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Gopher FB Coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio.
Sid: Was the OL the big reason you couldn't move the ball?
PJ: give WI credit. they had a tremendous scheme. loaded the box. did great job with our RPO. missing Daniel affected us. we had to be able to adjust. didn't make enough plays. Our DL did good job holding Taylor under 100 yards. unfortunately, they beat us through the air. big plays, screen pass, the one up with middle with our cover-2 safety getting too wide.
Sid: passing game not very good.
PJ: we didn't make plays. didn't make enough plays. that's what the game called for. they were committing everything to the box. our players have made plays all year. we wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for them. we didn't make enough plays.
Sid: WI so much better this year than last year.
PJ: that's the way it works with rivalry games. one goes home with the trophy, one does not. we did not earn it. we did not play well enough to win.
Max: QB come up to the line of scrimmage, read their LB's and S's?
PJ: it all fits together. we played against 3-4 schemes during the year. it doesn't necessarily matter as far as where the RPO's are open. we didn't make plays. we had a lot of opportunities. we didn't make the plays we normally make.
Mona: Barber chasing ball carrier on long play - wasn't his coverage?
PJ: we were in zone coverage. Tampa-2. Barber is supposed to take away the middle of the field. he's supposed to have Safety help. the Safety wasn't on his mark.
Sid: reverses killed you
PJ: I'd rather talk about positive things. we were able to stay in the game. It was not a (something) game until the middle of the 4th quarter. we created a lot of that ourselves. we had chances to get it in the end zone. If we convert in the red zone, that makes a difference. then they score, it wound up 31-10 instead of 24-17. it was special teams, the KO Reverse, screen pass, the deep pass to Cephus. we didn't make the explosive plays like we usually do.
Mona: back into the valley. online comments. most people agreed with you. does not feel like team will slide back.
PJ: important to understand why we're here. we're here to compete and win championships. want to do that every year, not just one year. proved that yesterday. we've done things that have never been done here. win 7 conf games. win 10 games for the first time since 1905. never been done. wanted to restore traditions, energy. mission accomplished. did we get to Rose Bowl, Win championship? No. But we won a co-B1G West championship. that's the 1st stop to taking the next step. year-in year-out want to build this thing to sustain. could be 4 years before we win 10 games again. you just don't know. We are going to build this to make sure that's what's in our minds. we're only in year 3 of this takeover, this turnaround. to get to where we were this year, that is a tremendous learning opportunity for us to take the next step.
Sid: status of players? when do you practice again?
PJ: it's been an emotional year. we'll give them a little time off. get healthy. head out recruiting. we'll meet with players then be out recruiting. we'll sign an elite 2020 class in a few weeks. we'll start bowl prep once we know the opponents.
Max: early signing date. how much does that change during the season? sign different players?
PJ: lot of evaluation to do. it goes both ways. we need to go into HS's and see that players are doing what they're supposed to do. represent themselves in 1st class fashion. look at who's available. who enters a portal. who retires from football. switches positions. that changes the recruiting outlook. we only have 2 weeks.
Mona: new red-shirt rule. pleased with way it worked out?
PJ: Very pleased. benefited us for the future. we didn't sacrifice the future for what we want right now. a lot of those players will be very impactful players for us next year.
Sid: lot of players did fantastic job.
PJ: that's the whole goal of the off-season. we have a tremendous bowl game coming up. people need to enjoy that. we were picked 6th in the West. this team competed all the way to the end. came up one game short. that shows the power of the culture. people need to be excited about Gopher Football. invested for the long haul. look at the last two sell outs. MN football is back. That doesn't mean you win every game you play. but MN football is back. restoration process. feel that energy. look forward to bowl picks next week. get on the road recruiting.
Sid: satisfied with the great year you had. beat Penn State.
PJ: it's 10:42am. I give myself till Noon to think about the game. come Noon, I will be satisfied in terms of this team. no win or loss would make me more proud or less proud of these players. this season was extraordinary. historic. if people think we had to get to Indy, that's not (something). got the most out of our players every single game. that's all we can ask. we can all learn from this, continue to grow. we'll look back at the end of year. look forward to bowl game in a warm place. we'll celebrate the year down there.
Mona: transfer portal. is there a time? restrictions on inter-conference?
PJ: People can enter at any point. don't think there's any type of rule that prohibits conference to conference. it's different with grad transfer vs normal transfer in terms of eligibility.
Sid: everyone ought to be happy. lot of players coming back. Murray's
PJ: see you at the Bowl game. RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers.
Sid: Was the OL the big reason you couldn't move the ball?
PJ: give WI credit. they had a tremendous scheme. loaded the box. did great job with our RPO. missing Daniel affected us. we had to be able to adjust. didn't make enough plays. Our DL did good job holding Taylor under 100 yards. unfortunately, they beat us through the air. big plays, screen pass, the one up with middle with our cover-2 safety getting too wide.
Sid: passing game not very good.
PJ: we didn't make plays. didn't make enough plays. that's what the game called for. they were committing everything to the box. our players have made plays all year. we wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for them. we didn't make enough plays.
Sid: WI so much better this year than last year.
PJ: that's the way it works with rivalry games. one goes home with the trophy, one does not. we did not earn it. we did not play well enough to win.
Max: QB come up to the line of scrimmage, read their LB's and S's?
PJ: it all fits together. we played against 3-4 schemes during the year. it doesn't necessarily matter as far as where the RPO's are open. we didn't make plays. we had a lot of opportunities. we didn't make the plays we normally make.
Mona: Barber chasing ball carrier on long play - wasn't his coverage?
PJ: we were in zone coverage. Tampa-2. Barber is supposed to take away the middle of the field. he's supposed to have Safety help. the Safety wasn't on his mark.
Sid: reverses killed you
PJ: I'd rather talk about positive things. we were able to stay in the game. It was not a (something) game until the middle of the 4th quarter. we created a lot of that ourselves. we had chances to get it in the end zone. If we convert in the red zone, that makes a difference. then they score, it wound up 31-10 instead of 24-17. it was special teams, the KO Reverse, screen pass, the deep pass to Cephus. we didn't make the explosive plays like we usually do.
Mona: back into the valley. online comments. most people agreed with you. does not feel like team will slide back.
PJ: important to understand why we're here. we're here to compete and win championships. want to do that every year, not just one year. proved that yesterday. we've done things that have never been done here. win 7 conf games. win 10 games for the first time since 1905. never been done. wanted to restore traditions, energy. mission accomplished. did we get to Rose Bowl, Win championship? No. But we won a co-B1G West championship. that's the 1st stop to taking the next step. year-in year-out want to build this thing to sustain. could be 4 years before we win 10 games again. you just don't know. We are going to build this to make sure that's what's in our minds. we're only in year 3 of this takeover, this turnaround. to get to where we were this year, that is a tremendous learning opportunity for us to take the next step.
Sid: status of players? when do you practice again?
PJ: it's been an emotional year. we'll give them a little time off. get healthy. head out recruiting. we'll meet with players then be out recruiting. we'll sign an elite 2020 class in a few weeks. we'll start bowl prep once we know the opponents.
Max: early signing date. how much does that change during the season? sign different players?
PJ: lot of evaluation to do. it goes both ways. we need to go into HS's and see that players are doing what they're supposed to do. represent themselves in 1st class fashion. look at who's available. who enters a portal. who retires from football. switches positions. that changes the recruiting outlook. we only have 2 weeks.
Mona: new red-shirt rule. pleased with way it worked out?
PJ: Very pleased. benefited us for the future. we didn't sacrifice the future for what we want right now. a lot of those players will be very impactful players for us next year.
Sid: lot of players did fantastic job.
PJ: that's the whole goal of the off-season. we have a tremendous bowl game coming up. people need to enjoy that. we were picked 6th in the West. this team competed all the way to the end. came up one game short. that shows the power of the culture. people need to be excited about Gopher Football. invested for the long haul. look at the last two sell outs. MN football is back. That doesn't mean you win every game you play. but MN football is back. restoration process. feel that energy. look forward to bowl picks next week. get on the road recruiting.
Sid: satisfied with the great year you had. beat Penn State.
PJ: it's 10:42am. I give myself till Noon to think about the game. come Noon, I will be satisfied in terms of this team. no win or loss would make me more proud or less proud of these players. this season was extraordinary. historic. if people think we had to get to Indy, that's not (something). got the most out of our players every single game. that's all we can ask. we can all learn from this, continue to grow. we'll look back at the end of year. look forward to bowl game in a warm place. we'll celebrate the year down there.
Mona: transfer portal. is there a time? restrictions on inter-conference?
PJ: People can enter at any point. don't think there's any type of rule that prohibits conference to conference. it's different with grad transfer vs normal transfer in terms of eligibility.
Sid: everyone ought to be happy. lot of players coming back. Murray's
PJ: see you at the Bowl game. RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers.
