Today''s synopsis of coach Kill's comments and responses to Sid and Dave's queries:
1) Sid opened the show by asking if the team got healthy during the bye week: "We'll know a lot more today . . . will be meeting with staff and trainers." Kill sounded positive and hopeful that Martez Shabazz will be back this week and, "Martez Shabazz - we need him for Northwestern."
Cameron Botticelli is a question mark after he dislocated an elbow in the Iowa game - "We'll see how he progresses."
referring to the injured: "Many moved well on Thursday."
Brock Vereen is back and has been practicing.
Devin Crawford-Tufts has been battling a hamstring injury.
Kill stressed most of his concerns regarding injuries center around the offensive line and the problem of staying healthy. There's uncertainty of whether or not Tommy Olson will be available against Northwestern. He's hopeful Olson is available at least in a back up role.
Marquies Gray: Gray is not in shape because of the injury and his time off from practice. He may be at 75 percent and, of course, timing with his passing is off because lack of practice time. He has a way to go. He concluded the question by saying: "Playing quarterback is a different position - you can't play at half-speed."
2) Sid asked if he watched yesterday's game between Northwestern and PSU: "Watched them (Northwestern) on video of yesterday's game and previous games . . . they're well coached . . . (they) spread you out . . . they have a good kicking game . . . no huddle offense." Regarding the no huddle offense, it is similar to what Western Michigan and New Hampshire ran against the Gophers (some experience in facing the no huddle offense). Kill said Northwestern is a team that's hard to prepare for. Their quarterbacks are athletic and can play other positions as well, which can cause headaches in preparations.
3) Sid asked what they accomplished with the week off: "Have to play tougher - blocking and tackling." Spent a lot of practice time focusing on fundamentals/basic skill sets . . . sled time . . . working on feet and hand drills . . . catching the ball. (Too many dropped balls at Iowa.) He concluded by saying the team "practiced hard."
4) Dave asked about practices when so many coaches were on the road recruiting: "Whenever everyone is on the road there are changes in practices." He said several times that he enjoyed coaching the players in practice (picking up the various functions since the position coaches were absent).
5) Recruiting: Plan to sign 14-16 players . . . trying to redshirt a lot of kids . . . coaches recruiting on-the-road last week sometimes saw three games a day . . . tried to accomplish 4-5 live evaluations per day - games or practice. Kill said recruiting is going well and being 4 and 1 helps in recruiting. He also said he wants to take care of the players they have (rewarding walkons that are producing).
6) Northwestern having two quarterbacks: Again, Kill said Northwestern presents preparation problems because of their athleticism and their ability to play multiple positions . . . "they can do a lot of things . . . need good matchups on people."
7) Sid, again, asked about the availability of Tommy Olson and who is backing him up: Kill said Caleb Bak has replaced Olson and he also mention Jon Christenson. He said Christenson did a good job at Iowa . . .he has good technique and needs to gain 15-20 more pounds. If Zach Mottla is available, Zac Epping would move to guard. "We need Tommy (Olson) to spell some."
8) Andre McDonald: "He's got to learn and catch up." He missed some practices because of injuries and it takes longer for freshman to catch up than an upper classman.
9) Dave asked about JUCO recruiting: Kill answered the query by saying they're looking for "Best players available that fit our needs . . . need to make sure we take care of the young players we have to get them better." Dave asked if while looking at certain players they discover a player that wasn't on their radar screen (a player that pops up). Kill said it happens all the time.
10) OSU vs Nebraska: "It's hard to win on the road, that's why you need to take care of home (field)." He said the cupboard wasn't bare when Urban took over the Buckeye program.
11) Big 10 and PSU: Kill said coach O'brien has done a good job with the Nittany Lions, overcoming a lot of adversity. "He's in a tough situation . . . He's got them playing hard . . . Give the guy credit."
12) Sid asked if the redshirts get experience: Kill responded by saying they practice everyday and gain an extra day of weight training whenever the team is on the road. As to being a young team, he said the second team of offensive line are all freshmen or redshirt freshmen with one sophomore.
13) Dave asked about Marcus Jones: Kill said the ACL injury takes a while to heal and "It's a confidence thing . . . he has a good attitude." He then mentioned AJ Barker's play and having stepped up when the opportunity was presented. He said Barker had 3 excellent days of practice last week. "You've got come to work everyday."
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the show by asking if the team got healthy during the bye week: "We'll know a lot more today . . . will be meeting with staff and trainers." Kill sounded positive and hopeful that Martez Shabazz will be back this week and, "Martez Shabazz - we need him for Northwestern."
Cameron Botticelli is a question mark after he dislocated an elbow in the Iowa game - "We'll see how he progresses."
referring to the injured: "Many moved well on Thursday."
Brock Vereen is back and has been practicing.
Devin Crawford-Tufts has been battling a hamstring injury.
Kill stressed most of his concerns regarding injuries center around the offensive line and the problem of staying healthy. There's uncertainty of whether or not Tommy Olson will be available against Northwestern. He's hopeful Olson is available at least in a back up role.
Marquies Gray: Gray is not in shape because of the injury and his time off from practice. He may be at 75 percent and, of course, timing with his passing is off because lack of practice time. He has a way to go. He concluded the question by saying: "Playing quarterback is a different position - you can't play at half-speed."
2) Sid asked if he watched yesterday's game between Northwestern and PSU: "Watched them (Northwestern) on video of yesterday's game and previous games . . . they're well coached . . . (they) spread you out . . . they have a good kicking game . . . no huddle offense." Regarding the no huddle offense, it is similar to what Western Michigan and New Hampshire ran against the Gophers (some experience in facing the no huddle offense). Kill said Northwestern is a team that's hard to prepare for. Their quarterbacks are athletic and can play other positions as well, which can cause headaches in preparations.
3) Sid asked what they accomplished with the week off: "Have to play tougher - blocking and tackling." Spent a lot of practice time focusing on fundamentals/basic skill sets . . . sled time . . . working on feet and hand drills . . . catching the ball. (Too many dropped balls at Iowa.) He concluded by saying the team "practiced hard."
4) Dave asked about practices when so many coaches were on the road recruiting: "Whenever everyone is on the road there are changes in practices." He said several times that he enjoyed coaching the players in practice (picking up the various functions since the position coaches were absent).
5) Recruiting: Plan to sign 14-16 players . . . trying to redshirt a lot of kids . . . coaches recruiting on-the-road last week sometimes saw three games a day . . . tried to accomplish 4-5 live evaluations per day - games or practice. Kill said recruiting is going well and being 4 and 1 helps in recruiting. He also said he wants to take care of the players they have (rewarding walkons that are producing).
6) Northwestern having two quarterbacks: Again, Kill said Northwestern presents preparation problems because of their athleticism and their ability to play multiple positions . . . "they can do a lot of things . . . need good matchups on people."
7) Sid, again, asked about the availability of Tommy Olson and who is backing him up: Kill said Caleb Bak has replaced Olson and he also mention Jon Christenson. He said Christenson did a good job at Iowa . . .he has good technique and needs to gain 15-20 more pounds. If Zach Mottla is available, Zac Epping would move to guard. "We need Tommy (Olson) to spell some."
8) Andre McDonald: "He's got to learn and catch up." He missed some practices because of injuries and it takes longer for freshman to catch up than an upper classman.
9) Dave asked about JUCO recruiting: Kill answered the query by saying they're looking for "Best players available that fit our needs . . . need to make sure we take care of the young players we have to get them better." Dave asked if while looking at certain players they discover a player that wasn't on their radar screen (a player that pops up). Kill said it happens all the time.
10) OSU vs Nebraska: "It's hard to win on the road, that's why you need to take care of home (field)." He said the cupboard wasn't bare when Urban took over the Buckeye program.
11) Big 10 and PSU: Kill said coach O'brien has done a good job with the Nittany Lions, overcoming a lot of adversity. "He's in a tough situation . . . He's got them playing hard . . . Give the guy credit."
12) Sid asked if the redshirts get experience: Kill responded by saying they practice everyday and gain an extra day of weight training whenever the team is on the road. As to being a young team, he said the second team of offensive line are all freshmen or redshirt freshmen with one sophomore.
13) Dave asked about Marcus Jones: Kill said the ACL injury takes a while to heal and "It's a confidence thing . . . he has a good attitude." He then mentioned AJ Barker's play and having stepped up when the opportunity was presented. He said Barker had 3 excellent days of practice last week. "You've got come to work everyday."
Go Gophers!!
