Coach Kill was in a coaches meeting focusing on special teams when the phone connection was made.
Coach Kill's comments and responses to Dave Mona and Sid Hartman questions during today's Sports Huddle:
Talked briefly about the crowd at yesterday's scrimmage. According to Sid and Dave there were more people at yesterday's practice than at the spring game.
1) Yesterday's scrimmage: Big improvement from Tuesday's scrimmage.
2) David Cobb: Has done a good job as a freshman. He has good size and speed . . . I've been on him but he continues to show improvement. Kill went on to say he was impressed with Lamonte Edwards: "Both (Cobb and Edwards) had a nice scrimmage." "We know what Bennett can do." (His comment about Bennett was positive. Wanted to see what the freshman and redshirt freshman can do.)
3) Foster Bush: Freshman OL from Wisconsin. We threw a lot at him . . . struggled at times, but he also did some good things, and he's improving (not making the same mistakes again and again).
4) Sid called the freshmen class a good recruiting squad: Coach Kill said they'll have to do more than we'd like because of the lack of depth. Some freshmen will have to help on the special teams.
5) Shortell: Comes from a good family, his father played in college, and he played in a good high school program. "He's gotten better each day." "He doesn't feel sorry for himself (when coach Kill gets on him or when he makes a mistake)."
6) Thieren Cockran: "TC is 220 and a great recruit." Tremendous future . . . he plays hard. He's light now but eventually should play around 255. (Sounds as though he won't be redshirting.)
7) Tommy Olson: He comes from a great family, has football smarts and plays with passion. "He'll have to help us."
8) Defensive line: Coach Jeff Phelps, defensive line coach, has done a great job, especially given the youth on the team (freshmen and redshirted freshmen). Kill then cited Ben Perry, D.L. Wilhite, Kendall Gregory-McGhee (went to North Carolina to be fitted with a special shoe and is now on the field), Michael Amaefula, Matt Garin (needs to get healthy), Cameron Botticelli, and Ra'Shede Hageman. They're getting better. They need to step it up . . . a lot of work to do. Extremely young.
9) Linebackers: Need 8 or 9 players for different situations. Players referenced - Mike Rallis, Gary Tinsley, Keanon Cooper, Brendan Beal, Aaron Hill, Ryan Grant, Spencer Reeves, Quinn Bauducco (speaking rapidly and I missed a name or two).
10) Defensive backs: Kim Royston is the leader. Stoudermire is getting better and better (still learning the position), Christyn Lewis has been a pleasant surprise. He cited Shady Salamon for his play yesterday and then mentioned James Manuel and Chase Haviland and freshmen Derrick Wells, Cedric Thompson, and Grayson Levine. Michael Carter played tired yesterday.
11) Kicking game: Players are learning how important the kicking game is . . . presently they don't have a kicking game mentality. Punted the ball well yesterday; however, kicking in the overtime yesterday was not good.
A lot of names given (rapid fire) and I didn't get the name of a linebacker that they mentioned for a sentence or two. Name was mentioned once and I, regrettably, didn't get it.
Go Gophers!!
Coach Kill's comments and responses to Dave Mona and Sid Hartman questions during today's Sports Huddle:
Talked briefly about the crowd at yesterday's scrimmage. According to Sid and Dave there were more people at yesterday's practice than at the spring game.
1) Yesterday's scrimmage: Big improvement from Tuesday's scrimmage.
2) David Cobb: Has done a good job as a freshman. He has good size and speed . . . I've been on him but he continues to show improvement. Kill went on to say he was impressed with Lamonte Edwards: "Both (Cobb and Edwards) had a nice scrimmage." "We know what Bennett can do." (His comment about Bennett was positive. Wanted to see what the freshman and redshirt freshman can do.)
3) Foster Bush: Freshman OL from Wisconsin. We threw a lot at him . . . struggled at times, but he also did some good things, and he's improving (not making the same mistakes again and again).
4) Sid called the freshmen class a good recruiting squad: Coach Kill said they'll have to do more than we'd like because of the lack of depth. Some freshmen will have to help on the special teams.
5) Shortell: Comes from a good family, his father played in college, and he played in a good high school program. "He's gotten better each day." "He doesn't feel sorry for himself (when coach Kill gets on him or when he makes a mistake)."
6) Thieren Cockran: "TC is 220 and a great recruit." Tremendous future . . . he plays hard. He's light now but eventually should play around 255. (Sounds as though he won't be redshirting.)
7) Tommy Olson: He comes from a great family, has football smarts and plays with passion. "He'll have to help us."
8) Defensive line: Coach Jeff Phelps, defensive line coach, has done a great job, especially given the youth on the team (freshmen and redshirted freshmen). Kill then cited Ben Perry, D.L. Wilhite, Kendall Gregory-McGhee (went to North Carolina to be fitted with a special shoe and is now on the field), Michael Amaefula, Matt Garin (needs to get healthy), Cameron Botticelli, and Ra'Shede Hageman. They're getting better. They need to step it up . . . a lot of work to do. Extremely young.
9) Linebackers: Need 8 or 9 players for different situations. Players referenced - Mike Rallis, Gary Tinsley, Keanon Cooper, Brendan Beal, Aaron Hill, Ryan Grant, Spencer Reeves, Quinn Bauducco (speaking rapidly and I missed a name or two).
10) Defensive backs: Kim Royston is the leader. Stoudermire is getting better and better (still learning the position), Christyn Lewis has been a pleasant surprise. He cited Shady Salamon for his play yesterday and then mentioned James Manuel and Chase Haviland and freshmen Derrick Wells, Cedric Thompson, and Grayson Levine. Michael Carter played tired yesterday.
11) Kicking game: Players are learning how important the kicking game is . . . presently they don't have a kicking game mentality. Punted the ball well yesterday; however, kicking in the overtime yesterday was not good.
A lot of names given (rapid fire) and I didn't get the name of a linebacker that they mentioned for a sentence or two. Name was mentioned once and I, regrettably, didn't get it.
Go Gophers!!
