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Gopher FB Coach Tracy Claeys was on the WCCO Sports huddle on Sunday.
(note - I am having a lot of problems with Gopher Hole today - keeps freezing up and won't let me post entries).
Sid: ask for response to scrimmage?
TC: went about 60 plays - offense a lot stronger than any time since Spring. executed well. McCrary ran well. O Line did good job not allowing penetration. QB's threw ball well. caught a couple deep balls. (Tyler Johnson, Melvin Holland caught balls.) Not ready to play a game yet. Defense - didn't play run well. played younger kids on D. Did better job in Red Zone. Lot more work to do.
Sid: any surprises?
TC: Wozniak did great job. Mitch had a couple scrambles - moving better than he has for a long time. McCrary did a great job picking up blitz. Never hurts to have enough RB's. we've helped out depth at RB.
Dave: tell us more about McCrary.
TC: Butler JC - Kansas connection. didn't graduate in December - took full 2 years - we decided to wait for him - wasn't here all spring. made a lot of progress this week - making a big impact.
Sid: how is O-line doing?
TC: pleased with first group. letting defense blitz - makes things better when O-line has to go up against different looks. Communication is better. QB's making changes to read blitz and get us into the right plays. Coach Bart and Coach Johnson going a good job.
Sid: how about running backs?
TC: Rodney didn't play - try to find out more about other players. Mc Crary, Johanessen good job; Femi-Cole hit some creases. Some of these guys always want to try to bounce outside - need to hit the right hole. Have to eliminate negative-yardage plays, stay out of long passing situations. Need to finish drives in red zone.
Dave: Tyler Johnson - is he a WR?
TC: Hands really strong. great eye-hand coordination. can catch bad balls - just have to be close. 3-sport athlete. one thing about playing AAU basketball - he's always competed against older kids. not afraid to compete. Needs to keep weight on, but he's been a huge surprise. He's in place to help us - QB's trust him. Phillip Howard is having a good camp.
Sid: update on Coughlin?
TC: He and Kamal Martin have the skill and strength to play. they're on the right road. need depth on defense. In High school, you can beat guys by being more physical - can't do that as easily in college. have to rely on fundamentals. we have another week of practice - expect to see more consistency.
Dave: can you give us any update on Mike Sherels?
TC: at U of M hospital. appreciate all the thoughts and prayers. hope to have an update this week. ask people to respect the family's privacy.
Sid: any Freshmen stand out?
TC: Kiondre Thomas in secondary. Phillip Howard at WR. Ko Kieft at TE. Taiyon Devers on the pass rush. Thomas Barber at LB. Winfield has played well. the FR offensive linemen have done well. good numbers - a talented group. Most of the FR not ready to play yet, but they're on track to be ready.
Sid: when is the next scrimmage?
TC: the B1G network will be here next Saturday for their pre-season special (so we'll scrimmage then). After that, have 10 days to get ready for 1st game.
(note - after rebooting my computer twice, I finally got the site to behave - took me over a half-hour just to type in this post........)
(note - I am having a lot of problems with Gopher Hole today - keeps freezing up and won't let me post entries).
Sid: ask for response to scrimmage?
TC: went about 60 plays - offense a lot stronger than any time since Spring. executed well. McCrary ran well. O Line did good job not allowing penetration. QB's threw ball well. caught a couple deep balls. (Tyler Johnson, Melvin Holland caught balls.) Not ready to play a game yet. Defense - didn't play run well. played younger kids on D. Did better job in Red Zone. Lot more work to do.
Sid: any surprises?
TC: Wozniak did great job. Mitch had a couple scrambles - moving better than he has for a long time. McCrary did a great job picking up blitz. Never hurts to have enough RB's. we've helped out depth at RB.
Dave: tell us more about McCrary.
TC: Butler JC - Kansas connection. didn't graduate in December - took full 2 years - we decided to wait for him - wasn't here all spring. made a lot of progress this week - making a big impact.
Sid: how is O-line doing?
TC: pleased with first group. letting defense blitz - makes things better when O-line has to go up against different looks. Communication is better. QB's making changes to read blitz and get us into the right plays. Coach Bart and Coach Johnson going a good job.
Sid: how about running backs?
TC: Rodney didn't play - try to find out more about other players. Mc Crary, Johanessen good job; Femi-Cole hit some creases. Some of these guys always want to try to bounce outside - need to hit the right hole. Have to eliminate negative-yardage plays, stay out of long passing situations. Need to finish drives in red zone.
Dave: Tyler Johnson - is he a WR?
TC: Hands really strong. great eye-hand coordination. can catch bad balls - just have to be close. 3-sport athlete. one thing about playing AAU basketball - he's always competed against older kids. not afraid to compete. Needs to keep weight on, but he's been a huge surprise. He's in place to help us - QB's trust him. Phillip Howard is having a good camp.
Sid: update on Coughlin?
TC: He and Kamal Martin have the skill and strength to play. they're on the right road. need depth on defense. In High school, you can beat guys by being more physical - can't do that as easily in college. have to rely on fundamentals. we have another week of practice - expect to see more consistency.
Dave: can you give us any update on Mike Sherels?
TC: at U of M hospital. appreciate all the thoughts and prayers. hope to have an update this week. ask people to respect the family's privacy.
Sid: any Freshmen stand out?
TC: Kiondre Thomas in secondary. Phillip Howard at WR. Ko Kieft at TE. Taiyon Devers on the pass rush. Thomas Barber at LB. Winfield has played well. the FR offensive linemen have done well. good numbers - a talented group. Most of the FR not ready to play yet, but they're on track to be ready.
Sid: when is the next scrimmage?
TC: the B1G network will be here next Saturday for their pre-season special (so we'll scrimmage then). After that, have 10 days to get ready for 1st game.
(note - after rebooting my computer twice, I finally got the site to behave - took me over a half-hour just to type in this post........)
