Grimmer asked about lb corps that took some lumps last year:
Fleck said losing Oliver hurt last year; said missing spring ball and other practices hurt Rossi in getting unit (that lost Martin and Barber) ready to go; said guys need to know defense, have to react, not think; have to be experienced tackling (losing Renner, Coughlin, and DeLattiboudere in front of them and losing Williamson and Winfield along side, in back of them also had to challenge linebackers)
said this year very excited to have so many guys with experience and in spring ball. Sori-Marin will be in his fourth year and played all four years, Oliver will be in his 4th year and played a lot in 2019, transfer Gibbens will be a 5th year guy with a lot of game experience, Aune a 4th year guy who played a lot last year; Lindenberg a second year guy who got game action last year, Quon Burns also a 2nd year guy (limited by covid last year but came in highly regarded out of IMG Academy, Willis will be third year guy who played a lot last year, Gordon also will be third year guy who got a lot of run last year
mentioned those eight guys and talked about a lot of time being in nickel rather than 4-3 so expects a lot of competition among the linebackers for time
said so much depth in spring ball is a rarity; has three and four deeps at many positions
gophersports.com
Fleck said losing Oliver hurt last year; said missing spring ball and other practices hurt Rossi in getting unit (that lost Martin and Barber) ready to go; said guys need to know defense, have to react, not think; have to be experienced tackling (losing Renner, Coughlin, and DeLattiboudere in front of them and losing Williamson and Winfield along side, in back of them also had to challenge linebackers)
said this year very excited to have so many guys with experience and in spring ball. Sori-Marin will be in his fourth year and played all four years, Oliver will be in his 4th year and played a lot in 2019, transfer Gibbens will be a 5th year guy with a lot of game experience, Aune a 4th year guy who played a lot last year; Lindenberg a second year guy who got game action last year, Quon Burns also a 2nd year guy (limited by covid last year but came in highly regarded out of IMG Academy, Willis will be third year guy who played a lot last year, Gordon also will be third year guy who got a lot of run last year
mentioned those eight guys and talked about a lot of time being in nickel rather than 4-3 so expects a lot of competition among the linebackers for time
said so much depth in spring ball is a rarity; has three and four deeps at many positions
P.J. Fleck: Gopher Talk with Mike Grimm - University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Football head coach P.J. Fleck sits down with Mike Grimm to discuss 2021 Spring Practice (first padded practice is March 29). Presented by Affinity Plus.
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