Defensive Backs Coach Mo Linguist filled in for P.J. Fleck on the show with Justin Gaard from KFAN this week.
On Michigan game:
Tough opponent on the road. We didn't get the result we wanted but the effort was there. The exciting part was that our kids bounced back, they were bright eyed and ready to go on Monday morning. There is a lot of belief with these kids, they know the process that is taking place here every single day. We're going to get judged on the results and we didn't get the result that we wanted but we are going to get right back to work and focus on this week's opponent and get ourselves ready to be our best.
On adversity in the secondary with injuries, suspensions and lots of moving parts from week to week:
It's a credit to the kids in the room. They have taken it upon themselves to get ready to go and do what they need to do to get ready for each game. We have played 11 different guys this year, some young guys and some old guys. One thing I am proud of is that we have been able to sustain some level of consistency with our play and hold opponents pass yards down. Our guys have played tough, they play hard, they play fast and they are determined. Us coaches just have to put our players in the best position to exploit their strengths and avoid those weaknesses. I think Coach Smith and the defensive has done a great job in doing that. But every week is a challenge, this is one of the top conferences in America and we face some of the best receivers in America. But our guys understand that the standard is in the position and not necessarily the player. So we are still looking for guys to play at a high level and make plays at the position.
On biggest challenges of getting young guys ready to play (mentioned Justus Harris and Handy-Holly):
Well this time last year they were getting ready for homecoming and now we are asking them to win Big Ten games on the road. But we have had to accelerate the process with how much they can learn and how much they can grasp. A lot of it with freshmen is to build their confidence through preparation and through knowledg you are not a true freshman anymore because you have some games under your belt, it's not all brand new to you. Have to look at the successes you have had during the year. You look at the last two games Ken Handy-Holly has been a part of, he breaks up a pass against Illinois and strips the ball against Iowa. So you have to build on that, and keep having them build their confidence through their play in the games. So knowing the schemes and coverages are very important and then us as coaches knowing what to call when those young guys are in the game.
On how he came to know Coach Fleck and became a part of his staff:
The first time we talked was over the phone. I knew about him and his successes at Western Michigan and that he was an elite coach, elite recruiter and he was able to present an elite culture to a program. So just hearing how he develops kids and builds a program and his big picture plans of what Minnesota can be. This is an elite university. It is a top 25 academic school in America with 18 Fortune 500 companies here so there are plenty of things for kids to do after football. We have the Mall of America, a great sports town and sports facilities, we have one of the best facilities in the country being built right now, there is definitely a movement going on. He just talked about what we could do and what this program could be. He is a culture first, family man, he has a beautiful wife and great kids. I saw what he did at Western Michigan and taking them to a Cotton Bowl, going undefeated for the first time in school history. I thought it he could do it there, there is no doubt in my mind he can do it here. Coach Fleck is an elite man, and there is a big picture plan in place, so that really drove me to him.
Facebook Question: How has the culture with Coach Fleck differed from other places you've been?
Every head coach has their own niche and is going to put emphasis on different things. One thing I think Coach Fleck does well is the development of kids, academically, athletically, socially and spiritually. They are human beings and kids first before football players. We are as concerned with their GPA, their social lives than about how they are as football players and what they can do on the field. The culture here is high energy, and it is right in your face as far as building relationships, and we are going to out-relationship people. We are going to recruit our butts off and make sure we are bringing in the right kind of person and football player to our program. There have been a lot of great firsts here, with the Easter egg hunt, scavenger hunts and everything else. We have lost some games, but we haven't lost our kids or lost our conviction about what we set out to do. We got a lot of work ahead of us, but we are going to trust the process and do everything we can to be our best every single day.
Facebook Question: How do you and the defense plan on stopping Nebraska and coming home with a win?
They got a dynamic passer in Tanner Lee and some big time playmakers on the outside, guys like Stanley Morgan. Devine Ozigbo runs the ball really hard behind their solid offensive line. You worry about yourself more than anyone else. We have a scheme and they have their gameplan, but we have to worry about us and being in the right position. We have to be motivated and have the right mental approach. We are excited to be out there, excited to play football and get another home game opportunity and showcase what we can do in front of our elite fans.
Facebook Question: What is your approach like with the defensive backs during the week at practice?
We just make sure they are maintaining sound technique, being in the right location, how to play the deep ball and reading our keys to stick with the receivers and tight ends. There is a check list we go through every single week then we apply that check list to the opponent. We then match those two scopes together so we can get ready to play. We are going to have an aggressive approach and an attacking mentality, and we are going to get our guys healthy and ready to be at our best by 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Facebook Question: While defensive backs are obviously focused on pass defense, what role does run defense play in your weekly game plan?
I mean yeah we do focus on how we are going to stop the pass but it is 11 on 11 that's what football is. Everyone has a key, everyone has a read, everyone has a responsibility with where they are supposed to be, whether that is on a run play or a pass play. We want to make sure we have 11 guys running towards the ball whether it is a run play or a pass play.
On Michigan game:
Tough opponent on the road. We didn't get the result we wanted but the effort was there. The exciting part was that our kids bounced back, they were bright eyed and ready to go on Monday morning. There is a lot of belief with these kids, they know the process that is taking place here every single day. We're going to get judged on the results and we didn't get the result that we wanted but we are going to get right back to work and focus on this week's opponent and get ourselves ready to be our best.
On adversity in the secondary with injuries, suspensions and lots of moving parts from week to week:
It's a credit to the kids in the room. They have taken it upon themselves to get ready to go and do what they need to do to get ready for each game. We have played 11 different guys this year, some young guys and some old guys. One thing I am proud of is that we have been able to sustain some level of consistency with our play and hold opponents pass yards down. Our guys have played tough, they play hard, they play fast and they are determined. Us coaches just have to put our players in the best position to exploit their strengths and avoid those weaknesses. I think Coach Smith and the defensive has done a great job in doing that. But every week is a challenge, this is one of the top conferences in America and we face some of the best receivers in America. But our guys understand that the standard is in the position and not necessarily the player. So we are still looking for guys to play at a high level and make plays at the position.
On biggest challenges of getting young guys ready to play (mentioned Justus Harris and Handy-Holly):
Well this time last year they were getting ready for homecoming and now we are asking them to win Big Ten games on the road. But we have had to accelerate the process with how much they can learn and how much they can grasp. A lot of it with freshmen is to build their confidence through preparation and through knowledg you are not a true freshman anymore because you have some games under your belt, it's not all brand new to you. Have to look at the successes you have had during the year. You look at the last two games Ken Handy-Holly has been a part of, he breaks up a pass against Illinois and strips the ball against Iowa. So you have to build on that, and keep having them build their confidence through their play in the games. So knowing the schemes and coverages are very important and then us as coaches knowing what to call when those young guys are in the game.
On how he came to know Coach Fleck and became a part of his staff:
The first time we talked was over the phone. I knew about him and his successes at Western Michigan and that he was an elite coach, elite recruiter and he was able to present an elite culture to a program. So just hearing how he develops kids and builds a program and his big picture plans of what Minnesota can be. This is an elite university. It is a top 25 academic school in America with 18 Fortune 500 companies here so there are plenty of things for kids to do after football. We have the Mall of America, a great sports town and sports facilities, we have one of the best facilities in the country being built right now, there is definitely a movement going on. He just talked about what we could do and what this program could be. He is a culture first, family man, he has a beautiful wife and great kids. I saw what he did at Western Michigan and taking them to a Cotton Bowl, going undefeated for the first time in school history. I thought it he could do it there, there is no doubt in my mind he can do it here. Coach Fleck is an elite man, and there is a big picture plan in place, so that really drove me to him.
Facebook Question: How has the culture with Coach Fleck differed from other places you've been?
Every head coach has their own niche and is going to put emphasis on different things. One thing I think Coach Fleck does well is the development of kids, academically, athletically, socially and spiritually. They are human beings and kids first before football players. We are as concerned with their GPA, their social lives than about how they are as football players and what they can do on the field. The culture here is high energy, and it is right in your face as far as building relationships, and we are going to out-relationship people. We are going to recruit our butts off and make sure we are bringing in the right kind of person and football player to our program. There have been a lot of great firsts here, with the Easter egg hunt, scavenger hunts and everything else. We have lost some games, but we haven't lost our kids or lost our conviction about what we set out to do. We got a lot of work ahead of us, but we are going to trust the process and do everything we can to be our best every single day.
Facebook Question: How do you and the defense plan on stopping Nebraska and coming home with a win?
They got a dynamic passer in Tanner Lee and some big time playmakers on the outside, guys like Stanley Morgan. Devine Ozigbo runs the ball really hard behind their solid offensive line. You worry about yourself more than anyone else. We have a scheme and they have their gameplan, but we have to worry about us and being in the right position. We have to be motivated and have the right mental approach. We are excited to be out there, excited to play football and get another home game opportunity and showcase what we can do in front of our elite fans.
Facebook Question: What is your approach like with the defensive backs during the week at practice?
We just make sure they are maintaining sound technique, being in the right location, how to play the deep ball and reading our keys to stick with the receivers and tight ends. There is a check list we go through every single week then we apply that check list to the opponent. We then match those two scopes together so we can get ready to play. We are going to have an aggressive approach and an attacking mentality, and we are going to get our guys healthy and ready to be at our best by 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Facebook Question: While defensive backs are obviously focused on pass defense, what role does run defense play in your weekly game plan?
I mean yeah we do focus on how we are going to stop the pass but it is 11 on 11 that's what football is. Everyone has a key, everyone has a read, everyone has a responsibility with where they are supposed to be, whether that is on a run play or a pass play. We want to make sure we have 11 guys running towards the ball whether it is a run play or a pass play.
