Press Conference: Coach Fleck Previews 2026 Gopher Football Spring Practice (video)

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PJ Press Conf for spring ball (recap)
-Kudos to women's bball team
-Lots of new players. 36 new members. Looking forward to this spring more than any other
-Best coaching staff in 10 years...with all due respect to previous staffs. Listed new staff members
-Need to produce more in special teams
-Despite lots of new players he likes what is coming back
-Return leading passer, rusher and 3/4 top pass catchers
-4 starting OL return
-Top 6 sack leaders
-4 of top 6 tacklers return
Question: Which is top of mind questions that need answered in spring
Answer: Depth. Who will be starting at CB along with Nester? Who are top 4-5 guys at CB? Who are the depth guys at safety? Who wins job on DL? (I'm presuming he really means DT since they are new)
Question: You replaced Matt Simon with Fruechte. Why did you need to make a change there?
Answer: Felt it was time for a change. Was a tough decision. He coached Simon and has been with him since Western. Wasn't what he wanted on a personal level but it was right move for football program and that is what makes it hard.

Question: What do you like about new coaching staff on DL?
Answer: Need to have OL and DL to compete in Big Ten. Felt the coaches they added can help scheme and develop that area to allow that. Mentioned Smith as an elite player but need the entire line to function as a unit.

Question: Majority of your transfer portal class has multiple years, why was that a strategy?
Answer: They have noticed that more guys have success in their 2nd and 3rd year after transferring. One and done's can have success too but the norm is to have 2nd year as the best.

Question: Why did Koi leave?
Answers: I'm only going to talk about guys that are here. There are a lot of guys across the country that leave for many different reasons. We like Koi and appreciate all he did here and wish him nothing but the best.

Question: Is losing high-end players a sign of a ceiling for how far this program can go?
Answer: The new transfer era is different than old one. It used to be when a player left you'd ask 'what went wrong' but now there is no program in the entire country immune from players leaving for one reason or another. We have a high retention rate of some really good players. Smith could have gone anywhere or to NFL. Lindsay could have gone. Baronowki could have gone. Taylor could have gone. All chose to stay and I think that's a positive sign that there are a lot of elite players that we've been able to retain. That's our focus.

Question: Any early enroll Freshman that have stood out?
Answer: Impressed by RB room. Won't mention any freshman by name because people read too much into it but overall he thought the RB room underperformed last year. Thinks this group is better. Specifically mentioned 3 guys returning behind Taylor and thinks they have progressed.

Question: It's been 10 years. Does time fly?
Answer: I wouldn't say it's flown by but I've enjoyed every moment.

Question: What has changed the most in last 10 years?
Answer: Doesn't think the kids have changed but the things around them have. Portal, NIL, agents, options. Still recruiting for kids that are the right fit. Haven't changed the type of kid they have recruited.

Question: What are areas you'd like to see Drake grow?
Answer: He's bigger and stronger than last year. He learns fast but now just understanding the why component.

Question: How do you approach rep distribution?
Answer: Some practices will focus more on the younger guys or backups. Everyone has to earn the right to get reps. Nothing will be handed to a player just because they show up.

Question: Why did you add a spring game again?
Answer: Wants to see new guys in a game type and pressure situation

Question: Why was Greg Johnson in a walking boot?
Answer: You'll get the injury report 2 hours before kickoff in August. (lol) Ended up saying some guys needed clean-up at end of season and he will be fine.
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
PJ Press Conf for spring ball (recap)
-Kudos to women's bball team
-Lots of new players. 36 new members. Looking forward to this spring more than any other
-Best coaching staff in 10 years...with all due respect to previous staffs. Listed new staff members
-Need to produce more in special teams
-Despite lots of new players he likes what is coming back
-Return leading passer, rusher and 3/4 top pass catchers
-4 starting OL return
-Top 6 sack leaders
-4 of top 6 tacklers return
Question: Which is top of mind questions that need answered in spring
Answer: Depth. Who will be starting at CB along with Nester? Who are top 4-5 guys at CB? Who are the depth guys at safety? Who wins job on DL? (I'm presuming he really means DT since they are new)
Question: You replaced Matt Simon with Fruechte. Why did you need to make a change there?
Answer: Felt it was time for a change. Was a tough decision. He coached Simon and has been with him since Western. Wasn't what he wanted on a personal level but it was right move for football program and that is what makes it hard.

Question: What do you like about new coaching staff on DL?
Answer: Need to have OL and DL to compete in Big Ten. Felt the coaches they added can help scheme and develop that area to allow that. Mentioned Smith as an elite player but need the entire line to function as a unit.

Question: Majority of your transfer portal class has multiple years, why was that a strategy?
Answer: They have noticed that more guys have success in their 2nd and 3rd year after transferring. One and done's can have success too but the norm is to have 2nd year as the best.

Question: Why did Koi leave?
Answers: I'm only going to talk about guys that are here. There are a lot of guys across the country that leave for many different reasons. We like Koi and appreciate all he did here and wish him nothing but the best.

Question: Is losing high-end players a sign of a ceiling for how far this program can go?
Answer: The new transfer era is different than old one. It used to be when a player left you'd ask 'what went wrong' but now there is no program in the entire country immune from players leaving for one reason or another. We have a high retention rate of some really good players. Smith could have gone anywhere or to NFL. Lindsay could have gone. Baronowki could have gone. Taylor could have gone. All chose to stay and I think that's a positive sign that there are a lot of elite players that we've been able to retain. That's our focus.

Question: Any early enroll Freshman that have stood out?
Answer: Impressed by RB room. Won't mention any freshman by name because people read too much into it but overall he thought the RB room underperformed last year. Thinks this group is better. Specifically mentioned 3 guys returning behind Taylor and thinks they have progressed.

Question: It's been 10 years. Does time fly?
Answer: I wouldn't say it's flown by but I've enjoyed every moment.

Question: What has changed the most in last 10 years?
Answer: Doesn't think the kids have changed but the things around them have. Portal, NIL, agents, options. Still recruiting for kids that are the right fit. Haven't changed the type of kid they have recruited.

Question: What are areas you'd like to see Drake grow?
Answer: He's bigger and stronger than last year. He learns fast but now just understanding the why component.

Question: How do you approach rep distribution?
Answer: Some practices will focus more on the younger guys or backups. Everyone has to earn the right to get reps. Nothing will be handed to a player just because they show up.

Question: Why did you add a spring game again?
Answer: Wants to see new guys in a game type and pressure situation

Question: Why was Greg Johnson in a walking boot?
Answer: You'll get the injury report 2 hours before kickoff in August. (lol) Ended up saying some guys needed clean-up at end of season and he will be fine.
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Thank you for this recap!

Go Gophers!!
 




Gopherchase said:
I thought that was one of PJ’s best press conferences. The more I see and hear the more I think we could be really, really good if we get just slightly above average Big Ten offensive line play.
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Would you say he changed his best for pressers? Was it elite?
 

Who asked the "Why did Koi leave" question? Everyone in the building had to know he wasn't going to answer that.
 

GophersInIowa said:
Who asked the "Why did Koi leave" question? Everyone in the building had to know he wasn't going to answer that.
Click to expand...
IDK but they also asked the follow up question about whether the program had a ceiling. Definitely trying to get a sensational quote from PJ by asking negative questions.
 






DarrenTheGreek said:
IDK but they also asked the follow up question about whether the program had a ceiling. Definitely trying to get a sensational quote from PJ by asking negative questions.
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Well, to be fair, Every program has the ceiling. But if any coach says the ceiling is less than a national title, they’re gonna open themselves up to a lot of criticism.
 






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