Gophers Players and Coaches prepare for Eastern Michigan Game

Several Minnesota Gophers Football players and coaches participated in a press conference on Wednesday. The topics were their dramatic win over Nebraska last week and their upcoming game against Eastern Michigan. This intrepid reporter managed to catch up with them and record their comments about Minnesota’s season so far.

The Forkball (FB): Jalen, on your sack in the third quarter, you used a swim move to get to the quarterback. Was that instinctive, or had you seen something in their blocking scheme that you could exploit?

Jalen Logan-Redding-Defensive lineman: It’s just what they gave me. So, I saw the gap open up, and I just took what they gave me. Just trying to give us the best chance to win. Coach always talks about more games are lost than won so I was just trying to help the team win a game.

Athan Talks Nebraska Game

FB: Athan, I noticed on a lot of your completions, you looked one way and threw the other way. Was that by design or were you just taking what the defense was giving you?

Athan Kaliakmanis-Quarterback: Just taking what the defense was giving me. I was trying to use the information that I observed from watching Nebraska on film. I was anticipating what they were going to do and following through on my progressions.

FB: Corey, you and Athan were in synch right away at the start of the game. Was that something that carried over from practice or did you see some things in the defense that you could exploit?

Corey Crooms-Wide Receiver: It was something that Athan and I had worked on in practice. Athan does a great job in the film room scouting the other teams and finding ways that we can exploit their defense.

Striggow Talks Sacks

FB: Danny, when you guys had the three sacks in that one series in the third quarter, did you exploit something, or was it a, hey, we need to help fire this team up?

Danny Striggow-Defense lineman (DS): It was more getting back to that consistency thing. We had the ability to do that all game long. It definitely showed up in that drive. So, it was great that it showed up there, but we would like it to happen more often in the game.

FB: On your sack, it looked like you checked the runner. Did you have any coverage responsibility on that play?

DS: It was more just a transition rush. Transitioning into the pass rush, disengaging off of your blocker, and getting to the quarterback.

FB: Eastern Michigan has a quarterback who is mobile, much like Nebraska’s quarterback Sims. Is some of the preparation similar to what it was for Nebraska?

Coach Rossi Talks Defensive Game

Joe Rossi-Defensive Coordinator (JR): The thing about Nebraska was, we weren’t sure what plays they were going to run. Nebraska OC Marcus Satterfield was the offensive coordinator at South Carolina, and we knew they would not run that offense. So, whose offense were they going to run? We looked at Temple, Baylor, and the Carolina Panthers.

This week, we know what kind of offense they are going to run. They can change plays; they can add some wrinkles. Eastern Michigan has an excellent staff, and they will do that. But we have a better bead on the types of plays they have run over the years. I have a lot of respect for their staff. Their quarterback is mobile, and he does a nice job. And he has had success so that is something we are going to be aware of. We are going to practice and prepare for it.

FB: In your pass rush scheme, two of your sacks were on a four-man rush and one was on three three-man rush. And on Tyler Nubin’s second interception, it was a blitz up the middle. Did you make adjustments or was some of this pre-planned?

JR: No. Each game is its own game. I always say that. We do what we have to do to win the game. It was pretty evident to me early in that game that in those third and medium situations, Nebraska was going to be pretty conservative in its passing game. Or even run the ball. So, when you get into those types of situations, your subpackages and some of your exotics, they’re not always at the top of the call sheet.

Sacks Lead to Turnovers

But when you get into a two-minute situation they’re looking to throw the ball and win the game. So, we brought some third-down pressure and Devin Williams beat the back and the quarterback threw off of his back foot and Nubin was eyeing up the receiver and made a break and made a nice play. So, it wasn’t so much of an adjustment, it was a call made on the situation.

FB: And Tyler’s first interception was due to a good pass rush also.

JR: Yes. That one was too. It was a fourth and four, and they were going for it on the plus side of the field, and we were in man coverage. We got home late; I think it was Kyler Baugh who was coming free to the quarterback and made him throw off of his back foot. That’s the one thing, the hidden turnovers.

And that’s a good point you bring up. When the pass rush goes up, not only do the sacks go up. But the interceptions and fumbles also go up. The number one fumble play in football is a sack. So, if you’re not getting a lot of sacks, you’re just missing out on those opportunities.

A lot of errant throws are often caused by someone being in someone’s face and making them throw off of their back foot, which to your point both of those were. And we capitalized. You get a clean pocket; a quarterback can step up you’re naturally going to be able to deliver more accurately.

Let’s Get Offensive

FB: In the film from the Eastern Michigan/Howard game, it looks like they predominately play a man-to-man defense. Without giving away the game plan, is the plan to use the speed and athleticism of your receivers to get some one-on-one opportunities?

Greg Harbaugh-Co-Offensive Coordinator: Yeah, that’s obviously something you want to do every game. That’s the key in passing. And how do you do that? It’s different with every team They do a great job in man coverage. Their corners trust in their technique, and they play in their technique.

It showed up even last year with what they did. We just have to make plays on the plays called. Daniel Jackson has to make the play quicker. They all have to. And that’s the one thing that we always do and Coach Fleck stresses it. We have to put ourselves in the position to make the plays. One of the things I thought we did well on Thursday night was we spread the ball out. And we want to be able to do that again.