Tracy Claeys on Sports Huddle 8-21-16

[short ornery norwegian]

Gopher FB Coach Tracy Claeys appeared on the Sports Huddle with Sid and Dave on Sunday.

Sid: Any FR you think will play?
TC: several will have an opportunity. Tyler Johnson can give us depth at WR. Another WR Phillip Howard from Cooper having good camp. not as far along as Johnson. Defense - Kamal Martin does good things for his size. Carter Coughlin been banged up - he'll be ready to practice on Tuesday. In Secondary, Winfield had good camp. Two Corners - Durr and Thomas - played well.

Sid: Redshirts?
TC: Colton Beebe at TE played well. have to see beyond that.

Sid: Scrimmage yesterday?
TC: Didn't put FB on the ground - wasn't a lot of penalties. got to practice in the rain - at some time during the year, you're going to have to play in the rain. didn't get anybody hurt. fine line how much you hit to get kids prepared for games.

Dave: redshirt QB's?
TC: decision made by time we start Conference. some young kids - I just don't know how good they'll be. don't have practice games like NFL. we go live off the bat - don't know how kids are going to react. make best decision for 1st game, then go back and re-evaluate. Open week during 3rd week - beginning to think that's a good thing to help us make decisions on which ones to redshirt.

Sid: Coughlin?
TC: ready to practice on Tuesday. Important to get him as many reps as possible Tuesday through Friday.

Dave: Punt return - kick return?
TC: Myrick - Hardin two kids. Shannon Brooks, Rodney Smith, Wolitarski, Tyler Johnson - tremendous hands. Howard. we have kids who can make big plays in return game

Sid: any surprises?
TC: Mc Crary has come along - Shannon's injury allowed him to get more reps. Defense - Kamal Martin has been a surprise. Devers really made plays off the edge- he's got a role in right situations.

Dave: recruiting basketball players? Wozniak more in offense?
TC: Woz 6'10" 280 lbs - big competitor. position of strength for us. Tyler - AAU basketball (glad we don't have it in FB because of recruiting things). He's not going to have strength other kids have that have been in weight room, but in AAU he's competed against older kids. not afraid. watch him play BB, grab rebounds, alley-oops - has great hands. has mentality to compete.

Sid: happy with secondary?
TC: we run around well. experience has a lot to do with it. have athletic ability and mentality. have to give kids some experience. by B1G season, we'll have some depth and be ready to go.

Sid: O-line set - who starts?
TC: make decision Monday or Tuesday - set depth chart. watch film Monday morning, evaluate things. roles kids will have. important do to that 10 days out - not everyone will like role, and will need to have time to accept that. need to accept that to help us win. we'll evaluate after 1st game and make changes.

Sid: Seth Green?
TC: he's done well for young kid. don't know if Redshirt decision will be made on Seth until conference. Has improved way he throws ball - type of athlete we want to have at QB.

Sid: buy season tickets.
TC: see you at the Fair next weekend.

 

[DL65]

Thanks, again, SON for stepping up.

Great recap.

I'll try again to post the Sports Huddle recap next Sunday.


Go Gophers!!

 

[Spoofin]

Interesting that Kamal Martin's name keeps popping up. My sources have been pimping him from the start as well. With CC's injury it seems to me that KM may end up being the trFr LB that makes an impact this year. Not surprising, but not the one most would have guessed a few months ago.


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[mkAz]

Thanks SON! I found the comments about the OL interesting. I had assumed they were pretty much set on the starters (Pirsig & Wright at OT; Calhoun & Mayes at OG; Moore at C). Unless he's talking about the backup spots. It'll be interesting to see how things shake out.

 

[Dr.Don]

Another BIG White Mountains thank you, S O N.

 

[highwayman]

Another BIG White Mountains thank you, S O N.

...and from the B1G North Valley. It's rained here every day for over two weeks. The apocalypse may be upon us. Imminent Apocalypse=Minnesota B1G title.

In all seriousness, I like that TC mentions more and more WR playing. Can't have too many fresh horses.

 

[60's Guy]

Thank you Son!

 

[everybody knows my name]

Thanks, SON, for the good recap!

I'm getting more and more excited about Tyler Johnson. Everyone who's seen him in practice (which does not include me) has great things to say about this young man.

 

[oak_street1981]

On a tangential note, Sid Hartman was the most incoherent as he has ever been on TV or the Radio today. Usually he has Ok days, and not as good of days, and the early AM WCCO radio call ins can be rough, but today he was really struggling. He was slurring word and really stumbling for most of the show, almost as though he had suffered a stroke. He probably is still mentally sharp though, but I am concerned for his well being.

I fear that we may not be hearing and seeing Sid in the media on a regular basis much longer. He probably could keep cranking out a column with the usual assistance, but they days for putting out a weekly show, calling into WCCO 830, and taping the Sunday Max show may be difficult if he cannot bounce back.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Thanks SON! I found the comments about the OL interesting. I had assumed they were pretty much set on the starters (Pirsig & Wright at OT; Calhoun & Mayes at OG; Moore at C). Unless he's talking about the backup spots. It'll be interesting to see how things shake out.

I got the sense that Claeys was talking more about the overall depth chart. When he talked about players accepting their roles, I took that to mean that a guy who thinks he should start, but winds up on the 2nd team, could be a problem if he doesn't handle it well.