Coach Kill's comments and responses to Sid and Dave's queries on today's Sports Huddle:
1) Sid opened by saying he thought the Gophers played a good game against Michigan: "We're all disappointed . . . you move on to the next one . . . at the end we couldn't make the plays and Michigan did." Kill referenced the onside kick that they practice all the time, but he said they didn't execute the play as they should have. The team had too many missed opportunities.
2) Sid said the Gophers must have the youngest offensive line in America: "We're probably the youngest team in the country." He quicky left the topic saying it's been repetitive and then said, "We played out of control." He cited the third and seventeen scramble and pass for a touchdown by Michigan, as an example of not being in control; however, he also credited Devin Garner for making the play. He said fortitude and paying your dues will benefit the team in the future. He closed by saying he likes the effort that the team is putting forth.
3) Sid asked about injured players being ready for Illinois: Kill only mentioned AJ Barker and Ed Olson. He's hopeful they'll be ready to go.
4) Sid mentioned an interference call and made a comment about the officiating: Laughing, Kill said, "You're trying to get me suspended for a game." Without elaborating Kill said about the officiating, "It's part of the game." He quickly changed the subject saying: "We had opportunities but didn't execute." At the end of the topic he closed by saying: "I'm not going to blame the officials; I blame coach Kill."
5) On the fake field goal, Mona said Nelson was out on the side like the old "Lonesome end" (play by the Army teams in the late 1950s): Kill said they ran the kicking team onto the field with Nelson out on the side. (They pracitice the play a lot.) Kill claimed no one was covering Nelson and that they didn't execute the play, which he called to shake up the game and a way to get a touchdown. He blamed it on slow execution. (However, there were a number of Michigan defenders on that side of the field and they snuffed out the play immediately.)
6) Sid about not having AJ Barker available yesterday: Kill mentioned Barker as being a very good playmaker and that they missed him; however, he didn't use injuries as an excuse (it's part of the game), and then cited the Michigan QB stepping in for the injured Denard Robinson. "We moved the ball against a very good defense." Again, he mentioned missed opportunities and not getting it done, whereas Michigan did: "(Michigan) Threw into double coverage and they catch the ball (touchdown)." He closed the topic by saying, again, he likes the team's effort and that they'll continue to grow.
7) Text question about taking snaps under center in short yardage situations instead of the shotgun: Kill said his preference is under center. They ran and got a first down from the shotgun when it was fourth and one and failed once when they were under center. He said they're presently running the option in short yardage situations . . . "Trying to put our kids in the best position we can. We're not there yet (wanting to run from under center, his preference and what they ran at NIU)"
8) Rodrick Williams: "Williams is going to be a great player." Kill then said: "We're playing freshmen against juniors and seniors." He amplfied saying that the team will struggle at times because of their youth, but they're growing up, and the benefits of their efforts and playing time now will pay dividends. He gave very brief comment about recruiting and improving the team: "Working hard and moving forward."
9) Jon Christenson: "He's our number one center . . . Jon's done an excellent job . . . he's struggled but he's gaining confidence . . . our team can't have enough Jon Christenson's." Kill said he struggled in practice with center snaps, however, in the games that he's played he's been perfect.
Once again, Kill said the coaches and players were disappointed with yesterday's game: "We had opportunities, just didn't get it done . . . I look for us to take a step forward and we have to have a short memory and get ready for the next one."
10) Mona - problems in the red zone: "We just got to make a play when you throw or run . . . give Michigan credit, they've been good on defense in the red zone." He said they'll continue to work on improving their offensive play in the red zone.
11) Illinois: "It's a very important game for us and we need to get better, more consistent."
12) Mona finsished the Huddle's first segment by mentioning NIU 63-0 win over U Mass: Kill said they had most of the players on the current team and that he's very proud of them. He also said the players weren't too happy when he left NIU and took the Minnesota position. "Wish them all the luck in the world."
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened by saying he thought the Gophers played a good game against Michigan: "We're all disappointed . . . you move on to the next one . . . at the end we couldn't make the plays and Michigan did." Kill referenced the onside kick that they practice all the time, but he said they didn't execute the play as they should have. The team had too many missed opportunities.
2) Sid said the Gophers must have the youngest offensive line in America: "We're probably the youngest team in the country." He quicky left the topic saying it's been repetitive and then said, "We played out of control." He cited the third and seventeen scramble and pass for a touchdown by Michigan, as an example of not being in control; however, he also credited Devin Garner for making the play. He said fortitude and paying your dues will benefit the team in the future. He closed by saying he likes the effort that the team is putting forth.
3) Sid asked about injured players being ready for Illinois: Kill only mentioned AJ Barker and Ed Olson. He's hopeful they'll be ready to go.
4) Sid mentioned an interference call and made a comment about the officiating: Laughing, Kill said, "You're trying to get me suspended for a game." Without elaborating Kill said about the officiating, "It's part of the game." He quickly changed the subject saying: "We had opportunities but didn't execute." At the end of the topic he closed by saying: "I'm not going to blame the officials; I blame coach Kill."
5) On the fake field goal, Mona said Nelson was out on the side like the old "Lonesome end" (play by the Army teams in the late 1950s): Kill said they ran the kicking team onto the field with Nelson out on the side. (They pracitice the play a lot.) Kill claimed no one was covering Nelson and that they didn't execute the play, which he called to shake up the game and a way to get a touchdown. He blamed it on slow execution. (However, there were a number of Michigan defenders on that side of the field and they snuffed out the play immediately.)
6) Sid about not having AJ Barker available yesterday: Kill mentioned Barker as being a very good playmaker and that they missed him; however, he didn't use injuries as an excuse (it's part of the game), and then cited the Michigan QB stepping in for the injured Denard Robinson. "We moved the ball against a very good defense." Again, he mentioned missed opportunities and not getting it done, whereas Michigan did: "(Michigan) Threw into double coverage and they catch the ball (touchdown)." He closed the topic by saying, again, he likes the team's effort and that they'll continue to grow.
7) Text question about taking snaps under center in short yardage situations instead of the shotgun: Kill said his preference is under center. They ran and got a first down from the shotgun when it was fourth and one and failed once when they were under center. He said they're presently running the option in short yardage situations . . . "Trying to put our kids in the best position we can. We're not there yet (wanting to run from under center, his preference and what they ran at NIU)"
8) Rodrick Williams: "Williams is going to be a great player." Kill then said: "We're playing freshmen against juniors and seniors." He amplfied saying that the team will struggle at times because of their youth, but they're growing up, and the benefits of their efforts and playing time now will pay dividends. He gave very brief comment about recruiting and improving the team: "Working hard and moving forward."
9) Jon Christenson: "He's our number one center . . . Jon's done an excellent job . . . he's struggled but he's gaining confidence . . . our team can't have enough Jon Christenson's." Kill said he struggled in practice with center snaps, however, in the games that he's played he's been perfect.
Once again, Kill said the coaches and players were disappointed with yesterday's game: "We had opportunities, just didn't get it done . . . I look for us to take a step forward and we have to have a short memory and get ready for the next one."
10) Mona - problems in the red zone: "We just got to make a play when you throw or run . . . give Michigan credit, they've been good on defense in the red zone." He said they'll continue to work on improving their offensive play in the red zone.
11) Illinois: "It's a very important game for us and we need to get better, more consistent."
12) Mona finsished the Huddle's first segment by mentioning NIU 63-0 win over U Mass: Kill said they had most of the players on the current team and that he's very proud of them. He also said the players weren't too happy when he left NIU and took the Minnesota position. "Wish them all the luck in the world."
Go Gophers!!
