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Gopher FB coach Tracy Claeys appeared on the WCCO Sports Huddle Sunday with Sid and Mike Max sitting in for Dave Mona.
Mike: what was it like at B1G media days as head coach?
TC: neat experience. 1st time there as head coach. do a lot of things for about 6 hrs. every 15 minutes something different to do. chance to brag about our kids.
Sid: picking you for last in the division?
TC: I don't have any control over the writers, or what people pick. we've put a lot of work into this. feel like we have our best team coming back. no guarantee you're going to win. our kids will be disappointed if we get to November and we don't have a shot at going to Indianapolis.
Sid: (profile on Claeys in Strib) you're a regular guy. If you worry about one position, what would it be?
TC: Offensive line. need to come up with 7 kids who can help us win. injuries concern me. we've got talented FR and RS FS, but not sure if they're ready to play at this level. Secondary - need to stay healthy. got talented young kids - if we can get it done without having to throw them in the fire, that's in our best interest.
Mike: O-line get angrier?
TC: physical. aggressive up front. be road graders - knock people off the ball. Let Mitch throw the ball on time. guys up front put in a tremendous amt of time with coach Miller and Strength staff. you can tell it in their bodies. carry confidence over to game day.
Sid: best O-line since you've been there?
TC: two JUCO kids - Jonah back. depth a concern. need to get back to where we're moving people off the ball. finish better than we have on offense - scoring avg not good enough.
Sid: depth at all positions?
TC: OL & secondary, have some depth but it's young. LB real deep. WR have some talented guys - need to continue to develop. I feel we have more kids who give us a chance to win.
Mike: Lingen at TE. keeps getting better - a feature receiver?
TC: continued to improve. best ball ahead of him. competitive. Wozniak really big kid. TE position of strength. I think we have enough receivers so that people are going to have to cover entire field on us. keep defenses more honest - not allow them to stack the box. puts most stress on defense.
Sid: throw the ball more this year?
TC: want to be balanced. take what the defense gives you. if they put too many in the box, have to be able to throw the ball. like be more aggressive (early in downs) - don't wait until we have to throw. but also have RB's who are very talented. coaches working with QB's to recognize fronts in coverage - get us out of bad plays. I've been on defense whole career - every defense has a weakness.
Sid: everybody healthy?
TC: meet with training staff this week. think everyone ready to go.
Mike: different camp now that you're in charge?
TC: do some things different. Been talking to Coach McCutcheon (VB) - he has interesting theories on teaching and behavior. try to finish each practice in live situation. challenge kids at end of practice. try to learn to stay sharp while you're tired. he's (Mc Cutcheon) got some ideas I think I can help us.
Sid: any FR got a chance to play?
TC: Coughlin and Martin have size and strength that would allow them to play right away. Winfield another one. got a couple other kids - Kiondre Thomas from Arkansas another one. matter of how well they adapt to competition. first two weeks of practice, need to put them in situations to see if they're ready to compete.
Sid: I predict they will win the West.
Mike: what was it like at B1G media days as head coach?
TC: neat experience. 1st time there as head coach. do a lot of things for about 6 hrs. every 15 minutes something different to do. chance to brag about our kids.
Sid: picking you for last in the division?
TC: I don't have any control over the writers, or what people pick. we've put a lot of work into this. feel like we have our best team coming back. no guarantee you're going to win. our kids will be disappointed if we get to November and we don't have a shot at going to Indianapolis.
Sid: (profile on Claeys in Strib) you're a regular guy. If you worry about one position, what would it be?
TC: Offensive line. need to come up with 7 kids who can help us win. injuries concern me. we've got talented FR and RS FS, but not sure if they're ready to play at this level. Secondary - need to stay healthy. got talented young kids - if we can get it done without having to throw them in the fire, that's in our best interest.
Mike: O-line get angrier?
TC: physical. aggressive up front. be road graders - knock people off the ball. Let Mitch throw the ball on time. guys up front put in a tremendous amt of time with coach Miller and Strength staff. you can tell it in their bodies. carry confidence over to game day.
Sid: best O-line since you've been there?
TC: two JUCO kids - Jonah back. depth a concern. need to get back to where we're moving people off the ball. finish better than we have on offense - scoring avg not good enough.
Sid: depth at all positions?
TC: OL & secondary, have some depth but it's young. LB real deep. WR have some talented guys - need to continue to develop. I feel we have more kids who give us a chance to win.
Mike: Lingen at TE. keeps getting better - a feature receiver?
TC: continued to improve. best ball ahead of him. competitive. Wozniak really big kid. TE position of strength. I think we have enough receivers so that people are going to have to cover entire field on us. keep defenses more honest - not allow them to stack the box. puts most stress on defense.
Sid: throw the ball more this year?
TC: want to be balanced. take what the defense gives you. if they put too many in the box, have to be able to throw the ball. like be more aggressive (early in downs) - don't wait until we have to throw. but also have RB's who are very talented. coaches working with QB's to recognize fronts in coverage - get us out of bad plays. I've been on defense whole career - every defense has a weakness.
Sid: everybody healthy?
TC: meet with training staff this week. think everyone ready to go.
Mike: different camp now that you're in charge?
TC: do some things different. Been talking to Coach McCutcheon (VB) - he has interesting theories on teaching and behavior. try to finish each practice in live situation. challenge kids at end of practice. try to learn to stay sharp while you're tired. he's (Mc Cutcheon) got some ideas I think I can help us.
Sid: any FR got a chance to play?
TC: Coughlin and Martin have size and strength that would allow them to play right away. Winfield another one. got a couple other kids - Kiondre Thomas from Arkansas another one. matter of how well they adapt to competition. first two weeks of practice, need to put them in situations to see if they're ready to compete.
Sid: I predict they will win the West.
