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Gopher FB Coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO with Sid and Mike Max.
(Shorty's note - the "about" 9 seniors is a direct quote.......)
Sid: New red-shirt rule. have you made a decision on how to operate with that? (Max asks PJ to explain rule again)
PJ: new rule - one of best things the NCAA has done. true FR can play in up to 4 games and still red-shirt. what it does is basically take the medical red-shirt away. basically have 5 years to play - get 4 years and the red-shirt year. we will have a lot of true FR play. this is a great year for us (to take advantage of the new rule)- we're so young, so inexperienced. as far as strategy, we have not watched our young FR play yet. can't say yet who will play and how. it's a strategy as far as how different teams will use the rule. we have so many RS FR and true FR that will help us.
Sid: when can you contact recruits again? (translated from sid language)
PJ: coming up at the end of July we'll have a big unofficial visit. then the players will go through their HS season, and sign in Dec. only a few scholarships left available. the 2019 class is close to being done. the 2018 class and 2019 class - the first two classes that our staff will bring in -will set the tone for the future. older guys are doing a tremendous job of leading. only have about 9 SRs. they've done a great job of leading the young guys in our culture.
Sid: any new commits from recruits who attended your camps? (Max jumps in and asks PJ to explain satellite camps)
PJ: satellite camps allow us to go see other players, players we recruit from out of state are able to go to our camps. we have 20 commits now. don't have many left.
Max: what are the rules for satellite camps?
PJ: we can't have our own camp off-campus. so, we team up with a DII school - they run the camp, we're just there. you can get a lot of talent to come in if they know a bigger school is going to be there. it's a win-win for everyone. it helps players who can't afford to attend all these other camps further away from home. they get the experience to be evaluated by a lot of coaches
Max: can all coaches go to these camps?
PJ: depends. a lot of rules and regulations. we can go to other people's camps, but we have to be invited. have to know who's going to run it with you.
Sid: how many satellite camps have you attended?
PJ: 6 or 7 in different areas. only allowed so many days to hold camps or attend camps. so, have to decide where do you do that - where do you place those camps?
Sid: talk about the current recruits (already on campus). you mentioned a LB who impressed you.
PJ: lot of guys have impressed us. lot of RS FR have impressed us. Aug 1st start - excited. right now, can only watch them in Strength & Conditioning. in terms of FB activities - not allowed to do much in summer. we're working every day to be a player led team. bad teams, nobody leads. average teams, the coaches lead. elite teams, the players lead. in my career, always been that way. get a player led team, be in contention for championship FB.
Sid: your center has received some awards.
PJ: Jerod Weyler. excited. we need each other. not a lot of "names" on this FB team. Can't say that we have a returning All-American, or 3-time all-conference player. we have to be the best "team" we can be collectively. it's not about individuals - it's about the team. we have so many young players who need to help us. it's fun and exciting.
Sid: will a healthy Winfield make a difference?
PJ: he's one of the best players in B1G. you look at his skill set - experience. it's nice to have him and see "RS SO" next to his name on the roster. excited to see him play the game. at the end of the day, you only get 48 opportunities to actually play in a game over a 4 year span. that's all you have. all those days (of practice) for 48 opportunities to play. if you take some of those games away for injuries, you feel bad for those kids. Excited about the season.
Max: will Winfield play all over?
PJ: We want him to. it really depends on our other young secondary players. we have 5 additions - all young - who will contribute. it depends on their skill set, how they're playing, and then we can move him (Winfield) around to where we need him CB, Safety, nickle slot, blitzing off the edge. he's so big, fast. he can fly. wins the leverage battle. want to move him around - but it depends on how good the young players are.
Sid: will Cashman help you?
PJ: he's had a Fabulous summer. he's ready for his role to break out. he broke out at the end of the year 2 years ago. he's done a tremendous job, and put himself in position to be a leader on defense.
Sid: great ticket deals available. go get them now. Murray's certificate.
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah. Go Gophers.
(Shorty's note - the "about" 9 seniors is a direct quote.......)
Sid: New red-shirt rule. have you made a decision on how to operate with that? (Max asks PJ to explain rule again)
PJ: new rule - one of best things the NCAA has done. true FR can play in up to 4 games and still red-shirt. what it does is basically take the medical red-shirt away. basically have 5 years to play - get 4 years and the red-shirt year. we will have a lot of true FR play. this is a great year for us (to take advantage of the new rule)- we're so young, so inexperienced. as far as strategy, we have not watched our young FR play yet. can't say yet who will play and how. it's a strategy as far as how different teams will use the rule. we have so many RS FR and true FR that will help us.
Sid: when can you contact recruits again? (translated from sid language)
PJ: coming up at the end of July we'll have a big unofficial visit. then the players will go through their HS season, and sign in Dec. only a few scholarships left available. the 2019 class is close to being done. the 2018 class and 2019 class - the first two classes that our staff will bring in -will set the tone for the future. older guys are doing a tremendous job of leading. only have about 9 SRs. they've done a great job of leading the young guys in our culture.
Sid: any new commits from recruits who attended your camps? (Max jumps in and asks PJ to explain satellite camps)
PJ: satellite camps allow us to go see other players, players we recruit from out of state are able to go to our camps. we have 20 commits now. don't have many left.
Max: what are the rules for satellite camps?
PJ: we can't have our own camp off-campus. so, we team up with a DII school - they run the camp, we're just there. you can get a lot of talent to come in if they know a bigger school is going to be there. it's a win-win for everyone. it helps players who can't afford to attend all these other camps further away from home. they get the experience to be evaluated by a lot of coaches
Max: can all coaches go to these camps?
PJ: depends. a lot of rules and regulations. we can go to other people's camps, but we have to be invited. have to know who's going to run it with you.
Sid: how many satellite camps have you attended?
PJ: 6 or 7 in different areas. only allowed so many days to hold camps or attend camps. so, have to decide where do you do that - where do you place those camps?
Sid: talk about the current recruits (already on campus). you mentioned a LB who impressed you.
PJ: lot of guys have impressed us. lot of RS FR have impressed us. Aug 1st start - excited. right now, can only watch them in Strength & Conditioning. in terms of FB activities - not allowed to do much in summer. we're working every day to be a player led team. bad teams, nobody leads. average teams, the coaches lead. elite teams, the players lead. in my career, always been that way. get a player led team, be in contention for championship FB.
Sid: your center has received some awards.
PJ: Jerod Weyler. excited. we need each other. not a lot of "names" on this FB team. Can't say that we have a returning All-American, or 3-time all-conference player. we have to be the best "team" we can be collectively. it's not about individuals - it's about the team. we have so many young players who need to help us. it's fun and exciting.
Sid: will a healthy Winfield make a difference?
PJ: he's one of the best players in B1G. you look at his skill set - experience. it's nice to have him and see "RS SO" next to his name on the roster. excited to see him play the game. at the end of the day, you only get 48 opportunities to actually play in a game over a 4 year span. that's all you have. all those days (of practice) for 48 opportunities to play. if you take some of those games away for injuries, you feel bad for those kids. Excited about the season.
Max: will Winfield play all over?
PJ: We want him to. it really depends on our other young secondary players. we have 5 additions - all young - who will contribute. it depends on their skill set, how they're playing, and then we can move him (Winfield) around to where we need him CB, Safety, nickle slot, blitzing off the edge. he's so big, fast. he can fly. wins the leverage battle. want to move him around - but it depends on how good the young players are.
Sid: will Cashman help you?
PJ: he's had a Fabulous summer. he's ready for his role to break out. he broke out at the end of the year 2 years ago. he's done a tremendous job, and put himself in position to be a leader on defense.
Sid: great ticket deals available. go get them now. Murray's certificate.
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah. Go Gophers.