Coach Kill’s comments and responses to questions on today’s Sports Huddle concerning yesterday’s 30-7 loss to TCU.
1) Sid asked if he (Kill) had looked at the TCU game film, and the difference in play between the second half and that of the first half: Kill succinctly replied, “You can’t turn the ball over and win.” He added, “tough sledding . . . didn’t execute at times . . . played hard but didn’t execute . . . couldn’t hold (their) blocks."
Kill saluted TCU’s defense: “About as good (defense that they’ve faced) since we’ve been here.” Kill frequently mentioned the speed of TCU’s front four and the disruption they caused in Minnesota’s blocking.
He also said the failures in the team’s execution was often by an individual not holding a block, but it’s a team game and the missteps didn’t rest on any one player.
2) Sid asked for an injury report related to Mitch Leidner: Kill was non-committal in his response: “We’ll just have to see – don’t know.”
Kill’s responses turned to the game and future games. He said individually there were some positives, however, as a team there were disappointments. Again, he talked about team execution, “One of those (games) you forget and move forward.”
3) Mona briefly mentioned the TCU defense; however, he said he was also impressed with the Horned Frogs offense, especially one offensive receiver (great catches): Kill said, “(TCU) Played one game with the new offense . . . great offensive skills . . . similar to Baylor . . . We (defensive backs) had them covered – they made plays (good quarterback and receivers) . . . (TCU) Front four put on pressure (disrupting Gopher passing game) . . . They have a good football team . . . (Minnesota) Room for improvement.”
4) Sid asked the effect of having five players going down with ACL injuries in practice and the first two games: Kill replied, “We’ve only lost one game – can’t use those things as excuses.”
Kill mentioned the injury to Jonah Pirsig in the Middle Tennessee game and that David Cobb had an ankle injury that inhibited the practice time of the two offensive players. He added, “We’re not in the Big 10 yet . . . need to get healed up and play hard.”
Kill finished the query crediting TCU and the need to improve their play: “They outplayed us in areas . . . we need to find a way to execute better.”
5) Sid asked about the offensive line’s protection against TCU’s defensive front: “It’s a team deal . . . combination of one person making a physical mistake (not holding block) . . . execution – some great things and not so good things.”
6) Dave Mona mentioned Christ Streveler’s running ability and asked Kill for his impressions of Chris’s passing: “Threw a touchdown pass . . . he can run the ball . . . threw some short passes . . . He can throw the ball . . . Run and passing takes all eleven players.,” said Kill. Once again, Kill stressed that often a play will break down because of one player; however, it’s a team game and proper execution takes place when all eleven players carry out their assignments.
7) Sid asked if they plan to take off some more redshirts: Kill answered Sid’s query, “Don’t need to make decision before Big 10 play . . . don’t want to do that (burn anymore redshirts).”
8) Sid asked if true freshman quarterback Dimonic McKinzy is ready and will see action: Kill put the question to rest (burning his redshirt), “Wouldn’t be in his (McKinzy) best interest.”
9) Sid asked about the Gophers upcoming opponent, San Jose State University: “We have to be prepared . . . similar to the group that was in here (last season) . . . Kids played hard (yesterday) . . . can’t turn over the ball five times . . . Five turnovers – that’s the ballgame.”
10) Kill was asked about team injuries: Focusing on the offensive line, Kill responded, “We need continuity . . . Losing Caleb Bak hurt . . . We need everyone 100% (not 80 or 90%) . . . Seems we get one back and then lose one . . . We’ve got to do the fundamental things.”
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid asked if he (Kill) had looked at the TCU game film, and the difference in play between the second half and that of the first half: Kill succinctly replied, “You can’t turn the ball over and win.” He added, “tough sledding . . . didn’t execute at times . . . played hard but didn’t execute . . . couldn’t hold (their) blocks."
Kill saluted TCU’s defense: “About as good (defense that they’ve faced) since we’ve been here.” Kill frequently mentioned the speed of TCU’s front four and the disruption they caused in Minnesota’s blocking.
He also said the failures in the team’s execution was often by an individual not holding a block, but it’s a team game and the missteps didn’t rest on any one player.
2) Sid asked for an injury report related to Mitch Leidner: Kill was non-committal in his response: “We’ll just have to see – don’t know.”
Kill’s responses turned to the game and future games. He said individually there were some positives, however, as a team there were disappointments. Again, he talked about team execution, “One of those (games) you forget and move forward.”
3) Mona briefly mentioned the TCU defense; however, he said he was also impressed with the Horned Frogs offense, especially one offensive receiver (great catches): Kill said, “(TCU) Played one game with the new offense . . . great offensive skills . . . similar to Baylor . . . We (defensive backs) had them covered – they made plays (good quarterback and receivers) . . . (TCU) Front four put on pressure (disrupting Gopher passing game) . . . They have a good football team . . . (Minnesota) Room for improvement.”
4) Sid asked the effect of having five players going down with ACL injuries in practice and the first two games: Kill replied, “We’ve only lost one game – can’t use those things as excuses.”
Kill mentioned the injury to Jonah Pirsig in the Middle Tennessee game and that David Cobb had an ankle injury that inhibited the practice time of the two offensive players. He added, “We’re not in the Big 10 yet . . . need to get healed up and play hard.”
Kill finished the query crediting TCU and the need to improve their play: “They outplayed us in areas . . . we need to find a way to execute better.”
5) Sid asked about the offensive line’s protection against TCU’s defensive front: “It’s a team deal . . . combination of one person making a physical mistake (not holding block) . . . execution – some great things and not so good things.”
6) Dave Mona mentioned Christ Streveler’s running ability and asked Kill for his impressions of Chris’s passing: “Threw a touchdown pass . . . he can run the ball . . . threw some short passes . . . He can throw the ball . . . Run and passing takes all eleven players.,” said Kill. Once again, Kill stressed that often a play will break down because of one player; however, it’s a team game and proper execution takes place when all eleven players carry out their assignments.
7) Sid asked if they plan to take off some more redshirts: Kill answered Sid’s query, “Don’t need to make decision before Big 10 play . . . don’t want to do that (burn anymore redshirts).”
8) Sid asked if true freshman quarterback Dimonic McKinzy is ready and will see action: Kill put the question to rest (burning his redshirt), “Wouldn’t be in his (McKinzy) best interest.”
9) Sid asked about the Gophers upcoming opponent, San Jose State University: “We have to be prepared . . . similar to the group that was in here (last season) . . . Kids played hard (yesterday) . . . can’t turn over the ball five times . . . Five turnovers – that’s the ballgame.”
10) Kill was asked about team injuries: Focusing on the offensive line, Kill responded, “We need continuity . . . Losing Caleb Bak hurt . . . We need everyone 100% (not 80 or 90%) . . . Seems we get one back and then lose one . . . We’ve got to do the fundamental things.”
Go Gophers!!
