Gopher Football
After watching film from Thursday’s workout, head coach Jerry Kill learned that his new team actually looked a little bit better than what his initial reaction was after the first spring workout.
“After watching yesterday’s film, the kids probably did a little bit better than I thought,” Kill said. “With all the things we’re doing on both sides of the ball, the kids handled things pretty well.”
Once the team hit the field for its second practice session of the spring Friday afternoon, the learning curve continued as offensive and defensive coordinators Matt Limegrover and Tracy Claeys continued to install their systems. While the coaching staff is teaching, they are learning as well.
“We’ve got to find out who we’re going to be next year,” Kill said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to do that through 15 practices (in the spring) and then two-a-days. Even through two-a-day camp, up through the very end.”
It has already become clear through just two practices that repetitions will be plentiful in a Coach Kill practice. The offense constantly has two huddles going. When one play is over, another wave of 11 guys hustles to the line of scrimmage to run a play. After a few times through, a new defensive unit will sprint onto the field.
And I do mean sprint. If the offense doesn’t get up to the line in a timely manner or if the defense doesn’t get on the field in a timely manner, Coach Kill or one of the coordinators will stop them and make them do it over. According to Limegrover, the tempo and the number of reps they are putting the Gophers through is all for a good reason.
“We’re throwing a lot at them,” Limegrover said. “Coach Kill’s philosophy is get it in, throw it at them and then as we go, they’re going to learn more and more about how to adjust. The guys are a little bit on overload right now. But we kind of want to do that these first four or five practices, so then you can say now you’ve got it in. Now, we can see who adjusts to it the best. Then the last five practices or so, OK, who are the best guys who were able to adjust and excel in what we want them to do.”
Meanwhile, the players are adjusting to the pace of the practices and are enjoying learning the new system, getting to know their new coaches, etc.
“It was an experience,” senior running back DeLeon Eskridge said. “It is just a learning curve right now. But it’s definitely fun. We’re happy to be out here. The coaches keep the enthusiasm up and it’s just a good time right now. I feel like it’s just going to get better. I like the way the tempo is going.”