Sid opened questioning PJ about the academic successes the football team this past semester. APR (Academic Progress Rate) shows the percentage of players that are on track to graduate. Minnesota has the highest APR of any public institution in the country. PJ gave credit to the players and coaches that were here before him for this progress, and noted it is something they take very seriously. The Gopher football team had the highest GPA this past semester in team history.
In the scrimmage this past Saturday, the team ran about 130 plays to get young players reps, and put quarterbacks in difficult situations. Fleck commented that the team does not have a ton of depth, however this is part of the process of building a team.
Coach gave credit to both quarterbacks, but said that one quarterback has not taken full control of the job. Both quarterbacks are getting better, however the decision has gotten tougher since both have competed hard with each other and not given it to the other.
Decisive decision making is the quality the Fleck believes is the hardest part of playing quarterback. The quarterbacks must be able to understand and master the system. “When they have the ball in their hands, that is the program. The teams that are usually at the top of the division win the turnover margin. Teams that don’t are usually at the bottom.”
PJ called out Demetrius Douglas and said, “He might be one of, if not the best, receiver we have on the roster. He’s way more mature beyond his years. He’s smooth, he’s athletic, he’s fast. Incredible leader, already.” Coach noted that Demetrius had hesitations to come to the University of Minnesota because he didn’t want to be in his dad’s shadow, however he decided to come to the U. “We have the chance to build around him (Douglas) going forward.”
“The great thing about the scrimmage is, we won!” Fleck said about the scrimmage. He didn’t go into a ton of specifics here, just said they need to be better tomorrow than they were today and keep growing as a team.
PJ did comment that they will have to play freshmen on defense due to lack of depth. Called out Rey Estes by name, as well as Justus Harris as guys that may play defensively. Tanner Morgan was another guy that PJ called out by name as somebody he believes will be very good in the future. Had good things to say about Jared Weyler additionally.
Sid asked about Blaise Andres and Drew Hmielewski as two kids from small town school Marshall in Minnesota, if they were going to contribute this year. Fleck had very positive things to say about Andres, and said, “If he can play, he’ll play. We aren’t going to have him sit there and then play him the ninth game of the year. It’s extremely difficult to play an 18-year-old kid as an offensive lineman in the Big Ten. He’s failing a lot, but we define failure as growth. It’s ok, that’ll help him in the future.”
In the scrimmage this past Saturday, the team ran about 130 plays to get young players reps, and put quarterbacks in difficult situations. Fleck commented that the team does not have a ton of depth, however this is part of the process of building a team.
Coach gave credit to both quarterbacks, but said that one quarterback has not taken full control of the job. Both quarterbacks are getting better, however the decision has gotten tougher since both have competed hard with each other and not given it to the other.
Decisive decision making is the quality the Fleck believes is the hardest part of playing quarterback. The quarterbacks must be able to understand and master the system. “When they have the ball in their hands, that is the program. The teams that are usually at the top of the division win the turnover margin. Teams that don’t are usually at the bottom.”
PJ called out Demetrius Douglas and said, “He might be one of, if not the best, receiver we have on the roster. He’s way more mature beyond his years. He’s smooth, he’s athletic, he’s fast. Incredible leader, already.” Coach noted that Demetrius had hesitations to come to the University of Minnesota because he didn’t want to be in his dad’s shadow, however he decided to come to the U. “We have the chance to build around him (Douglas) going forward.”
“The great thing about the scrimmage is, we won!” Fleck said about the scrimmage. He didn’t go into a ton of specifics here, just said they need to be better tomorrow than they were today and keep growing as a team.
PJ did comment that they will have to play freshmen on defense due to lack of depth. Called out Rey Estes by name, as well as Justus Harris as guys that may play defensively. Tanner Morgan was another guy that PJ called out by name as somebody he believes will be very good in the future. Had good things to say about Jared Weyler additionally.
Sid asked about Blaise Andres and Drew Hmielewski as two kids from small town school Marshall in Minnesota, if they were going to contribute this year. Fleck had very positive things to say about Andres, and said, “If he can play, he’ll play. We aren’t going to have him sit there and then play him the ninth game of the year. It’s extremely difficult to play an 18-year-old kid as an offensive lineman in the Big Ten. He’s failing a lot, but we define failure as growth. It’s ok, that’ll help him in the future.”
