Jerry Kill returned to the Sports Huddle this morning. His appearance was later than usual. 10:05 a.m. – Kill’s regular time slot - was used for Twins baseball discussions. Kill agreed to appear later because of Sid and Dave’s opportunity to visit with a Twin official/player. (Sorry, I didn’t get the name of the guest.)
1) Sid opened the show with coach Kill at 10:19. His first question was about a cruise that Jerry Kill and his wife, Rebecca, enjoyed last week: “It was good to be able to join twenty other coaches . . . unique situation,” said Kill.
Some of the coaches on the cruise were TCU’s Gary Patterson, Baylor’s Art Briles and the head coach at Oregon.
Joe Paterno’s widow was on the cruise, too.
2) Sid asked for Kill’s opinion of talk related to the possibility of freshmen being ineligible to play. (Freshmen were allowed to play as freshmen – with a rule change – in all sports in 1972.): Kill replied, “At this point time – pluses and minuses . . . whatever is best for the game and the players.” Kill said that there has to be in-depth discussions before any changes are made.
Kill said there are other changes that are being discussed or will soon take effect: “Recruiting is going to change . . . flying parents for official visits (starting this fall).”
3) Sid, once again, asked for the names of injured players who will be available for spring drills: “We’re out 8 or 9 days away (the start of spring ball) . . . . Jon Christenson has had the rod removed (from his injured leg).” As Tracy Clays said last week on the Sports Huddle, Jon Christenson won’t participate in spring drills; however, he’ll be running and performing various exercises during the spring practices. Christenson will be back in pads at the start of fall practices.
Although Kill didn’t mention any names, he said that they’ll “be careful” with the players that are returning from knee injuries/surgeries.
4) Sid also, once again, asked Kill about having lost a coach: “We haven’t lost any coaches!” said Kill, emphatically. Kill went onto say that they’ve lost only one game-day coach – Bill Miller - since his arrival at Minnesota. Bill Miller went to Florida State University following his second season and the 2013 season. (Thomas Hammock was retained when Kill and his coaching staff arrived at Minnesota. However, Hammock left, after Kill’s first Signing Day, to take a job at Wisconsin under Bret Bielema.)
Kill ended the query saying that a quality control person had left Minnesota as well as a TA (training advisor?) and graduate assistants.
5) Dave Mona asked if Kill and the coaches have kept in touch with Maxx Williams, David Cobb and Damien Wilson at the NFL Combine: “We text back and forth,” said Kill. However, he hastened to add that the trio has been kept busy and the coaching staff has tried not to intrude with the players’ busy schedules.
Kill added that the trio has had good performances at the NFL Combine. Kill said Maxx Williams has performed well and he expects Maxx will be the first tight end taken in the upcoming draft.
David Cobb is battling a quad problem; however, the scouts know what he can do on the field.
As to the scouts, Kill said they know all of the preliminary stuff as it relates to the players: films, practices, and the recent all-star games.
In his final remarks to Mona’s query Kill said the players being screened by the NFL is “good for the Gophers and the university" – great publicity.
6) Sid wanted to know Kill’s thoughts on other players that closed out their career at Minnesota last fall and their chances of catching on with an NFL team: “It’s hard to tell (what players other than Williams, Cobb, & Wilson will be offered by the NFL teams) . . . they’re all working hard and preparing for Pro-Days” said Kill.
Kill, however, expects Cedric Thompson will receive an invitation by a team and that he might even be drafted in a late round.
“Derrick Wells – injuries may hold him back.”
“Sleeper – Botticelli, his pro dates will be important.”
7) Dave Mona asked about the ongoing changes in recruiting. He mentioned Rivals data base and that some high school freshmen are getting offers: Kill said they focus their energies on juniors, but they know about many of the sophomores as well. However, he also said you have careful in offering tenders: “Coaches (nationwide) want to slow it down” in offering young high school players. The ongoing changes in academic standards, as well as other upcoming changes, will impact the recruiting of young players: “You have to be careful,” said Kill.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the show with coach Kill at 10:19. His first question was about a cruise that Jerry Kill and his wife, Rebecca, enjoyed last week: “It was good to be able to join twenty other coaches . . . unique situation,” said Kill.
Some of the coaches on the cruise were TCU’s Gary Patterson, Baylor’s Art Briles and the head coach at Oregon.
Joe Paterno’s widow was on the cruise, too.
2) Sid asked for Kill’s opinion of talk related to the possibility of freshmen being ineligible to play. (Freshmen were allowed to play as freshmen – with a rule change – in all sports in 1972.): Kill replied, “At this point time – pluses and minuses . . . whatever is best for the game and the players.” Kill said that there has to be in-depth discussions before any changes are made.
Kill said there are other changes that are being discussed or will soon take effect: “Recruiting is going to change . . . flying parents for official visits (starting this fall).”
3) Sid, once again, asked for the names of injured players who will be available for spring drills: “We’re out 8 or 9 days away (the start of spring ball) . . . . Jon Christenson has had the rod removed (from his injured leg).” As Tracy Clays said last week on the Sports Huddle, Jon Christenson won’t participate in spring drills; however, he’ll be running and performing various exercises during the spring practices. Christenson will be back in pads at the start of fall practices.
Although Kill didn’t mention any names, he said that they’ll “be careful” with the players that are returning from knee injuries/surgeries.
4) Sid also, once again, asked Kill about having lost a coach: “We haven’t lost any coaches!” said Kill, emphatically. Kill went onto say that they’ve lost only one game-day coach – Bill Miller - since his arrival at Minnesota. Bill Miller went to Florida State University following his second season and the 2013 season. (Thomas Hammock was retained when Kill and his coaching staff arrived at Minnesota. However, Hammock left, after Kill’s first Signing Day, to take a job at Wisconsin under Bret Bielema.)
Kill ended the query saying that a quality control person had left Minnesota as well as a TA (training advisor?) and graduate assistants.
5) Dave Mona asked if Kill and the coaches have kept in touch with Maxx Williams, David Cobb and Damien Wilson at the NFL Combine: “We text back and forth,” said Kill. However, he hastened to add that the trio has been kept busy and the coaching staff has tried not to intrude with the players’ busy schedules.
Kill added that the trio has had good performances at the NFL Combine. Kill said Maxx Williams has performed well and he expects Maxx will be the first tight end taken in the upcoming draft.
David Cobb is battling a quad problem; however, the scouts know what he can do on the field.
As to the scouts, Kill said they know all of the preliminary stuff as it relates to the players: films, practices, and the recent all-star games.
In his final remarks to Mona’s query Kill said the players being screened by the NFL is “good for the Gophers and the university" – great publicity.
6) Sid wanted to know Kill’s thoughts on other players that closed out their career at Minnesota last fall and their chances of catching on with an NFL team: “It’s hard to tell (what players other than Williams, Cobb, & Wilson will be offered by the NFL teams) . . . they’re all working hard and preparing for Pro-Days” said Kill.
Kill, however, expects Cedric Thompson will receive an invitation by a team and that he might even be drafted in a late round.
“Derrick Wells – injuries may hold him back.”
“Sleeper – Botticelli, his pro dates will be important.”
7) Dave Mona asked about the ongoing changes in recruiting. He mentioned Rivals data base and that some high school freshmen are getting offers: Kill said they focus their energies on juniors, but they know about many of the sophomores as well. However, he also said you have careful in offering tenders: “Coaches (nationwide) want to slow it down” in offering young high school players. The ongoing changes in academic standards, as well as other upcoming changes, will impact the recruiting of young players: “You have to be careful,” said Kill.
Go Gophers!!
