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Gopher FB coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle with Sid, Dave and Max. (and I didn't have to work.........)
Sid: talk about decision to start both QB's
PJF: something we've been working on for a while since spring ball. we play in B1G - to think we'll go through season with only 1 QB, that's crazy. understand about not having experience. both played well in training camp. but if one happens to get hurt, we're just going back to where we started. my job is to give those young men more experience. if you're picking a QB with no true game experience, then you're just guessing who's going to play well in the game. they've both earned it. it's a positive situation for both of them. other teams have won nat'l championships and played 2 QB's. we have the ability to play a guy as a SR (Rhoda) who deserves to play, and Demry Croft is part of the future plan. proud of both, proud of progress they've made.
Sid: talk about the ability of each QB
PJF: Connor's been here 5 years, has the maturity. he's at least played in 1 game. smart, makes decisive decisions. wonderful leader. Croft incredible athlete. he's developing his own leadership style. becoming a good leader. has a big arm. he's running the system better. can escape the pocket. doesn't have experience.
Sid: which one will start 1st game?
PJF: that's the next decision to make. one will start, then we will switch after a few series. could be based on game plan.
Sid: neither one has experience....
PJF: Connor 1 game. Demry 1 half. least experienced QB situation in country. that's something I'm excited about for the future. glad Connor does have 1 game, but he's playing in a new offense, new defense, new system. going with 2 QB's for right now - don't know how they'll handle game in new system. eventually, we'll find a way to settle in on 1, I want to do that. (playing 2 is) best thing for team right now.
Max: (when to change QB's) Is that the toughest decision to make - momentum?
PJF: When I coached under Jim Tressel at OSU, we were the #1 team in country, playing TX. Jim decided the 2nd series of the game we were going to play our #2 O-line for development. we scored on 1st drive. our #1 O-line was excited - Tressel put the 2's in, because it was the best thing for program. It's not a knee-jerk reaction. based on giving guys chances to show what they can do in games. not going to have kids fearful of making a mistake (and getting taken out). don't want fear to be a motivator. as year goes on, make decision on who's going to play more. don't want kids afraid of making mistake. coaches will have a plan before game. (which one plays more) depends on opponent.
Sid: you used 2 QB's at your last school.
PJF: at WMU, played 2 QB's. went 1-11. that proves the point - you need 2 QB's to play. if we had a guy who was experienced, it would be easier to pick a 1 and a 2. easier to know what we're going to get. at WMU, kid got hurt, Zach Terrell went in. last year, played Tom Flacco a lot. needed Tom to get experience. as Head Coach, have to be prepared for unknown. If I knew what they were going to do in games, it would make decision easier.
Dave: are you excited to coach a real game?
PJF: really excited. pleased in terms of nat'l attention the U of M is receiving. proud of players and staff. I cannot wait to coach FB. the dream is in the process. I'm living the dream every day. humble and thankful for opportunity. can't wait to watch this team grow - get better in all 4 areas of life. been practicing against each other - we're sick of each other. can't wait for an opponent. have a lot of work to do.
Sid: what did you do in practice yesterday?
PJF: mock scrimmage. closed practice. covered over 40 different situations that might come up in a game. If all 40 things happened in the same game, I think the universe would explode (laughs). trying to show the team a worst-case scenario. examples of what could happen - substitutions - crazy special-teams situations. maybe things happen in a game that you didn't prepare for. (as coaches, we) collect a database of situations - go back and rehearse what might happen.
Sid: Murray's.
PJF: RTB, Ski-U-Mah.
Sid: talk about decision to start both QB's
PJF: something we've been working on for a while since spring ball. we play in B1G - to think we'll go through season with only 1 QB, that's crazy. understand about not having experience. both played well in training camp. but if one happens to get hurt, we're just going back to where we started. my job is to give those young men more experience. if you're picking a QB with no true game experience, then you're just guessing who's going to play well in the game. they've both earned it. it's a positive situation for both of them. other teams have won nat'l championships and played 2 QB's. we have the ability to play a guy as a SR (Rhoda) who deserves to play, and Demry Croft is part of the future plan. proud of both, proud of progress they've made.
Sid: talk about the ability of each QB
PJF: Connor's been here 5 years, has the maturity. he's at least played in 1 game. smart, makes decisive decisions. wonderful leader. Croft incredible athlete. he's developing his own leadership style. becoming a good leader. has a big arm. he's running the system better. can escape the pocket. doesn't have experience.
Sid: which one will start 1st game?
PJF: that's the next decision to make. one will start, then we will switch after a few series. could be based on game plan.
Sid: neither one has experience....
PJF: Connor 1 game. Demry 1 half. least experienced QB situation in country. that's something I'm excited about for the future. glad Connor does have 1 game, but he's playing in a new offense, new defense, new system. going with 2 QB's for right now - don't know how they'll handle game in new system. eventually, we'll find a way to settle in on 1, I want to do that. (playing 2 is) best thing for team right now.
Max: (when to change QB's) Is that the toughest decision to make - momentum?
PJF: When I coached under Jim Tressel at OSU, we were the #1 team in country, playing TX. Jim decided the 2nd series of the game we were going to play our #2 O-line for development. we scored on 1st drive. our #1 O-line was excited - Tressel put the 2's in, because it was the best thing for program. It's not a knee-jerk reaction. based on giving guys chances to show what they can do in games. not going to have kids fearful of making a mistake (and getting taken out). don't want fear to be a motivator. as year goes on, make decision on who's going to play more. don't want kids afraid of making mistake. coaches will have a plan before game. (which one plays more) depends on opponent.
Sid: you used 2 QB's at your last school.
PJF: at WMU, played 2 QB's. went 1-11. that proves the point - you need 2 QB's to play. if we had a guy who was experienced, it would be easier to pick a 1 and a 2. easier to know what we're going to get. at WMU, kid got hurt, Zach Terrell went in. last year, played Tom Flacco a lot. needed Tom to get experience. as Head Coach, have to be prepared for unknown. If I knew what they were going to do in games, it would make decision easier.
Dave: are you excited to coach a real game?
PJF: really excited. pleased in terms of nat'l attention the U of M is receiving. proud of players and staff. I cannot wait to coach FB. the dream is in the process. I'm living the dream every day. humble and thankful for opportunity. can't wait to watch this team grow - get better in all 4 areas of life. been practicing against each other - we're sick of each other. can't wait for an opponent. have a lot of work to do.
Sid: what did you do in practice yesterday?
PJF: mock scrimmage. closed practice. covered over 40 different situations that might come up in a game. If all 40 things happened in the same game, I think the universe would explode (laughs). trying to show the team a worst-case scenario. examples of what could happen - substitutions - crazy special-teams situations. maybe things happen in a game that you didn't prepare for. (as coaches, we) collect a database of situations - go back and rehearse what might happen.
Sid: Murray's.
PJF: RTB, Ski-U-Mah.