Gophers Jerry Kill addresses the team at practice.
Practice Notes:
- Cody Allen Poock is now out of his knee brace, and simply has a wrap around his leg.
- During two minute drills, both Leidner and Streveler looked very poised in the pocket during each of their combined four drives. All four drives ended in field goal attempts.
- Berkley Edwards was in with Marcus Jones and KJ Maye in punt return drills.
- Freshman Nate Wozniak looks as though he has made some improvements, and definitely looks more at home on the football field. He still looks like he is a year or so away from having a big contribution.
- Damian Wilson showed off his athleticism with a sprawling interception of Mitch Leidner during 7 on 7s.
- Drew Wolitarsky has continued to run strong routes and make solid plays, and is clearly the right choice for the number one wide receiver spot.
- Ben Lauer, Zac Epping, Josh Campion, Foster Bush and Tommy Olson make up the current first team offensive linemen.
A compilation of quotes from players to the media after practice:
De’Vondre Campbell quotes
(On his current weight)
Today I weighed exactly 239.7. I lost about a pound, trying to get back up to where I was. I’ve gained about 20 pounds since last fall, and I’m just trying to keep it up there so I can become a better player. I feel a lot more comfortable because last year I was a lot more timid because of my weight. I wasn’t comfortable playing at that weight, but now that I got my weight up I can actually play how I want to play. Become more of a downhill player, taking on fullbacks, linemen, I just feel a lot more comfortable with the system, knowing the plays and also the weight gain has helped that a lot. I don’t want to get anything over 245.
(On how his weight gain will help play)
I think the Iowa game is when I figured out that I needed to gain at least about another 15 or 20 pounds, because there are some big boys. But I think I’m going to be ready this year. Iowa, Wisconsin, anybody, I’m ready. [In regards to the Iowa game] I was struggling, taking on the fullbacks and the linemen. And that’s when I knew, come offseason, that I was gonna have to have a big offseason and put on a lot of weight.
Cedric Thompson quotes
(On negative preseason rankings)
It’s definitely a motivation. People are gonna say whatever they want, but we know how hard we worked all summer, and all camp these past four days, so we’re just gonna let our work do the talking for us instead of saying things about what other people have to say about us.
(Eric Murray)
Eric’s very physical. He’s a physical guy. He’s not afraid to get in front of you. All summer he’s worked on playing off, because he pressed all last season. This season he’s worked on playing off, he’s worked on his physicality more. I think Eric’s an all-around physical corner, and he brings everything to the table on gameday. He doesn’t want you to throw to his side of the field, and that his area is his area, and you shouldn’t bother coming over there. [On Murray’s personality] When Eric was a freshman, he was quiet at first, but you know, it takes a little while… He’s actually a pretty funny guy, he’s different. He likes Pokemon and video games and stuff like that.
(On how the team has changed since Thompson first arrived)
I think the biggest thing for us since Coach Kill has been here in his four years, me personally, I think of this team as more of a family. When Kill first got here, everybody had their own groups, everybody stayed with their own people, nobody really talked. But now, with lunch everybody’s with each other, you sit at a new table, meet new people get to know where they’re from. On the field we talk to everybody. So I think of us as being a family, if we take care of our stuff on the field and off the field, that will make us more of a championship team.
Tracy Claeys quotes
(On Damarius Travis)
Damarius came out in the spring, he played as good as anybody in the spring. So he earned the right to get in there and compete, and you know the whole thing with the secondary is finding out in the packages of where everybody fits to give us the best opportunity to win. So he’s a kid who gives us a lot of flexibility, his size allows him to play close to the box with his length. But at the same time I’m very happy with him playing high and playing back. He’s become a lot better high safety than what I thought he could when he got here. I thought he would grow into an outside linebacker… He’s worked his tail end off to be a very good secondary player.
(On Campbell’s weight gain)
So far he’s a better football player. He hasn’t lost any speed, it’s helped him against the run. The good thing is he’s not any shorter and he still has all the length, so the extra 25-30 pounds has really helped that kid become a better football player. He’s put a lot of time in the film room and is really trying to take advantage of his opportunities. We thought he’d get bigger because in junior college kids don’t get to eat the way they should, so by taking care of his responsibilities there, giving an opportunity to play here, he’s able to eat better.
(Freshmen D-Linemen, can they help this year?)
I hope. We’ll find out tomorrow because we’re going to throw them in tomorrow versus the ones. Young guys going against young guys, it shows how good they are against the young guys, so we’re going to do goal line situations, we’re going to get after it a little bit tomorrow. We’ll see if they step up or curl up I guess is the best way to put it. We’ll see which kids are ready to go, and which kids are going to need to be redshirted and matured a bit.
(Thompson as a leader)
All the kids know him and Mitch, they have a tremendous amount of respect, and they know that’s who’s calling the shots, and if we have an issue, those are the guys that are going in and dealing with it. So we’re very proud of those two kids and what they’ve done. Coaches can only do so much. Players have to get to where they police themselves, and it’s got to be with people the kids respect, and nobody on the team doesn’t respect those two guys.