Coach Kill’s comments and responses to queries on the Sports Huddle related to yesterday’s victory over Northwestern, 24-17.
1) Sid opened the show citing Jalen Myrick’s kick-off return for a touchdown: Coach Kill responded by passing credit around for the success of the winning touchdown: “Great execution . . . Coach (Rob) Reeves does a great job . . . Had two or three different returns going in the game . . . Got a good kick . . . Jalen used his athletic ability and finished it.”
Sid followed-up asking about Myrick’s athletic ability and if he’s a good defensive back: Kill was emphatic in his response, “Very good . . . Only a sophomore . . . can run (very good speed) and has a short-term memory.” Kill also talked about his size (good size for a defensive back) 5-10 and 210 pounds.
2) Sid said the Northwestern Wildcats played a lot of junior and seniors: Kill responded, “They’re a pretty veteran group . . . Quarterback (Siemen) was razor-sharp . . . Both teams played hard . . . (Minnesota) turned the ball over but got a defensive stop . . . won special teams.” (Last comment, Kill said there are three parts to a game – offense, defense and special teams. He said Minnesota won the special team phase and, as a result, the game.)
3) Sid asked why Santoso’s kick-offs did not reach the end zone as they have in previous games: “(Santoso’s kicks) Ball got higher . . . not planned . . . Got it up high and in good spots . . . didn’t hit it as clean,” Kill replied.
4) Sid said the offensive line suffered the injury bug again: Kill responded, “Yeah. We struggled with that . . . Connor Mayes had five snaps; will get more snaps.” Coach Kill also said Foster Bush did not play and that Joe Bjorklund was in as a replacement.
5) Sid, once again, returned to the topic of the Gophers youth and the many true freshmen that are seeing the field of play: Kill sounded positive, even though he would have preferred to redshirt many of the players, “We’ve been fortunate . . . Kids stepping up and doing a good job.”
6) Sid asked what Northwestern had done to shut David Cobb down in the running game: Kill quickly responded, “80 snaps (Northwestern) to 55 snaps (Minnesota) . . . (Northwestern) held the ball very good . . . (Northwestern) Defensive line did a good job (against the run) . . . (Northwestern coming into yesterday’s game) Number eight in the country on defense.”
Although Kill acknowledged the success Northwestern had against the Gopher rush game, he was positive and upbeat with the Gophers quarterback play, “Did a good job passing.”
7) Sid turned his questioning to the passing of Mitch Leidner yesterday and his health: Kill quickly responded, “He played well at Michigan . . . (yesterday) Made some outstanding throws . . . He did things efficiently . . . Played very well - made throws we haven’t made in a long time.” Kill did not say anything about Leidner’s recovery that’s related to his knee injury and turf-toe.
8) Dave mentioned the many (20) tackles that the defensive backs – Cedric Thompson and Briean Boody-Calhoun - made yesterday, which typically means the opposition is getting to the second level of the defense; however, many of the tackles were at the line of scrimmage: Kill answered Mona’s query, “We had to . . . (Northwestern) They ran the ball well – spread you out . . . Our defensive backs tackled well . . . We are 5 and 1 but not even close where we need to get to.” Frequently the Gophers had 5 to 6 defensive backs on the field of play.
9) Sid asked about the similarity of play by Mitch Leidner and former Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish: Kill acknowledged Sid’s assessment of the two quarterbacks, “There are some similarities (Leidner) as a sophomore . . . Similar personalities.” Kill briefly mentioned their running abilities.
10) Sid cited the outstanding linebacking play of Damien Wilson: “Damien’s playing at a high level . . . playing well all year,” replied Kill. Kill was very upbeat and positive in talking about Wilson’s athletic ability. He said he’ll be playing at the next level on Sundays.
11) Sid asked if there were any injuries in yesterday’s game: Kill answered, “We’ll have to see . . . We’ll get an idea (later) today . . . (we’ll) Know more on Tuesday.” In his comments, Kill said Derrick Wells played with an injured hamstring. He also said Lincoln Plsek and Brian Bobek were hurt in yesterday’s game; however, he didn’t elaborate as to the nature and seriousness of their injuries.
12) Sid, once again, returned to the team’s special team play and specifically the kick-off return: Coach Kill said an assistant coach, Brian Anderson, called the return before the kick-off: “Brian said we’ll take it to the house.” Kill added there was laughter in the locker room after the game concerning Anderson’s reported call. As to the winning return, “Execution and good players make you look good.”
13) Sid said the Northwestern win was big - “Biggest game”: Kill was putting the win yesterday behind them, “Purdue (next week’s opponent – Homecoming) played their butts off against Michigan State . . . We have a lot to improve on . . . We have to take care of business . . . Got to win at home.”
Mona in a follow-up said the students did a good job yesterday and that they stayed to the end of the game: Kill quickly replied, “Fans did a good job . . . We can’t have success without the fans.” Kill, again, referred to the Gophers as a state team and not just Coach Kill’s team.
14) Sid asked his weekly question about redshirts and whether or not there are good freshmen players not playing presently: “Oh yeah . . . four receivers . . . 3 or 4 offensive linemen.” He also said they would have liked to have redshirted more and they must, “Do a good job recruiting.” He said recruiting and the response to their recruiting efforts has been good.
15) Sid asked if Jeff Jones will be ready for spring practice: Kill said he will be ready and that “He’s handled it pretty good.” (Having to sit out the season.) Jones has been concentrating and focusing on his academic work.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the show citing Jalen Myrick’s kick-off return for a touchdown: Coach Kill responded by passing credit around for the success of the winning touchdown: “Great execution . . . Coach (Rob) Reeves does a great job . . . Had two or three different returns going in the game . . . Got a good kick . . . Jalen used his athletic ability and finished it.”
Sid followed-up asking about Myrick’s athletic ability and if he’s a good defensive back: Kill was emphatic in his response, “Very good . . . Only a sophomore . . . can run (very good speed) and has a short-term memory.” Kill also talked about his size (good size for a defensive back) 5-10 and 210 pounds.
2) Sid said the Northwestern Wildcats played a lot of junior and seniors: Kill responded, “They’re a pretty veteran group . . . Quarterback (Siemen) was razor-sharp . . . Both teams played hard . . . (Minnesota) turned the ball over but got a defensive stop . . . won special teams.” (Last comment, Kill said there are three parts to a game – offense, defense and special teams. He said Minnesota won the special team phase and, as a result, the game.)
3) Sid asked why Santoso’s kick-offs did not reach the end zone as they have in previous games: “(Santoso’s kicks) Ball got higher . . . not planned . . . Got it up high and in good spots . . . didn’t hit it as clean,” Kill replied.
4) Sid said the offensive line suffered the injury bug again: Kill responded, “Yeah. We struggled with that . . . Connor Mayes had five snaps; will get more snaps.” Coach Kill also said Foster Bush did not play and that Joe Bjorklund was in as a replacement.
5) Sid, once again, returned to the topic of the Gophers youth and the many true freshmen that are seeing the field of play: Kill sounded positive, even though he would have preferred to redshirt many of the players, “We’ve been fortunate . . . Kids stepping up and doing a good job.”
6) Sid asked what Northwestern had done to shut David Cobb down in the running game: Kill quickly responded, “80 snaps (Northwestern) to 55 snaps (Minnesota) . . . (Northwestern) held the ball very good . . . (Northwestern) Defensive line did a good job (against the run) . . . (Northwestern coming into yesterday’s game) Number eight in the country on defense.”
Although Kill acknowledged the success Northwestern had against the Gopher rush game, he was positive and upbeat with the Gophers quarterback play, “Did a good job passing.”
7) Sid turned his questioning to the passing of Mitch Leidner yesterday and his health: Kill quickly responded, “He played well at Michigan . . . (yesterday) Made some outstanding throws . . . He did things efficiently . . . Played very well - made throws we haven’t made in a long time.” Kill did not say anything about Leidner’s recovery that’s related to his knee injury and turf-toe.
8) Dave mentioned the many (20) tackles that the defensive backs – Cedric Thompson and Briean Boody-Calhoun - made yesterday, which typically means the opposition is getting to the second level of the defense; however, many of the tackles were at the line of scrimmage: Kill answered Mona’s query, “We had to . . . (Northwestern) They ran the ball well – spread you out . . . Our defensive backs tackled well . . . We are 5 and 1 but not even close where we need to get to.” Frequently the Gophers had 5 to 6 defensive backs on the field of play.
9) Sid asked about the similarity of play by Mitch Leidner and former Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish: Kill acknowledged Sid’s assessment of the two quarterbacks, “There are some similarities (Leidner) as a sophomore . . . Similar personalities.” Kill briefly mentioned their running abilities.
10) Sid cited the outstanding linebacking play of Damien Wilson: “Damien’s playing at a high level . . . playing well all year,” replied Kill. Kill was very upbeat and positive in talking about Wilson’s athletic ability. He said he’ll be playing at the next level on Sundays.
11) Sid asked if there were any injuries in yesterday’s game: Kill answered, “We’ll have to see . . . We’ll get an idea (later) today . . . (we’ll) Know more on Tuesday.” In his comments, Kill said Derrick Wells played with an injured hamstring. He also said Lincoln Plsek and Brian Bobek were hurt in yesterday’s game; however, he didn’t elaborate as to the nature and seriousness of their injuries.
12) Sid, once again, returned to the team’s special team play and specifically the kick-off return: Coach Kill said an assistant coach, Brian Anderson, called the return before the kick-off: “Brian said we’ll take it to the house.” Kill added there was laughter in the locker room after the game concerning Anderson’s reported call. As to the winning return, “Execution and good players make you look good.”
13) Sid said the Northwestern win was big - “Biggest game”: Kill was putting the win yesterday behind them, “Purdue (next week’s opponent – Homecoming) played their butts off against Michigan State . . . We have a lot to improve on . . . We have to take care of business . . . Got to win at home.”
Mona in a follow-up said the students did a good job yesterday and that they stayed to the end of the game: Kill quickly replied, “Fans did a good job . . . We can’t have success without the fans.” Kill, again, referred to the Gophers as a state team and not just Coach Kill’s team.
14) Sid asked his weekly question about redshirts and whether or not there are good freshmen players not playing presently: “Oh yeah . . . four receivers . . . 3 or 4 offensive linemen.” He also said they would have liked to have redshirted more and they must, “Do a good job recruiting.” He said recruiting and the response to their recruiting efforts has been good.
15) Sid asked if Jeff Jones will be ready for spring practice: Kill said he will be ready and that “He’s handled it pretty good.” (Having to sit out the season.) Jones has been concentrating and focusing on his academic work.
Go Gophers!!
