It's great to be back after a two week hiatus. A hat tip to bleedgopher for his outstanding Sports Huddle update last Sunday.
Today's questions by Sid and Dave and coach Kill's responses are as follows:
1) Sid asked what was accomplished during Minnesota's bye week: Kill replied, "Biggest thing, we're pretty beat up . . . (need to) get healed up . . . practices were shorter . . . held some players out . . . (now) get a day ahead in preparation for Wisconsin."
2) Sid asked about injuries: As usual, Kill was non-committal about specific players and injuries, "We'll know a lot more when we get into Tuesday." He ended the question by saying they'll be "careful today." I'm confident he was talking about the players that have been nursing injuries and those with nagging bumps and bruises.
3) Sid asked about the upcoming (3) practices for Wisconsin: "We've got to execute on offense and defense," said Kill. He then turned his attention to special teams, "Players need to step up on special teams . . . depth problems at this time of year." Again, he was talking about players that need to heal up that play offense and defense that are members of the special teams. He sounded pleased with the team's special team play; however, he did sound concerned about the bumps and bruises that occur in a long season. He added, everyone (teams) is experiencing the same problems at this time of year and depth for some is a real problem.
4) Sid asked about Nelson (alluding to his bumps and bruises): "Not having to play (this past week) helped . . . Phil and Mitch got a lot of reps (during practices)," He concluded, "Sometimes you don't want an off week when you're on a roll."
5) Sid asked if Kill watched the Wisconsin - Indiana game: Kill said they watched the game and, of course, they'll be looking at yesterday's game film and previous games played by the Badgers.
Kill cited and praised the play of Badger linebacker Chris Borland, "Great linebacker." He said the Badgers are strong on defense, offense and special teams. They have a new defense (different from last year) and they haven't missed a beat. According to Kill, the Badgers are very underrated and really only have one loss, which was to Ohio State (he said their loss to Arizona State University was "unique").
6) Sid asked how they would defend against Wisconsin's running game - White and Gordon: Kill quickly responded (with a chuckle), they have three great running backs and cited the freshman running back that ran well yesterday against the Hoosiers.
Kill said Wisconsin's offense is very good, and has been since Barry Alvarez's arrival at Madison. They're big in the line . . . running backs run hard. When you focus on the run game (stack the line) they'll hurt you with play action passing. He mentioned Amberderis's (?) name a couple times, as being a top notch receiver.
7) Mona told Kill that he had heard the starting time for Saturday's game is set for 2:30 p.m.: Kill (laughing) said he hadn't heard the starting time ("We've been busy"), however, they've been wondering when the game (kickoff) would be set. At the end of the Coach Kill segment, Mona confirmed the start of the Wisconsin - Minnesota game at 2:30 p.m. and that Gameday would be in Stillwater, Oklahoma - site of the Baylor/Oklahoma State game.
8) Mona asked how recruiting was going and if there would be recruits at Saturday's game: Kill said there will be 11 official visits. He went on to say they want to get the recruits on official visits to games so that they can experience the game day atmosphere (he acknowledged they do their recruiting/visits somewhat different from other schools). They have to draw on game day experience of TCF Bank Stadium for official and unofficial visits alike.
Kill said recruiting is going well and that there are only so many days left for evaluation. After the Michigan State game, the coaching staff will be on the road for two straight weeks . . . hitting the recruiting trails hard.
9) Mona said he had a friend that reported seeing Tracy Claeys on the same flight he was on: Kill mentioned Claeys and Bill Miller being out recruiting early last week and then returned for practices.
10) Sid asked about seniors playing and did they have good players waiting in the wings: Kill said they will lose 12 seniors at season's end. He was very pleased and proud of the senior class. He mentioned all that they went through and that they stuck it out with the coaching changes . . . they bought into the system and "appreciate everyone" (seniors).
Kill, again, said recruiting is going well, "This class could be a good one." He reiterated that they've only had two recruiting classes and you need three classes for depth.
He sounded excited when he mentioned redshirt Berkley Edwards' name, "Lightning in a bottle."
He finished the question saying how proud he is of the seniors.
11) Sid asked about redshirts - Mona said, according his numbers there are 13 freshman being redshirted plus PWOs: Kill answered the question by saying they're on track; however, he acknowledged it was easier at Northern Illinois when he was the coach of the Huskies. Kill and his staff had to contend with Minnesota's APR and the academic woes facing the team when they arrived. However, he sounded very positive in answering the query, especially at the end: "Our best years are ahead of us."
12) The question about the staff's longevity: Kill spoke at length about his coaching staff and how proud he is of them as coaches and people. He mentioned loyalty and that "We have a good nucleus." He tries to do all he can to improve their development and help them improve themselves and their career plans. He stressed the importance of taking care of your own (getting good salaries for his assistants). A good work environment is also very important . . . having fun when you come to work . . . some of his coaches have been offered more money by other teams, but they've opted to stay with the team (loyalty),"We enjoy each other and it's good to see people grow." He likened the coaching staff to "Band of Brothers." He said Bill Miller was offered a job at Tennessee and turned it down.
13) Sid went at length complimenting Kill and his coaching staff and then asked about MSU: Kill said, "We need to be consistent . . . play as we've been playing . . . (which is ) the formula for the next two games . . . play hard and good things happen.
He cited the Auburn - Georgia game, as an example, of two teams playing hard and good things happening (Auburn winning on catching a deflected pass for the winning touchdown).
Go Gophers!!
Today's questions by Sid and Dave and coach Kill's responses are as follows:
1) Sid asked what was accomplished during Minnesota's bye week: Kill replied, "Biggest thing, we're pretty beat up . . . (need to) get healed up . . . practices were shorter . . . held some players out . . . (now) get a day ahead in preparation for Wisconsin."
2) Sid asked about injuries: As usual, Kill was non-committal about specific players and injuries, "We'll know a lot more when we get into Tuesday." He ended the question by saying they'll be "careful today." I'm confident he was talking about the players that have been nursing injuries and those with nagging bumps and bruises.
3) Sid asked about the upcoming (3) practices for Wisconsin: "We've got to execute on offense and defense," said Kill. He then turned his attention to special teams, "Players need to step up on special teams . . . depth problems at this time of year." Again, he was talking about players that need to heal up that play offense and defense that are members of the special teams. He sounded pleased with the team's special team play; however, he did sound concerned about the bumps and bruises that occur in a long season. He added, everyone (teams) is experiencing the same problems at this time of year and depth for some is a real problem.
4) Sid asked about Nelson (alluding to his bumps and bruises): "Not having to play (this past week) helped . . . Phil and Mitch got a lot of reps (during practices)," He concluded, "Sometimes you don't want an off week when you're on a roll."
5) Sid asked if Kill watched the Wisconsin - Indiana game: Kill said they watched the game and, of course, they'll be looking at yesterday's game film and previous games played by the Badgers.
Kill cited and praised the play of Badger linebacker Chris Borland, "Great linebacker." He said the Badgers are strong on defense, offense and special teams. They have a new defense (different from last year) and they haven't missed a beat. According to Kill, the Badgers are very underrated and really only have one loss, which was to Ohio State (he said their loss to Arizona State University was "unique").
6) Sid asked how they would defend against Wisconsin's running game - White and Gordon: Kill quickly responded (with a chuckle), they have three great running backs and cited the freshman running back that ran well yesterday against the Hoosiers.
Kill said Wisconsin's offense is very good, and has been since Barry Alvarez's arrival at Madison. They're big in the line . . . running backs run hard. When you focus on the run game (stack the line) they'll hurt you with play action passing. He mentioned Amberderis's (?) name a couple times, as being a top notch receiver.
7) Mona told Kill that he had heard the starting time for Saturday's game is set for 2:30 p.m.: Kill (laughing) said he hadn't heard the starting time ("We've been busy"), however, they've been wondering when the game (kickoff) would be set. At the end of the Coach Kill segment, Mona confirmed the start of the Wisconsin - Minnesota game at 2:30 p.m. and that Gameday would be in Stillwater, Oklahoma - site of the Baylor/Oklahoma State game.
8) Mona asked how recruiting was going and if there would be recruits at Saturday's game: Kill said there will be 11 official visits. He went on to say they want to get the recruits on official visits to games so that they can experience the game day atmosphere (he acknowledged they do their recruiting/visits somewhat different from other schools). They have to draw on game day experience of TCF Bank Stadium for official and unofficial visits alike.
Kill said recruiting is going well and that there are only so many days left for evaluation. After the Michigan State game, the coaching staff will be on the road for two straight weeks . . . hitting the recruiting trails hard.
9) Mona said he had a friend that reported seeing Tracy Claeys on the same flight he was on: Kill mentioned Claeys and Bill Miller being out recruiting early last week and then returned for practices.
10) Sid asked about seniors playing and did they have good players waiting in the wings: Kill said they will lose 12 seniors at season's end. He was very pleased and proud of the senior class. He mentioned all that they went through and that they stuck it out with the coaching changes . . . they bought into the system and "appreciate everyone" (seniors).
Kill, again, said recruiting is going well, "This class could be a good one." He reiterated that they've only had two recruiting classes and you need three classes for depth.
He sounded excited when he mentioned redshirt Berkley Edwards' name, "Lightning in a bottle."
He finished the question saying how proud he is of the seniors.
11) Sid asked about redshirts - Mona said, according his numbers there are 13 freshman being redshirted plus PWOs: Kill answered the question by saying they're on track; however, he acknowledged it was easier at Northern Illinois when he was the coach of the Huskies. Kill and his staff had to contend with Minnesota's APR and the academic woes facing the team when they arrived. However, he sounded very positive in answering the query, especially at the end: "Our best years are ahead of us."
12) The question about the staff's longevity: Kill spoke at length about his coaching staff and how proud he is of them as coaches and people. He mentioned loyalty and that "We have a good nucleus." He tries to do all he can to improve their development and help them improve themselves and their career plans. He stressed the importance of taking care of your own (getting good salaries for his assistants). A good work environment is also very important . . . having fun when you come to work . . . some of his coaches have been offered more money by other teams, but they've opted to stay with the team (loyalty),"We enjoy each other and it's good to see people grow." He likened the coaching staff to "Band of Brothers." He said Bill Miller was offered a job at Tennessee and turned it down.
13) Sid went at length complimenting Kill and his coaching staff and then asked about MSU: Kill said, "We need to be consistent . . . play as we've been playing . . . (which is ) the formula for the next two games . . . play hard and good things happen.
He cited the Auburn - Georgia game, as an example, of two teams playing hard and good things happening (Auburn winning on catching a deflected pass for the winning touchdown).
Go Gophers!!
