PJ was very honest in his opening remarks about the Michigan game, calling it a “whooping”. Mentioned tackling again as a big issue last game, and that is how a championship football team looks (referring to Michigan).
The lack of Minnesota players being able to catch up to Michigan players showed an issue that the coaches must fix. “We have to fix that in development, strength & conditioning, speed improvement, and recruiting.”
The effort was something that Fleck was pleased with, however tackling again was the main issue.
Minnesota’s offense needs to be more consistent with getting first downs, and part of that is the coaches being creative on offense. Additionally, the wide receivers got beat up by press man coverage and were unable to create space down the field.
Fleck on playing at The Big House: “This is what we’re going to do here. Everyone can say ‘oh here we go again’. I’ve been doubted my entire life. What you saw was 111,000 people on a Saturday night show up for a 7-2 team taking on a 4-4 team show up an hour and a half later due to the delay, at 111,000 still show up. That’s what we’re going to create here. I can’t promise you a timeframe, but we will get there.”
On Sunday, the team had a real meeting about why they lost, and being real about where the team is, and the response going forward the next three games. The overall mood was positive.
Coach continues to say he will not sacrifice winning for doing the right thing. They will continue to do the right thing going forward in terms of disciplining players.
The relationship between Fleck and athletic director Mark Coyle is very good. PJ said: “The best man in college football because he cares about the student athletes. Remember what happened in January and why I’m here. I came here and am bringing my culture. I’ll have to win at some point down the road, but don’t sacrifice what you want down the road for what you want right now. Mark Coyle wants that more than anybody. We have to have cultural sustainability.”
Looking forward to the game against Nebraska: Both teams are hungry for a win, and Nebraska has a few studs on offense at receiver and tight end. PJ pays attention to the forecast closely throughout the week, so that if it supposed to rain on gameday, they will practice outside in the rain or dunk the balls in water to prepare for rain.
Out of a class of 25 recruits, Fleck said maybe only two or three a year will be junior college transfers. He prefers to be able to develop high school kids in their culture and system for four to five years, and that is how they get better. He mentioned Nate Umlor and Ken Handy-Holly as two players to are getting valuable reps as true freshman, which will pay off down the road.
Mike Grimm asked about recruiting quarterbacks. Coach does wish to recruit at least one per class, and commented “stay tuned.”
Nebraska mixes it up between a 3-4 and 4-3 defense, where their linebackers are their strength.
The team opens each practice with a tackling circuit and ‘thud & press’, however it is about transferring over those skills to the football team. “It’s about breaking habits and making them become instincts.”
As the last few games are around the corner, the coaches are looking for consistent growth in all areas of their life. Whether that be in the classroom, strength numbers, skills, etc. “As a player, their job is to keep their job. As a coach, my job is to out-recruit the current players. That creates competition to help players keep getting better.”
Offensive line will look different than in previous games. That is all PJ had to say regarding that. In regard to Shannon Brooks, Fleck commented he’ll never play a kid before he is healthy, and that Shannon is in protocol.
A bowl game is a possibility at this point if the team wins one or two more games. The team must decide how they want to send out the senior class. "Everybody on the team must feel that way. If only a certain percent feels that way, then you can't do it. You need to have 100% buy-in."
The lack of Minnesota players being able to catch up to Michigan players showed an issue that the coaches must fix. “We have to fix that in development, strength & conditioning, speed improvement, and recruiting.”
The effort was something that Fleck was pleased with, however tackling again was the main issue.
Minnesota’s offense needs to be more consistent with getting first downs, and part of that is the coaches being creative on offense. Additionally, the wide receivers got beat up by press man coverage and were unable to create space down the field.
Fleck on playing at The Big House: “This is what we’re going to do here. Everyone can say ‘oh here we go again’. I’ve been doubted my entire life. What you saw was 111,000 people on a Saturday night show up for a 7-2 team taking on a 4-4 team show up an hour and a half later due to the delay, at 111,000 still show up. That’s what we’re going to create here. I can’t promise you a timeframe, but we will get there.”
On Sunday, the team had a real meeting about why they lost, and being real about where the team is, and the response going forward the next three games. The overall mood was positive.
Coach continues to say he will not sacrifice winning for doing the right thing. They will continue to do the right thing going forward in terms of disciplining players.
The relationship between Fleck and athletic director Mark Coyle is very good. PJ said: “The best man in college football because he cares about the student athletes. Remember what happened in January and why I’m here. I came here and am bringing my culture. I’ll have to win at some point down the road, but don’t sacrifice what you want down the road for what you want right now. Mark Coyle wants that more than anybody. We have to have cultural sustainability.”
Looking forward to the game against Nebraska: Both teams are hungry for a win, and Nebraska has a few studs on offense at receiver and tight end. PJ pays attention to the forecast closely throughout the week, so that if it supposed to rain on gameday, they will practice outside in the rain or dunk the balls in water to prepare for rain.
Out of a class of 25 recruits, Fleck said maybe only two or three a year will be junior college transfers. He prefers to be able to develop high school kids in their culture and system for four to five years, and that is how they get better. He mentioned Nate Umlor and Ken Handy-Holly as two players to are getting valuable reps as true freshman, which will pay off down the road.
Mike Grimm asked about recruiting quarterbacks. Coach does wish to recruit at least one per class, and commented “stay tuned.”
Nebraska mixes it up between a 3-4 and 4-3 defense, where their linebackers are their strength.
The team opens each practice with a tackling circuit and ‘thud & press’, however it is about transferring over those skills to the football team. “It’s about breaking habits and making them become instincts.”
As the last few games are around the corner, the coaches are looking for consistent growth in all areas of their life. Whether that be in the classroom, strength numbers, skills, etc. “As a player, their job is to keep their job. As a coach, my job is to out-recruit the current players. That creates competition to help players keep getting better.”
Offensive line will look different than in previous games. That is all PJ had to say regarding that. In regard to Shannon Brooks, Fleck commented he’ll never play a kid before he is healthy, and that Shannon is in protocol.
A bowl game is a possibility at this point if the team wins one or two more games. The team must decide how they want to send out the senior class. "Everybody on the team must feel that way. If only a certain percent feels that way, then you can't do it. You need to have 100% buy-in."
