Coach Jerry Kill discussed yesterday’s win over MTSU with Sid Hartman and Dave Mona on ‘CCOs Sports Huddle.
1) Sid’s first question was about Kill’s personal relationship with TCU’s head coach, Gary Patterson: Kill said they go back a long ways . . . back to their days when they started coaching at the collegiate level – Pittsburgh State in Kansas. He said the personal relationship is very close, as is that of the respective coaching staffs . . . they've shared concepts on a regular basis, “Our coaches have gone back and forth sharing ideas.” He sounded as though he wished they were not on the schedule. He said more than once that TCU will be prepared for the Gophers and the Horned Frogs have the advantage of not playing this past weekend. In truth, he said TCU has had three weeks to prepare for next Saturday’s game with the Gophers.
2) Sid asked for Kill's analysis and “consensus” of yesterday’s game with MTSU: “We’ll watch (game film) as a staff in a couple hours,” replied Kill. “Where I feel right now: solid in first half . . . 2nd half didn’t do very good – not much energy . . . a lot of mistakes made . . . punt blocked (Kill said that hadn’t happened to a Kill coached team in long, long time) . . . a lot of work to do.” He gave passing reference to injuries (4-5 players suffered some form of injury), “Next guy has to come in . . . (need) coach them up.”
3) Sid asserted that the secondary struggled in yesterday’s game: Kill quickly replied,”Didn’t have much pressure on the quarterback . . . passing defense is a two-way street (defenisve front needs to put pressure on the opposing quarterback) . . . didn’t play as well as we should have.” He also credited the opponent, “Middle Tennessee was a bowl team (last season).”
4) Sid asked for a status report on Leidner’s knee injury: Sounding very concerned, “Don’t know. Very concerned . . . injury report this afternoon.” Kill said Leidner had an MRI of the injured knee. He also said 4-5 players went down yesterday with injuries; however, he won’t know the injury status of the players until later today.
5) Sid made the comment that the Gophers need to improve their passing game: “No question,” answered Kill. He went on to say that every team in the country has some area of the game that they need to improve. Kill’s comments were short and matter-of-fact.
6) The first part of Dave Mona’s question was blocked by a commercial; however, by Kill’s response, the query was related to play calling: “I think there are different situations (during the first part of the season) you don’t show everything,” replied Kill. Taking care of business, however, is extremely important: “You’ve got to execute what you’re doing . . . a lot of work to do – need to improve . . . It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s how you execute it.” Kill closed the question saying TCU will be well prepared for the Gophers, so it’s extremely important that they (Gophers) improve their play and as a team are prepared for the Horned Frogs.
7) Sid mentioned that the TCU Horned Frogs had a bye week on Saturday: Kill said TCU has a decided advantage having had a long time to prepare for the Gophers. He said TCU is healthy and has a strong defense, “Defensively as good as anyone we’ll play.”
8) Dave Mona mentioned the number of true freshmen that played in yesterday’s game: Kill said there were 3 true freshmen on the defensive line yesterday and 2 freshmen linebackers. At one time, there were six true freshmen on the field of play. He sounded pleased when talking about the new players: “They gave great effort . . . great players (albeit young) . . . now’s the time to do it (play freshmen players) – by the time we get to the Big 10 they have to be sophomores.” Defensive tackle Gary Moore had his redshirt pulled when he played in yesterday’s game. The Mobile, Alabama freshman was the only true freshmen to be cited by name during Kill’s response to Mona’s query.
9) Sid asked about Chris Streveler and whether or not he's prepared to start, if Leidner is unable to play next week: “He’ll do a good job: tremendous speed, smart kid, great competitor,” replied Kill. Sid followed up by asking if he can do the job coming in as a backup quarterback. (Laughing) “He can do the job,” answered Kill. Kill then added - sounding as though he wanted downplay unrealistic expectations - “Very few true freshmen can come in and dominate.” (Streveler is a redshirt freshman; however, he was injured much of last year.)
Dave Mona asked who the team’s third quarterback is at this time. Without hesitation, Kill quickly responded, “__________________.” (I hesitate to give a name since I experienced a break in the radio signal. So, please fill in the blank, if you were able to ascertain the name that was provided.)
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid’s first question was about Kill’s personal relationship with TCU’s head coach, Gary Patterson: Kill said they go back a long ways . . . back to their days when they started coaching at the collegiate level – Pittsburgh State in Kansas. He said the personal relationship is very close, as is that of the respective coaching staffs . . . they've shared concepts on a regular basis, “Our coaches have gone back and forth sharing ideas.” He sounded as though he wished they were not on the schedule. He said more than once that TCU will be prepared for the Gophers and the Horned Frogs have the advantage of not playing this past weekend. In truth, he said TCU has had three weeks to prepare for next Saturday’s game with the Gophers.
2) Sid asked for Kill's analysis and “consensus” of yesterday’s game with MTSU: “We’ll watch (game film) as a staff in a couple hours,” replied Kill. “Where I feel right now: solid in first half . . . 2nd half didn’t do very good – not much energy . . . a lot of mistakes made . . . punt blocked (Kill said that hadn’t happened to a Kill coached team in long, long time) . . . a lot of work to do.” He gave passing reference to injuries (4-5 players suffered some form of injury), “Next guy has to come in . . . (need) coach them up.”
3) Sid asserted that the secondary struggled in yesterday’s game: Kill quickly replied,”Didn’t have much pressure on the quarterback . . . passing defense is a two-way street (defenisve front needs to put pressure on the opposing quarterback) . . . didn’t play as well as we should have.” He also credited the opponent, “Middle Tennessee was a bowl team (last season).”
4) Sid asked for a status report on Leidner’s knee injury: Sounding very concerned, “Don’t know. Very concerned . . . injury report this afternoon.” Kill said Leidner had an MRI of the injured knee. He also said 4-5 players went down yesterday with injuries; however, he won’t know the injury status of the players until later today.
5) Sid made the comment that the Gophers need to improve their passing game: “No question,” answered Kill. He went on to say that every team in the country has some area of the game that they need to improve. Kill’s comments were short and matter-of-fact.
6) The first part of Dave Mona’s question was blocked by a commercial; however, by Kill’s response, the query was related to play calling: “I think there are different situations (during the first part of the season) you don’t show everything,” replied Kill. Taking care of business, however, is extremely important: “You’ve got to execute what you’re doing . . . a lot of work to do – need to improve . . . It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s how you execute it.” Kill closed the question saying TCU will be well prepared for the Gophers, so it’s extremely important that they (Gophers) improve their play and as a team are prepared for the Horned Frogs.
7) Sid mentioned that the TCU Horned Frogs had a bye week on Saturday: Kill said TCU has a decided advantage having had a long time to prepare for the Gophers. He said TCU is healthy and has a strong defense, “Defensively as good as anyone we’ll play.”
8) Dave Mona mentioned the number of true freshmen that played in yesterday’s game: Kill said there were 3 true freshmen on the defensive line yesterday and 2 freshmen linebackers. At one time, there were six true freshmen on the field of play. He sounded pleased when talking about the new players: “They gave great effort . . . great players (albeit young) . . . now’s the time to do it (play freshmen players) – by the time we get to the Big 10 they have to be sophomores.” Defensive tackle Gary Moore had his redshirt pulled when he played in yesterday’s game. The Mobile, Alabama freshman was the only true freshmen to be cited by name during Kill’s response to Mona’s query.
9) Sid asked about Chris Streveler and whether or not he's prepared to start, if Leidner is unable to play next week: “He’ll do a good job: tremendous speed, smart kid, great competitor,” replied Kill. Sid followed up by asking if he can do the job coming in as a backup quarterback. (Laughing) “He can do the job,” answered Kill. Kill then added - sounding as though he wanted downplay unrealistic expectations - “Very few true freshmen can come in and dominate.” (Streveler is a redshirt freshman; however, he was injured much of last year.)
Dave Mona asked who the team’s third quarterback is at this time. Without hesitation, Kill quickly responded, “__________________.” (I hesitate to give a name since I experienced a break in the radio signal. So, please fill in the blank, if you were able to ascertain the name that was provided.)
Go Gophers!!
