The start of spring drills this week was the main topic of discussion on today’s Sports Huddle. The following are the questions and responses by Minnesota’s head football coach, Tracy Claeys:
1) Sid asked what the spring practice schedule looks like this first week of drills:
Claeys said they’ll have a team meeting tomorrow and spring practices will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
2) Sid asked what they hope to accomplish in spring drills:
On the offensive side of the ball, they’ll be focusing on the offensive line. There’ll be some changes scheme-wise and they want the offensive line to be more aggressive and have more depth. (In a later question, Claeys spelled out their hopes in depth and rotation of the offensive line.)
On the defensive side their focus will be in the secondary, finding the right fit for defensive backs and the rotation of players.
3) Sid asked about the replacement of players on the offensive line:
As he has in past weeks, Claeys mentioned JUCO recruits Garrison Wright and Vincent Calhoun – “They’ll help us.” Senior Jonah Pirsig has looked good in off-season workouts. Other players cited by Claeys were redshirt freshmen Nick Connelly and Bronson Dovich and a junior, Connor Mayes.
Claeys sounded positive and confident when discussing the offensive line, going into spring drills.
4) Dave Mona raised the topic of changes we can expect to see in the offensive line:
Claeys said they’ll look similar; however, they want the players to be more aggressive and there’ll be a lot of double-team blocking on opposing defensive linemen. Claeys said the new scheme of two-man blocking and being aggressive should benefit the running backs.
5) Sid asked about Damarius Travis and Charles Rogers requests for another year of eligibilty through a medical hardship waiver:
“Damarius Travis got his year back,” Claeys answered in a positive tone.
Charles Rogers’s case is less certain. According to Tracy Claeys, to get a medical hardship waiver there must be two years outside of the player’s control. Rogers was redshirted his first year at Iowa State University before transferring to his junior college in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Claeys opined redshirting is out of the player’s control and shouldn’t be used against him in his request for a medical waiver.
6) Sid wanted to know about the “important” center position for the 2016 Gophers:
“Tyler Moore played a lot as a true freshman,” Claeys answered. Then he said he would like to have two centers and three players on each side of the line that can play multiple positions . . . “Eight people who can help us.” Again, IMHO, Claeys sounded positive and confident that they’ll have the players. He also stressed the need for depth in the offensive line and to protect Mitch Leidner.
7) The question of replacements in the secondary was raised:
Claeys sounded upbeat in discussing this year’s secondary. Players cited were Kiante Hardin, Ray Buford, Antonio Shenault, and Damarius Travis. He is grateful to have Travis back for another year; he called Travis a “leader.”
Claeys also said they took three corners in this year’s recruiting class. Overall, Claeys sounded pleased and excited with the players coming back and the incoming freshmen.
8) Dave Mona asked about the coaching philosophy of practicing outside versus inside in spring ball:
Claeys said weather determines when they practice outside during spring drills. “Anytime we can keep the ball dry and have good footing we’ll be outside,” Claeys replied.
Mona said he understood the new practice facility will be larger than what they have now. Claeys said that it will be bigger and they should be able to punt inside the practice facility.
9) Sid asked about spring practices having two parts:
There was a brief pause before Claeys answered. When he replied, Claeys said the first part of practices is focused on “individual stuff . . . second half of practices is team-related.”
In his closing remarks, Claeys said they have a goal of finding two quarterbacks to back-up Mitch Leidner.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid asked what the spring practice schedule looks like this first week of drills:
Claeys said they’ll have a team meeting tomorrow and spring practices will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
2) Sid asked what they hope to accomplish in spring drills:
On the offensive side of the ball, they’ll be focusing on the offensive line. There’ll be some changes scheme-wise and they want the offensive line to be more aggressive and have more depth. (In a later question, Claeys spelled out their hopes in depth and rotation of the offensive line.)
On the defensive side their focus will be in the secondary, finding the right fit for defensive backs and the rotation of players.
3) Sid asked about the replacement of players on the offensive line:
As he has in past weeks, Claeys mentioned JUCO recruits Garrison Wright and Vincent Calhoun – “They’ll help us.” Senior Jonah Pirsig has looked good in off-season workouts. Other players cited by Claeys were redshirt freshmen Nick Connelly and Bronson Dovich and a junior, Connor Mayes.
Claeys sounded positive and confident when discussing the offensive line, going into spring drills.
4) Dave Mona raised the topic of changes we can expect to see in the offensive line:
Claeys said they’ll look similar; however, they want the players to be more aggressive and there’ll be a lot of double-team blocking on opposing defensive linemen. Claeys said the new scheme of two-man blocking and being aggressive should benefit the running backs.
5) Sid asked about Damarius Travis and Charles Rogers requests for another year of eligibilty through a medical hardship waiver:
“Damarius Travis got his year back,” Claeys answered in a positive tone.
Charles Rogers’s case is less certain. According to Tracy Claeys, to get a medical hardship waiver there must be two years outside of the player’s control. Rogers was redshirted his first year at Iowa State University before transferring to his junior college in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Claeys opined redshirting is out of the player’s control and shouldn’t be used against him in his request for a medical waiver.
6) Sid wanted to know about the “important” center position for the 2016 Gophers:
“Tyler Moore played a lot as a true freshman,” Claeys answered. Then he said he would like to have two centers and three players on each side of the line that can play multiple positions . . . “Eight people who can help us.” Again, IMHO, Claeys sounded positive and confident that they’ll have the players. He also stressed the need for depth in the offensive line and to protect Mitch Leidner.
7) The question of replacements in the secondary was raised:
Claeys sounded upbeat in discussing this year’s secondary. Players cited were Kiante Hardin, Ray Buford, Antonio Shenault, and Damarius Travis. He is grateful to have Travis back for another year; he called Travis a “leader.”
Claeys also said they took three corners in this year’s recruiting class. Overall, Claeys sounded pleased and excited with the players coming back and the incoming freshmen.
8) Dave Mona asked about the coaching philosophy of practicing outside versus inside in spring ball:
Claeys said weather determines when they practice outside during spring drills. “Anytime we can keep the ball dry and have good footing we’ll be outside,” Claeys replied.
Mona said he understood the new practice facility will be larger than what they have now. Claeys said that it will be bigger and they should be able to punt inside the practice facility.
9) Sid asked about spring practices having two parts:
There was a brief pause before Claeys answered. When he replied, Claeys said the first part of practices is focused on “individual stuff . . . second half of practices is team-related.”
In his closing remarks, Claeys said they have a goal of finding two quarterbacks to back-up Mitch Leidner.
Go Gophers!!
