October 17, 2025 • 43 mins
Common Man Hour 3 -- Joe O’Donnell -- Wild 5 on 5 Scoring -- Kevin O'Connell Press Conference -- Justin Gaard -- Minnesota vs Nebraska.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Battle Past the lastly battening names.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
All right, welcome back to the tenefits Gerald. My favorite team,
the Minnesota Wild in the nation's capital tonight to take
on the Capitals and they played by playboys for the
Minnesota Wild. The radio network is Joe O'Donnell and Joe
joins us. Now, how you doing, Joe?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
This is my first time set and sail my friends.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Oh, the waters are gonna get rough out here, so
we're gonna need your help as well as you possible do.
Is this one of your favorite trips of the year,
just because you're gonna have your your hometown on the schedule.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, it's a good one, you know. And you get
a day in Manhattan there when they play the Rangers.
And but yeah, it's always special to go back to
Philly for a game a night, see some family. My
parents still live in the area, my wife's parents still
there should be a lot of people at the game.
I'm excited to connect with them.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
But you're gonna miss uh, you're gonna miss Eagles Vikings
then because you're gonna be on the road.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
I mean, could you I can't believe when the schedules
came out, I was like you're gonna be kidding me,
Like I'm in Philly and my football teams in Minnesota.
But that's the way it goes sometimes October to April,
I can't plan a lot. It's just deal with the
schedule and and try to make the best of it.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I will do your favor. I'll make the flight out there,
and I will I'll do play by play for you
so you can come home and watch the Vikings Egle,
So I'll do that for you.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You are such a nice guy.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Where are you?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
It seems like, you know, wild fans, we always have
to have something to panic about, and right now it's
the lack of five on five scoring is even though
it's just a small four game sample size, but on
the level of you know, one to ten with ten
me and absolute code code red, where are you on
your five on five scoring void concerns?
Speaker 3 (03:02):
I think I'd rather answer that after the game tonight,
I think to me, then my answer to you is
like a little bit more patience there, you know, just
a tiny bit more, and you know, if they go
another game or two with maybe just one total five
on five goal, I think then it becomes more of
a talking point. John Hines is preaching patients with the
early season stuff. He seen enough scoring chances, just sort
(03:26):
of missed opportunities, not executing great and some of the
five on five, you know, you look at it for Minnesota,
they've had seventy eight even strength shots the last three games,
no goals. And if you get in the analytical stuff,
which I don't tend to do, but their expected goals
the last three games it even strengths is four point
eight and again they haven't scored any on seventy eight shots.
(03:46):
And then on the power play they scored nine times
on thirty three shots. So you know, I think what
they're doing right now powerplay wise, with that excellence and
then the flip flop on the even strength, like some
of the numbers I've been looking at today and yesterday,
like you know, it's tying this record or breaking this record.
No team has done this in twenty five years. So
it's a little bit of rarefied air that they're in
(04:07):
both good for the power play and not so good
for the even strength and sort of that disparity there.
But you know, I think if they can get through
tonight with a tough test in DC, the Caps are
the best team five on five goals against in the
early part of the season, so it's sort of like
someone's got to give here, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Obviously, the power play is isould probably be the a
topic as well, more so than the five on five
because it's been just absolutely brilliant and what have you
seen that's different out of this power play? Obviously there's
a little bit of personnel change with zeb Bulliam running
it up top and Vladimir Terrasinko on it as well.
It does appear to me, though, Joe, that they are
moving guys around and kind of almost giving like Boldie
(04:46):
and Caprice, so more freedom to kind of do what
they want than maybe we've seen the best. What have
you noticed maybe from an excellent no standpoint, or is
it just personnel that's been different about the power Play
this year compared to years past.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You're on it, and I'm not just saying this because
I'm on your program, Brandon, but I tend to you
and I seen when I follow your stuff on Twitter,
we shudn't be on the same page a lot of
times about takes about the franchise and what's going on all
to certain players, and you know, it's the motion, and
John Hines has talked about this. It's Boldie and Caprice
offer not stationary players on the power play. They're always moving.
(05:19):
So if they're top of the circle the first ten
seconds of the power play, then they're at the goal line,
then they're at the point like and that puts stress
on the penalty kill. So I agree with you there
and the other thing on BOOLLI him to me and
I didn't see this in the Stanley Cup playoffs in
his brief stint and I didn't see it maybe preseason
game number one. But as he's getting more comfortable, he's
getting more comfortable shooting the pucks from the point on
(05:41):
the power play, and that just makes a world of difference.
Now the penalty kill has to respect the shot right
up top doesn't have to be a bomb. Does it
have to be one hundred miles slapper from Victor Headman
or you know Chara back in the day, or pick
your you know, big shooting defenseman. You just have to
have you know, somebody up there willing to pull the
trigger when the lane's there. So I think it's twofold one.
(06:03):
Zve now is more comfortable with how quickly the shot
Layne closes, he's got great deception up there as well,
but now he's showing a willingness to shoot the puck,
and with Jewelers neck in front and all the chaos
around the blue paint, then the wilder great recovering pucks
on the power play. But I think that shot up
top from Bulliam is a big difference now for the
penalty kill, they've got to respect it. That opens up
(06:23):
the wings the bumper. You know, you can use all
the terms you want as far as the power play,
but they got a lot of skill out there and
they've been capitalizing.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Other than Buuyam, what if you thought about the rest
of the Blue line, right, I mean Jared Spurgeon, he's
getting to that age now where you always have to
wonder if his play is going to drop. Jonas Brodein
you know, missed game one, so he really didn't have
like a training camp to to properly train and get
warmed up and in brock favor, you know, he has
set the bar so high that even just a few
(06:50):
mistakes and you're going, what's wrong with Brock? Other other
than Buyam, what have you thought about the Blue Liners?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
I think there's more there, and I think it'll come
with I think you know your point about Brodein being
out and favor obviously, like you know, we think he's
an all world defenceman, and so some nights where you
just don't see that or maybe missing a breakout pass,
you're going, what's going on there? I think there's more
execution that can come as well. Out of the D
(07:17):
zone for the while, and talking to John Hines like
that's something that you know, just get they want to
be predictable to themselves breaking out the puck coming out
of the zone coverage, but unpredictable to the opponents. That
makes sense, so as Minnesota continues to get more reps
under him, I really think the defense can be a
strong suit, whether it's Surgeon and Middleton playing together, whether
it's Burgeon and Brodeen playing together. I think that's another
(07:39):
thing I really like about the blue line mix is
that they can kind of change up their combos if
they feel like they need to for a certain matchup,
or if just the pairents not doing as great as
they would hope, or the numbers are bearing out. So
I like the depth there. I like the experience. As
Bulliam gets more comfortable. I think he's just really going
to help that group as a whole, and David Yiricek
go on to Iowa gives him a chance to play
(08:01):
a lot and hopefully improve, and then if injury hits,
you know, he's ready to jump back in at the
NHL level.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
So I love their depth.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I just think, let's again, it's four games in. We
get ten to fifteen games in this thing, and you're
starting to still see some issues, then I would say
maybe a little bit more concerned.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
All right, the young guys.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Liam Ogre and he's played all four games, and then
Hunter Hate and Danilla eyuof of each played a pair
of games. Of those three, what has stuck out to
you so far?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Early on, I've really ere he just kind of popped
out there. You know. He had a great night in
the faceoff circle in his first game, and then he
was one out of six against Dallas the other night.
But they're a really good faceoff team, so probably not
much of a surprise there. He was credited with three
hits in Dallas the other night. It's the second of
(08:48):
a back to back for him. But again, I think
there's I think you notice his speed, you know the
hockey ops folks i've talked to have lauded his two
way game as intelligence. John Hines said the same thing there,
like he's not going to cheat the game defensively, and
I think that you're off the guy that eventually is
going to find his offensive touch that he gets more comfortable.
Liam Ogrian right now is a little bit of a mystery.
(09:10):
They want him to be a North South player, they
want him to produce more. He didn't have a shot
on goal Tuesday against Dallas. I don't know what to
make of what's going on there. It's almost like it
feels like he's squeezing his stick a little bit, or
he's a hitter that's in a slump and just needs
like an infield single, like if Ogrin had one go
off his his backside, off his skate and found the
back of the net tonight or on this trip. I
(09:30):
just think it'll do wonders for him.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
What line combination ultimately until Zucarello gets back, do you
think is most appropriate for that second line, Because they've
already made some changes there. It seems like the fan
base is a little annoyed as to some of the
moves that Johansson there and Felino there and and you
know Tarasenko hasn't popped five on five yet. What do
you think is probably ultimately the best combination there until
we get Zucarillo back.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
I think it's with Joe Hanssen up there and Eric
sinekat center and Tarasenko on the other wing, just because
of Joe Anson's pace. Look, I know that he's sometimes
in the crosshair wild fans. He's been in my crossairs
personally as well at times like you know, Tuesday night
again no shots on goal, he's in the team finished
with forty, Like he needs to shoot the puck more,
(10:14):
and something that the great Lunani brought up to John
Heines today when we had our little broadcaster meeting, and
John Hines concurred, like they need him to shoot more.
He's impactful with his skating, his entries, but he's got
to shoot more.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
He really does.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Eleven goals in back to back years is great, but
we know he can score fifteen or twenty in a
top six role. He just seems to push the pace
on that line and gives him an offensive side. He's
just got to again be willing to shoot the puck
and for Tarasenko. You know, John Hines talked about a
couple of days off they were gonna show him video clips,
some individual stuff. You know, here's some pockets of the
(10:47):
ice where you can be a little bit more of
a shooting threat, or here's where you can impact some
things in the offensive zone a little bit more. And
I asked John Hines today, I said, how did the
video session?
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Was glad he go? And he said it was great.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I mean everything that Heinz said about taras Tenkos that
he plays winning hockey. He doesn't cheat the game defensively,
He's got the two Stanley Cups. Yes he's thirty three.
Yes he hasn't scored yet. He's kind of been a
power play assist merchant so far for the while. But
he's got a great attitude about him. He's a winning
player of his track record. And again I think it's
just a little bit more time needed if he gets
(11:18):
more comfortable, and maybe the video session yesterday I will
help with the coaches and just showing them some of
the shifts and going, hey, these are some areas where
put yourself in this spot. Maybe it'll find the back
of the net.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Gust haveson getting the start again tonight. He I thought
against Saint Louis and an opener, those one of the
best games I've seen him play. He just looks calm
and steady the entire time. Returns to home, gives up
six against the Blue Jackets. He gives up three in Dallas,
and you know, kind of not that they were all
on him, but the team got in a hole right
away in Dallas and had that uphill climb. Your thoughts
(11:49):
on gust have sent through three And even though I'm
assuming we'll see a ball set tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Night, Yeah, that would be the plan. Valse that gets
to not in Philly, gust tonight is going to need
a big performance. It's this Capital's team. They haven't scored
a lot so far, but they have great depth. They
have obviously Alex Ovechkin. They're a hard nosed team that
goes to the net. They're committed on the four checks.
So if they hem the Wild in, they're gonna need
calm Gustison right, not a lot of rebounds, freezing some
(12:15):
pocks to get some much needed whistles. The first goal
he gave against Dallas the other night, after the Wild
controlled the first few shifts was deflating. Let's call it
what it was. It wasn't a great goal. The two
power play goals you really can't follow them on. And
the Columbus game honestly felt a little wacky to me,
like a bounce off the end board, a shot that
was going ten feet wide that deflected off somebody broken
(12:36):
play late in the second period that Marchenko buried the
for the visiting Blue Jackets. So I'm not pushing the
panic button yet there again, but you know, for for
the while, to have success this year with no Marc
Andre Fleury, it's sort of that insurance policy and net not.
You know, totally sold on.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Vaalstead yet either.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Right, He's just so young in his career. It's up
to Gus to be a Vesna Trophy candidate. And we've
seen good and bad gusts in a few years with Minnesota.
I think will be good tonight. He's had decent numbers
against the Caps in his career. He knows that this
is his game. He doesn't have to worry about tomorrow.
He's had a couple of days off, a good practice
day yesterday, So I think Gus rebounds well tonight. Plays
(13:16):
that calm game back between the pipes there gives a
wild a couple of big safe and I think Minnesota
shouft farewell this season, Joe.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Over the years, I've seen a lot of Alexandrovechkin power
play goals from his office against the Minnesota while and
then I look at his stats so far this year,
and he has yet to score a goal through four games.
The Minnesota sports fan of me already has the teeth
chattering that the Ovechkin breakouts coming tonight on the power play.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
I'm a little concerned about it.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I if I had money, if I could sports bet
in Minnesota, I would bet Ovechkin power play goal tonight.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Well, their power plays is one for eleven this year,
so probably also makes you think that they're due. You're right,
he doesn't have one yet this year. He's got eleven
shots and two assists in four games. He has twenty
career goals against the Wild two against Phil Augustuson. But
I went back and look last year he had just
one goal through his first five. I think he came
in game four and he went another one with that one,
(14:08):
and two years ago he didn't score in his first four.
He scored in his fifth game, which would be tonight.
So for whatever reason, the last two years he's kind
of started slow and then picked up the pace. Yeah,
I think numbers wise or trends wise, you'd have to
think at some point he's gonna break out. You know,
the Wild will be focused on him his points per
game and his goals per game in his career against
Minnesota or the best of any abbility he's ever played.
(14:31):
I tend to lean the way you're leaning the it's
only amount of time for him. But you know, if
Minnesota plays its game and Oveskin gets one, you know
the Wild still find a way to win this hockey
game tonight. I think if they kind of get to
get to their game and spend some time in the
offensive zone, that's gonna be the game plan. And they
got to move their feet. You know, they've drove. They've
drawn more power plays than anybody else in the league
(14:52):
so far this season, and the power play has been explosive.
They got to find a way to get to get
to the man advantage tonight against the very disciplined Caps team.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Joe, thanks for your time, I appreciate it, and we'll
be listening to you tonight, yep, thanks for all right,
Joe Done'll play by PLAYBOYE for the Minnesota Wild the
radio Nowhork. Typically you can hear them on the fan,
but tonight we have the Gophers Nebraska game at seven
o'clock with the Wild game at six, so the Wild
will be on Cool. On to wait tonight six o'clock start,
(15:20):
five point forty five pregame Minnesota Wild Clock, Washington Capitals
on Cool. Wanta wait one more segment to go before
we get to Justin Gard previewing that Gopher's Nebraska game.
He'll join us in about fifteen minutes. You got a
keyword over there, Devin, Yes, sir.
Speaker 6 (15:34):
The fan in two minute and John Trek want to
give you a shot to win some bonus bucks with
our national cash contest. Enter the keyword money at kfan
dot com. Now for your shot at winning that's keyword money,
Enter it now at kfan dot com.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
It's actually toun to be the tene Fitz Sheerald in
for the com man. Help me back on Monday, Vikings
versus Eagles. Koc is talking to the meter right now.
I have a feeling we're gonna get some clarity on
the quarterback position.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Status is for the game. The only player that will
be out this week is Andrew Van Ginkel. Everyone else
will either be questionable Tyler Batty and Blake Cashman. More
so procedurally, just with the roster mechanics that will likely
take place over the next twenty four hours or so,
ty Ingram Dawkins, Jurgens, JJ McCarthy, and Brian O'Neill, we'll
(16:36):
all be questionable. Everyone else will go in without a designation.
Carson Wentz will start the football game. I thought he's
had a good week of practice as well as JJ McCarthy.
I just I was really proud of the work he
put in, you know, as he kind of continues to
push through the later stages of this rehab, feel good
(16:57):
about him being available.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
But he will be the.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
Emergency third quarterback, you know, just to you know, we
went into the last game with two and didn't quite
feel like that was the smartest thing to do, and
feel good about where he'd be at if he had
to play in that third quarterback capacity, So Maxwell back up.
Carson Wentz cannot wait to get the US Bank Stadium,
(17:21):
and our team is so darn excited to get an
opportunity in front of our fans, expecting our great home
environment on Sunday against a really good football team coming in.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
And we've been working on a lot of.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
Things, continuingly chasing improvement, doing some of the things better
that we need to, and also continuing to build. You know,
this the picture of what this team looks like as
we're able to get some guys you know, hopefully returning
back here not only this game, but in the very
near future as well.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Fund think you expect Blake and Tyler to both be
good to go then, but they'll just be listed lessionable.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Yeah, it's more procedural than anything until we can get
them onto the roster. I believe we're at fifty one
right now, so we don't need to do anything more
than to put them on the fifty three men roster.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Will Blake Brindell start at center?
Speaker 7 (18:10):
Yes, Yeah, excited about where he's at. Jergs is, you know,
as one of those questionable guys. Want to see how
he feels after today, and then you know we'll be
we'll see as far as what the group of eight
looks like for for the game as we get a
little closer after today. Often come up, but JJ has
the emergency third, you must feel comfortable enough about his
(18:33):
progress that if he's played yeah, I think, you know,
you know, as opposed to maybe having to designate and
list a running back or a receiver if we get
into that situation, I feel comfortable, comfortable enough, you know,
in what would be considered that kind of emergency capacity
to be able to you know, call some I feel
good after watching him practice about some of the things
(18:53):
that give him some problems at this point. But at
the same time, some of the things he feels really
good about from a movement standpoint, you know, whether it's
in the run game or the past games, some of
the things he's feels good about him and I will
go through a lot of those things.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
And uh, you know.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
He got a ton of reps this week, both with
the you know, the first group and and also with
getting some real good reps, you know, with that look
team of feeling the rush of Gernard and Turner and
Hargrave and Allen and and really working on some things
that are really starting to come to fruition. So I
was I was proud of the way he attacked the week.
And I know, I'll know he knows He's not quite
(19:32):
all the way there yet he's progressing in a really
good way.
Speaker 8 (19:37):
Kevin Prian talked Tuesday about, you know, momentum comes and goes,
and the influencers or tries to influence him from the
sideline as an offensive guy, what do you find is
the best recipe and for you to try and get
momentum back?
Speaker 7 (19:53):
Yeah, I think, you know, the when I think back
to the times over over my you know, and our
time here being the head coach, there has been times
and a lot of times it ends up being those
close games late where getting momentum back is going for
that drive to get a touchdown late in the game
last week. But what I'm challenging our guys to do
(20:15):
is just by doing the routine things a little bit
more routinely and what is in that bucket of routine things.
If we can grow that and with consistency amongst more
guys in all three phases, I think we're going to
see momentum be you know, a little bit more attainable
and then hopefully hold the ball and then what we
(20:35):
did so well a year ago, that flow has been
so big and impactful for and his players have been
capturing the momentum when it's been lost by turning the
ball over, getting an opportunity at the ball. Punching out
the ball led the league and you know, interceptions a
year ago like those plays help you even in a
game where momentum can be the ebbs and flows and
(20:57):
it goes back and forth one third down style for them,
and then all of a sudden, do we get the
execution on our punt to not give our defense a
short field? And even if all things happen and we
don't get that execution on the punt, our defense goes
out there and either gets a stop or forces a turnover. Offensively,
we got to do the same. And then they're able
(21:22):
to you know, respond off of that either on the
next one or two drives later and they take the
lead back.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
And that's just what NFL games are.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
But when you really peel back the layers and look
at it, are you doing the things that could be
considered routine to help keep the momentum in a game,
or are you doing self inflicted things? You know, mental errors,
you know, pre snap penalties. You know, we had some
issues this year with post snap stuff going on. All
of those things are just body blows to the momentum
(21:52):
that you're trying to trying to capture. So I like
that's where I love having flow. And we look at
it very similar and can talk even during games sometimes
about either how he's gonna call it or I'm gonna
call it to try to be either more aggressive or hey,
we've we feel pretty good.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
About where we're at.
Speaker 7 (22:09):
Here's how we maintain it and then try to make
sure our players can go execute that plan.
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Tempo for you, is that Cinic going faster?
Speaker 4 (22:16):
I think that's yeah. Tempo.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
You know, tempo has been a has been an equalizer
for us, especially when we've been healthy, you know, when
when we're you know, we've got you know, our eleven
guys on offense that are totally you know, sequenced up,
and then you can just speed up the the pre
snap of the game and and and you know, get
more plays off that way. I think that's a great example, Mark,
And other ways would be, you know, some of the explosives,
(22:39):
you know, I think an explosive on a drive, you
guys can look up the data on it can not
only flip the feel of a game, but it can
it can give you greater odds and chances to to
go put the ball in the end zone when you
get that one, you know, play to Justin Jefferson on
the two minute drive or the stack a couple explosives
on the touch on the touchdown drive where cam Akers
(23:00):
through the wildcat pass like those are you know, those
are momentum plays within a drive that then allows you
to finish it with points heaven.
Speaker 9 (23:07):
With Van Ginkel, how would you describe kind of his
recovery from that neck entry at this point of where
you guys feeling comfort wise with him.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
Yeah, it was really encouraging that, you know, he started
out the week on Monday kind of on the side
field and then was able to take part in practice
on a limited basis throughout the week, so we wanted
to make sure we got that work in. See how
he felt today. Not quite all the way there yet,
but you know, I do feel like we're heading towards
a time It's going to be a short week next week,
(23:35):
so we'll see how he how he uh, you know,
how he feels early on in that week before we
head to LA. But feel very positive about the progression
we're on now and really having used you know, the
resources to to to find out exactly the path we
want to go and what Andrew feels best with.
Speaker 9 (23:51):
We go get outside opinions or what kind when you
say extra resources will kinds of.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
Yeah, he's he's he's seen you know, he's seen some
extra We've had some you know, outside of opinions, just
to make sure we have all the information that could
be out there, you know, the residual side of the
neck and and some of the things that he's dealt
with and has really progressed beyond and feels better and better.
We just want to make sure we have all the information,
(24:16):
we're doing right by him, and then most importantly give
him the confidence to attack this thing from a from
a rehab and really just getting days on the practice
field and build up, you know, in a lot of ways,
similar to what Harry went through in training camp. Totally
different injuries, but ultimately the same type of thing. When
you're talking about a guy that's gonna play so many
(24:37):
impactful snaps, how do we start ramp that up?
Speaker 9 (24:41):
What have you seen from Max just in the six
weeks or so since camp, And.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
I think the biggest thing is just he mentally absorbs
the game plan much beyond just a you know, an
undrafted rookie. He's got a very very high capacity to
not only study, you know, watch tape. But then when
you get in on a Wednesday, you've you know, Max
has already gone through the list that we sent him
Tuesday night, and he could you know, he has great
(25:08):
questions about some of the stuff he saw on tape.
You know that you may have even not applied to
the principle of the play that you put in, so
things like that from a mental, you know, standpoint, is
pretty pretty impressive. And then I just you know, from
me from the time I saw him throw the ball
for the first time a couple of years ago. He
has an ability to throw the football that fits with
(25:29):
you know, many many of the things we asked quarterbacks
to do in this offense. And he made our team
for a reason. And and you know, we have we
have the confidence to to you know, handle JJ McCarthy's
progression to getting him to where we want to get
to health wise. We have the confidence in Max to
do that and feel good about where Carson's gotten to
(25:50):
as well.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Thank you, all right, koc Presser.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
The big news is Carson Wentz will start against his
former team the Eagles. On some Max Brosmer is the backup.
JJ McCarthy will be the third emergency quarterback. Some offensive
line news, Donovan Jackson is playing, Blake Brandel will start
at center. Brian O'Neil the right tackle listed as questionable.
The only player listed is out is Andrew van Ginkel.
(26:18):
I didn't hear anything about Jonathan Garnard, but he's not
listed as out, so I would assume hopefully that's a
good sign encouraging for him. On Sunday, Gophers take on
Nebraska tonight at Huntington Banks Stadium. The sideline analyst for
the Minnesota Gophers radio network Justin guard He joins next
right here on the fits.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
The reason the why they're on cool on Wait tonight
is because the Gopher football team playing a little Friday
night lights versus the number twenty five ranked team in
the nation, that would be the Nebraska Cornhouse. Courson, you
can hear that game tonight right here on the fan.
And we're now joined by the sideline analysts for the
Gophers radio network. Justin Hello, JG.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
What's going on? I'll be doing. How's the Fitzgerald running today?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
What's life like a couple hours at the stadium.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Isn't it just the best ever?
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Just have like that silence, like the quiet, the anticipation
leading up to the game.
Speaker 9 (27:14):
Yeah, being one of about I don't know fifteen people
right now in the stadium, just looking around. I'm in
the press box right now. They're doing some maintenance to
the field turf. Looks like the headphones guys are down
there getting set up, the injury tent's getting set up.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
It's perfect. Yeah, it's my favorite.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
I mentioned earlier how much I missed the PJ. Fleck
Scott Frost's rivalry now that Matt Ruhle has taken over
in Nebraska, And you know, you obviously will have much
better memories of this than I and can detail this
given you've been around PJ and the Gopher football team.
But it seems like Frost always was trying to take
subtle shots at PJ. And then I love that the
(27:51):
Gophers would just always own Nebraska during that stretch. What
do you remember about that relationship between those two.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
That there wasn't much of one? Yeah, you're right, that's
exactly right. I do. Yeah, And the.
Speaker 9 (28:04):
Gophers won five in a row against Nebraska, and I
think all of them, well, I guess four of them
were against Frost for sure, and then.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
One of them was against Marul a couple of years ago. Yeah,
they didn't like each other.
Speaker 9 (28:14):
Scott Frost just kind of rubbed everybody the wrong way,
and I think that includes people at Nebraska, even though
he was a Heisman Trophy winning national championship type guy,
legend quarterback coming home. I think he rubbed people the
wrong way a little bit there too, But there have
been some epic moments.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
And it's also too Tenna.
Speaker 9 (28:30):
I think just no matter who's coaching Nebraska, just beating
one of those quote unquote helmet schools, even though they
haven't been a helmet school really since the Scott Frost
era of the mid to late nineties, beating a place
that just breeds college football like, it mattered to Jerry Kill,
It mattered to Tracy Clays, it certainly matters to PJ. Fleck,
like beating Nebraska at any point because of how much
(28:53):
it matters down there, how much they invest into it,
how everybody's always waiting for Nebraska to be quote unquote back,
kind of like the Indie and a basketball deal. I
think it always adds a little bit to people that
aren't coaching there or that are coaching against them. So
I know PJ and Matt Ruhler are pretty tight. They're
they're much more amicable than Scott Frost was. But yeah,
(29:13):
there was some great moments in that rivalry for sure.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
That up the PJ.
Speaker 9 (29:18):
Fleck intensity, which is always at like a twelve as
we all know.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Well, maybe they're ascending to becoming a helmet school again
because they're now in the top twenty five. I wanted
to ask you about rules specifically, what are your thoughts
on him as a coach, how he's turned that program around,
and what are your thoughts second part follow up, rumors
depend state any validity to it.
Speaker 9 (29:38):
I'm sure that they're looking at him because he's a
really good coach and he's you know from you know,
he went to school there, he coached there, he was
a GA Glenn Mason just talked about. He was a
graduate assistant on one of the teams that the Gophers
actually beat in the Glenn Mason eras. So it's a
place that's super special to him. He's tight with the
current athletic director, who is his athletic direct at Temple,
(30:00):
so that's going to be a thing until it's not.
And we just saw even Kurt Signetti, the Indiana coach,
get another contract extension yesterday because I'm sure Penn State
was going to be sniffing around him too. So it's
gonna be a thing until it's not. I honestly tend
that would be surprised if he left. I just don't
think he's been in Nebraska long enough, and I think, like,
I just don't think he's that kind of guy that's
just gonna jump, even if it is for his alma mater.
(30:23):
Nothing would surprise me in college football, quite honestly. But
I think he's a great coach. I thought when they
hired him three years ago it was a perfect hire.
He spent time in the NFL with Carolina, obviously, but
to me, he just doesn't feel like an NFL coach.
He is more of the you know, teaching, educating, leading,
inspiring young men type of deal. And not saying that
he's not good on x's and o's, but if you
just like watch the videos that all these teams put
(30:46):
out now, like how he kind of leads the program
is you know, right up my alley.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
For sure.
Speaker 9 (30:50):
I love how he how he goes about his business,
and so I think he's a great coach. I think
he's going to be in Nebraska for a while. And
I've even said, like, if he isn't the one that
can bring Nebraska not back to where they were in the.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Nineties, because I don't think that's realistic.
Speaker 9 (31:04):
But in the college football playoff mix, you know, consistently
top quarter of the Big Ten consistently, that should be
reasonable for them. If he can't do it, I don't
know who can, because they've tried a lot of people.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
And I think he's that good.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
All right.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Corn Huster's quarterback Dylan Royola, the sophomore. The stats look nice, right,
seventy three percent completion percentage, sixteen touchdown.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Passes to five I iNTS.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Now that being said, he doesn't throw the ball down
field very much, average depth of targets second lowest among
Big Ten quarterbacks, and he takes a lot of sacks.
How do you evaluate I know you're not watching every
Nebraska game, but from what you've seen, how do you
evaluate Royola and where he's at?
Speaker 9 (31:41):
And Yeah, I think you just nailed all the important parts.
You're a great football nind.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
That was kind of surprising to me. I have watched
quite a bit of that.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
And you didn't even feed me that ahead of time
like we've done in the past.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
I did not. Nobody has written out the questions for
you today. You are right now all of your own questions. Yeah,
but yeah, he's so.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Dana Holgerson, a former head coach, is now one of
their offense is their offensive coordinator.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
He came in about a year ago. Last year.
Speaker 9 (32:05):
You can tell like he knows what Dylan's good at.
He knows that they have really good wide receivers. They've
got four wide receivers Tenna that have twenty catches or more.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
The Gophers only have one La.
Speaker 9 (32:15):
Mechy Brockington, and they actually have a fifth that has
nineteen receptions.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
So it's equal opportunity offense.
Speaker 9 (32:20):
Like the ball gets spread around, so what the Gophers
do as well, like they have with Max Brozmer, and
now they're doing that with Drake Lindsay. But these guys
do that at a completely different level. And not only
do they spread it around, but a lot of those
yards you're talking about to answer you know about Rayola
is their short completions and then the receivers do a
lot of the work. They scheme up a lot of
really nice things. They've got four or five guys that
(32:40):
can make you miss an open space. Nebraska's wide receivers
have over one thousand yards after the catch well this season,
So Rayola has sixteen hundred passing yards a thousand of them.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
He's a system quarterback, you're saying.
Speaker 9 (32:54):
I'm saying, they're definitely he's running their system really really well.
I think he's better than that. I think he's a
five star guy for sure. I mean he was a
five star guy. He was recruited to, you know, Georgia,
he committed all these different places. Now he's here in Lincoln.
He's good, but they're not asking him to do a lot.
You're right, They're asking him to just kind of to
run it now. And that's not a criticism. He's running
(33:16):
it at a really high level. But he also does
get sacked a lot. And that's what I'm interested to
see to night ten. There's a couple of like odd
weakness matchups that I'm going to try to figure out.
You know, whose weakness kind of shores up is going
to be who wins this game? And the Gophers have
not been able to get consistent pressure all season long.
They've been around the quarterback a lot. They were around
(33:36):
the quarterback a lot last week. They couldn't sack Purdue today.
They need to be around Nebraska's quarterback a lot. And
he's getting sacked on basically thirty percent of his dropbacks,
which is a really high number. So something has to
give there. If the Gophers can't get him down a
couple of times tonight, then I think they do really
have pressure issues.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Talking with Justin Guard's sideline analysts for the Gophers, ready,
no work. Gophers versus Nebraska at seven o'clock to night,
pre starts at five o'clock. You mentioned the quarterback and
all the wide receivers. Their running backs seem to be
pretty good too, Emma Johnson. He's second in the Big
Ten in rushing yards and in misstackles forced coming off
a pretty darn good game against Maryland where he ran
(34:13):
for one hundred and seventy seven yards. He's one of us, Justin,
so you know, if he has a big game tonight,
your mentions are going to be crazy on Twitter.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
Oh they already have been this week?
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Oh have they? Okay?
Speaker 5 (34:23):
I have been this week.
Speaker 9 (34:24):
Yeah, before the game even starts, because it's an obvious
one and you're simply put you're gonna miss guys like
you're just that's just the way of the world. When
you're recruiting twenty five guys every single year, you're going
to recruit guys or miss guys. I would also say,
I don't think the Gophers have had a ton of
issues recruiting running backs right since Glenn Mason got here,
So yeah, you'd like to have him. Of course, a
(34:46):
late bloomer from Holy Angels, didn't really have anything going
recruiting wise until Nebraska offered him. I think right before
signing day. It was really his first big offer. He
committed then he even had the way to turn here.
He's been in the program for multiple years now. It
actually went into the portal this last offseason, ended up
coming back to Nebraska. Guessing that's the the Coroka priceoff,
you know, quiet holdout. I'm guessing he got a little
(35:09):
bit more money to stay and he's been terrific. He's
been awesome, and he, like you mentioned, he makes guys
miss and that's been another weakness of this go for
defense as they have been missing tackles at an alarming
rate in Big ten play against Power four competition if
you want to include Callen there as well. So they
have to find a way to wrap them up. They
have to find a way to bring him down. And
(35:30):
Blake Cashman for the Vikings had a pretty interesting comment
talking about the Vikings run defense this week. I thought
that they're kind of bleeding extra yards where you might
tackle a guy, you know he's gone for three yards,
you tackle him, but then he drags you for three
more instead of a three yard gain at six and
it's second and four instead of second and six, and
all of that stuff adds up. He was talking about
the Vikings, but that's been the case with the Gophers
(35:51):
as well. It was certainly the case last week against
Purdue with their running back Devin Makabe. You'd have him
wrapped up, you know, three, four or five yards into
the run, and all of a sudden he's dragged you
for another five ever tend So Yeah, Emma, Johnson's been great.
He's finally gotten his opportunity there. It's taken him some
time in Lincoln to get that, but he's making the
most of it.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
I'm not sure you're at Hunting to Make stadium. It
kind of sounds like you're at like an all inclusive
resort in kankun like your pool side right now.
Speaker 5 (36:17):
Really jams going back?
Speaker 4 (36:20):
Is that what that is?
Speaker 7 (36:20):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Yeah, that's the lear Field music.
Speaker 9 (36:22):
That's the unmistakable music that lets you know we're connected.
Speaker 4 (36:27):
Got it.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I couldn't really hear exactly what it was in the background.
You mentioned the Gophers and historically they've been pretty good
at finding running backs. It's been weird to see them
not excel at that this year. Right now, they one
hundred and fifteenth nationally in rushing yards per game. What
do you think has been the issue for the running
game for the Gophers this season?
Speaker 9 (36:46):
The biggest issue has been the offensive line. And obviously
Darius Taylor missed a handful of games. He's good, he's
their best runner. But even having him back the last
game and change, they haven't run the ball very well.
And it's to me, it's it's upfront and they just
they haven't gelled as well as other PJ. Fleck and
Brian Callahan offensive lines have. They've struggled in short yardage,
(37:07):
basically third and fourth and one or shorter or two
and shorter. They're at like thirty percent, which is worse
than the Big ten, at least it was last week.
They're just not getting enough pushed. They're not physical enough.
They took some guys in the portal that I don't
think have panned out like they wanted them to. You know,
they've lost one of their starting offensive women in the
portal this last year to go home to Ohio State.
He's playing for the buck guys right now. He's really
(37:28):
good and they just weren't able to replace him at
that same level. So I know my buddy Ryan Burns,
when he joins me on the pregame about three hours
from now, is going to talk about how he just
wants to see something different. He wants to see different bodies,
he wants to see different options. They've switched guys along
the offensive line, but it's been pretty much the same
five all season long, and they just haven't been able
(37:49):
to find the right mix. Tonight would be a night
I mentioned the weakness versus weakness. Nebraska is allowing over
five yards of carry on the ground.
Speaker 5 (37:57):
Defensively, they're much better.
Speaker 9 (37:59):
They've been much better as a passing defense as opposed
to a rushing defense. So you'd like to think you
can fix your own issues and use their issues against
them a little bit, to at least run the ball enough,
because you don't have to run the ball a ton
when you have a quarterback like Drake Lindsay who's playing
at a really high level. But you're making it really
hard on yourself when you can't run the ball at all,
and that has been a surprising problem.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
You mentioned the passing attack for the Gophers.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
Drake Lindsay. You have now seen six games of him.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
I think he's been pretty solid from what you've seen
of him through six. Where do you think he's going
to end up in his career trajectory in terms of
let's compare him to like recent quarterbacks, right, like a
Max Brozmur or Tanner Morgan. Where do you think he's
going to end up in comparison to those two.
Speaker 9 (38:40):
I mean, I think Tanner would tell you he's going
to exceed what he did here. I mean maybe not
on the field in terms of you know, eleven and
two seasons or anything like that, but just numbers wise statistics.
Speaker 5 (38:50):
Why, yeah, I think he's great.
Speaker 9 (38:52):
I think he's tremendous, and I think he took the
year with Max Brozmer and made the most out of it.
You hear a lot of people in the program talk
about him like they talked about Max. To answer your question,
I think he'll be the first Gopher quarterback drafted in
like fifty years by the time it's all said and done.
I think Brozemer probably should have I think you can
all agree on that.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
It was kind of silly.
Speaker 9 (39:13):
I still don't understand how he wasn't quite honestly, if
you just watch the games and the tape and then
I can't imagine being in a combined room with Max Brozmer,
just knowing what I know about him and the remedial
football knowledge that I have, how he explains stuff and
goes over things, and not being impressed. So I think
Brozemer should have been drafted.
Speaker 5 (39:31):
He wasn't.
Speaker 9 (39:31):
He's on the Bikings now, that's the way it goes.
But I think break will be the first one drafted
in a really long time. I think we're seeing why
they were comfortable handing him the keys to a program.
I said it all offseason TETA in twenty twenty five.
You don't have to give your program to a twenty
year old red shirt freshman. If you don't want to,
you can go find somebody in the portal. You can
go pay an experienced guy in upperclassman. You can find
(39:54):
a guy like Max Brosmer to take it for a
year or two and then move on. You don't have
to do what they're doing unless you really want to.
They obviously wanted to, and I think we've seen why.
I think he's I think he's really good. I think
he's accurate. I think he's smart. I think he's a leader.
I think he's tough. I think he's a gamer. And
all these experiences going through right now, I think are
only gonna help him moving forward.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
By the way, speaking to Max Brosmer, he is the
backup quarterback today on Sunday for the Vikings Eagles game.
They're JJ McCarthy is the third emergency quarterback.
Speaker 7 (40:23):
You know how.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Minnesota sports works, you know how this is gonna work. Right,
Carson is gonna get hurt Sunday. Brosman's got to come in.
He's gonna be good, and we're gonna have this quarterback
quandary discussion again next week.
Speaker 9 (40:36):
I've said it, That's how I've said it. Do not
let Max Brozemer see the field. If you're JJ McCarthy
or Carson Wentz, do not let him see the field.
And I think that's why Carson Wentz sprinted out of
the tunnel last two weeks ago in London. He knows, Yeah,
he knew, he goes. I don't care if I'm hurt.
I can't let this guy.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
I'll never play it again.
Speaker 9 (40:56):
I can't let this guy do this to me. I've
been saying it all off season. I said it all
week on our show too. I'll probably say it again
when I joined Dan an hour or so from now.
Don't let him see the field, man, because then you're
gonna you think KOs is grumpy. Now about the quarterback questions,
wait till Brozemer comes.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
In, uh thirty seconds left and you get it all.
Can you explain to me PJ flex seventy eight percent metric?
Speaker 4 (41:19):
Yeah, where are you aware of this?
Speaker 5 (41:22):
Oh? Of course absolutely.
Speaker 9 (41:23):
If he has three categories that are conducive to winning
explosive plays, the turnover battle and mistackles. If you win
those three categories in any given day, you win the game.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
Seventy eight percent of the time. Is his metrics?
Speaker 9 (41:38):
So I would have over battle. Yeah, but weird things happen, sure.
I mean it's all sins almost eighty percent. So yeah, mistackles,
you have few of those more explosive plays and you
win the take. Give you win seventy eight percent of
the time. They are absolutely obsessed with that metric inside
the program.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
All right, JG, thanks for all, appreciate it anytime.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
All right, justin guard.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
He is going to be broadcasting from Huntington Banks Stadium
tonight as your Minnesota Golden Gophers are going to take
on the Nebraska Cornhuskers seven o'clock start pregame at five.
It sounds like he's also going to join Barrero about
an hour from now, so you can get more Gopher
discussion with JG previewing that game about an hour from
(42:23):
now with Dan Barrero. And because the Gophers are playing
on the fan the Minnesota Wild, we'll take on the
Washington Capitals.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
You'll hear that one. I'm cool on a wait tonight.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
That's a six o'clock start pregame with Kevin Faulness at
five forty five so FM one and seven point nine. Also,
I think the Wolves have a preseason game tonight as
always you can listen to Timberwolves basketball on the iHeartRadio app.
You gottas do the Wolf channel, put the Wolves channel
included and the Kfvan channel as a preset on your
iHeartRadio app. I would highly recommend it. Devin, thanks for
(42:56):
your help today. Really appreciate it. Yeah, thanks for having
Thanks to Pete Burst, he joined at twelve thirty. That's
podcastable Little b Caman Studio. For an hour, Joe O'Donnell
previewed Wild Capitals and then we just said justin Garden.
So after the show's over, you can podcast any of
that on the iHeartRadio app. Thank you so much for
listening to the Tene Fitzgerald, The common Man, Dan Cole.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
He will be back on Monday.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Mark Rosen will be back again next week starting on
Tuesday as well.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Thank you so much for listening.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Have a great weekend, It's been a good day.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
Listen back to any of Common Man's programs by podcasting
on the iHeartRadio App. ORKFAA dot com
Battle Past the lastly battening names.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
All right, welcome back to the tenefits Gerald. My favorite team,
the Minnesota Wild in the nation's capital tonight to take
on the Capitals and they played by playboys for the
Minnesota Wild. The radio network is Joe O'Donnell and Joe
joins us. Now, how you doing, Joe?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
This is my first time set and sail my friends.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Oh, the waters are gonna get rough out here, so
we're gonna need your help as well as you possible do.
Is this one of your favorite trips of the year,
just because you're gonna have your your hometown on the schedule.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, it's a good one, you know. And you get
a day in Manhattan there when they play the Rangers.
And but yeah, it's always special to go back to
Philly for a game a night, see some family. My
parents still live in the area, my wife's parents still
there should be a lot of people at the game.
I'm excited to connect with them.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
But you're gonna miss uh, you're gonna miss Eagles Vikings
then because you're gonna be on the road.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
I mean, could you I can't believe when the schedules
came out, I was like you're gonna be kidding me,
Like I'm in Philly and my football teams in Minnesota.
But that's the way it goes sometimes October to April,
I can't plan a lot. It's just deal with the
schedule and and try to make the best of it.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I will do your favor. I'll make the flight out there,
and I will I'll do play by play for you
so you can come home and watch the Vikings Egle,
So I'll do that for you.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You are such a nice guy.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Where are you?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
It seems like, you know, wild fans, we always have
to have something to panic about, and right now it's
the lack of five on five scoring is even though
it's just a small four game sample size, but on
the level of you know, one to ten with ten
me and absolute code code red, where are you on
your five on five scoring void concerns?
Speaker 3 (03:02):
I think I'd rather answer that after the game tonight,
I think to me, then my answer to you is
like a little bit more patience there, you know, just
a tiny bit more, and you know, if they go
another game or two with maybe just one total five
on five goal, I think then it becomes more of
a talking point. John Hines is preaching patients with the
early season stuff. He seen enough scoring chances, just sort
(03:26):
of missed opportunities, not executing great and some of the
five on five, you know, you look at it for Minnesota,
they've had seventy eight even strength shots the last three games,
no goals. And if you get in the analytical stuff,
which I don't tend to do, but their expected goals
the last three games it even strengths is four point
eight and again they haven't scored any on seventy eight shots.
(03:46):
And then on the power play they scored nine times
on thirty three shots. So you know, I think what
they're doing right now powerplay wise, with that excellence and
then the flip flop on the even strength, like some
of the numbers I've been looking at today and yesterday,
like you know, it's tying this record or breaking this record.
No team has done this in twenty five years. So
it's a little bit of rarefied air that they're in
(04:07):
both good for the power play and not so good
for the even strength and sort of that disparity there.
But you know, I think if they can get through
tonight with a tough test in DC, the Caps are
the best team five on five goals against in the
early part of the season, so it's sort of like
someone's got to give here, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Obviously, the power play is isould probably be the a
topic as well, more so than the five on five
because it's been just absolutely brilliant and what have you
seen that's different out of this power play? Obviously there's
a little bit of personnel change with zeb Bulliam running
it up top and Vladimir Terrasinko on it as well.
It does appear to me, though, Joe, that they are
moving guys around and kind of almost giving like Boldie
(04:46):
and Caprice, so more freedom to kind of do what
they want than maybe we've seen the best. What have
you noticed maybe from an excellent no standpoint, or is
it just personnel that's been different about the power Play
this year compared to years past.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You're on it, and I'm not just saying this because
I'm on your program, Brandon, but I tend to you
and I seen when I follow your stuff on Twitter,
we shudn't be on the same page a lot of
times about takes about the franchise and what's going on all
to certain players, and you know, it's the motion, and
John Hines has talked about this. It's Boldie and Caprice
offer not stationary players on the power play. They're always moving.
(05:19):
So if they're top of the circle the first ten
seconds of the power play, then they're at the goal line,
then they're at the point like and that puts stress
on the penalty kill. So I agree with you there
and the other thing on BOOLLI him to me and
I didn't see this in the Stanley Cup playoffs in
his brief stint and I didn't see it maybe preseason
game number one. But as he's getting more comfortable, he's
getting more comfortable shooting the pucks from the point on
(05:41):
the power play, and that just makes a world of difference.
Now the penalty kill has to respect the shot right
up top doesn't have to be a bomb. Does it
have to be one hundred miles slapper from Victor Headman
or you know Chara back in the day, or pick
your you know, big shooting defenseman. You just have to
have you know, somebody up there willing to pull the
trigger when the lane's there. So I think it's twofold one.
(06:03):
Zve now is more comfortable with how quickly the shot
Layne closes, he's got great deception up there as well,
but now he's showing a willingness to shoot the puck,
and with Jewelers neck in front and all the chaos
around the blue paint, then the wilder great recovering pucks
on the power play. But I think that shot up
top from Bulliam is a big difference now for the
penalty kill, they've got to respect it. That opens up
(06:23):
the wings the bumper. You know, you can use all
the terms you want as far as the power play,
but they got a lot of skill out there and
they've been capitalizing.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Other than Buuyam, what if you thought about the rest
of the Blue line, right, I mean Jared Spurgeon, he's
getting to that age now where you always have to
wonder if his play is going to drop. Jonas Brodein
you know, missed game one, so he really didn't have
like a training camp to to properly train and get
warmed up and in brock favor, you know, he has
set the bar so high that even just a few
(06:50):
mistakes and you're going, what's wrong with Brock? Other other
than Buyam, what have you thought about the Blue Liners?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
I think there's more there, and I think it'll come
with I think you know your point about Brodein being
out and favor obviously, like you know, we think he's
an all world defenceman, and so some nights where you
just don't see that or maybe missing a breakout pass,
you're going, what's going on there? I think there's more
execution that can come as well. Out of the D
(07:17):
zone for the while, and talking to John Hines like
that's something that you know, just get they want to
be predictable to themselves breaking out the puck coming out
of the zone coverage, but unpredictable to the opponents. That
makes sense, so as Minnesota continues to get more reps
under him, I really think the defense can be a
strong suit, whether it's Surgeon and Middleton playing together, whether
it's Burgeon and Brodeen playing together. I think that's another
(07:39):
thing I really like about the blue line mix is
that they can kind of change up their combos if
they feel like they need to for a certain matchup,
or if just the pairents not doing as great as
they would hope, or the numbers are bearing out. So
I like the depth there. I like the experience. As
Bulliam gets more comfortable. I think he's just really going
to help that group as a whole, and David Yiricek
go on to Iowa gives him a chance to play
(08:01):
a lot and hopefully improve, and then if injury hits,
you know, he's ready to jump back in at the
NHL level.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
So I love their depth.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
I just think, let's again, it's four games in. We
get ten to fifteen games in this thing, and you're
starting to still see some issues, then I would say
maybe a little bit more concerned.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
All right, the young guys.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Liam Ogre and he's played all four games, and then
Hunter Hate and Danilla eyuof of each played a pair
of games. Of those three, what has stuck out to
you so far?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Early on, I've really ere he just kind of popped
out there. You know. He had a great night in
the faceoff circle in his first game, and then he
was one out of six against Dallas the other night.
But they're a really good faceoff team, so probably not
much of a surprise there. He was credited with three
hits in Dallas the other night. It's the second of
(08:48):
a back to back for him. But again, I think
there's I think you notice his speed, you know the
hockey ops folks i've talked to have lauded his two
way game as intelligence. John Hines said the same thing there,
like he's not going to cheat the game defensively, and
I think that you're off the guy that eventually is
going to find his offensive touch that he gets more comfortable.
Liam Ogrian right now is a little bit of a mystery.
(09:10):
They want him to be a North South player, they
want him to produce more. He didn't have a shot
on goal Tuesday against Dallas. I don't know what to
make of what's going on there. It's almost like it
feels like he's squeezing his stick a little bit, or
he's a hitter that's in a slump and just needs
like an infield single, like if Ogrin had one go
off his his backside, off his skate and found the
back of the net tonight or on this trip. I
(09:30):
just think it'll do wonders for him.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
What line combination ultimately until Zucarello gets back, do you
think is most appropriate for that second line, Because they've
already made some changes there. It seems like the fan
base is a little annoyed as to some of the
moves that Johansson there and Felino there and and you
know Tarasenko hasn't popped five on five yet. What do
you think is probably ultimately the best combination there until
we get Zucarillo back.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
I think it's with Joe Hanssen up there and Eric
sinekat center and Tarasenko on the other wing, just because
of Joe Anson's pace. Look, I know that he's sometimes
in the crosshair wild fans. He's been in my crossairs
personally as well at times like you know, Tuesday night
again no shots on goal, he's in the team finished
with forty, Like he needs to shoot the puck more,
(10:14):
and something that the great Lunani brought up to John
Heines today when we had our little broadcaster meeting, and
John Hines concurred, like they need him to shoot more.
He's impactful with his skating, his entries, but he's got
to shoot more.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
He really does.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Eleven goals in back to back years is great, but
we know he can score fifteen or twenty in a
top six role. He just seems to push the pace
on that line and gives him an offensive side. He's
just got to again be willing to shoot the puck
and for Tarasenko. You know, John Hines talked about a
couple of days off they were gonna show him video clips,
some individual stuff. You know, here's some pockets of the
(10:47):
ice where you can be a little bit more of
a shooting threat, or here's where you can impact some
things in the offensive zone a little bit more. And
I asked John Hines today, I said, how did the
video session?
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Was glad he go? And he said it was great.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I mean everything that Heinz said about taras Tenkos that
he plays winning hockey. He doesn't cheat the game defensively,
He's got the two Stanley Cups. Yes he's thirty three.
Yes he hasn't scored yet. He's kind of been a
power play assist merchant so far for the while. But
he's got a great attitude about him. He's a winning
player of his track record. And again I think it's
just a little bit more time needed if he gets
(11:18):
more comfortable, and maybe the video session yesterday I will
help with the coaches and just showing them some of
the shifts and going, hey, these are some areas where
put yourself in this spot. Maybe it'll find the back
of the net.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Gust haveson getting the start again tonight. He I thought
against Saint Louis and an opener, those one of the
best games I've seen him play. He just looks calm
and steady the entire time. Returns to home, gives up
six against the Blue Jackets. He gives up three in Dallas,
and you know, kind of not that they were all
on him, but the team got in a hole right
away in Dallas and had that uphill climb. Your thoughts
(11:49):
on gust have sent through three And even though I'm
assuming we'll see a ball set tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Night, Yeah, that would be the plan. Valse that gets
to not in Philly, gust tonight is going to need
a big performance. It's this Capital's team. They haven't scored
a lot so far, but they have great depth. They
have obviously Alex Ovechkin. They're a hard nosed team that
goes to the net. They're committed on the four checks.
So if they hem the Wild in, they're gonna need
calm Gustison right, not a lot of rebounds, freezing some
(12:15):
pocks to get some much needed whistles. The first goal
he gave against Dallas the other night, after the Wild
controlled the first few shifts was deflating. Let's call it
what it was. It wasn't a great goal. The two
power play goals you really can't follow them on. And
the Columbus game honestly felt a little wacky to me,
like a bounce off the end board, a shot that
was going ten feet wide that deflected off somebody broken
(12:36):
play late in the second period that Marchenko buried the
for the visiting Blue Jackets. So I'm not pushing the
panic button yet there again, but you know, for for
the while, to have success this year with no Marc
Andre Fleury, it's sort of that insurance policy and net not.
You know, totally sold on.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Vaalstead yet either.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Right, He's just so young in his career. It's up
to Gus to be a Vesna Trophy candidate. And we've
seen good and bad gusts in a few years with Minnesota.
I think will be good tonight. He's had decent numbers
against the Caps in his career. He knows that this
is his game. He doesn't have to worry about tomorrow.
He's had a couple of days off, a good practice
day yesterday, So I think Gus rebounds well tonight. Plays
(13:16):
that calm game back between the pipes there gives a
wild a couple of big safe and I think Minnesota
shouft farewell this season, Joe.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Over the years, I've seen a lot of Alexandrovechkin power
play goals from his office against the Minnesota while and
then I look at his stats so far this year,
and he has yet to score a goal through four games.
The Minnesota sports fan of me already has the teeth
chattering that the Ovechkin breakouts coming tonight on the power play.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
I'm a little concerned about it.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I if I had money, if I could sports bet
in Minnesota, I would bet Ovechkin power play goal tonight.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Well, their power plays is one for eleven this year,
so probably also makes you think that they're due. You're right,
he doesn't have one yet this year. He's got eleven
shots and two assists in four games. He has twenty
career goals against the Wild two against Phil Augustuson. But
I went back and look last year he had just
one goal through his first five. I think he came
in game four and he went another one with that one,
(14:08):
and two years ago he didn't score in his first four.
He scored in his fifth game, which would be tonight.
So for whatever reason, the last two years he's kind
of started slow and then picked up the pace. Yeah,
I think numbers wise or trends wise, you'd have to
think at some point he's gonna break out. You know,
the Wild will be focused on him his points per
game and his goals per game in his career against
Minnesota or the best of any abbility he's ever played.
(14:31):
I tend to lean the way you're leaning the it's
only amount of time for him. But you know, if
Minnesota plays its game and Oveskin gets one, you know
the Wild still find a way to win this hockey
game tonight. I think if they kind of get to
get to their game and spend some time in the
offensive zone, that's gonna be the game plan. And they
got to move their feet. You know, they've drove. They've
drawn more power plays than anybody else in the league
(14:52):
so far this season, and the power play has been explosive.
They got to find a way to get to get
to the man advantage tonight against the very disciplined Caps team.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Joe, thanks for your time, I appreciate it, and we'll
be listening to you tonight, yep, thanks for all right,
Joe Done'll play by PLAYBOYE for the Minnesota Wild the
radio Nowhork. Typically you can hear them on the fan,
but tonight we have the Gophers Nebraska game at seven
o'clock with the Wild game at six, so the Wild
will be on Cool. On to wait tonight six o'clock start,
(15:20):
five point forty five pregame Minnesota Wild Clock, Washington Capitals
on Cool. Wanta wait one more segment to go before
we get to Justin Gard previewing that Gopher's Nebraska game.
He'll join us in about fifteen minutes. You got a
keyword over there, Devin, Yes, sir.
Speaker 6 (15:34):
The fan in two minute and John Trek want to
give you a shot to win some bonus bucks with
our national cash contest. Enter the keyword money at kfan
dot com. Now for your shot at winning that's keyword money,
Enter it now at kfan dot com.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
It's actually toun to be the tene Fitz Sheerald in
for the com man. Help me back on Monday, Vikings
versus Eagles. Koc is talking to the meter right now.
I have a feeling we're gonna get some clarity on
the quarterback position.
Speaker 7 (16:12):
Status is for the game. The only player that will
be out this week is Andrew Van Ginkel. Everyone else
will either be questionable Tyler Batty and Blake Cashman. More
so procedurally, just with the roster mechanics that will likely
take place over the next twenty four hours or so,
ty Ingram Dawkins, Jurgens, JJ McCarthy, and Brian O'Neill, we'll
(16:36):
all be questionable. Everyone else will go in without a designation.
Carson Wentz will start the football game. I thought he's
had a good week of practice as well as JJ McCarthy.
I just I was really proud of the work he
put in, you know, as he kind of continues to
push through the later stages of this rehab, feel good
(16:57):
about him being available.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
But he will be the.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
Emergency third quarterback, you know, just to you know, we
went into the last game with two and didn't quite
feel like that was the smartest thing to do, and
feel good about where he'd be at if he had
to play in that third quarterback capacity, So Maxwell back up.
Carson Wentz cannot wait to get the US Bank Stadium,
(17:21):
and our team is so darn excited to get an
opportunity in front of our fans, expecting our great home
environment on Sunday against a really good football team coming in.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
And we've been working on a lot of.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
Things, continuingly chasing improvement, doing some of the things better
that we need to, and also continuing to build. You know,
this the picture of what this team looks like as
we're able to get some guys you know, hopefully returning
back here not only this game, but in the very
near future as well.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
Fund think you expect Blake and Tyler to both be
good to go then, but they'll just be listed lessionable.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Yeah, it's more procedural than anything until we can get
them onto the roster. I believe we're at fifty one
right now, so we don't need to do anything more
than to put them on the fifty three men roster.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Will Blake Brindell start at center?
Speaker 7 (18:10):
Yes, Yeah, excited about where he's at. Jergs is, you know,
as one of those questionable guys. Want to see how
he feels after today, and then you know we'll be
we'll see as far as what the group of eight
looks like for for the game as we get a
little closer after today. Often come up, but JJ has
the emergency third, you must feel comfortable enough about his
(18:33):
progress that if he's played yeah, I think, you know,
you know, as opposed to maybe having to designate and
list a running back or a receiver if we get
into that situation, I feel comfortable, comfortable enough, you know,
in what would be considered that kind of emergency capacity
to be able to you know, call some I feel
good after watching him practice about some of the things
(18:53):
that give him some problems at this point. But at
the same time, some of the things he feels really
good about from a movement standpoint, you know, whether it's
in the run game or the past games, some of
the things he's feels good about him and I will
go through a lot of those things.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
And uh, you know.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
He got a ton of reps this week, both with
the you know, the first group and and also with
getting some real good reps, you know, with that look
team of feeling the rush of Gernard and Turner and
Hargrave and Allen and and really working on some things
that are really starting to come to fruition. So I
was I was proud of the way he attacked the week.
And I know, I'll know he knows He's not quite
(19:32):
all the way there yet he's progressing in a really
good way.
Speaker 8 (19:37):
Kevin Prian talked Tuesday about, you know, momentum comes and goes,
and the influencers or tries to influence him from the
sideline as an offensive guy, what do you find is
the best recipe and for you to try and get
momentum back?
Speaker 7 (19:53):
Yeah, I think, you know, the when I think back
to the times over over my you know, and our
time here being the head coach, there has been times
and a lot of times it ends up being those
close games late where getting momentum back is going for
that drive to get a touchdown late in the game
last week. But what I'm challenging our guys to do
(20:15):
is just by doing the routine things a little bit
more routinely and what is in that bucket of routine things.
If we can grow that and with consistency amongst more
guys in all three phases, I think we're going to
see momentum be you know, a little bit more attainable
and then hopefully hold the ball and then what we
(20:35):
did so well a year ago, that flow has been
so big and impactful for and his players have been
capturing the momentum when it's been lost by turning the
ball over, getting an opportunity at the ball. Punching out
the ball led the league and you know, interceptions a
year ago like those plays help you even in a
game where momentum can be the ebbs and flows and
(20:57):
it goes back and forth one third down style for them,
and then all of a sudden, do we get the
execution on our punt to not give our defense a
short field? And even if all things happen and we
don't get that execution on the punt, our defense goes
out there and either gets a stop or forces a turnover. Offensively,
we got to do the same. And then they're able
(21:22):
to you know, respond off of that either on the
next one or two drives later and they take the
lead back.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
And that's just what NFL games are.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
But when you really peel back the layers and look
at it, are you doing the things that could be
considered routine to help keep the momentum in a game,
or are you doing self inflicted things? You know, mental errors,
you know, pre snap penalties. You know, we had some
issues this year with post snap stuff going on. All
of those things are just body blows to the momentum
(21:52):
that you're trying to trying to capture. So I like
that's where I love having flow. And we look at
it very similar and can talk even during games sometimes
about either how he's gonna call it or I'm gonna
call it to try to be either more aggressive or hey,
we've we feel pretty good.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
About where we're at.
Speaker 7 (22:09):
Here's how we maintain it and then try to make
sure our players can go execute that plan.
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Tempo for you, is that Cinic going faster?
Speaker 4 (22:16):
I think that's yeah. Tempo.
Speaker 7 (22:18):
You know, tempo has been a has been an equalizer
for us, especially when we've been healthy, you know, when
when we're you know, we've got you know, our eleven
guys on offense that are totally you know, sequenced up,
and then you can just speed up the the pre
snap of the game and and and you know, get
more plays off that way. I think that's a great example, Mark,
And other ways would be, you know, some of the explosives,
(22:39):
you know, I think an explosive on a drive, you
guys can look up the data on it can not
only flip the feel of a game, but it can
it can give you greater odds and chances to to
go put the ball in the end zone when you
get that one, you know, play to Justin Jefferson on
the two minute drive or the stack a couple explosives
on the touch on the touchdown drive where cam Akers
(23:00):
through the wildcat pass like those are you know, those
are momentum plays within a drive that then allows you
to finish it with points heaven.
Speaker 9 (23:07):
With Van Ginkel, how would you describe kind of his
recovery from that neck entry at this point of where
you guys feeling comfort wise with him.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
Yeah, it was really encouraging that, you know, he started
out the week on Monday kind of on the side
field and then was able to take part in practice
on a limited basis throughout the week, so we wanted
to make sure we got that work in. See how
he felt today. Not quite all the way there yet,
but you know, I do feel like we're heading towards
a time It's going to be a short week next week,
(23:35):
so we'll see how he how he uh, you know,
how he feels early on in that week before we
head to LA. But feel very positive about the progression
we're on now and really having used you know, the
resources to to to find out exactly the path we
want to go and what Andrew feels best with.
Speaker 9 (23:51):
We go get outside opinions or what kind when you
say extra resources will kinds of.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
Yeah, he's he's he's seen you know, he's seen some
extra We've had some you know, outside of opinions, just
to make sure we have all the information that could
be out there, you know, the residual side of the
neck and and some of the things that he's dealt
with and has really progressed beyond and feels better and better.
We just want to make sure we have all the information,
(24:16):
we're doing right by him, and then most importantly give
him the confidence to attack this thing from a from
a rehab and really just getting days on the practice
field and build up, you know, in a lot of ways,
similar to what Harry went through in training camp. Totally
different injuries, but ultimately the same type of thing. When
you're talking about a guy that's gonna play so many
(24:37):
impactful snaps, how do we start ramp that up?
Speaker 9 (24:41):
What have you seen from Max just in the six
weeks or so since camp, And.
Speaker 7 (24:46):
I think the biggest thing is just he mentally absorbs
the game plan much beyond just a you know, an
undrafted rookie. He's got a very very high capacity to
not only study, you know, watch tape. But then when
you get in on a Wednesday, you've you know, Max
has already gone through the list that we sent him
Tuesday night, and he could you know, he has great
(25:08):
questions about some of the stuff he saw on tape.
You know that you may have even not applied to
the principle of the play that you put in, so
things like that from a mental, you know, standpoint, is
pretty pretty impressive. And then I just you know, from
me from the time I saw him throw the ball
for the first time a couple of years ago. He
has an ability to throw the football that fits with
(25:29):
you know, many many of the things we asked quarterbacks
to do in this offense. And he made our team
for a reason. And and you know, we have we
have the confidence to to you know, handle JJ McCarthy's
progression to getting him to where we want to get
to health wise. We have the confidence in Max to
do that and feel good about where Carson's gotten to
(25:50):
as well.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Thank you, all right, koc Presser.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
The big news is Carson Wentz will start against his
former team the Eagles. On some Max Brosmer is the backup.
JJ McCarthy will be the third emergency quarterback. Some offensive
line news, Donovan Jackson is playing, Blake Brandel will start
at center. Brian O'Neil the right tackle listed as questionable.
The only player listed is out is Andrew van Ginkel.
(26:18):
I didn't hear anything about Jonathan Garnard, but he's not
listed as out, so I would assume hopefully that's a
good sign encouraging for him. On Sunday, Gophers take on
Nebraska tonight at Huntington Banks Stadium. The sideline analyst for
the Minnesota Gophers radio network Justin guard He joins next
right here on the fits.
Speaker 5 (26:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
The reason the why they're on cool on Wait tonight
is because the Gopher football team playing a little Friday
night lights versus the number twenty five ranked team in
the nation, that would be the Nebraska Cornhouse. Courson, you
can hear that game tonight right here on the fan.
And we're now joined by the sideline analysts for the
Gophers radio network. Justin Hello, JG.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
What's going on? I'll be doing. How's the Fitzgerald running today?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
What's life like a couple hours at the stadium.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Isn't it just the best ever?
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Just have like that silence, like the quiet, the anticipation
leading up to the game.
Speaker 9 (27:14):
Yeah, being one of about I don't know fifteen people
right now in the stadium, just looking around. I'm in
the press box right now. They're doing some maintenance to
the field turf. Looks like the headphones guys are down
there getting set up, the injury tent's getting set up.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
It's perfect. Yeah, it's my favorite.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
I mentioned earlier how much I missed the PJ. Fleck
Scott Frost's rivalry now that Matt Ruhle has taken over
in Nebraska, And you know, you obviously will have much
better memories of this than I and can detail this
given you've been around PJ and the Gopher football team.
But it seems like Frost always was trying to take
subtle shots at PJ. And then I love that the
(27:51):
Gophers would just always own Nebraska during that stretch. What
do you remember about that relationship between those two.
Speaker 5 (27:57):
That there wasn't much of one? Yeah, you're right, that's
exactly right. I do. Yeah, And the.
Speaker 9 (28:04):
Gophers won five in a row against Nebraska, and I
think all of them, well, I guess four of them
were against Frost for sure, and then.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
One of them was against Marul a couple of years ago. Yeah,
they didn't like each other.
Speaker 9 (28:14):
Scott Frost just kind of rubbed everybody the wrong way,
and I think that includes people at Nebraska, even though
he was a Heisman Trophy winning national championship type guy,
legend quarterback coming home. I think he rubbed people the
wrong way a little bit there too, But there have
been some epic moments.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
And it's also too Tenna.
Speaker 9 (28:30):
I think just no matter who's coaching Nebraska, just beating
one of those quote unquote helmet schools, even though they
haven't been a helmet school really since the Scott Frost
era of the mid to late nineties, beating a place
that just breeds college football like, it mattered to Jerry Kill,
It mattered to Tracy Clays, it certainly matters to PJ. Fleck,
like beating Nebraska at any point because of how much
(28:53):
it matters down there, how much they invest into it,
how everybody's always waiting for Nebraska to be quote unquote back,
kind of like the Indie and a basketball deal. I
think it always adds a little bit to people that
aren't coaching there or that are coaching against them. So
I know PJ and Matt Ruhler are pretty tight. They're
they're much more amicable than Scott Frost was. But yeah,
(29:13):
there was some great moments in that rivalry for sure.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
That up the PJ.
Speaker 9 (29:18):
Fleck intensity, which is always at like a twelve as
we all know.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Well, maybe they're ascending to becoming a helmet school again
because they're now in the top twenty five. I wanted
to ask you about rules specifically, what are your thoughts
on him as a coach, how he's turned that program around,
and what are your thoughts second part follow up, rumors
depend state any validity to it.
Speaker 9 (29:38):
I'm sure that they're looking at him because he's a
really good coach and he's you know from you know,
he went to school there, he coached there, he was
a GA Glenn Mason just talked about. He was a
graduate assistant on one of the teams that the Gophers
actually beat in the Glenn Mason eras. So it's a
place that's super special to him. He's tight with the
current athletic director, who is his athletic direct at Temple,
(30:00):
so that's going to be a thing until it's not.
And we just saw even Kurt Signetti, the Indiana coach,
get another contract extension yesterday because I'm sure Penn State
was going to be sniffing around him too. So it's
gonna be a thing until it's not. I honestly tend
that would be surprised if he left. I just don't
think he's been in Nebraska long enough, and I think, like,
I just don't think he's that kind of guy that's
just gonna jump, even if it is for his alma mater.
(30:23):
Nothing would surprise me in college football, quite honestly. But
I think he's a great coach. I thought when they
hired him three years ago it was a perfect hire.
He spent time in the NFL with Carolina, obviously, but
to me, he just doesn't feel like an NFL coach.
He is more of the you know, teaching, educating, leading,
inspiring young men type of deal. And not saying that
he's not good on x's and o's, but if you
just like watch the videos that all these teams put
(30:46):
out now, like how he kind of leads the program
is you know, right up my alley.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
For sure.
Speaker 9 (30:50):
I love how he how he goes about his business,
and so I think he's a great coach. I think
he's going to be in Nebraska for a while. And
I've even said, like, if he isn't the one that
can bring Nebraska not back to where they were in the.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
Nineties, because I don't think that's realistic.
Speaker 9 (31:04):
But in the college football playoff mix, you know, consistently
top quarter of the Big Ten consistently, that should be
reasonable for them. If he can't do it, I don't
know who can, because they've tried a lot of people.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
And I think he's that good.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
All right.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Corn Huster's quarterback Dylan Royola, the sophomore. The stats look nice, right,
seventy three percent completion percentage, sixteen touchdown.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Passes to five I iNTS.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Now that being said, he doesn't throw the ball down
field very much, average depth of targets second lowest among
Big Ten quarterbacks, and he takes a lot of sacks.
How do you evaluate I know you're not watching every
Nebraska game, but from what you've seen, how do you
evaluate Royola and where he's at?
Speaker 9 (31:41):
And Yeah, I think you just nailed all the important parts.
You're a great football nind.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
That was kind of surprising to me. I have watched
quite a bit of that.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
And you didn't even feed me that ahead of time
like we've done in the past.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
I did not. Nobody has written out the questions for
you today. You are right now all of your own questions. Yeah,
but yeah, he's so.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Dana Holgerson, a former head coach, is now one of
their offense is their offensive coordinator.
Speaker 5 (32:04):
He came in about a year ago. Last year.
Speaker 9 (32:05):
You can tell like he knows what Dylan's good at.
He knows that they have really good wide receivers. They've
got four wide receivers Tenna that have twenty catches or more.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
The Gophers only have one La.
Speaker 9 (32:15):
Mechy Brockington, and they actually have a fifth that has
nineteen receptions.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
So it's equal opportunity offense.
Speaker 9 (32:20):
Like the ball gets spread around, so what the Gophers
do as well, like they have with Max Brozmer, and
now they're doing that with Drake Lindsay. But these guys
do that at a completely different level. And not only
do they spread it around, but a lot of those
yards you're talking about to answer you know about Rayola
is their short completions and then the receivers do a
lot of the work. They scheme up a lot of
really nice things. They've got four or five guys that
(32:40):
can make you miss an open space. Nebraska's wide receivers
have over one thousand yards after the catch well this season,
So Rayola has sixteen hundred passing yards a thousand of them.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
He's a system quarterback, you're saying.
Speaker 9 (32:54):
I'm saying, they're definitely he's running their system really really well.
I think he's better than that. I think he's a
five star guy for sure. I mean he was a
five star guy. He was recruited to, you know, Georgia,
he committed all these different places. Now he's here in Lincoln.
He's good, but they're not asking him to do a lot.
You're right, They're asking him to just kind of to
run it now. And that's not a criticism. He's running
(33:16):
it at a really high level. But he also does
get sacked a lot. And that's what I'm interested to
see to night ten. There's a couple of like odd
weakness matchups that I'm going to try to figure out.
You know, whose weakness kind of shores up is going
to be who wins this game? And the Gophers have
not been able to get consistent pressure all season long.
They've been around the quarterback a lot. They were around
(33:36):
the quarterback a lot last week. They couldn't sack Purdue today.
They need to be around Nebraska's quarterback a lot. And
he's getting sacked on basically thirty percent of his dropbacks,
which is a really high number. So something has to
give there. If the Gophers can't get him down a
couple of times tonight, then I think they do really
have pressure issues.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Talking with Justin Guard's sideline analysts for the Gophers, ready,
no work. Gophers versus Nebraska at seven o'clock to night,
pre starts at five o'clock. You mentioned the quarterback and
all the wide receivers. Their running backs seem to be
pretty good too, Emma Johnson. He's second in the Big
Ten in rushing yards and in misstackles forced coming off
a pretty darn good game against Maryland where he ran
(34:13):
for one hundred and seventy seven yards. He's one of us, Justin,
so you know, if he has a big game tonight,
your mentions are going to be crazy on Twitter.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
Oh they already have been this week?
Speaker 4 (34:23):
Oh have they? Okay?
Speaker 5 (34:23):
I have been this week.
Speaker 9 (34:24):
Yeah, before the game even starts, because it's an obvious
one and you're simply put you're gonna miss guys like
you're just that's just the way of the world. When
you're recruiting twenty five guys every single year, you're going
to recruit guys or miss guys. I would also say,
I don't think the Gophers have had a ton of
issues recruiting running backs right since Glenn Mason got here,
So yeah, you'd like to have him. Of course, a
(34:46):
late bloomer from Holy Angels, didn't really have anything going
recruiting wise until Nebraska offered him. I think right before
signing day. It was really his first big offer. He
committed then he even had the way to turn here.
He's been in the program for multiple years now. It
actually went into the portal this last offseason, ended up
coming back to Nebraska. Guessing that's the the Coroka priceoff,
you know, quiet holdout. I'm guessing he got a little
(35:09):
bit more money to stay and he's been terrific. He's
been awesome, and he, like you mentioned, he makes guys
miss and that's been another weakness of this go for
defense as they have been missing tackles at an alarming
rate in Big ten play against Power four competition if
you want to include Callen there as well. So they
have to find a way to wrap them up. They
have to find a way to bring him down. And
(35:30):
Blake Cashman for the Vikings had a pretty interesting comment
talking about the Vikings run defense this week. I thought
that they're kind of bleeding extra yards where you might
tackle a guy, you know he's gone for three yards,
you tackle him, but then he drags you for three
more instead of a three yard gain at six and
it's second and four instead of second and six, and
all of that stuff adds up. He was talking about
the Vikings, but that's been the case with the Gophers
(35:51):
as well. It was certainly the case last week against
Purdue with their running back Devin Makabe. You'd have him
wrapped up, you know, three, four or five yards into
the run, and all of a sudden he's dragged you
for another five ever tend So Yeah, Emma, Johnson's been great.
He's finally gotten his opportunity there. It's taken him some
time in Lincoln to get that, but he's making the
most of it.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
I'm not sure you're at Hunting to Make stadium. It
kind of sounds like you're at like an all inclusive
resort in kankun like your pool side right now.
Speaker 5 (36:17):
Really jams going back?
Speaker 4 (36:20):
Is that what that is?
Speaker 7 (36:20):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Yeah, that's the lear Field music.
Speaker 9 (36:22):
That's the unmistakable music that lets you know we're connected.
Speaker 4 (36:27):
Got it.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I couldn't really hear exactly what it was in the background.
You mentioned the Gophers and historically they've been pretty good
at finding running backs. It's been weird to see them
not excel at that this year. Right now, they one
hundred and fifteenth nationally in rushing yards per game. What
do you think has been the issue for the running
game for the Gophers this season?
Speaker 9 (36:46):
The biggest issue has been the offensive line. And obviously
Darius Taylor missed a handful of games. He's good, he's
their best runner. But even having him back the last
game and change, they haven't run the ball very well.
And it's to me, it's it's upfront and they just
they haven't gelled as well as other PJ. Fleck and
Brian Callahan offensive lines have. They've struggled in short yardage,
(37:07):
basically third and fourth and one or shorter or two
and shorter. They're at like thirty percent, which is worse
than the Big ten, at least it was last week.
They're just not getting enough pushed. They're not physical enough.
They took some guys in the portal that I don't
think have panned out like they wanted them to. You know,
they've lost one of their starting offensive women in the
portal this last year to go home to Ohio State.
He's playing for the buck guys right now. He's really
(37:28):
good and they just weren't able to replace him at
that same level. So I know my buddy Ryan Burns,
when he joins me on the pregame about three hours
from now, is going to talk about how he just
wants to see something different. He wants to see different bodies,
he wants to see different options. They've switched guys along
the offensive line, but it's been pretty much the same
five all season long, and they just haven't been able
(37:49):
to find the right mix. Tonight would be a night
I mentioned the weakness versus weakness. Nebraska is allowing over
five yards of carry on the ground.
Speaker 5 (37:57):
Defensively, they're much better.
Speaker 9 (37:59):
They've been much better as a passing defense as opposed
to a rushing defense. So you'd like to think you
can fix your own issues and use their issues against
them a little bit, to at least run the ball enough,
because you don't have to run the ball a ton
when you have a quarterback like Drake Lindsay who's playing
at a really high level. But you're making it really
hard on yourself when you can't run the ball at all,
and that has been a surprising problem.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
You mentioned the passing attack for the Gophers.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
Drake Lindsay. You have now seen six games of him.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
I think he's been pretty solid from what you've seen
of him through six. Where do you think he's going
to end up in his career trajectory in terms of
let's compare him to like recent quarterbacks, right, like a
Max Brozmur or Tanner Morgan. Where do you think he's
going to end up in comparison to those two.
Speaker 9 (38:40):
I mean, I think Tanner would tell you he's going
to exceed what he did here. I mean maybe not
on the field in terms of you know, eleven and
two seasons or anything like that, but just numbers wise statistics.
Speaker 5 (38:50):
Why, yeah, I think he's great.
Speaker 9 (38:52):
I think he's tremendous, and I think he took the
year with Max Brozmer and made the most out of it.
You hear a lot of people in the program talk
about him like they talked about Max. To answer your question,
I think he'll be the first Gopher quarterback drafted in
like fifty years by the time it's all said and done.
I think Brozemer probably should have I think you can
all agree on that.
Speaker 5 (39:12):
It was kind of silly.
Speaker 9 (39:13):
I still don't understand how he wasn't quite honestly, if
you just watch the games and the tape and then
I can't imagine being in a combined room with Max Brozmer,
just knowing what I know about him and the remedial
football knowledge that I have, how he explains stuff and
goes over things, and not being impressed. So I think
Brozemer should have been drafted.
Speaker 5 (39:31):
He wasn't.
Speaker 9 (39:31):
He's on the Bikings now, that's the way it goes.
But I think break will be the first one drafted
in a really long time. I think we're seeing why
they were comfortable handing him the keys to a program.
I said it all offseason TETA in twenty twenty five.
You don't have to give your program to a twenty
year old red shirt freshman. If you don't want to,
you can go find somebody in the portal. You can
go pay an experienced guy in upperclassman. You can find
(39:54):
a guy like Max Brosmer to take it for a
year or two and then move on. You don't have
to do what they're doing unless you really want to.
They obviously wanted to, and I think we've seen why.
I think he's I think he's really good. I think
he's accurate. I think he's smart. I think he's a leader.
I think he's tough. I think he's a gamer. And
all these experiences going through right now, I think are
only gonna help him moving forward.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
By the way, speaking to Max Brosmer, he is the
backup quarterback today on Sunday for the Vikings Eagles game.
They're JJ McCarthy is the third emergency quarterback.
Speaker 7 (40:23):
You know how.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Minnesota sports works, you know how this is gonna work. Right,
Carson is gonna get hurt Sunday. Brosman's got to come in.
He's gonna be good, and we're gonna have this quarterback
quandary discussion again next week.
Speaker 9 (40:36):
I've said it, That's how I've said it. Do not
let Max Brozemer see the field. If you're JJ McCarthy
or Carson Wentz, do not let him see the field.
And I think that's why Carson Wentz sprinted out of
the tunnel last two weeks ago in London. He knows, Yeah,
he knew, he goes. I don't care if I'm hurt.
I can't let this guy.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
I'll never play it again.
Speaker 9 (40:56):
I can't let this guy do this to me. I've
been saying it all off season. I said it all
week on our show too. I'll probably say it again
when I joined Dan an hour or so from now.
Don't let him see the field, man, because then you're
gonna you think KOs is grumpy. Now about the quarterback questions,
wait till Brozemer comes.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
In, uh thirty seconds left and you get it all.
Can you explain to me PJ flex seventy eight percent metric?
Speaker 4 (41:19):
Yeah, where are you aware of this?
Speaker 5 (41:22):
Oh? Of course absolutely.
Speaker 9 (41:23):
If he has three categories that are conducive to winning
explosive plays, the turnover battle and mistackles. If you win
those three categories in any given day, you win the game.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
Seventy eight percent of the time. Is his metrics?
Speaker 9 (41:38):
So I would have over battle. Yeah, but weird things happen, sure.
I mean it's all sins almost eighty percent. So yeah, mistackles,
you have few of those more explosive plays and you
win the take. Give you win seventy eight percent of
the time. They are absolutely obsessed with that metric inside
the program.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
All right, JG, thanks for all, appreciate it anytime.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
All right, justin guard.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
He is going to be broadcasting from Huntington Banks Stadium
tonight as your Minnesota Golden Gophers are going to take
on the Nebraska Cornhuskers seven o'clock start pregame at five.
It sounds like he's also going to join Barrero about
an hour from now, so you can get more Gopher
discussion with JG previewing that game about an hour from
(42:23):
now with Dan Barrero. And because the Gophers are playing
on the fan the Minnesota Wild, we'll take on the
Washington Capitals.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
You'll hear that one. I'm cool on a wait tonight.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
That's a six o'clock start pregame with Kevin Faulness at
five forty five so FM one and seven point nine. Also,
I think the Wolves have a preseason game tonight as
always you can listen to Timberwolves basketball on the iHeartRadio app.
You gottas do the Wolf channel, put the Wolves channel
included and the Kfvan channel as a preset on your
iHeartRadio app. I would highly recommend it. Devin, thanks for
(42:56):
your help today. Really appreciate it. Yeah, thanks for having
Thanks to Pete Burst, he joined at twelve thirty. That's
podcastable Little b Caman Studio. For an hour, Joe O'Donnell
previewed Wild Capitals and then we just said justin Garden.
So after the show's over, you can podcast any of
that on the iHeartRadio app. Thank you so much for
listening to the Tene Fitzgerald, The common Man, Dan Cole.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
He will be back on Monday.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Mark Rosen will be back again next week starting on
Tuesday as well.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Thank you so much for listening.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Have a great weekend, It's been a good day.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
Listen back to any of Common Man's programs by podcasting
on the iHeartRadio App. ORKFAA dot com
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