GopherHole's Sports Huddle Summary: Coach Jerry Kill - 10/26/14

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DL65

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Responses and comments by Coach Jerry Kill on CCOs Sports Huddle, which was a little shorter than in previous weeks due to a meeting with players and staff. Much of the discussion focused on yesterday’s loss to the ‘Fighting Illini,’ 28-24.

1) Sid opened the show opining that you can’t win turning the ball over and that quarterback Mitch Leidner did not have a good game: Coach Kill said the formula to winning is playing error free ball and winning the kicking game, “Didn’t win field position (kicking game) and we turned the ball over.” Later in the show, he said the team didn’t play well up front in the trenches.

Coach Kill did not discuss the play of Mitch Leidner, but, rather, he accepted the blame for the loss numerous times.

2) Sid then cited the missed field goal by Ryan Santoso as a pivotal point in the game. Prior to Kill’s response, Sid also acknowledged the fumble by David Cobb was also major factor in the loss: “There’s a lot of things that led up to the situation,” said Kill. (There was short break/interruption in the broadcast after Kill’s initial response.)

When radio coverage returned, Kill said the Gophers are a tired football team, have a tough four-game stretch coming up, and that they must get ready for their next opponent, Iowa.

3) In talking to Coach Kill and his staff last week, Sid said the coaches were concerned with Illinois and their offensive coordinator: “You always respect your opponent,” replied Kill. Having a week off to prepare for the Gophers was a plus for the Illini, according to Kill, as they threw in a few wrinkles (different formations) that they hadn’t shown in previous games; however, they - the Gophers - did make the necessary adjustments.

Kill’s comments focused on what the Gophers did wrong and not what the Illini did well, as the reason for the loss: “We didn’t execute . . . We had three great practices . . . we had great preparation and practices . . . All three phases – we didn’t play well . . . I didn’t coach well enough . . . I have to look at myself and make sure it doesn’t happen again . . . Players must play fast and fresh . . . (We must) Take care of business . . . Get yesterday’s game behind us.” The Bye Week is coming at the right time, according to Kill. The week off will allow the team to recuperate (get “fresh”) and get healed physically and mentally.

4) Dave Mona asked a two part question: Long pass to Isaac Fruechte that he apparently lost in the sun and the quick whistle by the officiating crew when the Gophers recovered the ball after the Illini threw a backward pass: Kill said the sun in the fourth quarter impacted the receivers’ ability to catch the ball when looking back, especially for passes down the center of the field. For that reason many of the subsequent passes were on the “edges.” Kill said Fruechte did lose the ball in the sunlight.

As to the quick whistle, “Once they blew the whistle, you didn’t get to pick up the ball run.” There were no further comments related to the quick whistle.

5) Dave Mona raised a question about the Gophers losing to Illinois and the disappointment of fans, especially those that are relatively new Gopher followers: In his response, Kill initially focused on the positives and then his disappointment, with no excuses: “We’re 6 and 2 . . . we lost the game . . . We’re building a program – changing the culture . . . Nobody takes a loss harder than I do . . . Good time to apologize to the state (Gopher fans) for letting them down.”

6) Sid asked for an injury report: Kill quickly responded, “Berkley Edwards got sick the night before . . . Four (players) sick on the sideline . . . (Grimace in voice) Drew Wolitarsky has a high ankle sprain . . . Alex Keith (left the game) knee injury . . . Ben Lauer (left but returned with) ankle sprain . . . Good time for an off-week (to recover physically and mentally).”

His closing comment: “Games we lost (TCU and Illinois) (poor) field position and turned the ball over . . . didn’t play well up front.”

7) This week’s final comment was by Sid Hartman. He mentioned Ohio State’s last night’s win over Penn State (2 OT). Sid believes the Gophers will have a chance when they play the Buckeyes in three week at TCF Bank Stadium.

After Sid finished his weekly utterance about tickets to Murrays, Mona interjected, (laughing, as did Kill) “Be sure you take Rebecca (Kill’s wife) not Rachel.” (Carryover humor from last week’s show, when Sid said to take Rachel to Murrays.)



Go Gophers!!
 

DL65 said:
5) Dave Mona raised a question about the Gophers losing to Illinois and the disappointment of fans, especially those that are relatively new Gopher followers: In his response, Kill initially focused on the positives and then his disappointment, with no excuses: “We’re 6 and 2 . . . we lost the game . . . We’re building a program – changing the culture . . . Nobody takes a loss harder than I do . . . Good time to apologize to the state (Gopher fans) for letting them down.”
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Great summary as always DL.

I've pulled this part out to add that Coach actually did apologize to the fans and State of Minnesota for the loss. Done straight up without any prompting.

I can't recall ever an HC apologizing for a loss.

Probably does happen more than I think. Regardless, apology accepted from the Billds.

Go Gophers! Learn from the film!
 

BilldGopher said:
Great summary as always DL.

I've pulled this part out to add that Coach actually did apologize to the fans and State of Minnesota for the loss. Done straight up without any prompting.

I can't recall ever an HC apologizing for a loss.

Probably does happen more than I think. Regardless, apology accepted from the Billds.

Go Gophers! Learn from the film!
Click to expand...

After every loss Kill says it was his fault....every single one. As for apologizing, I could care less about an apology. Get the team ready to play so you don't look lost in the first half.

Thanks as always for the summary DL, I rarely get a chance to listen on Sundays.
 

MNVCGUY said:
After every loss Kill says it was his fault....every single one. As for apologizing, I could care less about an apology. Get the team ready to play so you don't look lost in the first half.

Thanks as always for the summary DL, I rarely get a chance to listen on Sundays.
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I would have to agree. He is covering up for his players. Come on guys I'm still with you despite a lost opportunity.
 

MNVCGUY said:
After every loss Kill says it was his fault....every single one. As for apologizing, I could care less about an apology. Get the team ready to play so you don't look lost in the first half.

Thanks as always for the summary DL, I rarely get a chance to listen on Sundays.
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Agree with all that except there's a possibility that a few times, like the last two weeks for example, where an apology is certainly appropriate.

Hope they get healthy and everybody concerned performs like they did in the 3rd Quarter yesterday in the weeks to come.
 


MNVCGUY said:
After every loss Kill says it was his fault....every single one. As for apologizing, I could care less about an apology. Get the team ready to play so you don't look lost in the first half.

Thanks as always for the summary DL, I rarely get a chance to listen on Sundays.
Click to expand...


I would appreciate it if he would convey his apology by not losing to Wisconsin for the 4th consecutive time. Or Iowa for the third straight time.
 


ruppertflywheel said:
"We have a tired football team " ? Interesting.
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I didn't really get that either. They just had a bye week a few weeks ago so there really is no reason they should be tired at this point or at least any more tired then any other team would have a right to be.
 

I Agree

ruppertflywheel said:
"We have a tired football team " ? Interesting.
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Huh? How in the world is a 6 and 1 team coming off a miracle win, tired? How is a 6 and 1 team with the opportunity
to grab history by the throat...most wins ever...West division title etc etc , tired?

That's either clueless or they are doing something very wrong in practice, weight training etc

How can you not be excited, amped to play? We are not 1 and 6 .... then I'd fully understand a tired football team.
We just had a bye. Like so many comments there has to be more to that statement.

Is the team David Cobb?
If so, then I'd agree...Cobb was either hurt or definitely visibly tired after scoring his touchdown and all game following.
Very uncharacteristic body language for Cobb.

I'll say this...they played looking tired. No emotion. Missed tackles, lack of focus. Who besides Wilson played with energy?
 



Let's not overanalyze what Kill says. He takes the blame, but you know he blames others. He also comes up with excuses for his team to take the focus off them - publicly.
 

"Coach Kill, we have pissy, half-drunk Studwell55 on the line. He has a question"

"Yeah, Coach, has a Gopher team under your direction ever played 4 good quarters? We haven't played three good quarters yet this year. I"ll hang up and listen (belch)"
 


I think the tired comment is the d-line. The three true freshmen will be ganging on for dear life over the final four games.
 



Tired? Well look at how many Fr we are playing on the Dline. How many Oline that have been injured/out/playing out of position.

I get tired on the lines. Got to suck it up tho. We have a week off and then our 4 biggest games of the year.

Win 2 and this is a good year, win 3 and this a great year. win 1 and this is a typical Mason year. Win none and expect Brewster comparisons to come roaring back. (Please don't let that happen!)
 

GopherinPhilly said:
Tired? Well look at how many Fr we are playing on the Dline. How many Oline that have been injured/out/playing out of position.

I get tired on the lines. Got to suck it up tho. We have a week off and then our 4 biggest games of the year.

Win 2 and this is a good year, win 3 and this a great year. win 1 and this is a typical Mason year. Win none and expect Brewster comparisons to come roaring back. (Please don't let that happen!)
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I think the bold is a pretty fair breakdown. I'd like to add that if we win four, we might resume discussion about renaming TCF Bank Stadium as Jerry Kill Field.
 



Not encouraged by the tired FB team comments for the next four games. Cobb has clearly been over used, and if he dos not have confidence in the other playing TBs, we should have played the Fr from GA earlier.
Getting to even 7 is now a lot harder especially with that many freshmen on the dline. 8 looks really tough.
 

corcoran1 said:
Not encouraged by the tired FB team comments for the next four games. Cobb has clearly been over used, and if he dos not have confidence in the other playing TBs, we should have played the Fr from GA earlier.
Getting to even 7 is now a lot harder especially with that many freshmen on the dline. 8 looks really tough.
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Agree with the bolded.
 

corcoran1 said:
Not encouraged by the tired FB team comments for the next four games. Cobb has clearly been over used, and if he dos not have confidence in the other playing [RBs], we should have played the Fr from GA earlier..
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It's too early to tell whether Cobb has actually been overused. At this point, he's had a single game where he was held in check (other than the 67 yarder). I am not ready to blame that on his being used too much. If he has a string of 3-4 games where he doesn't run with the same ferocity, then I'll think about conceding that he should get less use. It is possible for the other team to effectively defend the run, especially given that our O-Line has lacked consistency (in both personnel and performance), and that was what it looked like against Illinois. They effectively sold out against the run, daring us to beat them through the air.

If Freuchte doesn't lose that (well thrown) pass in the sun, it likely goes for a TD. As I recall, that was one a number of plays set up by play-action, which supports the idea that Illinois was determined to stop/slow Cobb. Granted, we need Mitch and the WR's to become more consistent, but we knew that going into the season. As coach Kill often says, we have to make plays to be successful. When the run isn't working, we need the players to capitalize on the pass plays that are designed to take advantage of the D's focus on the run. We can point out a number of plays where we've had opportunities that were missed, either because of errant throws or drops. That's evidence that we were in position to make plays (evidence of good coaching and play calling), but we just didn't make them.

My hope is that this is simply due to the relative youth and inexperience of our QB and WR's, who should become more confident and comfortable through experience. We'll know more after this year, when the (likely) starting QB and WRs will be JRs or rJRs.

Going back to Cobb - I would be willing to bet that his production goes down over the next four games, unless we can successfully complete more pass plays. I know this isn't any sort of news flash, but as we all know this stretch of games is against the toughest opponents we'll face (excepting TCU). Without the QB and WRs making some plays, Cobb and the rest of the RBs are likely to struggle.
 

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