March 10, 2026 • 15 mins
UND Assistant Football Coach Danny Freund talks about the team representing in Sioux Falls, reflecting on where teammates are, winter training, and on-field development. He dives into positions, tackles, and what’s been working, while sharing insights on leadership, experience, and preparing new players in the spring. Danny also discusses testing players in different positions and building chemistry with a fresh group in the upcoming season.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
And we're talking you and D football. Is their spring
season about to get under way starting next Tuesday with
spring practices. Northcota offensive coordinator Danny freyd is our guest
to lead us off tonight. Dan Jackson to be along shortly.
You know, Danny's a huge sports fan, and we do
have to say, how about you and D men's basketball
at the Summit League tournament. That was an awesome run
(00:22):
by head coach Paul Saith and his team. How about
Grayson Alman, Danny, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
The freshman in the conference tournament. He's got more points
than like Steph Curry and and he's the other.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
One, Kevin Durant.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It was incredible.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
And you know, both Grayson Alman and Eli King all
Summate League Tournament team. So congratulations to those guys really
representing the University of North Kote. But the whole team
did do a great job of representing U and D
in Seoue falls in the right manner. Great to see
such a great fan turnout as well down there in
Sue Falls. And we just know that the Northcota fan
(00:59):
base is you know, for football, basketball, hockey, you name it,
even at choice for tennis, and stuff like that. I mean,
it is fantastic and so it's part of why you
want to be around and be a part of these
things at Hawk Talk. It's fantastic. Thank you for all
coming out here tonight. Great to see you and thanks
thanks for your support, thanks for listening all across the
Fighting Hawks Radio network as well. So, Danny, we'll talk
(01:22):
about the offensive side of the ball because you know
Jerry Kaminski. You were part of talking with Jerry when
he was deciding where to go and where to pick,
and you know he's a Wisconsin guy, so you saw
his development last year a little bit in the strides
that he took and some of the struggles along the
way about being a young quarterback at a high level
(01:42):
and with high pressure and things like that. So tell
us kind of your your thoughts on Jerry's development and
where he sees himself going and making a turn towards
year two.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah. I think the biggest thing with him is that
he wants to like, he loves football, and at that
position you have to, so like, the competitiveness is there,
the leadership's there. You know, he's a really good athlete.
So I think just the mobility and I've been around
some some good ones, and I think like when you
have that leadership a factor and that athleticism, like that's
what you want to start with. And now he can
throw the ball obviously well, and the way he started
(02:14):
the year and just the season he had in your
first year starting in the in the Missouri Valley as
a sophomore to be able to kind of do some
of the things that he did, and then I'll have
those experiences to be able to go back this, you know,
this offseason and really take a look at, hey, this
is where we can improve on to take the next step,
because we all know if he takes the next step,
the team's going to take the next step at that
position and that we're gonna get to where you want
(02:36):
to go.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So how is that room overall right now, because.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
It's not just there's four of them. So, yeah, Javans
is healthy. He was he was hurt, you know, at
the end of the year in November, so you know,
being able to kind of get to know him and
his personality and and have him around has been awesome
the last couple of months. And then Jack Sue looks
another Wisconsin kid Burlington High School, where Tony Rome was
from recruited him, and then we got another Wisconsin night,
Brooks Hendrickson. It's a true freshman rolled early. He's a
(03:01):
lefty from Mount Horror, Wisconsin. So there's four in the room.
They've done a great job, you know with the with
the winner conditioning and all that, and we've kind of
had some player run practices the last couple of weeks
as far as the guys getting out there throwing seven
on and doing some team stuff on their own. So
they're excited about kind of what we're building and you know,
excited about where the staff's at as far, you know, offensively,
(03:22):
just kind of blending and making sure that we're giving
our guys, you know, the best opportunity to go make plays.
And that's what springball's for, to get these fifteen practices,
to go compete and make each other better.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Well, one thing for you, I would assume, even though
you you know, you played the role of quarterback and
your playing career, but you know more than anyone, it
really starts with those guys up front. And there's a
number of guys that have a lot of live snaps
that have played in the trenches for North to go
to football that are are anticipating to be a part
of the storyline again. So starting with some guys that
(03:54):
have been in the battles a little bit upfront, you
got to you really have to like that about what
that potentially could lead to here for you with your offense.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, I mean there's there's depth up there that you
get back and you kind of look at some of
these linemen and you're like, it's different in the Midwest.
You go out west for a little bit and we
would have killed for some of these guys. I've watched
Sin State. You know, you just kind of compare, and
that's really where you If you're good at the offensive line,
you're good at quarterback. On offense, you're going to have
you know, you can mix and match the other personnel
with tight ends, running backs, receivers, but like, those are
(04:24):
the two positions six out of your eleven guys. If
you're dialed in at those spots, you're gonna have a
lot of success. And you watch the teams that continuously
in the Missouri Valley that you know, get out and
win the championships and make those runs. That's what they've had.
So you know, Trace Stayden, that left tackle. Was a
kid that we recruited at tight end that the Strengths
staff done a great job of and he's continued to
mature and shoot, man, those are the guys that have
(04:45):
a chance to potentially play at the next level if
he continues on his track and development. And Liam Beecher
obviously another senior that's you know, was here when when
I was here the first time. That's I've been so
proud of him his development and leadership, and you're a
good young guy. He's an awesome kid, you know. And
and you look at Ben buxa On another Wisconsin kid that's,
you know, just a great leader. So not only just
the talent level in that room, I think the leadership
(05:08):
when you when you can have the Penrose cup is here, man,
all right, come on the standing room only here, that's awesome.
But yeah, the offensive line room, like when you have
leadership in there and and experience, that boats really well
for your football team. So excited about those guys. Obviously
a number of young guys coming out that are going
(05:29):
to compete loose Seth. But to be able to get
the moving company back and all those guys, you know,
probably had opportunities to maybe test the waters and decided
this was the place they wanted to be. So really
excited for them.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So the question, I guess there's a couple of things
that I mean, obviously people knew who got a lot
of the touches at the running back spot a year ago.
He's found a new home in today's environment. That's the
way it goes. But you know that that's not a
the running back room I look at it is not
a room that doesn't have talent still there because we
saw certain guys get meaningful carries a year ago that
(06:03):
still remain on this roster that you can still work
with correct.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
No doubt, no doubt. I think that's one position group
that might surprise some people as you go through spring,
and obviously once you get live reps in the fall
and you know the production, all that stuff kind of
shows up. But Matt Lawson is a transfer from Illinois State.
He's done a great job here in the in the
spring of a winner of impressing us throughout workouts. But
you look at chucklam Gama and then Colton Burnell, just
(06:28):
those guys at some spots last year watching some games
like have done some good things they've been in there
in tough situations. They're complete backs, like they can catch
it out of the backfield, they can get the tough yards,
so just like they're blocking on third down. So I
think just having that flexibility with those guys. And then
Griffin Broderick's the fourth one with us the spring. That's
a my not kid that's I think matured and also
(06:49):
showing us something here that he can help us. A
bigger kid that has some explosiveness. So yeah, we'll see.
But we got to test those guys at spring and
you know, DJ, our running backs coach, does an awesome
job with those kids, so they'll be ready to go.
And it's exciting to see guys get opportunities you know,
maybe that are unproven in games that are gonna get
those reps here coming up in the fall.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Uh if you would. I mean, since we're going around
positioned by position, new wide receivers position coach in that
position group, I think probably just I think it's a
group that is kind of unknown, kind of who's gonna
to sert themselves into certain roles and that's gonna be
kind of fun to see through the spring and who
(07:29):
kind of starts to position themselves. But also it's just
like anything, if they win at the line of scrimmage
and win on some of these routes, makes the job
easier no matter who's behind center, if you just get
some wins on certain in certain situations.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I mean, I'm watching some of the playoff stuff,
like towards the end of the year. It's like when
you get man coverage and they play cover one, they're
single high and they're playing man. You've got to have
some guys that can win one on one so as
opportunities to you know, help the quarterbacks out with how
you call it too. But you look even like Kansas
State game, like you look Corey Tye, Yeah, he has
the ability, Like he has the ability, and it's so
(08:04):
it's just like getting kJ in here to develop those guys.
He's the guy that played in the NFL. Is going
to demand a lot out of those guys. And you're
gonna be excited about kJ when you talked to him.
He's he's an unbelievable dude. But you look at a
guy like Dang Dang that needs to take the next step.
You know, Corey Tye, We're bringing in a kid from
bowling Green, Caleb Goodlow. We're bringing a kid from Washington State,
Cam Wird that can really run.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
You know him really well.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, he played on our scout team all last year
and our defensive coaches were like telling us we need
to play them. We probably should have played him, but
probably we played he can go, he can play, and
he walked on there. Great kid, great personality, has some
swagger to him. You know, like that's the thing at
that position that you got. The guy's got to compete,
and they got to compete when they don't have the football,
like it doesn't matter, like every snap and coach Mayo
get those guys going. And I kind of heard that
(08:47):
a lot in terms of like, oh, we gotta get
the receivers going. So I think there's gonna be a
chip on their shoulder because like there's talent there. Well,
it's it's crazy. I think we Like I'm watching those guys,
I'm like, we're gonna be all right if we can
develop them then coach them the way we need to.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
You know, you mentioned one of the players that I
think people are excited because he is just from down
the road. Dang dang, and from a physical standpoint, you're
just like whoa boy, right, But what people I don't
think understand is like he's got a work he's a worker,
Like he will go and do extra drills, Like people
(09:19):
don't realize in the background that he'll go in and
he wants it. I think that's that's the thing that
people sometimes miss about Dang dang, he wants to get there,
I think yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
And I think like just getting those guys into a
rhythm and developing the confidence that like sometimes you need
to play like you gotta have a rotation where like
you trust guys and you're you know you sure you
take him out spot certain spots, Like I think we
got to find the top four or five that we
really feel good about and you know, get those guys
out there and develop them. But there's there's for sure talent,
(09:48):
I'm I'm sure missing guys, but there's there's some young
kids too coming up that are really having a good
a good winner season, and I think there's gonna be
a lot of competitiveness in that room. And yeah, when
you're wide receiver are out there like busting their tails
and really competing hard, like that's going to build well
for your offense.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Uh. Last I guess, how do you as an offensive
coordinator now that you've been around because you were at
a school at Celtical to State there briefly that really
loved using the tight end. Northcote has got some talent
in that room, how do you view the tight end
position in your role as an offensive coordinator?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, there needs to be Like it's just your offense
is gonna flow better when you're playing those guys and
they provide you a lot of flexibility in terms of
formations matchups, like you know, running the ball, obviously throwing
the ball, but there's guys that can can stretch the
field as receivers. Some of those guys are like big receivers,
but they can also block. So like it gives you
that flexibility to get in certain twelve personnel, you know,
(10:46):
two tight ends in the game and maybe spread them
out a little bit or get tight and you know,
throw those guys the ball down the scenam or on
wheel routes and things like that. So coach Howck's done
a great job developing those guys. They have a lot
to learn, whether it's a run game in the past
game besides the quarterback, they gotta know a lot in
terms of you know, and they learn well. So that's
one of the the cool things about coming back to
this team too, just seeing how much the guys want
(11:08):
to learn football and how committed they are not just
obviously out there practicing, but when they get in the
classroom and they're asking big questions, and I think you're
you're going to be a disciplined team when you have
guys like that that care factors at high So.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Are you excited about new wrinkles to unveil or I
mean you come with an energy of just loving this
game so much and anytime I'm around you, But are
you really excited to work with this group throughout the
spring and kind of build this identity of what you
want to see this this group as they move forward offensively?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah, I think, like, you know, we got to be
really good at fundamentals, you know, fundamentals and like techniques
and playing fast and I think, you know, as a quarterback,
you know, taking care of the football, making good reads,
making good decisions, and that's where you can really expand
on stuff and have some fun with it. You know,
players I think play their best when they're having fun.
But to have fun, you got to really work hard,
(12:02):
and you got to have some accountability and know exactly
what you're doing. And the standard is what it is,
So I think, yeah, I mean there's no one. I
think the energy level, like I'm kind of one of
the old guys. Now, you know, you look at the
staff and there's a lot of energy and these guys
are great football coaches, and Coach Smith has done a
great job with the culture of the program and just
kind of you know, leading it from the top down.
(12:25):
So I think, yeah, that'll kind of show itself as
we go here. And I think when you get into
game plan situations, it's you know, there's gonna be opportunities
to get those plays down the field or you know,
have some unpredictability, because I think that's the best coordinators
are unpredictable. Right, You're gonna have your base like you
gotta play physical, You got to try to find ways
to be explosive, you know, get the ball to your
(12:46):
best players. And then you know in situations when it's
maybe third and short or fourth and short, you might
throw the ball or maybe when people are think you're
gonna run it, maybe it's a trick play. So I
think keeping defenses with tempo is like on their heels.
That's really like because everybody runs the same place. Well
like everybody, he's got the same you know, we just
call him something different at different schools, but you're right
in the same places when you call them, you know,
(13:06):
getting into a certain feel for how the quarterback's playing,
and then maybe changing tempos on the defense. I think
those are some of the things that maybe the good
ones really do well well.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
You you hear so often when you talk to coach
Schmid about I disciplined for the h for defensive players
and as an offensive coordinator, you're trying to play games
with that ie discipline, aren't you just trying to.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
It's no no doubt you're You're trying to do something
really simple for for us, like a base play, and
you're gonna add a formation or emotion or a shift
that's gonna make it look different to the defense, and
you're able to execuet a really high level because it's
not new to you, but maybe it looks different to
the defense. So I think just trying to create those opportunities,
and obviously the guy pulling the trigger needs to make
great decisions and we're going to develop him and continue
(13:50):
on that path, and uh, yeah, it'll be a fun year.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Excited to see you back. Families back officially now right,
they're back in town.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, got back last Wednesday, So actually driving to Fargo,
and I had to pick up my wife's car got
shipped but apparently they can't ship it to a Grand Forks,
so they're driving through Fargo, so we're starting to get
her car.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Well, we appreciate you swinging by and making time for this.
Really appreciate this. Excited about the spring season. We'll see
you out at the Pollard. We'll see out on the field.
Look forward to it, look forward to seeing this team. Overall.
Great that you're back and great that you and d
football is building another bit of excitement here as we
count down to twenty twenty six. Thanks for this.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Yeah, appreciate it, man. It's fun to be here. Great
to be back, and let's get the hockey team and
win this weekend and then another one March twenty first.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
So appreciate you guys. Just like that, he became an
all time co host. He's gonna be here more often then.
So so anyway, Danny Freud, everybody you Indy Football around
the corner. We're getting excited. Hey, coach Jackson brought out
the Penrose Cup. Get your phones out, go get take
some pictures with the Penrose. That's what you gotta do.
That's what you know. All you Facebookers and twitters and
(14:53):
Instagrammers and all those types of things, Go get your
picture taken with the Penrose. That's what it's there for,
to have a little fun with. And so if you're
here alive with us tonight at the five oh six Pub,
the Penrose Cup is here and it's meant to have
a picture taken with. That's exactly right. We're gonna talk
to you. Indie hockey. Dane Jackson is just around the corner. Boy,
have they had a lot of honorees as we work
(15:15):
our way through the NCHC playoffs. So make sure you
get your pictures taken. The Penrose Cup is here. Dane
Jackson's around the corner. More Hawk Talk continues from the
five oh six Pub inside Hugos Beer Market, and you're
listing all across the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
And we're talking you and D football. Is their spring
season about to get under way starting next Tuesday with
spring practices. Northcota offensive coordinator Danny freyd is our guest
to lead us off tonight. Dan Jackson to be along shortly.
You know, Danny's a huge sports fan, and we do
have to say, how about you and D men's basketball
at the Summit League tournament. That was an awesome run
(00:22):
by head coach Paul Saith and his team. How about
Grayson Alman, Danny, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
The freshman in the conference tournament. He's got more points
than like Steph Curry and and he's the other.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
One, Kevin Durant.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It was incredible.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
And you know, both Grayson Alman and Eli King all
Summate League Tournament team. So congratulations to those guys really
representing the University of North Kote. But the whole team
did do a great job of representing U and D
in Seoue falls in the right manner. Great to see
such a great fan turnout as well down there in
Sue Falls. And we just know that the Northcota fan
(00:59):
base is you know, for football, basketball, hockey, you name it,
even at choice for tennis, and stuff like that. I mean,
it is fantastic and so it's part of why you
want to be around and be a part of these
things at Hawk Talk. It's fantastic. Thank you for all
coming out here tonight. Great to see you and thanks
thanks for your support, thanks for listening all across the
Fighting Hawks Radio network as well. So, Danny, we'll talk
(01:22):
about the offensive side of the ball because you know
Jerry Kaminski. You were part of talking with Jerry when
he was deciding where to go and where to pick,
and you know he's a Wisconsin guy, so you saw
his development last year a little bit in the strides
that he took and some of the struggles along the
way about being a young quarterback at a high level
(01:42):
and with high pressure and things like that. So tell
us kind of your your thoughts on Jerry's development and
where he sees himself going and making a turn towards
year two.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah. I think the biggest thing with him is that
he wants to like, he loves football, and at that
position you have to, so like, the competitiveness is there,
the leadership's there. You know, he's a really good athlete.
So I think just the mobility and I've been around
some some good ones, and I think like when you
have that leadership a factor and that athleticism, like that's
what you want to start with. And now he can
throw the ball obviously well, and the way he started
(02:14):
the year and just the season he had in your
first year starting in the in the Missouri Valley as
a sophomore to be able to kind of do some
of the things that he did, and then I'll have
those experiences to be able to go back this, you know,
this offseason and really take a look at, hey, this
is where we can improve on to take the next step,
because we all know if he takes the next step,
the team's going to take the next step at that
position and that we're gonna get to where you want
(02:36):
to go.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So how is that room overall right now, because.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
It's not just there's four of them. So, yeah, Javans
is healthy. He was he was hurt, you know, at
the end of the year in November, so you know,
being able to kind of get to know him and
his personality and and have him around has been awesome
the last couple of months. And then Jack Sue looks
another Wisconsin kid Burlington High School, where Tony Rome was
from recruited him, and then we got another Wisconsin night,
Brooks Hendrickson. It's a true freshman rolled early. He's a
(03:01):
lefty from Mount Horror, Wisconsin. So there's four in the room.
They've done a great job, you know with the with
the winner conditioning and all that, and we've kind of
had some player run practices the last couple of weeks
as far as the guys getting out there throwing seven
on and doing some team stuff on their own. So
they're excited about kind of what we're building and you know,
excited about where the staff's at as far, you know, offensively,
(03:22):
just kind of blending and making sure that we're giving
our guys, you know, the best opportunity to go make plays.
And that's what springball's for, to get these fifteen practices,
to go compete and make each other better.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Well, one thing for you, I would assume, even though
you you know, you played the role of quarterback and
your playing career, but you know more than anyone, it
really starts with those guys up front. And there's a
number of guys that have a lot of live snaps
that have played in the trenches for North to go
to football that are are anticipating to be a part
of the storyline again. So starting with some guys that
(03:54):
have been in the battles a little bit upfront, you
got to you really have to like that about what
that potentially could lead to here for you with your offense.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, I mean there's there's depth up there that you
get back and you kind of look at some of
these linemen and you're like, it's different in the Midwest.
You go out west for a little bit and we
would have killed for some of these guys. I've watched
Sin State. You know, you just kind of compare, and
that's really where you If you're good at the offensive line,
you're good at quarterback. On offense, you're going to have
you know, you can mix and match the other personnel
with tight ends, running backs, receivers, but like, those are
(04:24):
the two positions six out of your eleven guys. If
you're dialed in at those spots, you're gonna have a
lot of success. And you watch the teams that continuously
in the Missouri Valley that you know, get out and
win the championships and make those runs. That's what they've had.
So you know, Trace Stayden, that left tackle. Was a
kid that we recruited at tight end that the Strengths
staff done a great job of and he's continued to
mature and shoot, man, those are the guys that have
(04:45):
a chance to potentially play at the next level if
he continues on his track and development. And Liam Beecher
obviously another senior that's you know, was here when when
I was here the first time. That's I've been so
proud of him his development and leadership, and you're a
good young guy. He's an awesome kid, you know. And
and you look at Ben buxa On another Wisconsin kid that's,
you know, just a great leader. So not only just
the talent level in that room, I think the leadership
(05:08):
when you when you can have the Penrose cup is here, man,
all right, come on the standing room only here, that's awesome.
But yeah, the offensive line room, like when you have
leadership in there and and experience, that boats really well
for your football team. So excited about those guys. Obviously
a number of young guys coming out that are going
(05:29):
to compete loose Seth. But to be able to get
the moving company back and all those guys, you know,
probably had opportunities to maybe test the waters and decided
this was the place they wanted to be. So really
excited for them.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So the question, I guess there's a couple of things
that I mean, obviously people knew who got a lot
of the touches at the running back spot a year ago.
He's found a new home in today's environment. That's the
way it goes. But you know that that's not a
the running back room I look at it is not
a room that doesn't have talent still there because we
saw certain guys get meaningful carries a year ago that
(06:03):
still remain on this roster that you can still work
with correct.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
No doubt, no doubt. I think that's one position group
that might surprise some people as you go through spring,
and obviously once you get live reps in the fall
and you know the production, all that stuff kind of
shows up. But Matt Lawson is a transfer from Illinois State.
He's done a great job here in the in the
spring of a winner of impressing us throughout workouts. But
you look at chucklam Gama and then Colton Burnell, just
(06:28):
those guys at some spots last year watching some games
like have done some good things they've been in there
in tough situations. They're complete backs, like they can catch
it out of the backfield, they can get the tough yards,
so just like they're blocking on third down. So I
think just having that flexibility with those guys. And then
Griffin Broderick's the fourth one with us the spring. That's
a my not kid that's I think matured and also
(06:49):
showing us something here that he can help us. A
bigger kid that has some explosiveness. So yeah, we'll see.
But we got to test those guys at spring and
you know, DJ, our running backs coach, does an awesome
job with those kids, so they'll be ready to go.
And it's exciting to see guys get opportunities you know,
maybe that are unproven in games that are gonna get
those reps here coming up in the fall.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Uh if you would. I mean, since we're going around
positioned by position, new wide receivers position coach in that
position group, I think probably just I think it's a
group that is kind of unknown, kind of who's gonna
to sert themselves into certain roles and that's gonna be
kind of fun to see through the spring and who
(07:29):
kind of starts to position themselves. But also it's just
like anything, if they win at the line of scrimmage
and win on some of these routes, makes the job
easier no matter who's behind center, if you just get
some wins on certain in certain situations.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I mean, I'm watching some of the playoff stuff,
like towards the end of the year. It's like when
you get man coverage and they play cover one, they're
single high and they're playing man. You've got to have
some guys that can win one on one so as
opportunities to you know, help the quarterbacks out with how
you call it too. But you look even like Kansas
State game, like you look Corey Tye, Yeah, he has
the ability, Like he has the ability, and it's so
(08:04):
it's just like getting kJ in here to develop those guys.
He's the guy that played in the NFL. Is going
to demand a lot out of those guys. And you're
gonna be excited about kJ when you talked to him.
He's he's an unbelievable dude. But you look at a
guy like Dang Dang that needs to take the next step.
You know, Corey Tye, We're bringing in a kid from
bowling Green, Caleb Goodlow. We're bringing a kid from Washington State,
Cam Wird that can really run.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
You know him really well.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, he played on our scout team all last year
and our defensive coaches were like telling us we need
to play them. We probably should have played him, but
probably we played he can go, he can play, and
he walked on there. Great kid, great personality, has some
swagger to him. You know, like that's the thing at
that position that you got. The guy's got to compete,
and they got to compete when they don't have the football,
like it doesn't matter, like every snap and coach Mayo
get those guys going. And I kind of heard that
(08:47):
a lot in terms of like, oh, we gotta get
the receivers going. So I think there's gonna be a
chip on their shoulder because like there's talent there. Well,
it's it's crazy. I think we Like I'm watching those guys,
I'm like, we're gonna be all right if we can
develop them then coach them the way we need to.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
You know, you mentioned one of the players that I
think people are excited because he is just from down
the road. Dang dang, and from a physical standpoint, you're
just like whoa boy, right, But what people I don't
think understand is like he's got a work he's a worker,
Like he will go and do extra drills, Like people
(09:19):
don't realize in the background that he'll go in and
he wants it. I think that's that's the thing that
people sometimes miss about Dang dang, he wants to get there,
I think yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
And I think like just getting those guys into a
rhythm and developing the confidence that like sometimes you need
to play like you gotta have a rotation where like
you trust guys and you're you know you sure you
take him out spot certain spots, Like I think we
got to find the top four or five that we
really feel good about and you know, get those guys
out there and develop them. But there's there's for sure talent,
(09:48):
I'm I'm sure missing guys, but there's there's some young
kids too coming up that are really having a good
a good winner season, and I think there's gonna be
a lot of competitiveness in that room. And yeah, when
you're wide receiver are out there like busting their tails
and really competing hard, like that's going to build well
for your offense.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Uh. Last I guess, how do you as an offensive
coordinator now that you've been around because you were at
a school at Celtical to State there briefly that really
loved using the tight end. Northcote has got some talent
in that room, how do you view the tight end
position in your role as an offensive coordinator?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, there needs to be Like it's just your offense
is gonna flow better when you're playing those guys and
they provide you a lot of flexibility in terms of
formations matchups, like you know, running the ball, obviously throwing
the ball, but there's guys that can can stretch the
field as receivers. Some of those guys are like big receivers,
but they can also block. So like it gives you
that flexibility to get in certain twelve personnel, you know,
(10:46):
two tight ends in the game and maybe spread them
out a little bit or get tight and you know,
throw those guys the ball down the scenam or on
wheel routes and things like that. So coach Howck's done
a great job developing those guys. They have a lot
to learn, whether it's a run game in the past
game besides the quarterback, they gotta know a lot in
terms of you know, and they learn well. So that's
one of the the cool things about coming back to
this team too, just seeing how much the guys want
(11:08):
to learn football and how committed they are not just
obviously out there practicing, but when they get in the
classroom and they're asking big questions, and I think you're
you're going to be a disciplined team when you have
guys like that that care factors at high So.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Are you excited about new wrinkles to unveil or I
mean you come with an energy of just loving this
game so much and anytime I'm around you, But are
you really excited to work with this group throughout the
spring and kind of build this identity of what you
want to see this this group as they move forward offensively?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah, I think, like, you know, we got to be
really good at fundamentals, you know, fundamentals and like techniques
and playing fast and I think, you know, as a quarterback,
you know, taking care of the football, making good reads,
making good decisions, and that's where you can really expand
on stuff and have some fun with it. You know,
players I think play their best when they're having fun.
But to have fun, you got to really work hard,
(12:02):
and you got to have some accountability and know exactly
what you're doing. And the standard is what it is,
So I think, yeah, I mean there's no one. I
think the energy level, like I'm kind of one of
the old guys. Now, you know, you look at the
staff and there's a lot of energy and these guys
are great football coaches, and Coach Smith has done a
great job with the culture of the program and just
kind of you know, leading it from the top down.
(12:25):
So I think, yeah, that'll kind of show itself as
we go here. And I think when you get into
game plan situations, it's you know, there's gonna be opportunities
to get those plays down the field or you know,
have some unpredictability, because I think that's the best coordinators
are unpredictable. Right, You're gonna have your base like you
gotta play physical, You got to try to find ways
to be explosive, you know, get the ball to your
(12:46):
best players. And then you know in situations when it's
maybe third and short or fourth and short, you might
throw the ball or maybe when people are think you're
gonna run it, maybe it's a trick play. So I
think keeping defenses with tempo is like on their heels.
That's really like because everybody runs the same place. Well
like everybody, he's got the same you know, we just
call him something different at different schools, but you're right
in the same places when you call them, you know,
(13:06):
getting into a certain feel for how the quarterback's playing,
and then maybe changing tempos on the defense. I think
those are some of the things that maybe the good
ones really do well well.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
You you hear so often when you talk to coach
Schmid about I disciplined for the h for defensive players
and as an offensive coordinator, you're trying to play games
with that ie discipline, aren't you just trying to.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
It's no no doubt you're You're trying to do something
really simple for for us, like a base play, and
you're gonna add a formation or emotion or a shift
that's gonna make it look different to the defense, and
you're able to execuet a really high level because it's
not new to you, but maybe it looks different to
the defense. So I think just trying to create those opportunities,
and obviously the guy pulling the trigger needs to make
great decisions and we're going to develop him and continue
(13:50):
on that path, and uh, yeah, it'll be a fun year.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Excited to see you back. Families back officially now right,
they're back in town.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, got back last Wednesday, So actually driving to Fargo,
and I had to pick up my wife's car got
shipped but apparently they can't ship it to a Grand Forks,
so they're driving through Fargo, so we're starting to get
her car.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Well, we appreciate you swinging by and making time for this.
Really appreciate this. Excited about the spring season. We'll see
you out at the Pollard. We'll see out on the field.
Look forward to it, look forward to seeing this team. Overall.
Great that you're back and great that you and d
football is building another bit of excitement here as we
count down to twenty twenty six. Thanks for this.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Yeah, appreciate it, man. It's fun to be here. Great
to be back, and let's get the hockey team and
win this weekend and then another one March twenty first.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
So appreciate you guys. Just like that, he became an
all time co host. He's gonna be here more often then.
So so anyway, Danny Freud, everybody you Indy Football around
the corner. We're getting excited. Hey, coach Jackson brought out
the Penrose Cup. Get your phones out, go get take
some pictures with the Penrose. That's what you gotta do.
That's what you know. All you Facebookers and twitters and
(14:53):
Instagrammers and all those types of things, Go get your
picture taken with the Penrose. That's what it's there for,
to have a little fun with. And so if you're
here alive with us tonight at the five oh six Pub,
the Penrose Cup is here and it's meant to have
a picture taken with. That's exactly right. We're gonna talk
to you. Indie hockey. Dane Jackson is just around the corner. Boy,
have they had a lot of honorees as we work
(15:15):
our way through the NCHC playoffs. So make sure you
get your pictures taken. The Penrose Cup is here. Dane
Jackson's around the corner. More Hawk Talk continues from the
five oh six Pub inside Hugos Beer Market, and you're
listing all across the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
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