a squad?
PJ: it's similar to our 2nd year at WMU. We might have more FR on the 2-deeps here. it's one of the most youthful teams we've had. when we got here, we knew that we got the '18 and '19 classes in here, people will see the future of Gopher FB. we're young, inexperienced, but we're also talented, led by some guys who have played football here, like Rodney Smith. the upperclassmen have got to do a great job of leading.
Sid: is this like the 2nd year at WMU when you went 8-5?
PJ: I don't like to compare seasons. everyone looks at results. it's 2 different places, different conferences, different types of situations. At WMU, I think we started the year 1-4, then it clicked for our young guys. here, we've got a chance to be good - just a question of how fast can the young players help us to provide depth. excited about Thursday.
Sid: name some of last year's red-shirt players who could play
PJ: Blaise Andries will start as a RS FR. have some RS who could start as WR - Bell, Douglas. Big O at DE (Otomewo) will play. a ton of other true FR, more RS FR. lot of players for fans to be excited about.
Sid: lost all those games at end of season. (something about losing close games........I think.....)
PJ: that was last year. as a staff we look at what could we have done better - what did we do well. we lost 4 close games that we weren't good enough to pull out. we wanted to win, but we didn't refuse to lose, and that may have showed up in those games at the end of the year. last 2 games were not close. we had lot of close games where, maybe if we win, it does more to impact the end of the year. games are not played hypothetically. this is a new year. Kick things off on Thursday at 6pm.
Mona: (asks 2 questions) decision on Annexstad? Use of red-shirts?
PJ: (RS's) staff will meet today. talk about who's going to play, who we use the RS rule on. when to use. may be some with an injury - don't want to play them right away, or we may happen to need them at the end of the year. look at all types of scenarios. every single player comes into play on how you want to RS them. it's more difficult, but allows us to be more creative.
As far as the QB - they're both good enough to play. it was the hardest decision I've had to make as a coach. Zack won the job, but Tanner was really close. If Tanner plays, he'll do a great job. I trust both QB's. Will Tanner play - that's a possibility as we go through the season. But Zack is the starter - he deserves the opportunity.
Sid: you were 11th in pass defense last year in the country but not good against the run.
PJ: lot of factors go into that. we're rebuilding this toward what we want to be. it takes personnel - schemes - recruiting - development. we know what we have to get better at, and how much time it's going to take. on defense, we want to make people 1-dimensional - force them to do something, and take away the success they have. (something about last year - I missed it..........)
Sid: healthy Cashman, Winfield make a difference.
PJ: helps a lot. they're 2 of the best players on the team. they've worked hard in the off-season. we're taking things one day at time. excited to get going.
Mona: who will you use in the return game?
PJ: Rodney on KR. as we go through year, could look at other RB's or WR's on KO Return. Punt return is up in the air. Winfield is one of the best athletes on the team. We could also look at Shenault or Douglas. need to develop more guys in that role.
Max: Kicker and punter?
PJ: Carpenter is our place-kicker. I know he wanted to be more consistent last year. proud of him. he's had a tremendous training camp. Punter - losing Santoso hurts. Alex (Melvin) and Jacob Herbers have done great job competing. we'll find out as we get closer to game day. we can improve at every position. need to do what we do well. as a team, we have different strengths and weaknesses than last year.
Sid: deeper at WR than last year.
PJ: we're a lot deeper at every position than last year. Our depth is filled with FR. FR everywhere you look providing backup roles. that's what we have to be able to do for long-term success. we have a lot of youthful players. 20-some FR on 2-deeps. very exciting for the future. I love to play young players. young people can surprise you in a lot of ways. need upperclassmen to lead the way.
Mona: win coin toss - do you defer or receive?
PJ: we always defer.
Sid: good ticket deals, Murrays
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers.
