Fleck’s opening: “We’re such a young football team, to overcome the things they’ve overcome is fun to watch. We’ve got a long way to go. You’re seeing what’s going to happen in the future, but we have to take care of what is in front of us. I’m proud of how they’ve come together so quickly.”
Although the weather was extremely hot, the team didn’t have any players cramp throughout the game. At the end, the game balls went to Tony Dungy and the team trainer. The team had the ball inside the 35 four times and came away with three points. The execution in the opposing territory has to be better.
Coach thought the team didn’t play very well and didn’t tackle as they normally do. They made a lot of mistakes, but overall PJ was proud of the team’s resolve.
Defensively, a big turnaround has been the players holding themselves accountable when last year that was not the case. This week’s game against Maryland will be a bit more option-based that tests whether or not the defense has their eyes in the right place.
On Thomas Barber, “He’s an impressive young man. He’s very instinctual. For everything he lacks, he makes up with how hard he plays and how smart he is. Robb Smith has done an incredible job of molding this defense around the players we have.”
Nick Connelly, a former offensive tackle for the Gophers who stopped playing last year due to concussions, was recently diagnosed with cancer. PJ asks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers as Nick continues to battle. “We want him to know all of his teammates are here for him.”
The difference this year with Tyler Johnson and last year is that this year the team feels he has extra help around him that can take the pressure off of him. Last year teams could key on Tyler as there wasn’t much any other threats around him. This year, that’s not the case.
Bryce Williams is a freshman from Sarasota, FL. He came in this year expecting to be the 4th running back, and now with injures to Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks he is thrust into a starting role. Coach did also mention that Mo Ibrahim will be back this week.
Seth Green had a touchdown pass last week. “We continue to add a wrinkle or two for him, we have to keep it light. He’s been incredibly selfless. We’re going to need him going forward.”
Most of the drop issues with Tyler Johnson is attributed to him wanting to start running before he catches the ball, says Fleck. As he gets older, Coach believes that that will happen less and less.
Zack Annexstad rolled his ankle a bit but only missed a couple plays. While he did have to go see the training staff, Zack was ready to go a minute later to get back in the game. He practiced fully today.
“We want to control the game. We want to run the ball, do play action, mix it up with drop backs and roll outs. We want to play stingy defense and control the game with it in our hands. I come from the (Jim) Tressel and (Greg) Schiano tree. I’m not a hurry-up, throw-it-all-over-the-field type of guy.”
Coach gave credit to punter Jacob Herbers for pinning Miami inside their own ten multiple times and flipping field position.
Mark Rosen asked how Fleck handles kickers and that pressure that comes with it. First thing PJ explained was that he’s a college coach where it is not a business. He’s in the business of continuing to educate and grow. In the NFL, it is a straight business. When that is your job, and you miss, then someone else will be brought in to do that job. PJ says that Emmit Carpenter has to make his last field goal before he is able to leave as Coach doesn’t want him to leave the field thinking about his last miss.
When recruiting kickers, Fleck says when meeting with the kids he has to feel if he is a confident person who will be able to handle the stage and everything that comes through with being a kicker. At the end of the day, the coaches are guessing completely if he thinks a player will be good or not.
Gopher’s next opponent Maryland was upset last week by Temple 35-14. Maryland interim head coach Matt Canada was actually PJ Fleck’s offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois. Fleck compared their offense to option football, not necessarily triple option, but like that where every player has a responsibility and has to do their specific job.
This is the first true road game for the team this season. Coach joked that while most players have been on a plane in their lives, for a lot of them this is maybe only the second or third time they’ve been on an airplane before.
"After the game, they get 24 hours. Good or bad. 24 hours and it's done. We want to see their response, win or lose, because that's how real life is. That's what our culture demands."
Although the weather was extremely hot, the team didn’t have any players cramp throughout the game. At the end, the game balls went to Tony Dungy and the team trainer. The team had the ball inside the 35 four times and came away with three points. The execution in the opposing territory has to be better.
Coach thought the team didn’t play very well and didn’t tackle as they normally do. They made a lot of mistakes, but overall PJ was proud of the team’s resolve.
Defensively, a big turnaround has been the players holding themselves accountable when last year that was not the case. This week’s game against Maryland will be a bit more option-based that tests whether or not the defense has their eyes in the right place.
On Thomas Barber, “He’s an impressive young man. He’s very instinctual. For everything he lacks, he makes up with how hard he plays and how smart he is. Robb Smith has done an incredible job of molding this defense around the players we have.”
Nick Connelly, a former offensive tackle for the Gophers who stopped playing last year due to concussions, was recently diagnosed with cancer. PJ asks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers as Nick continues to battle. “We want him to know all of his teammates are here for him.”
The difference this year with Tyler Johnson and last year is that this year the team feels he has extra help around him that can take the pressure off of him. Last year teams could key on Tyler as there wasn’t much any other threats around him. This year, that’s not the case.
Bryce Williams is a freshman from Sarasota, FL. He came in this year expecting to be the 4th running back, and now with injures to Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks he is thrust into a starting role. Coach did also mention that Mo Ibrahim will be back this week.
Seth Green had a touchdown pass last week. “We continue to add a wrinkle or two for him, we have to keep it light. He’s been incredibly selfless. We’re going to need him going forward.”
Most of the drop issues with Tyler Johnson is attributed to him wanting to start running before he catches the ball, says Fleck. As he gets older, Coach believes that that will happen less and less.
Zack Annexstad rolled his ankle a bit but only missed a couple plays. While he did have to go see the training staff, Zack was ready to go a minute later to get back in the game. He practiced fully today.
“We want to control the game. We want to run the ball, do play action, mix it up with drop backs and roll outs. We want to play stingy defense and control the game with it in our hands. I come from the (Jim) Tressel and (Greg) Schiano tree. I’m not a hurry-up, throw-it-all-over-the-field type of guy.”
Coach gave credit to punter Jacob Herbers for pinning Miami inside their own ten multiple times and flipping field position.
Mark Rosen asked how Fleck handles kickers and that pressure that comes with it. First thing PJ explained was that he’s a college coach where it is not a business. He’s in the business of continuing to educate and grow. In the NFL, it is a straight business. When that is your job, and you miss, then someone else will be brought in to do that job. PJ says that Emmit Carpenter has to make his last field goal before he is able to leave as Coach doesn’t want him to leave the field thinking about his last miss.
When recruiting kickers, Fleck says when meeting with the kids he has to feel if he is a confident person who will be able to handle the stage and everything that comes through with being a kicker. At the end of the day, the coaches are guessing completely if he thinks a player will be good or not.
Gopher’s next opponent Maryland was upset last week by Temple 35-14. Maryland interim head coach Matt Canada was actually PJ Fleck’s offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois. Fleck compared their offense to option football, not necessarily triple option, but like that where every player has a responsibility and has to do their specific job.
This is the first true road game for the team this season. Coach joked that while most players have been on a plane in their lives, for a lot of them this is maybe only the second or third time they’ve been on an airplane before.
"After the game, they get 24 hours. Good or bad. 24 hours and it's done. We want to see their response, win or lose, because that's how real life is. That's what our culture demands."
