Edge rusher Carter Coughlin was adjusting to his new role last season.
At linebacker, Coughlin was three to four yards off the line of scrimmage. In 2017, Coughlin didn’t have as much space to work as he transitioned to the “R” rushing spot in Robb Smith’s defense. The reaction time necessary for him to rush the passer effectively was dramatically different.
A learning curve was something Coughlin faced in his first season playing a new position. This offseason, he added additional weight and has a familiarity with how he fits in the scheme.
“From a physicality standpoint, I weigh a lot more and everything is happening so much faster for me,” Coughlin said. “Last year, playing run defense out of a defensive end position was challenging at first, really challenging.”
Head coach P.J. Fleck is also noticing a difference in Coughlin’s second season at the “R” spot. His instincts and ability to diagnose have improved with additional reps and coaching.
“When you get to the line of scrimmage everything changes,” Fleck said. “Now all the sudden you’re on that defensive line, it happens so much faster. The reaction of our system based on what he sees – the reactions weren’t there. It was almost a bit methodical at times.”
Coughlin has been learning from new defensive line coach Marcus West, who was hired before the season. West has been preaching the importance of Coughlin’s hand technique, something which has benefited the junior pass rusher. He can now focus on these details as the pace of his game speeds up.
“I think pass rush is one of those things that really comes with reps,” Coughlin said. You have to get a feel for when the offensive tackle is setting out wide, when he’s setting deep. From there that’s when you decide what you move is going to be…you have to really be able to react.”
P.J. Fleck and his staff will certainly be looking for ways to use Coughlin’s athleticism to rush the passer, a philosophy Marcus West has brought to the defensive line room. This season, Coughlin can tighten up his fundamentals, rather than learning ins and outs of a new position.
“His trained behavior has become instinct. It was more of a habit last year – now it’s an instinct,” Fleck said. “I don’t think there’s many people that work harder than Carter Coughlin on our football team and that’s no surprise he’s made this much progress at this time of spring.”
Winning the Turnover Battle
P.J. Fleck said improving the team’s success can occur by winning the turnover battle. Last season, the Gophers finished with a plus-zero turnover margin. It’s a statistic Fleck and his staff would like to improve. After conducting research, Fleck is placing more emphasis on creating turnovers and securing the ball offensively.
During practices, Fleck is constantly yelling “78%.” The meaning behind the percentage stems from a study regarding the turnover margin.
“We do a lot of studies in the offseason,” Fleck said. “When you look at the turnover margin, the studies we’ve done over a long period of time…if you win the turnover battle, you can win 78 percent of the time.”
Practice Notes:
The quarterback competition is still in the early stages, but the talent level at the position is clearly higher. Tanner Morgan has a solid grasp of the offensive concepts and is doing an excellent job of extending plays. Morgan has progressed well, but will need to continue performing consistently, especially when he’s asked to stretch the ball down the field.
One observation with Vic Viramontes is his ability to create plays with his legs. He is not afraid to deliver a hit to an opposing defender in space. He is very smooth when running and uses superb vision to find rushing lanes. This was apparent on film and is showing up during on-field evaluations, too. Viramontes gets the ball out quick and throws the short-to-intermediate patterns with plenty of zip and accuracy. Of course, he must continue learning the offense, but upside is clearly high with him.
“We are taking [the QB competition] one day at a time,” P.J. Fleck said. “I don’t think you have to apply any more pressure in terms of the quarterback competition we have. They know and they feel that all the time, but pressure is healthy.”
On defense, Carter Coughlin has really taken another step. He’s added weight to hold up against the run and is flying over the field making plays. Coughlin has the chance to be one of the most improved players on defense. As noted above, he is feeling more comfortable at the “R” spot and it has allowed him to improve as a pass rusher. Kamal Martin has also grown physically and is being used in ways to fully maximize his skill-set. The Gophers have plenty of athleticism and talent to play with on defense. The key will be gaining valuable experience up front through more game action.
The defensive line is continually rotating players, which is a goal P.J. Fleck and his staff have. Many of the players inside, including Steven Richardson were playing more than 80 snaps per game last year. This is a trend they would like to improve. Sam Renner, Nate Umlor, Royal Silver and O.J. Smith are all rotating inside to receive more reps in practice. On the edge, Tai’yon Devers is showing growth and has improved physically. He’ll be a player worth monitoring later this spring and into the fall.
In the secondary, Coney Durr looks more comfortable after rehabbing his knee injury for most of last year. He provides another option to rotate into a secondary with veterans Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jacob Huff already in the fold.
Coach Fleck said offensive lineman Blaise Andries should be returning soon after being held out with an injury.