Tracy Claeys appeared on the Sports Huddle at his usual 10:30 a.m. time slot and Dave Mona returned to the weekly show after having the day off last Sunday.
1) Sid said he had talked to Mitch Leidner and according to Sid, Mitch Leidner expects to be available for the second half of spring ball:
Claeys replied, “Power of positive thinking is a good thing.” He added a decision as to whether or not he participates in spring drills is up to the medical staff - “Not sure for spring just yet.”
2) Sid asked about the newly signed players that reported in January and if he’s impressed with their abilities:
“The kids that came in who will help right away (Juco players) Garrison Wright and Vincent Calhoun . . . (they have) good feet and over three hundred pounds – road grader type blocking.” Claeys responded to Sid’s query. He also hastened to add redshirt freshman Nick Connelly’s name as one who has worked hard and has looked good in off-season workouts.
On the defensive side of the ball, Claeys mentioned Juco defensive lineman Merrick Jackson who he expects to make an immediate impact on the defensive front.
3) Sid asked what the coaches can do as far as coaching in the off-season:
Claeys said they’re limited in what they can do. They can only work with individual players and not as a team. Their primary focus when they’re instructing/coaching a player is fundamentals and footwork.
The biggest emphasis in the off-season, according to coach Claeys, is strength and conditioning . . . “want the kids stronger . . . body mass.”
4) Dave Mona said he had been talking an individual who said that each week the name of Seth Green is raised but seldom is Demry Croft mentioned. So Dave asked Claeys to talk about Demry Croft’s ability as a quarterback:
“Demry has size and height to extend the play . . . Demry is highly competitive . . . (I) feel good about our quarterbacks . . . exciting competition (this spring) between Seth and Demry,” Claeys replied. Claeys sounded not only positive about the potential of Seth Green and Demry Croft, but one could hear his excitement and that he is looking forward to spring drills and the competition between the two young quarterbacks.
He also mentioned freshman quarterback from Jackson, Alabama, Mark Williams. Williams will arrive on campus in June, participate in summer workouts, and will practice when fall camp arrives in August.
5) Sid asked about Chris Streveler and his move to the receiving corps:
Claeys answered, “Chris is going to graduate this spring . . . (spring ball is about) position chart as opposed to depth chart . . . (We’ll) work hard to help him find a role.” His role, apparently, would in the receiving corps.
6) Sid said he was impressed with the new coaches (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson and offensive line coach Bart Miller) and he thinks they will help in recruiting:
Claeys sounded very positive when he briefly talked about the new coaches. “They’re honest, genuine people.” He said the duo helped in getting the last couple recruits in this year’s class.
He closed the question saying, “All of our attention is on spring ball . . . recruiting, looking at 2017 (recruits).
7) Dave Mona asked if any of the team’s walk-ons have received scholarships:
“This semester, Adekunle Avinde from Blaine and Conor Rhoda . . . we’ll see going into fall camp.” A name mentioned that’s related to his final comment is Blake Cashman.
The importance of a solid walk-on program in practices, “Walk-ons help you win games!”
8) Dave Mona asked Claeys if he thought Peter Mortell will make it in the NFL:
Claeys positively answered, “He’ll definitely have a chance . . . They (NFL) like consistency . . . He’s been consistent with us!”
9) Sid asked if anymore scholarships have been awarded:
“Not that I know,” Claeys replied.
Since Signing Day, Claeys said he gave the coaches time off to be with their families.
And once again, he said their focus is now on spring ball. After spring ball they’ll be discussing where they need help. So it’s possible that they could offer an unsigned player; however, it didn’t sound with any certainty that that will be the case.
10) Dave Mona asked the final question, which was related to open practices during spring drills:
Claeys said the first four practices will be closed to the public; however, the fifth practice will be opened to spectators.
After spring break, when they resume drills, Tuesdays will be closed practices, but Saturdays will be open to the public.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid said he had talked to Mitch Leidner and according to Sid, Mitch Leidner expects to be available for the second half of spring ball:
Claeys replied, “Power of positive thinking is a good thing.” He added a decision as to whether or not he participates in spring drills is up to the medical staff - “Not sure for spring just yet.”
2) Sid asked about the newly signed players that reported in January and if he’s impressed with their abilities:
“The kids that came in who will help right away (Juco players) Garrison Wright and Vincent Calhoun . . . (they have) good feet and over three hundred pounds – road grader type blocking.” Claeys responded to Sid’s query. He also hastened to add redshirt freshman Nick Connelly’s name as one who has worked hard and has looked good in off-season workouts.
On the defensive side of the ball, Claeys mentioned Juco defensive lineman Merrick Jackson who he expects to make an immediate impact on the defensive front.
3) Sid asked what the coaches can do as far as coaching in the off-season:
Claeys said they’re limited in what they can do. They can only work with individual players and not as a team. Their primary focus when they’re instructing/coaching a player is fundamentals and footwork.
The biggest emphasis in the off-season, according to coach Claeys, is strength and conditioning . . . “want the kids stronger . . . body mass.”
4) Dave Mona said he had been talking an individual who said that each week the name of Seth Green is raised but seldom is Demry Croft mentioned. So Dave asked Claeys to talk about Demry Croft’s ability as a quarterback:
“Demry has size and height to extend the play . . . Demry is highly competitive . . . (I) feel good about our quarterbacks . . . exciting competition (this spring) between Seth and Demry,” Claeys replied. Claeys sounded not only positive about the potential of Seth Green and Demry Croft, but one could hear his excitement and that he is looking forward to spring drills and the competition between the two young quarterbacks.
He also mentioned freshman quarterback from Jackson, Alabama, Mark Williams. Williams will arrive on campus in June, participate in summer workouts, and will practice when fall camp arrives in August.
5) Sid asked about Chris Streveler and his move to the receiving corps:
Claeys answered, “Chris is going to graduate this spring . . . (spring ball is about) position chart as opposed to depth chart . . . (We’ll) work hard to help him find a role.” His role, apparently, would in the receiving corps.
6) Sid said he was impressed with the new coaches (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson and offensive line coach Bart Miller) and he thinks they will help in recruiting:
Claeys sounded very positive when he briefly talked about the new coaches. “They’re honest, genuine people.” He said the duo helped in getting the last couple recruits in this year’s class.
He closed the question saying, “All of our attention is on spring ball . . . recruiting, looking at 2017 (recruits).
7) Dave Mona asked if any of the team’s walk-ons have received scholarships:
“This semester, Adekunle Avinde from Blaine and Conor Rhoda . . . we’ll see going into fall camp.” A name mentioned that’s related to his final comment is Blake Cashman.
The importance of a solid walk-on program in practices, “Walk-ons help you win games!”
8) Dave Mona asked Claeys if he thought Peter Mortell will make it in the NFL:
Claeys positively answered, “He’ll definitely have a chance . . . They (NFL) like consistency . . . He’s been consistent with us!”
9) Sid asked if anymore scholarships have been awarded:
“Not that I know,” Claeys replied.
Since Signing Day, Claeys said he gave the coaches time off to be with their families.
And once again, he said their focus is now on spring ball. After spring ball they’ll be discussing where they need help. So it’s possible that they could offer an unsigned player; however, it didn’t sound with any certainty that that will be the case.
10) Dave Mona asked the final question, which was related to open practices during spring drills:
Claeys said the first four practices will be closed to the public; however, the fifth practice will be opened to spectators.
After spring break, when they resume drills, Tuesdays will be closed practices, but Saturdays will be open to the public.
Go Gophers!!
