short ornery norwegian
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2011
- Messages
- 19,630
- Reaction score
- 13,347
- Points
- 113
Gopher FB Coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO radio.
(note - PJ's phone connection wasn't the best - cut out a couple of times or got garbled. did the best I could)
Sid: Last year gave up 50+ pts to NW, WI - this year (something.....Sid being incoherent)
PJ: excited about future of the program, the players, what they accomplished. there were a lot of highs this year, lot of lows. the players kept their oars in water, kept rowing the boat. we had lot of guys injured, had the youngest team in america. we got beat by Illinois. then we won 3 of the last 4 games, won a bowl game. there are still many things that we can be better at. the future is really bright.
Sid: switch in defensive coordinators
PJ: the system is the same. I've had the same system for 7 years. I felt Robb Smith is a tremendous coach. But Joe Rossi was able to take us to the next step. Joe was facing a tremendous challenge. at the end of the year, he had so many young guys playing for the first time. last 3 games, lot of young guys put into that role. For Georgia Tech, had to change the whole defense. the players responded to the coaching
Sid: next year depth at RB
PJ: shannon and rodney will have no more years after next year. jim tressel told me you can never have too many RB's. shannon and rodney helped lead the young guys. Mo, Bryce - I think Mo had the most yds by a MN FR ever in a game. we need to create depth to have a championship program. we will have competitive depth going into next year. started 8 FR on offense. have some older guys to help lead the way. the '19 class will give us more depth. we'll have competitive depth at a lot of positions. working our way to becoming champions. Look at teams like Alabama, Clemson, they have depth everywhere. we'll continue to try and create that depth through recruiting and development.
Sid: can this team be better next year?
PJ: we can be a lot better. not saying technically - but need to work our tails off. need to be better today than we were yesterday. that's our main focus. we have a lot to get better at. can't wait to get to off-season workouts. right now, players get to rest, get their bodies back. the coaches take a short break, then start meeting to get the winter program started.
Mona: TE's as a group played well against GT.
PJ: started the year with a lot of inexperience, youth. saw a natural progression through the year. saw young guys get better. we were very inconsistent to start. weren't very good at the beginning of the year. TE's really improved. the coach did great job. Paulson, Witham, Kieft, Beebe. got to add to that group. maybe move a guy or two around from defensive side, move to TE. Spann-Ford a RS FR. feel really good about the group.
Max: change in signing day - how does it impact off-season?
PJ: once this is done, we push forward to 2020. free-agent market in grad transfers. sprint is still there, but it's from the end of the regular season to the bowl game. that was a rigorous 3 weeks. one of the most challenging things I've been a part of. the players handled that well. what they accomplished on and off the field. GPA 3.19 highest in the history of program. everybody killed it on GPA. never been a part of a program that had a GPA like that. proud of their accomplishments on and off the field.
Sid: improvement at Off line.
PJ: (couldn't understand first part of answer....) provide consistency, depth, get guys experience. I've walked people through what to expect from year 1, year 2, year 3. this is how you rebuild a program. don't take shortcuts. sometimes you take it on the chin. we took it on the chin through the first 4 conference games. didn't matter who was in there. the guys kept moving forward. next man up. starting to become a team. we're getting there.
Mona: when do you decide about position changes?
PJ: before spring ball. 13 of 23 guys in the new class are starting early. Howden is part of that '19 class technically. good to get guys to start early. we'll look at the positions they play. look at where do we need more depth. FR coming in will help.
Max: grad transfer rule?
PJ: NCAA is moving in right direction. making more changes in what qualifies, grades they have to have. normal transfer has to sit out a year. grad transfer can play right away. usually only 1 year. you're able to fill a hole with a guy who's played a lot. maybe coming down from top program. the names go into a portal. everyone in ncaa gets the portal. you look at who comes in there. has to be a right fit - fit our culture, program.
Sid: starting next season with best WR group in country.
PJ: that's an opinion. Tyler Johnson was a very raw athlete when we got him. Coach Simon did great job. TJ is not the fastest guy. he's got to be good with technique. that's difficult to obtain. we've seen many record-setting performances. youngest team in america. excited about this group.
Mona: change sides of field. // players names on back of jersey
PJ: (on jersey) we are the state of MN. it's important to see that on game day. we switch it up. we're playing for each other. give players freedom in how they do that. we'll look at that. like the bonding thing - team type of focus. part of that is the name on the back of jersey at times. give it to players to see if they want to do that. // (switch sides) Wanted to do that this year. we will do that in future. talked to season-ticket holders about that. if we do it, it will probably only be for one of the last two games. we have the ability to do that. there is a real change in temperature from one side to the other. I didn't think it was, but I went over there and there is a real difference. for this year, at the times we were playing, I didn't think it gave us that big of an advantage. will do what we can to put the team in a position to be successful.
Sid: did the extra bowl practices help for next year?
PJ: helps the offense a ton. these were not easy practices. the defense had to install a whole new defense. now, we understand option football. will play an option team next year in GA Southern. they have knowledge of that now. they understand it - we can go to it. it was a very physical 13 days. good for our defense. we became a lot more disciplined.
Sid: congratulations on fantastic coaching job. Murray's certificate.
PJ: happy holiday, happy new year. RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers.
(note - PJ's phone connection wasn't the best - cut out a couple of times or got garbled. did the best I could)
Sid: Last year gave up 50+ pts to NW, WI - this year (something.....Sid being incoherent)
PJ: excited about future of the program, the players, what they accomplished. there were a lot of highs this year, lot of lows. the players kept their oars in water, kept rowing the boat. we had lot of guys injured, had the youngest team in america. we got beat by Illinois. then we won 3 of the last 4 games, won a bowl game. there are still many things that we can be better at. the future is really bright.
Sid: switch in defensive coordinators
PJ: the system is the same. I've had the same system for 7 years. I felt Robb Smith is a tremendous coach. But Joe Rossi was able to take us to the next step. Joe was facing a tremendous challenge. at the end of the year, he had so many young guys playing for the first time. last 3 games, lot of young guys put into that role. For Georgia Tech, had to change the whole defense. the players responded to the coaching
Sid: next year depth at RB
PJ: shannon and rodney will have no more years after next year. jim tressel told me you can never have too many RB's. shannon and rodney helped lead the young guys. Mo, Bryce - I think Mo had the most yds by a MN FR ever in a game. we need to create depth to have a championship program. we will have competitive depth going into next year. started 8 FR on offense. have some older guys to help lead the way. the '19 class will give us more depth. we'll have competitive depth at a lot of positions. working our way to becoming champions. Look at teams like Alabama, Clemson, they have depth everywhere. we'll continue to try and create that depth through recruiting and development.
Sid: can this team be better next year?
PJ: we can be a lot better. not saying technically - but need to work our tails off. need to be better today than we were yesterday. that's our main focus. we have a lot to get better at. can't wait to get to off-season workouts. right now, players get to rest, get their bodies back. the coaches take a short break, then start meeting to get the winter program started.
Mona: TE's as a group played well against GT.
PJ: started the year with a lot of inexperience, youth. saw a natural progression through the year. saw young guys get better. we were very inconsistent to start. weren't very good at the beginning of the year. TE's really improved. the coach did great job. Paulson, Witham, Kieft, Beebe. got to add to that group. maybe move a guy or two around from defensive side, move to TE. Spann-Ford a RS FR. feel really good about the group.
Max: change in signing day - how does it impact off-season?
PJ: once this is done, we push forward to 2020. free-agent market in grad transfers. sprint is still there, but it's from the end of the regular season to the bowl game. that was a rigorous 3 weeks. one of the most challenging things I've been a part of. the players handled that well. what they accomplished on and off the field. GPA 3.19 highest in the history of program. everybody killed it on GPA. never been a part of a program that had a GPA like that. proud of their accomplishments on and off the field.
Sid: improvement at Off line.
PJ: (couldn't understand first part of answer....) provide consistency, depth, get guys experience. I've walked people through what to expect from year 1, year 2, year 3. this is how you rebuild a program. don't take shortcuts. sometimes you take it on the chin. we took it on the chin through the first 4 conference games. didn't matter who was in there. the guys kept moving forward. next man up. starting to become a team. we're getting there.
Mona: when do you decide about position changes?
PJ: before spring ball. 13 of 23 guys in the new class are starting early. Howden is part of that '19 class technically. good to get guys to start early. we'll look at the positions they play. look at where do we need more depth. FR coming in will help.
Max: grad transfer rule?
PJ: NCAA is moving in right direction. making more changes in what qualifies, grades they have to have. normal transfer has to sit out a year. grad transfer can play right away. usually only 1 year. you're able to fill a hole with a guy who's played a lot. maybe coming down from top program. the names go into a portal. everyone in ncaa gets the portal. you look at who comes in there. has to be a right fit - fit our culture, program.
Sid: starting next season with best WR group in country.
PJ: that's an opinion. Tyler Johnson was a very raw athlete when we got him. Coach Simon did great job. TJ is not the fastest guy. he's got to be good with technique. that's difficult to obtain. we've seen many record-setting performances. youngest team in america. excited about this group.
Mona: change sides of field. // players names on back of jersey
PJ: (on jersey) we are the state of MN. it's important to see that on game day. we switch it up. we're playing for each other. give players freedom in how they do that. we'll look at that. like the bonding thing - team type of focus. part of that is the name on the back of jersey at times. give it to players to see if they want to do that. // (switch sides) Wanted to do that this year. we will do that in future. talked to season-ticket holders about that. if we do it, it will probably only be for one of the last two games. we have the ability to do that. there is a real change in temperature from one side to the other. I didn't think it was, but I went over there and there is a real difference. for this year, at the times we were playing, I didn't think it gave us that big of an advantage. will do what we can to put the team in a position to be successful.
Sid: did the extra bowl practices help for next year?
PJ: helps the offense a ton. these were not easy practices. the defense had to install a whole new defense. now, we understand option football. will play an option team next year in GA Southern. they have knowledge of that now. they understand it - we can go to it. it was a very physical 13 days. good for our defense. we became a lot more disciplined.
Sid: congratulations on fantastic coaching job. Murray's certificate.
PJ: happy holiday, happy new year. RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers.
