Comments and responses by Interim Head Coach Tracy Claeys to queries by Sid Hartman and Dave Mona are as follows:
1) Sid opined that the Ohio State Buckeyes was hard to run on, and asked about the non-call (picking up the flag) on a hit to Mitch Leidner that led to an interception for a pick six by OSU:
Claeys acknowledged that the Buckeyes were hard to run on, “Front seven – defensive line and linebackers - is as a good as anybody in the country,” Claeys said.
Regarding the overturned call on the hit to Leidner – “picking up the flag was big!”
On the offensive side of the ball, “Need to finish drives,” Claeys said.
Overall, however, Claeys was pleased with the team’s effort against the Buckeyes. “We competed hard . . . proud of the kids.” He added the Gophers made “one or two mistakes” that proved to be costly (letting OSU’s quarterback get loose on a couple quarterback draws – one for a first down late in the first half that led to the Bucks second touchdown, and the other was the quarterback draw that was a scoring touchdown after Minnesota was down 21-14.)
2) Sid asked if the offensive line is beat up:
“Yeah. Can’t waste time worrying about it.,” Claeys answered. He also said it was difficult running against the Buckeyes talented front seven.
Claeys said the rushing game took a hit when Shannon Brooks was injured and Rodney Smith was hampered with a sore ankle; however, “Roderick Williams did a good job.”
3) Sid asked about team injuries and if Mitch Leidner is okay after yesterday's hard, physical game:
Answering Sid’s question about Mitch Leidner being okay, Claeys was succinct and emphatic in his response – “Yes.”
The only question mark after last night’s game is the status of defensive back Jalen Myrick who suffered a rib injury against the Buckeyes. “Jalen Myrick’s rib injury (is the) biggest question mark.”
4) Sid asked about OSU’s talented wide receivers:
“(they) Caught a couple balls on us,” Claeys replied. However, Claeys once again referred to the quarterback draws that led to two of the Buckeyes four touchdowns, especially the one just before the end of the first half. He thought the Gophers should have been down 7-0 or 7-3 at the half. Nevertheless, Claeys again reiterated that he was pleased with the defensive effort against the Buckeyes.
5) Dave Mona asked about the targeting call that was overturned following a video review:
Claeys said he was told immediately that it wasn’t a late hit; however, the flag was thrown for a targeting infraction. After the video review, Claeys was informed the hit on Leidner was to his chest and the Buckeye tackler’s helmet then slid up from the chest to Leidner’s chin. (As a result, by picking up the flag the pick six by the Buckeyes was good.)
6) Sid opined the Buckeye defensive backs were not flagged a single time for pass interference. Sid then asked if the offensive line (those that have been injured) will be ready for Iowa:
Claeys replied, “We got back at 3:30 a.m.,” as a result, “we moved the treatments back . . . We’ll know more later today.”
7) Sid asked about Minnesota’s next opponent the Iowa Hawkeyes:
“Iowa is Iowa . . . two backs run downhill . . . (they stress) ball control . . . (Hawkeye defense) get off the field on third down,” Claeys replied.
In counteracting the Hawkeyes stout defense, Claeys said they’ll “try to keep them off-balance on offense . . . find a way up front to be successful.”
8) Dave Mona asked for a status report on wide receiver Eric Carter:
Claeys sounded unsure as to when Carter will be available. Carter has been out because of concussion-related symptoms. He went on to say there are protocols for concussion injuries that must be followed. “Protocol on concussions are out of our hands and should be . . . we’ll see how he does.” Claeys ending remark to Mona’s question was that they don’t want to rush or get Eric Carter on the field until he’s ready physically.
9) Sid asked about Jeff Jones and why hasn’t he been seeing the field:
Claeys was succinct in his response. “Other two kids (Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith) practiced better and have played well, including Roderick . . . They’re performing better than he is.” Claeys did say, however, Jeff Jones is a “talent.”
10) In a moment of levity, Mona asked if he signed a contract with Minnesota for $4 million:
(Laughing) Claeys said he was taking “five million and a two million dollar signing bonus.”
11) Sid then asked how the recruiting is going and if they had lost any of their commitments:
“No, not yet,” Claeys replied. “I feel good where we’re at.”
Claeys then expressed his interest in the school’s head coach position. He said he and the coaching staff love Minnesota and how they’ve been treated since their arrival. “Hope decision not too far off.”
Reminder: The Tracy Claeys segment on the Sports Huddle will be heard at 10:30 a.m. from now on.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opined that the Ohio State Buckeyes was hard to run on, and asked about the non-call (picking up the flag) on a hit to Mitch Leidner that led to an interception for a pick six by OSU:
Claeys acknowledged that the Buckeyes were hard to run on, “Front seven – defensive line and linebackers - is as a good as anybody in the country,” Claeys said.
Regarding the overturned call on the hit to Leidner – “picking up the flag was big!”
On the offensive side of the ball, “Need to finish drives,” Claeys said.
Overall, however, Claeys was pleased with the team’s effort against the Buckeyes. “We competed hard . . . proud of the kids.” He added the Gophers made “one or two mistakes” that proved to be costly (letting OSU’s quarterback get loose on a couple quarterback draws – one for a first down late in the first half that led to the Bucks second touchdown, and the other was the quarterback draw that was a scoring touchdown after Minnesota was down 21-14.)
2) Sid asked if the offensive line is beat up:
“Yeah. Can’t waste time worrying about it.,” Claeys answered. He also said it was difficult running against the Buckeyes talented front seven.
Claeys said the rushing game took a hit when Shannon Brooks was injured and Rodney Smith was hampered with a sore ankle; however, “Roderick Williams did a good job.”
3) Sid asked about team injuries and if Mitch Leidner is okay after yesterday's hard, physical game:
Answering Sid’s question about Mitch Leidner being okay, Claeys was succinct and emphatic in his response – “Yes.”
The only question mark after last night’s game is the status of defensive back Jalen Myrick who suffered a rib injury against the Buckeyes. “Jalen Myrick’s rib injury (is the) biggest question mark.”
4) Sid asked about OSU’s talented wide receivers:
“(they) Caught a couple balls on us,” Claeys replied. However, Claeys once again referred to the quarterback draws that led to two of the Buckeyes four touchdowns, especially the one just before the end of the first half. He thought the Gophers should have been down 7-0 or 7-3 at the half. Nevertheless, Claeys again reiterated that he was pleased with the defensive effort against the Buckeyes.
5) Dave Mona asked about the targeting call that was overturned following a video review:
Claeys said he was told immediately that it wasn’t a late hit; however, the flag was thrown for a targeting infraction. After the video review, Claeys was informed the hit on Leidner was to his chest and the Buckeye tackler’s helmet then slid up from the chest to Leidner’s chin. (As a result, by picking up the flag the pick six by the Buckeyes was good.)
6) Sid opined the Buckeye defensive backs were not flagged a single time for pass interference. Sid then asked if the offensive line (those that have been injured) will be ready for Iowa:
Claeys replied, “We got back at 3:30 a.m.,” as a result, “we moved the treatments back . . . We’ll know more later today.”
7) Sid asked about Minnesota’s next opponent the Iowa Hawkeyes:
“Iowa is Iowa . . . two backs run downhill . . . (they stress) ball control . . . (Hawkeye defense) get off the field on third down,” Claeys replied.
In counteracting the Hawkeyes stout defense, Claeys said they’ll “try to keep them off-balance on offense . . . find a way up front to be successful.”
8) Dave Mona asked for a status report on wide receiver Eric Carter:
Claeys sounded unsure as to when Carter will be available. Carter has been out because of concussion-related symptoms. He went on to say there are protocols for concussion injuries that must be followed. “Protocol on concussions are out of our hands and should be . . . we’ll see how he does.” Claeys ending remark to Mona’s question was that they don’t want to rush or get Eric Carter on the field until he’s ready physically.
9) Sid asked about Jeff Jones and why hasn’t he been seeing the field:
Claeys was succinct in his response. “Other two kids (Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith) practiced better and have played well, including Roderick . . . They’re performing better than he is.” Claeys did say, however, Jeff Jones is a “talent.”
10) In a moment of levity, Mona asked if he signed a contract with Minnesota for $4 million:
(Laughing) Claeys said he was taking “five million and a two million dollar signing bonus.”
11) Sid then asked how the recruiting is going and if they had lost any of their commitments:
“No, not yet,” Claeys replied. “I feel good where we’re at.”
Claeys then expressed his interest in the school’s head coach position. He said he and the coaching staff love Minnesota and how they’ve been treated since their arrival. “Hope decision not too far off.”
Reminder: The Tracy Claeys segment on the Sports Huddle will be heard at 10:30 a.m. from now on.
Go Gophers!!
