WINFIELD PLAYS THE RIGHT WAY
Sept. 6, 2017
Imagine how elite it would look like if the University of Minnesota Gophers had 22 players flying around the way Antoine Winfield Jr. does. That is the direction head coach P.J. Fleck wants to take the team.
“When you talk about how you play, that is how I want everyone on this football team to play. All 22 guys that are on that field need to play how Antoine Winfield plays,” Fleck said during his weekly press conference. “So if that's not how they can play, eventually they're not going to be able to play here. He's a great example, as you start to see how we recruit and how we develop this program, that's what they're all going to look like, all 22, and they have to, to get to where we want to go.”
Winfield led the way as the Gophers defense dominated against Buffalo. He made seven tackles, broke up two passes, notched one sack and blocked a 33-yard field goal in the victory.
Halfway through the second quarter Winfield disrupted any Buffalo momentum. With the Bulls on the Minnesota 13-yard line Winfield broke into the backfield and recorded a sack to create third and long. Two players later he jumped up and blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt to keep the game 14-7 in favor of the Gophers.
Late in the third quarter with the game still at 14-7, Buffalo attempted a long flea flicker but Winfield tracked down the receiver and knocked it out of his hands for a touchdown saving play.
If the first game is any indication than Winfield looks poised to take a step up from a big freshman season in 2016. Last year he emerged as a star making 52 tackles in 12 games played. He also broke up three passes, recovered one fumble and took an interception 82 yards to the house (fifth longest interception return in program history).
“I don’t want to say he’s like his old man, because I don’t know his old man, but I remember him playing,’’ Fleck said. “Gosh, is he special. He’s all over the field, and we’re going to have to do more things with him. You’ll probably see him at corner, see him at safety, see him at that nickelback position. He’s going to be everywhere.’’
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090617aaf.html
Sept. 6, 2017
Imagine how elite it would look like if the University of Minnesota Gophers had 22 players flying around the way Antoine Winfield Jr. does. That is the direction head coach P.J. Fleck wants to take the team.
“When you talk about how you play, that is how I want everyone on this football team to play. All 22 guys that are on that field need to play how Antoine Winfield plays,” Fleck said during his weekly press conference. “So if that's not how they can play, eventually they're not going to be able to play here. He's a great example, as you start to see how we recruit and how we develop this program, that's what they're all going to look like, all 22, and they have to, to get to where we want to go.”
Winfield led the way as the Gophers defense dominated against Buffalo. He made seven tackles, broke up two passes, notched one sack and blocked a 33-yard field goal in the victory.
Halfway through the second quarter Winfield disrupted any Buffalo momentum. With the Bulls on the Minnesota 13-yard line Winfield broke into the backfield and recorded a sack to create third and long. Two players later he jumped up and blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt to keep the game 14-7 in favor of the Gophers.
Late in the third quarter with the game still at 14-7, Buffalo attempted a long flea flicker but Winfield tracked down the receiver and knocked it out of his hands for a touchdown saving play.
If the first game is any indication than Winfield looks poised to take a step up from a big freshman season in 2016. Last year he emerged as a star making 52 tackles in 12 games played. He also broke up three passes, recovered one fumble and took an interception 82 yards to the house (fifth longest interception return in program history).
“I don’t want to say he’s like his old man, because I don’t know his old man, but I remember him playing,’’ Fleck said. “Gosh, is he special. He’s all over the field, and we’re going to have to do more things with him. You’ll probably see him at corner, see him at safety, see him at that nickelback position. He’s going to be everywhere.’’
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090617aaf.html
