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Gopher FB Coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio. Dave Mona back with Sid and Mike Max.
(short version of the Huddle due to early Twins start. Most of show Final Four related.)
Sid: lost a lot of defensive players. Have you seen guys who can replace them so far in spring practice?
PJ: Have to. Coughlin, Barber need to step up. Need to get help from Treadway. Teague Sam Renner. Mafe. excited about guys that fans might not know much about.
Sid: new players. impress you so far?
PJ: going to have to. 8 guys will join in June. actually more than 8. excited. 14 players started early. they've really grown in classroom. still have a long way to go. Spring Game next week.
Sid: how do you replace Huff brothers and Cashman on defense?
PJ: great battle at LB. Rush, Oliver, Sori-Marin, those are going to be the next guys. on the back end, good to get Winfield Back. Howden, Sapp, Swenson all having good springs. we'll add some more in June. taking it one day at a time.
Mona: what will fans see at spring game?
PJ: we will have a true game. Maroon vs Gold. really fun. important for fans to see true game. Lot of people are cancelling their Spring games. don't want to do that. want fans to get a chance to see future of Gopher football. Rossi will coach one team, Kirk the other team.
Sid: talk about two new young QB's.
PJ: Clark and Kramer. both learning. taking strides forward. Kirk does great job developing QB's. hard for young person to get here and run team right away. Had a Scrimmage Thursday. they held their own. got a lot of reps. they'll help depth of FB team.
Mona: what are their strengths?
PJ: Clark is tall. can move around pocket. has good feel for pocket. really good arm. intelligent. Kramer gives you more with his feet. Ran triple-option in HS, gives running threat. Both QB's able to pick up things very quickly. the offense hasn't been too big for them,
Sid: new OL?
PJ: on OL - only lost Greene and Weyler. Sam Schlueter played a lot. Andries, Olson, Dunlap, Faalele, (missed one name). That's your top six right there. fighting for spots. Dickson sat out last year. Guedet came in -he's had a great spring for true FR.
Mona: What about Seth Green's role.
PJ: Seth is very valuable. Gone from QB to TE to WR to Wildcat QB. he's developed into a good receiver. had minor foot injury, won't be in spring game. he'll be ready by fall. adds another dynamic in run game. OL improving. TE's getting better. keep defense off-balance.
Sid: any of the red-shirts impressing you?
PJ: Spann-Ford big, strong, 265 lbs, 6'7" - going to be a really good player. Mafe young, but very talented. provides depth. might try to get him and Carter on the field at the same time. want to have a better pass rush than last year. create more depth.
Mona: kicking game.
PJ: for PR, KR - Ibrahim, Rodney, Winfield - no designated roles, probably do it by committee. D. Douglas had success at PR. Winfield had success. that's how you lead nation in PR. 1st time ever did that.
Sid: did the bowl game practices help you get ready for this year?
PJ: you get 15 practices in Spring. you don't have to use all 15. we chose to use one day as a walk-through. walked through 300 plays at a fast tempo. try to give the team what they need. not just do something because everyone else is doing it. give team what they need. you can change that, because you've had the bowl practices in the bank. coaching staff has been creative. work smarter, not just harder. nobody will put more expectations on the team than us. like growth of FB team.
Sid: Winfield?
PJ: he's got to play football. staff has done great job getting him the reps he needs. he's really only played a few games in last 2 years. 4 games in last 2-3 years. got to play the game. needs to get out and do it.
Sid: lot of good ticket deals. going to have a good team, good schedule. get tickets now, or won't be available. Murray's.
PJ: thank everyone who showed up at Goldy's Run. RTB, Ski-U-Mah. Go Gophers.
(short version of the Huddle due to early Twins start. Most of show Final Four related.)
Sid: lost a lot of defensive players. Have you seen guys who can replace them so far in spring practice?
PJ: Have to. Coughlin, Barber need to step up. Need to get help from Treadway. Teague Sam Renner. Mafe. excited about guys that fans might not know much about.
Sid: new players. impress you so far?
PJ: going to have to. 8 guys will join in June. actually more than 8. excited. 14 players started early. they've really grown in classroom. still have a long way to go. Spring Game next week.
Sid: how do you replace Huff brothers and Cashman on defense?
PJ: great battle at LB. Rush, Oliver, Sori-Marin, those are going to be the next guys. on the back end, good to get Winfield Back. Howden, Sapp, Swenson all having good springs. we'll add some more in June. taking it one day at a time.
Mona: what will fans see at spring game?
PJ: we will have a true game. Maroon vs Gold. really fun. important for fans to see true game. Lot of people are cancelling their Spring games. don't want to do that. want fans to get a chance to see future of Gopher football. Rossi will coach one team, Kirk the other team.
Sid: talk about two new young QB's.
PJ: Clark and Kramer. both learning. taking strides forward. Kirk does great job developing QB's. hard for young person to get here and run team right away. Had a Scrimmage Thursday. they held their own. got a lot of reps. they'll help depth of FB team.
Mona: what are their strengths?
PJ: Clark is tall. can move around pocket. has good feel for pocket. really good arm. intelligent. Kramer gives you more with his feet. Ran triple-option in HS, gives running threat. Both QB's able to pick up things very quickly. the offense hasn't been too big for them,
Sid: new OL?
PJ: on OL - only lost Greene and Weyler. Sam Schlueter played a lot. Andries, Olson, Dunlap, Faalele, (missed one name). That's your top six right there. fighting for spots. Dickson sat out last year. Guedet came in -he's had a great spring for true FR.
Mona: What about Seth Green's role.
PJ: Seth is very valuable. Gone from QB to TE to WR to Wildcat QB. he's developed into a good receiver. had minor foot injury, won't be in spring game. he'll be ready by fall. adds another dynamic in run game. OL improving. TE's getting better. keep defense off-balance.
Sid: any of the red-shirts impressing you?
PJ: Spann-Ford big, strong, 265 lbs, 6'7" - going to be a really good player. Mafe young, but very talented. provides depth. might try to get him and Carter on the field at the same time. want to have a better pass rush than last year. create more depth.
Mona: kicking game.
PJ: for PR, KR - Ibrahim, Rodney, Winfield - no designated roles, probably do it by committee. D. Douglas had success at PR. Winfield had success. that's how you lead nation in PR. 1st time ever did that.
Sid: did the bowl game practices help you get ready for this year?
PJ: you get 15 practices in Spring. you don't have to use all 15. we chose to use one day as a walk-through. walked through 300 plays at a fast tempo. try to give the team what they need. not just do something because everyone else is doing it. give team what they need. you can change that, because you've had the bowl practices in the bank. coaching staff has been creative. work smarter, not just harder. nobody will put more expectations on the team than us. like growth of FB team.
Sid: Winfield?
PJ: he's got to play football. staff has done great job getting him the reps he needs. he's really only played a few games in last 2 years. 4 games in last 2-3 years. got to play the game. needs to get out and do it.
Sid: lot of good ticket deals. going to have a good team, good schedule. get tickets now, or won't be available. Murray's.
PJ: thank everyone who showed up at Goldy's Run. RTB, Ski-U-Mah. Go Gophers.
