We are getting LeVar Woods today to talk some special teams. Always fun to talk to him about this area. Will post a summary (not a transcript) of what he has to say.
His opening statement
Appreciate everyone being here. Said practice was spirited. Feels good about the way the team has been punting and kicking the ball. Said they have a great opportunity this weekend. Minnesota has great special teams.
Q: On gunners. Said earlier it was Roberts and Kelly-Martin and now they are out?
Now that has changed. Next man up. Cooper DeJean have been good. Xavior Williams also out there. Arland has done that as well. looking forward to getting those guys back.
Q; Roberts out and now is he anxious to get back out there?
He talked about it today. Anxious to get back out there and a great teammate. He is chomping at the bit.
Q: Asked about Caleb Shudak and seeing him get this opportunity?
I feel great about Caleb as a person. He has a bright future. Happy with how he has been performing. He is great for our team and a great teammate. Been fun watching him.
Q: Asked about Keegan Johnson and his recruitment and the bonds that it took to get him?
He's a great kid and love seeing him mature. That goes back to the spring when he got here. Came from a great program and Coach Copeland did a great job getting him here. Comes from a football background and has brothers who have played and he is taking advantage of his opportunities.
Q: Asked about the great punters in the Big Ten. Maybe half could be in the NFL
I tell Tory that I think he is the best punter in the country. He is really just getting started, but I also feel like there is more to work on. He said he knows others punting in different environments. If you are punting in the Big Ten you are doing something because the situations change regularly, even in games.
Q: Heard about the competitiveness of the specialists?
They are insane about how they compete in everything. All the position meetings start with rock, paper, scissors to see who gets to watch their film first. Punters and kickers are always competing all the time. Think that's good for the team. They really compete with each other.
Q: Tory Taylor needs just over 800 yards to set school record in punt yards. Reaction to that?
Has not even thought about it. Always just look at the net punt yards. Focused on day by day and game by game. Not really looking at anything else. Tory is furious when he doesn't perform well. Think he's a great teammate. He has handled the volume of punts well. Said they monitor that and limit his practice time.
Q: Cooper DeJean and keeping him under the game limit to redshirt?
Hasn't even talked to him about it. Said he is a super competitive kid who wants to play and help the team in any way he can. He has tremendous ball skills. Gave an example of the first time he was on kickoff coverage in practice he went down and knocked the ball loose and the result was a scoop and score.
Q: Asked about the backup at kicker?
Happy with Aaron Blom in his kickoffs and making a jump with field goals as well. Lucas Amaya has done a great job all week. Been doing that in scout all week because MN has a lefty kicker.
Q: With Taylor and being three years out of high school, does he have an NFL option?
That is a bridge when we get to it. Don't think his mind is in that spot. He will do what's best for him and his family. He's a very talented kid and we haven't really been fielding a lot of calls on that front. Will cross the bridge when they get there.
Q: Charlie Jones and being effective in both kickoff and punt return?
It's really hard to do both because they are different. Exciting player. I think he's fearless with the football and can spin out of returns on punt and you have to have good ball security. We hammer that home with him and everyone and he has good speed. Happy to have him as our returner.
Q: Asked about the gunners and how Roberts can go between blocks. Can you teach that or is it just something natural?
It's crazy to watch and it's something he just naturally does not something we can teach. We try to get him on the right course and he takes the rest on his own.
That's it for today's interview.
His opening statement
Appreciate everyone being here. Said practice was spirited. Feels good about the way the team has been punting and kicking the ball. Said they have a great opportunity this weekend. Minnesota has great special teams.
Q: On gunners. Said earlier it was Roberts and Kelly-Martin and now they are out?
Now that has changed. Next man up. Cooper DeJean have been good. Xavior Williams also out there. Arland has done that as well. looking forward to getting those guys back.
Q; Roberts out and now is he anxious to get back out there?
He talked about it today. Anxious to get back out there and a great teammate. He is chomping at the bit.
Q: Asked about Caleb Shudak and seeing him get this opportunity?
I feel great about Caleb as a person. He has a bright future. Happy with how he has been performing. He is great for our team and a great teammate. Been fun watching him.
Q: Asked about Keegan Johnson and his recruitment and the bonds that it took to get him?
He's a great kid and love seeing him mature. That goes back to the spring when he got here. Came from a great program and Coach Copeland did a great job getting him here. Comes from a football background and has brothers who have played and he is taking advantage of his opportunities.
Q: Asked about the great punters in the Big Ten. Maybe half could be in the NFL
I tell Tory that I think he is the best punter in the country. He is really just getting started, but I also feel like there is more to work on. He said he knows others punting in different environments. If you are punting in the Big Ten you are doing something because the situations change regularly, even in games.
Q: Heard about the competitiveness of the specialists?
They are insane about how they compete in everything. All the position meetings start with rock, paper, scissors to see who gets to watch their film first. Punters and kickers are always competing all the time. Think that's good for the team. They really compete with each other.
Q: Tory Taylor needs just over 800 yards to set school record in punt yards. Reaction to that?
Has not even thought about it. Always just look at the net punt yards. Focused on day by day and game by game. Not really looking at anything else. Tory is furious when he doesn't perform well. Think he's a great teammate. He has handled the volume of punts well. Said they monitor that and limit his practice time.
Q: Cooper DeJean and keeping him under the game limit to redshirt?
Hasn't even talked to him about it. Said he is a super competitive kid who wants to play and help the team in any way he can. He has tremendous ball skills. Gave an example of the first time he was on kickoff coverage in practice he went down and knocked the ball loose and the result was a scoop and score.
Q: Asked about the backup at kicker?
Happy with Aaron Blom in his kickoffs and making a jump with field goals as well. Lucas Amaya has done a great job all week. Been doing that in scout all week because MN has a lefty kicker.
Q: With Taylor and being three years out of high school, does he have an NFL option?
That is a bridge when we get to it. Don't think his mind is in that spot. He will do what's best for him and his family. He's a very talented kid and we haven't really been fielding a lot of calls on that front. Will cross the bridge when they get there.
Q: Charlie Jones and being effective in both kickoff and punt return?
It's really hard to do both because they are different. Exciting player. I think he's fearless with the football and can spin out of returns on punt and you have to have good ball security. We hammer that home with him and everyone and he has good speed. Happy to have him as our returner.
Q: Asked about the gunners and how Roberts can go between blocks. Can you teach that or is it just something natural?
It's crazy to watch and it's something he just naturally does not something we can teach. We try to get him on the right course and he takes the rest on his own.
That's it for today's interview.
