PJ Fleck Interview new - Sunday 8-25-19

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Gopher Football coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio. They were doing the show from the State Fair, but Fleck was unable to appear in person, so he was interviewed over the phone. BTW, Fleck was on at 10:05am for some reason. The Huddle went from 9:00am to Noon on Sunday.

Sid: what do you know about SDSU?
PJ: really good team. some people have picked them to win the National title. They have an all-american WR, an All-American LB. very well coached, lot of consistency in the program. they have a very good QB who is getting his 1st start. great specialists. really good team. we've got to worry about us.

Sid: Las Vegas only has you as 12.5 point favorites
PJ: (laughs) that's for you to talk about

Sid: talk about your team. are you ready to play?
PJ: we're working hard. still have a lot of work to do. still preparing. proud of our players. they're making progress, coming together. every season presents its own challenges. you really never know what kind of team you have until you play that 1st game.

Max: Thursday night - do you like it?
PJ: I like it. We have 2 bye weeks this year. Thursday night lets fans get to the game, kicks off a long weekend. it's like an extra bye week with the long weekend. Good to have that much time, because we're going out west the following week. It depends on what day it falls. Some years we can recruit over the weekend, but not this year. We use the extra time for better rest and preparation.

Mona: Who will be the backup QB? Status of Injured players?
PJ: backup QB - both guys have to be ready. Cole has done great job, comes from a winning tradition. our system is very different from their system. it's like he's had to learn to play all over again. Give him credit for developing. Jacob Clark - he has to be ready. both have to be able to help. Seth with the Wildcat stuff. need to get those guys more prepared. look forward to getting out there. Injured players - they're not injured any more. Winfield, Smith have been practicing. Shannon is still coming back. his injury was different. he's getting closer and closer.

Sid: will you play more than 1 QB Thursday night?
PJ: I cannot answer that question. we will be prepared for every situation.

Max: how is 1st game different than other games? change preparation when you don't know what other team is going to do?
PJ: got to focus on yourselves. play your style of football. you really don't know what they're going to put at you. no film to back it up have film from prior years, but that might not be much help. got to play sound - have to be able to adjust and adapt.

Mona: If you win the coin toss, what will you do?
PJ: (laughing) I can't tell you that.

Mona: you know, don't you?
PJ: Of course I know. (laughs)

Max: have you chosen your captains?
PJ: we just voted on our leadership council. we're developing leaders. we had to develop leaders. the leadership council is smaller this year - the players voted on it we have 28 players in the council. they are true leaders. we also have a board of directors - smaller groups with seniors and upperclassmen. the captains won't be picked until Wednesday.

Sid: Do you hope to play a lot of players on Thursday?
PJ: we'll do whatever it takes to win the game. SDSU is a really good team. In 2016 they put up 41 points against TCU. they're a dangerous team. we don't look at it as "FCS." they're another team on our schedule - we have to find a way to win.

Mona: who decides the Uniform combinations?
PJ: that involves the equipment staff, myself, the leadership council. the players are involved, I'm involved.

Max: I know this is game week. Thank you for adjusting your schedule.
PJ: enjoy those fried olives.

(no murray's. No RTB, Ski-U-Mah. abrupt end to interview. Sid was AWOL...)
 


He really doesn't want to name the QB2 yet does he? I guess he can rotate them each and play them each in 4 games and not lose their redshirt status. ZA could then conceivable be back towards the end of the season. All of that would be for naught though if Morgan were to go down.
 

Thanks SON!

Thanks SON!! While I realize Sid is close to 100 years of age, am I the only one who thinks the radio station could find someone else to do these interviews? Maybe have Nadine do it. She would be 1000 times better and ask intelligent questions.
 

He really doesn't want to name the QB2 yet does he? I guess he can rotate them each and play them each in 4 games and not lose their redshirt status. ZA could then conceivable be back towards the end of the season. All of that would be for naught though if Morgan were to go down.

I think if first play, Tanner goes down, it would be Seth Green at QB.
That's what I believe right now, but it would be a very unpopular answer at this point so Fleck is better off not answering it until one of the two freshman really grab it.
 


Well in recent history we had ZA, someone that barely played in high school, grab the reins as a true freshman but we think one of two very experienced options could not at least fill in this year if called on?
 
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I think if first play, Tanner goes down, it would be Seth Green at QB.
That's what I believe right now, but it would be a very unpopular answer at this point so Fleck is better off not answering it until one of the two freshman really grab it.

SG hasn't been practicing as qb this would highly be unlikely. My bet is Kramer is in the lead for backup
 

41 points against TCU in 2016 got my attention. Good that PJ brings that stuff up.


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SG hasn't been practicing as qb this would highly be unlikely. My bet is Kramer is in the lead for backup

I agree. It would be Cole or Clark tho. Not Seth.


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By some accounts of folks who were at the practices, Cole Kramer seems to be catching on quicker than Jacob Clark. Bud Grant spoke glowingly of Cole Kramer as a HS QB. It will be one of these guys who will be No. 2.
 

41 points against TCU in 2016 got my attention. Good that PJ brings that stuff up.


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South Dakota state has been a top 5 program in FCS over the past 5 years IMO
This means they’re probably as good or better than the bottom third of the sun belt, mac, and conference USA

I think we are fortunate to catch them this year instead of last year. It’ll take a few games for new quarterback to get settled in.
 

Thanks, shorty. Nice job again. Our D is stout. Both freshman QBs were in spring practice. They are fine if needed, doesn't matter who. They can win through the year just handing off the ball with plays shuttled in if needed. It won't be needed.
 




41 points against TCU in 2016 got my attention. Good that PJ brings that stuff up.


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They also gave up 59 in the same game. SDSU is 1-8 vs FBS in the last 10 years with the lone win coming vs an 0-12 Kansas team in 2015 and that was a 41-38 dogfight. Bottom line is this “should be” a comfortable win if the team has the improvement and talent we think it has. It may not be close if their new QB struggles in his first start on the road bs a Big Ten defense.



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He really doesn't want to name the QB2 yet does he? I guess he can rotate them each and play them each in 4 games and not lose their redshirt status. ZA could then conceivable be back towards the end of the season. All of that would be for naught though if Morgan were to go down.

We’d see Pickerign before “rotating the Freshmen”. Clark sounds like he’s a full year away.

Green will play the same role as 2018, likely no matter what.
 

I think if first play, Tanner goes down, it would be Seth Green at QB.
That's what I believe right now, but it would be a very unpopular answer at this point so Fleck is better off not answering it until one of the two freshman really grab it.

I agree that is a definite possibility due to a Tanner injury. I believe PJ said earlier Green did take practice QB reps. But, one of the two FR will get QB reps if Tanner is healthy should we build a decent lead in these first three games.

PJ knows what to expect from Seth. He has no idea how either FR will react in a game...despite saying there is no such thing as a gamer...:rolleyes:
 

We’d see Pickerign before “rotating the Freshmen”. Clark sounds like he’s a full year away.

Green will play the same role as 2018, likely no matter what.

If we have to roll with Green then let's do it. If Green is just as good of a passer as the freshmen then let him play QB.
 

Seth Green has practiced a bit at QB, but it's more to keep from using up a game appearance for a freshman, should Morgan have to go off for a play or two. Things like loss of his helmet or an injury timeout.
 

FWIW, if you go back and read Fleck's answer about the backup QB, he talked mostly about Kramer. and then he added "Clark will also need to be ready."

based on that, it sure sounds like Kramer would be the #2.
 

FWIW, if you go back and read Fleck's answer about the backup QB, he talked mostly about Kramer. and then he added "Clark will also need to be ready."

based on that, it sure sounds like Kramer would be the #2.

That’s exactly how he talked about them on KFAN the other day, only it was even more pronounced.


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That’s exactly how he talked about them on KFAN the other day, only it was even more pronounced.




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All somewhat surprising, right? Many thought Clark was the clear prize QB recruit. He was even mentioned as possibly jumping over ZA and Tanner to start at some point. And all of that could still happen but if Kramer is #2 I’d say that was unexpected on signing day. (I know ZA got hurt �� but still.
No dog in this fight...just rooting for Gopher Wins!
 
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All somewhat surprising, right? Many thought Clark was the clear prize QB recruit. He was even mentioned as possibly jumping over ZA and Tanner to start at some point. And all of that could still happen but if Kramer is #2 I’d say that was unexpected on signing day. (I know ZA got hurt �� but still.
No dog in this fight...just rooting for Gopher Wins!

Could be that Clark just needs a redshirt year, but in every practice video I’ve watched, the ball comes out of Morgan’s hand with a lot more zip and a lot more accuracy than the tall guy who was assumed to have the stronger arm. I’m talking about the short and intermediate routes. I have no idea how they compare on a 50 yard bomb. Clark needs some work on his mechanics. I haven’t seen as much of Kramer.


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Could be that Clark just needs a redshirt year, but in every practice video I’ve watched, the ball comes out of Morgan’s hand with a lot more zip and a lot more accuracy than the tall guy who was assumed to have the stronger arm. I’m talking about the short and intermediate routes. <b>I have no idea how they compare on a 50 yard bomb. </b>Clark needs some work on his mechanics. I haven’t seen as much of Kramer.


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I think we have all agreed that Bleed should be throwing those bombs from now on.


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All somewhat surprising, right? Many thought Clark was the clear prize QB recruit. He was even mentioned as possibly jumping over ZA and Tanner to start at some point. And all of that could still happen but if Kramer is #2 I’d say that was unexpected on signing day. (I know ZA got hurt �� but still.
No dog in this fight...just rooting for Gopher Wins!

It could also be a style of play thing too. I would expect that Kramer is our most mobile QB (other than Green) and if TM goes down, we are going to be really run heavy. Kramer is probably a better fit for some of the read option stuff.

I don't know. I don't have a dog in the fight either.

I've seen Kramer play a few times and I'm not surprised he jumped anyone on the depth chart. He was a really good HS QB.
 

My guess is that if we lost Tanner as well, maybe Fleck goes to Kramer and we just go safe and run heavy like we did in year 0/1. Run the same 2 plays all game and preserve the redshirt on Clark.

Then next year it's ZA, TM, and JC with Kramer grabbing a redshirt.

Also probably would depend on timing of injury and opponents. If we are 8-0, maybe JC is better prepared to take over a team that needs to be able to complete longer passes and so at that point he gets the job, where if it's early, it's Kramer.
 

South Dakota state has been a top 5 program in FCS over the past 5 years IMO
This means they’re probably as good or better than the bottom third of the sun belt, mac, and conference USA

I think we are fortunate to catch them this year instead of last year. It’ll take a few games for new quarterback to get settled in.

Don’t take these guys lightly. This is an outstanding football program. We win or ( God forbid) lose as a result of our play on the line of scrimmage. What I’m seeing and hearing is this is might be the best we’ve had in recent memory. I think our O line will be outstanding. Some poor kid in SD is trying to figure out what to do with Daniel this week.
 

I am a huge fan of the kids from Eden Prairie. Yes there are a ton of good and much better HS programs across the country but we know where this coaching tree comes from: Mr. Bud Grant.

Bud Grant---> Mike Grant---> Blake Cashman, Carter Coughlin, Cole Kramer and a few PWO's here now as well all the other kids who chose to go elsewhere over the years. They know how to win football games at Eden Prairie, that is for certain.

I saw 2 open practices this fall and I trust Cole Kramer as the #2. I am sure other posters saw him more in HS but he seems like a real football player with an endorsement from Bud Grant. Say no more.
 




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