Coach Kill's responses and comments on today's Sports Huddle following the Gophers home-field loss, yesterday, to Nebraska:
1) Sid opened the show opining that he thought the first drive for the opening touchdown was big, but the answering touchdown by Nebraska might have turned the game around :
“Certainly,” Kill said, “We had the momentum. (Nebraska’s) Big play (Newby’s long run for a Nebraska touchdown on their first drive) . . . momentum went back to Nebraska.”
Injuries played a factor in the loss, according to coach Kill; however, Kill was quick to add that Nebraska had a good game plan and they executed it. He also cited and credited the play of Nebraska quarterback Tommie Armstrong.
As to the plethora of team injuries, Kill acknowledged the loss of Cody Poock was a big hit to the defense. “Cody Poock, we missed a ton.” Another player mentioned that was greatly missed was Alex Keith who was injured during warm-ups.
His concluding remarks to Sid's question, “We had trouble getting off the field.” Kill, again, gave credit to Nebraska and their game plan. The game, like all games was lost up front on both sides of the ball.
2) Now that Minnesota has a “bye week,” Sid wanted to know what the practice schedule would be this coming week:
“We’ll practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,” Kill replied.
Kill didn’t dwell much about the practice schedule for the next two weeks, but, rather, “Need to find a way to get people back for Michigan.” Kill welcomes the bye-week, a chance to rest the players, hopefully get some of the injured players back, and as he said, a chance of getting the "players legs back." IMO, the week off could also help the teams mental state. Kill said it’s important that the coaches build the players up with confidence.
3) Sid asked if they expect to get some injured players back for Michigan:
Kill sounded uncertain when talking about the team’s injuries. Injured players that he mentioned included, “TC (Theiren Cockran) did something to his foot – doesn’t look good.” Kill also mentioned injuries to Alex Keith and Cody Poock in his remarks. Overall, Kill didn’t sound too positive when discussing the team’s health.
4) Dave Mona mentioned quarterback Mitch Leidner’s play in throwing the ball in the first-half as well as an injury to Leidner’s left hand:
Kill didn’t elaborate about Leidner’s injured hand other than that he had a glove covering the hand after it was injured.
However, Kill sounded very positive when describing Leidner’s play. “He played a great game . . . last drive or two he had to make a play . . . I thought he had a great game . . . He’s played a lot better than people give him credit for.”
He concluded, “tough day” for the Gophers. “Give Nebraska credit – a good team , , , Punt coverage was not good, that hurt us.”
5) Sid raised the topic of the Gophers pass rush, or lack thereof:
Kill didn’t say too much about the team’s pass rush; however, he did credit Nebraska offensive line of doing a good job protecting Tommie Armstrong.
He also said the Gopher defense not getting off the field on third down and not capitalizing on errors by the Cornhuskers were important factors in the game, “They fumbled the ball: we didn’t get it.”
6) Dave Mona cited the team’s injuries and having to play young players:
Kill answered that they’re “playing young . . . Tyler (lMoore) did a good job. We’ve got to get healed up . . . We have the players, must find a way to put it all together.”
His final remarks to the question were related to the team’s effort and the importance of the coaches building up the players: “They gave everything they have – came up short . . . Keep the kids confidence up . . . Coaches need to build them up.”
7) Sid asked about Nebraska’s defense and holding the Gophers to 65 yards rushing:
“They’re big up front, committed to (stopping) the run,” Kill replied.
Because the Gophers had trouble rushing the ball, they decided to throw short passes , “bubble screens and tight end screens, (they're) like a run.”
Kill said they had a good game plan; however, they missed some opportunities on offense in the first half.
Once again Kill credited Nebraska with running their game plan and playing a good game.
8) Dave Mona asked the final question which was related to the receiving corps. He said a lot of people were talking about KJ Maye’s game, but he said he was also impressed with Eric Carter and Drew Wolitarsky:
Kill sounded very positive when talking about the receiving corps: “Quarterback played well . . . receivers and tight ends played well.” He added that they’ve got to get KJ Maye and Brandon Lingen involved in the passing game, “I thought they did well . . . (making) plays after the catch.”
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the show opining that he thought the first drive for the opening touchdown was big, but the answering touchdown by Nebraska might have turned the game around :
“Certainly,” Kill said, “We had the momentum. (Nebraska’s) Big play (Newby’s long run for a Nebraska touchdown on their first drive) . . . momentum went back to Nebraska.”
Injuries played a factor in the loss, according to coach Kill; however, Kill was quick to add that Nebraska had a good game plan and they executed it. He also cited and credited the play of Nebraska quarterback Tommie Armstrong.
As to the plethora of team injuries, Kill acknowledged the loss of Cody Poock was a big hit to the defense. “Cody Poock, we missed a ton.” Another player mentioned that was greatly missed was Alex Keith who was injured during warm-ups.
His concluding remarks to Sid's question, “We had trouble getting off the field.” Kill, again, gave credit to Nebraska and their game plan. The game, like all games was lost up front on both sides of the ball.
2) Now that Minnesota has a “bye week,” Sid wanted to know what the practice schedule would be this coming week:
“We’ll practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,” Kill replied.
Kill didn’t dwell much about the practice schedule for the next two weeks, but, rather, “Need to find a way to get people back for Michigan.” Kill welcomes the bye-week, a chance to rest the players, hopefully get some of the injured players back, and as he said, a chance of getting the "players legs back." IMO, the week off could also help the teams mental state. Kill said it’s important that the coaches build the players up with confidence.
3) Sid asked if they expect to get some injured players back for Michigan:
Kill sounded uncertain when talking about the team’s injuries. Injured players that he mentioned included, “TC (Theiren Cockran) did something to his foot – doesn’t look good.” Kill also mentioned injuries to Alex Keith and Cody Poock in his remarks. Overall, Kill didn’t sound too positive when discussing the team’s health.
4) Dave Mona mentioned quarterback Mitch Leidner’s play in throwing the ball in the first-half as well as an injury to Leidner’s left hand:
Kill didn’t elaborate about Leidner’s injured hand other than that he had a glove covering the hand after it was injured.
However, Kill sounded very positive when describing Leidner’s play. “He played a great game . . . last drive or two he had to make a play . . . I thought he had a great game . . . He’s played a lot better than people give him credit for.”
He concluded, “tough day” for the Gophers. “Give Nebraska credit – a good team , , , Punt coverage was not good, that hurt us.”
5) Sid raised the topic of the Gophers pass rush, or lack thereof:
Kill didn’t say too much about the team’s pass rush; however, he did credit Nebraska offensive line of doing a good job protecting Tommie Armstrong.
He also said the Gopher defense not getting off the field on third down and not capitalizing on errors by the Cornhuskers were important factors in the game, “They fumbled the ball: we didn’t get it.”
6) Dave Mona cited the team’s injuries and having to play young players:
Kill answered that they’re “playing young . . . Tyler (lMoore) did a good job. We’ve got to get healed up . . . We have the players, must find a way to put it all together.”
His final remarks to the question were related to the team’s effort and the importance of the coaches building up the players: “They gave everything they have – came up short . . . Keep the kids confidence up . . . Coaches need to build them up.”
7) Sid asked about Nebraska’s defense and holding the Gophers to 65 yards rushing:
“They’re big up front, committed to (stopping) the run,” Kill replied.
Because the Gophers had trouble rushing the ball, they decided to throw short passes , “bubble screens and tight end screens, (they're) like a run.”
Kill said they had a good game plan; however, they missed some opportunities on offense in the first half.
Once again Kill credited Nebraska with running their game plan and playing a good game.
8) Dave Mona asked the final question which was related to the receiving corps. He said a lot of people were talking about KJ Maye’s game, but he said he was also impressed with Eric Carter and Drew Wolitarsky:
Kill sounded very positive when talking about the receiving corps: “Quarterback played well . . . receivers and tight ends played well.” He added that they’ve got to get KJ Maye and Brandon Lingen involved in the passing game, “I thought they did well . . . (making) plays after the catch.”
Go Gophers!!
