For the first time I’ve ever heard, PJ Fleck sounded like he lost his voice!
Sid opened asking about Tyler Johnson and his development as a receiver. Fleck said he works extremely hard and does all the right things. “We need him to. We need him to be a weapon for us on the outside. I’m really proud of him.”
Minnesota scored 17 points off Oregon State’s turnovers, forcing three fumbles and an interception. The defense only gave up one score, since the second score was a fumble inside our own red zone. In their team room, they have their own standings in the Big Ten of turnover margin. For the most part, the teams at the top are the ones with the best records.
Coach gave credit to Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks for both being extremely good backs, but also said they’re incredibly selfless, not complaining about not getting enough carries, but instead encouraging each other.
Dave made a comment that it appears the coaches teach the kids not to get too close to a bouncing punt, to avoid it hitting a player and giving the opposing team a chance to fall on it. “First things first, the ball is the most important thing. The ball is the program. We need to cherish that ball, and that means practicing that. In practice, we have them handle the ball to a manager after they score to simulate handing it to an official. I really believe in that.”
On the offensive line, PJ commented that the offensive line is connecting with each other, which is the hardest thing for a young offensive line to do. PJ said the offensive line was challenged by the coaches earlier in the week that we needed to be able to run the football this week. Coach gave credit to Ed Warinner as well for teaching them up and helping them mesh. “What matters is that we got better on Saturday and Sunday, and we’re better than we were last week.”
During halftime, the coaches meet with each other to discuss adjustments and game plan, and leave the players alone. There is not enough time to focus on everything at halftime, so you must focus on 1 or 2 things that are the most major. Fleck talked up Kirk Ciarrocca and Robb Smith for their halftime adjustments being critical to our success.
Interesting quote from Fleck, “We shot ourselves in the foot a few times. There are going to be penalties. I don’t want to be the team with the least amount of penalties in the country. I don’t. I also don’t want to be the team with the most penalties in the country. I want to be somewhere in the middle.”
During the interview Fleck said he hadn’t chosen a starting quarterback (it came out today that Rhoda was named the starter), but said this was the first time he’s seen Rhoda really own the position and run the team.
Sid opened asking about Tyler Johnson and his development as a receiver. Fleck said he works extremely hard and does all the right things. “We need him to. We need him to be a weapon for us on the outside. I’m really proud of him.”
Minnesota scored 17 points off Oregon State’s turnovers, forcing three fumbles and an interception. The defense only gave up one score, since the second score was a fumble inside our own red zone. In their team room, they have their own standings in the Big Ten of turnover margin. For the most part, the teams at the top are the ones with the best records.
Coach gave credit to Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks for both being extremely good backs, but also said they’re incredibly selfless, not complaining about not getting enough carries, but instead encouraging each other.
Dave made a comment that it appears the coaches teach the kids not to get too close to a bouncing punt, to avoid it hitting a player and giving the opposing team a chance to fall on it. “First things first, the ball is the most important thing. The ball is the program. We need to cherish that ball, and that means practicing that. In practice, we have them handle the ball to a manager after they score to simulate handing it to an official. I really believe in that.”
On the offensive line, PJ commented that the offensive line is connecting with each other, which is the hardest thing for a young offensive line to do. PJ said the offensive line was challenged by the coaches earlier in the week that we needed to be able to run the football this week. Coach gave credit to Ed Warinner as well for teaching them up and helping them mesh. “What matters is that we got better on Saturday and Sunday, and we’re better than we were last week.”
During halftime, the coaches meet with each other to discuss adjustments and game plan, and leave the players alone. There is not enough time to focus on everything at halftime, so you must focus on 1 or 2 things that are the most major. Fleck talked up Kirk Ciarrocca and Robb Smith for their halftime adjustments being critical to our success.
Interesting quote from Fleck, “We shot ourselves in the foot a few times. There are going to be penalties. I don’t want to be the team with the least amount of penalties in the country. I don’t. I also don’t want to be the team with the most penalties in the country. I want to be somewhere in the middle.”
During the interview Fleck said he hadn’t chosen a starting quarterback (it came out today that Rhoda was named the starter), but said this was the first time he’s seen Rhoda really own the position and run the team.
