Minnesota Gopher Football: Insights from head coach PJ Fleck as he reflects on the loss to Rutgers and the bye week, while also looking forward to the team’s final home game against the #4 Penn State Nittany Lions.
What were you looking to do during the bye week and what do you feel your team has accomplished?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck stated, “This bye week is quite similar to the first one, yet the experience for the coaches is different. Overall, it’s crucial to focus on getting healthy. Having two bye weeks is incredibly beneficial for a football team—mentally, physically, and emotionally—especially as the season gets longer. I believe our players managed this well. Additionally, we needed to address areas for improvement through self-scouting, and the extra time allowed us to prepare for Penn State effectively.
Regarding recruiting, during the last bye week, we were all out on the road, but this time, we kept most of the team in the office. A couple of coaches went out, but overall, it was a productive week focusing on preparing for Penn State and improving ourselves. I’m glad the coaches were able to take Friday afternoon and Saturday to spend with their families, as that’s really important to me. It was indeed a fruitful week.”
When asked about achieving more consistent play from the offensive and defensive lines in the coming weeks, Fleck responded, “There’s a balance to strike. Everyone strives for consistency in their lines, and we are no exception. What really matters is how we perform on game day for those three hours and twenty minutes. I think at times we’re playing well up front on both sides, but we need to focus on the details of our techniques. When we don’t play our best, it often comes down to our pad level, first steps, hand placements, and where our eyes are looking.
If we can maintain that consistency over time, the effort they put in is really enjoyable to review in film sessions, regardless of the outcome. The effort is tied to those finer details. In the Big Ten, the margin for error is extremely narrow, and it will remain that way. We need to work diligently to narrow that gap every week, and that’s what I’ve observed.”
What makes Penn State tight end Tyler Warren so good?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck said, “When we discuss consistency, that’s the true measure of performance, and you can see it every week. They have really talented players, and we know we have our work cut out for us. What stands out is their versatility and ability to execute a wide range of plays consistently.
Each week, they introduce new elements, whether it’s rotating between three or four quarterbacks or using unique formations. They present challenges you’ve never encountered before, and you’ll need to be disciplined with your eyes, tackle effectively in space, and perform well at the line of scrimmage. They possess playmakers at every position, which is why they’re ranked fourth in the country; they truly are an exceptional team.
What makes them particularly challenging to defend is their player rotation. They platoon their defensive line, so when new players come in, they closely resemble those who precede them. This approach extends to many positions, contributing to their consistent performance. Their creativity on the field, combined with their ability to present new challenges, forces you to make in-game adjustments more than you would against almost any other team.”
You guys are lacking in some of the biggest explosive plays. How do you look at generating more of those consistently?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck said, “I believe last week we struggled to create explosive plays, while against Maryland, we had plenty. Overall, we’ve produced a lot of explosive plays this season, and our team is doing a great job of taking advantage of the opportunities that fit our style.
However, when we don’t come out on top, like in last week’s game, it often comes down to winning those 50/50 balls—we lost that battle last week, and that made a significant difference. We can’t afford to lose 78% of those situations; that’s how you end up losing games.
Despite that 78% loss, we still found ourselves with the ball in our own territory with eight minutes left. Unfortunately, when we fumbled, it cost us, especially in the Big Ten. We’ve had that happen twice this season in our own territory—once against Michigan and once against Rutgers—both times resulting in touchdowns for them. When you make mistakes like that, it’s tough to win any game.”
From a Layman’s perspective, it looked like you guys had trouble getting to Athan in the first half, but a lot more success in the second half. How much of that was just due to blitzing and bringing more guys vs. winning up front?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck stated, “I’m not sure if it was just that, but they got the ball out of their hands really quickly in the first half. By the time we were able to pressure him, he had already released it. They utilized a lot of quick plays, and when he did look for a progression, he was already scrambling.
In the second half, we managed to apply more pressure, but they continued to focus on getting the ball out quickly. They weren’t going through many reads or progressions, and we also didn’t defend the deep ball effectively, which ultimately hurt us.
There were three critical deep plays where we failed to make a stop, and they capitalized. Those plays not only flipped the field position but also set them up for potential points. There were many factors at play in that game, but the margin for error is incredibly slim when you miss those opportunities.”
This will be your eighth Senior Day at Minnesota, what sticks out about this group?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck said, “At the start of the year, I mentioned how enjoyable this team is to coach. Teams that are fun to coach—regardless of wins or losses—have strong leadership, and that’s certainly the case here. I have fantastic senior mentors. These players love the game of football, whether it’s someone like Max Brosmer, who’s new this year, or seasoned players like Cody Lindenberg. Then there are guys like Danny Striggow, who have experienced a lot within this program.
They’ve played significant roles, especially since the 2019 season, and their leadership has been crucial. Witnessing their passion for football and life has been a joy. Their energy for one another, their strong connections, and their commitment to each other are remarkable. These young men are going to be fantastic husbands and fathers, and I believe that’s the essence of senior day. It’s not just about closing the chapter on their football careers at the University of Minnesota, but also about beginning whatever comes next for them.
As I’ve mentioned before, the responsibilities of a head coach include instilling a love for their alma mater and providing a unique experience that encourages players to return. Additionally, it’s vital to help them become who they aspire to be, and I hold them to that standard. The coaches and I work to maintain a culture that supports their goals.
Accountability plays a big role in this, and these guys have embraced it. I’m incredibly proud of them. They’ve experienced a great deal of football, and while they still have more to play, they truly are a pleasure to coach.”
Dinkytown Athletes completed their million dollar match campaign. How important is that for your program over these next six weeks?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck expressed his enthusiasm for the tremendous support the program has received through NIL initiatives from Dinkytown Athletes. He praised the efforts of donors and fans who have stepped up and indicated they hope to continue matching donations as the program moves forward, as this support is essential.
Fleck noted that while it’s well-known that some programs invest heavily in their rosters, the introduction of a salary cap will foster some parity in college football, particularly among the top two conferences. However, the NIL landscape remains limitless, allowing for potential financial advantages without restrictions.
He acknowledged that while payments over $ 600 require processing through a clearinghouse, that doesn’t prevent higher payments from being made. Fleck expressed pride in how fans and donors have embraced the evolving landscape of college football and its impact on player retention. Retaining players, he emphasized, is crucial, and discussions on this topic are already underway.
He highlighted the need to address three key areas: retaining current players, filling gaps through the transfer portal for the 2025 season, and focusing on high school recruiting. He pointed out that although the financial demands may appear significant, when spread across a roster of over 105 players and these three essential areas, it’s about aligning resources effectively to remain competitive. Successful teams at the top are spending substantial amounts, which is vital for success.
how would you characterize just the improvement in NIL compared to last year?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck remarked, “There’s a significant difference from this year to last year—it’s much more. Of course, ‘much more’ is a subjective term, but it truly is more. As we move forward, we need to keep finding ways to address those three priorities. For me, as we gain more, we’re able to accomplish more. It’s that simple.
The outreach and support have been getting better over the years, and I can’t thank our supporters enough for their contributions, especially the matching gifts we’ve been receiving. We hope to keep receiving those, aiming to reach the double mark and then continue to double our efforts each year. That’s the goal, but it requires a lot of support to make it happen.”
When you put on the film of Drew Allar, what stands out to you?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck commented on the development of his quarterback, saying, “I’ve seen his growth over the years.
You can observe his progression in various games, and what’s interesting about film study is that it allows you to compare players across different matchups, especially in this new league. He remains incredibly composed in the pocket, possesses a powerful arm, and has a solid understanding of the system. Plus, he can run effectively.
Their team has three quarterbacks: one is a high school quarterback who primarily plays tight end but contributes in many ways; another can both throw and run exceptionally well. Drew shares those skills, but each player brings something different to the table. Drew stands out for his accuracy—he’s big, strong, and physical.
I believe he’s processing information at a higher level than ever before, which is crucial for being an elite quarterback. It’s all about how he processes and navigates his reads and decisions, and how quickly he does so. Last night’s NFL game showcased that skill perfectly with Herbert. If you watched parts of that game, you could see how rapidly everything unfolds.”
2019 was one of the high points of your career, and that Penn State win here in that. What can you take from that game and apply it to this one?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck stated, “Well, it happened, and that’s a fact.
When it comes to earning trust in what you’re doing, you need time, consistency, and results. The win in 2019, when they were ranked fourth in the country, is irrelevant to the 2024 season—it really is.
Most of the players weren’t even here four years ago, and many didn’t even know about that win because they were at different places then, and so much has changed in their lives. However, we can draw on the experiences of our playmakers in big games. It’s crucial that our best players perform at their highest level, just as Penn State will need their playmakers to step up. That’s the nature of November football.
We want to demonstrate to our own playmakers how past performances in significant moments in November can impact our current game, and we spent some time highlighting that yesterday.
We took what we needed from that experience and moved on. That was about five years ago, and we’ve accomplished a lot since then in the program. But now, it’s a one-game season, 60 minutes, and we need to be at our very best, period.”
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