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Gopher FB coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio with Sid, Dave and Max.
(It's official - I am slowing way down - or PJ is trying to talk faster every week just to mess with me..........)
Sid: how do you think practice is going?
PJ: we're getting better. doing things more efficiently. going to give them some time off - want to get players leg's back hold a walk-through today. Weds, Thurs we don't practice. want to make sure we get healthy. this is still a young group. they are taking on challenge head on. making so much progress. the young guys who came in early, proud of their progress.
Sid: what do you think about the QB's
PJ: I like their leadership. it's hard to be leading a team with zero performance to back it up. like becoming CEO of a company with no experience.
very difficult to do. they've done a great job of leading. the team is responding well to both. as we go forward, we hope to have a starter soon.
Mona: you gave a scholarship to one of the Annexstads.
PJ: we're not allowed to give Zach one because of numbers. that will come down the line at some point. it won't surprise anyone. gave a scholarship to brother Brock, a WR. family has two of their sons at U of MN, both walk-ons - that's a financial burden. Brock is a good WR. wanted to create a memory for Brock. he works his tail end off. he's what our culture is all about. hopefully he gets some playing time this year. Zach got up - want to have an element of surprise - got to be creative so they don't see it coming. Should have seen Brock's face. Zach said he got a tattoo. Brock said "Mom is going to kill you." Zach pulls back shirt - Brock's whole reaction was so pure. everyone loves him. (tattoo night was) very serious - lot of players talk about their tattoos, tell the stories of their life.
Sid: do you have any transfers who will help this year?
PJ: OJ Smith will help on DL. Williamson will help if we can get him healthy. I'm excited about the young DB's. we know we have vets (Winfield, Huff, Shenault). But I'm pleasantly surprised with the FR. we've got 4 guys who can really play. they will possibly have an opportunity to play as FR.
Max: is corner an easier position to play on defense as a FR?
PJ: it's close. corner is a little bit easier than Safety. in our system, safety has to learn a little bit more - it's a combination of LB and CB. they have run fits to learn. I'm impressed with the FR DB's. they're physical. They can run. Terrell Smith can really run (4.3?) and he can hit you. we've got to find out - can they fill gaps, help in run support?
Sid: last year you were not good on defense against the run. Will it help to have Winfield, Barber and Cashman healthy?
PJ: last year everybody could run on us, so they didn't have to pass. didn't have depth on defense. with the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes, trying to bring depth to defense. we were brought here to fix those depth issues. it takes time. proud with progress Rob and the defensive coaches are making. learning to play more cohesive. it's a process - with off-season work-outs and recruiting. for most of the players, it's their 2nd time around - mastering it within the system. play with more instincts. last year was just about "I did my job." - now its progressing to "I own my job." make sure I'm not replaceable.
Max: Seth Green as TE?
PJ: it's been seamless for him. he's so athletic, so talented. he does have to adjust to the physicality of TE position. now it's technique, hand placement. footwork, 1st step. he's in a foreign area. we have a lot of things to do with him - not just TE position. he's worked hard. he's been motivated with the change. been a leader.. he's going to help us. the change has made us a better football team.
Mona: what will the role be for Cashman?
PJ: he's one of most athletic LB's I've been a part of. instinctive. plays hard. great teammate. you'll see him do a lot of different things. last year he played behind Celestin, so he didn't get as much playing time as he might have wanted. But he's going to be one of the most significant players we have - because of the creativity we can have with him. usually you're a LB for reason - because you can't run as fast as the CB's or Safety's. Cashman - he's as fast as our Safeties. We're not a huge Defense. we've got to develop size, recruit the size we want to be able to plug into our scheme. but this team can run. they can "run-run."
Sid: what do you think of the OL so far?
PJ: they're improving every day. last year we weren't one unit playing together. that takes time, trust, learning responsibility. This year, Coach Callahan taking over, and Callahan is going to be the OL coach for a long time. proud of progress with schematics, fundamentals. not where we want to be yet, but we're making huge strides to get better every day. that's what i love about this team. this team is starting to become mature. still inexperienced. we're the 3rd-most inexperienced team in America. To win, you have to be mature. we're not there yet; at some point I want them to be there.
Sid: Murray's. great ticket deals. get 'em while you can.
PJ: went to Murray's with Heather and and we sat in Sid's booth. RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers
(It's official - I am slowing way down - or PJ is trying to talk faster every week just to mess with me..........)
Sid: how do you think practice is going?
PJ: we're getting better. doing things more efficiently. going to give them some time off - want to get players leg's back hold a walk-through today. Weds, Thurs we don't practice. want to make sure we get healthy. this is still a young group. they are taking on challenge head on. making so much progress. the young guys who came in early, proud of their progress.
Sid: what do you think about the QB's
PJ: I like their leadership. it's hard to be leading a team with zero performance to back it up. like becoming CEO of a company with no experience.
very difficult to do. they've done a great job of leading. the team is responding well to both. as we go forward, we hope to have a starter soon.
Mona: you gave a scholarship to one of the Annexstads.
PJ: we're not allowed to give Zach one because of numbers. that will come down the line at some point. it won't surprise anyone. gave a scholarship to brother Brock, a WR. family has two of their sons at U of MN, both walk-ons - that's a financial burden. Brock is a good WR. wanted to create a memory for Brock. he works his tail end off. he's what our culture is all about. hopefully he gets some playing time this year. Zach got up - want to have an element of surprise - got to be creative so they don't see it coming. Should have seen Brock's face. Zach said he got a tattoo. Brock said "Mom is going to kill you." Zach pulls back shirt - Brock's whole reaction was so pure. everyone loves him. (tattoo night was) very serious - lot of players talk about their tattoos, tell the stories of their life.
Sid: do you have any transfers who will help this year?
PJ: OJ Smith will help on DL. Williamson will help if we can get him healthy. I'm excited about the young DB's. we know we have vets (Winfield, Huff, Shenault). But I'm pleasantly surprised with the FR. we've got 4 guys who can really play. they will possibly have an opportunity to play as FR.
Max: is corner an easier position to play on defense as a FR?
PJ: it's close. corner is a little bit easier than Safety. in our system, safety has to learn a little bit more - it's a combination of LB and CB. they have run fits to learn. I'm impressed with the FR DB's. they're physical. They can run. Terrell Smith can really run (4.3?) and he can hit you. we've got to find out - can they fill gaps, help in run support?
Sid: last year you were not good on defense against the run. Will it help to have Winfield, Barber and Cashman healthy?
PJ: last year everybody could run on us, so they didn't have to pass. didn't have depth on defense. with the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes, trying to bring depth to defense. we were brought here to fix those depth issues. it takes time. proud with progress Rob and the defensive coaches are making. learning to play more cohesive. it's a process - with off-season work-outs and recruiting. for most of the players, it's their 2nd time around - mastering it within the system. play with more instincts. last year was just about "I did my job." - now its progressing to "I own my job." make sure I'm not replaceable.
Max: Seth Green as TE?
PJ: it's been seamless for him. he's so athletic, so talented. he does have to adjust to the physicality of TE position. now it's technique, hand placement. footwork, 1st step. he's in a foreign area. we have a lot of things to do with him - not just TE position. he's worked hard. he's been motivated with the change. been a leader.. he's going to help us. the change has made us a better football team.
Mona: what will the role be for Cashman?
PJ: he's one of most athletic LB's I've been a part of. instinctive. plays hard. great teammate. you'll see him do a lot of different things. last year he played behind Celestin, so he didn't get as much playing time as he might have wanted. But he's going to be one of the most significant players we have - because of the creativity we can have with him. usually you're a LB for reason - because you can't run as fast as the CB's or Safety's. Cashman - he's as fast as our Safeties. We're not a huge Defense. we've got to develop size, recruit the size we want to be able to plug into our scheme. but this team can run. they can "run-run."
Sid: what do you think of the OL so far?
PJ: they're improving every day. last year we weren't one unit playing together. that takes time, trust, learning responsibility. This year, Coach Callahan taking over, and Callahan is going to be the OL coach for a long time. proud of progress with schematics, fundamentals. not where we want to be yet, but we're making huge strides to get better every day. that's what i love about this team. this team is starting to become mature. still inexperienced. we're the 3rd-most inexperienced team in America. To win, you have to be mature. we're not there yet; at some point I want them to be there.
Sid: Murray's. great ticket deals. get 'em while you can.
PJ: went to Murray's with Heather and and we sat in Sid's booth. RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers