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Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck will hold his fourth spring practice on Friday and he was asked about the early accomplishments of the staff.
"I think the biggest thing is now our players know how we practice," Fleck said. "I think that was one of the biggest things that kind of surprised them. You have to get really used to it, when you're working for us here, you have to see how we practice, how we do it, see those expectations, not only see the expectations but then become the expectations. We tell them all the time that the tough part about standards is you are the standard.
"I think that's the biggest part for our guys right now, is they continue to learn how to practice. We're going to get a little more physical as we move forward, but I think everybody has done a tremendous job. We've gotten everybody reps, every single person on this football team has gotten reps."
Coaches and players are getting used to each other early in the season, but it's especially important for a new head coach to get this time with his players.
So far, Fleck has seen positive things from his team.
"The whole football team right now is showing they're incredibly willing to do all the things we ask them to do," he said. "Everyone has been impressed with the first few days of spring ball. I have been very pleased. The energy level is high, the commitment level is high. We just have a long way to go, a new system on offense, defense and special teams, a lot to learn. That's one of the biggest things for us in the spring, is just get them to learn what we're doing first."
Upgrading the roster
The Gophers are in a bit of a tough spot at some positions on the offensive and defensive line, as Fleck pointed out that the team only has six offensive linemen.
The Gophers' situation didn't get any easier when defensive end Gaelin Elmore said Thursday he would transfer.
Fleck said the Gophers need to stay healthy up front.
"We just have to make sure we get everybody through to spring healthy, and accomplish the things we need to do," he said. "That's learn the system, learn how we practice, and continue to come together as a football team right now. As I said earlier, I kind of look at our team right now as a group, not a true, true team, but that's why we're working every single day bringing them closer, and closer every single practice, on and off the field."
When it comes to upgrading depth, Fleck said this could be a multiyear project to get the team balanced.
"The problem right now is we have a major issue with numbers," he said. "I've said before, very publicly, we don't have a freshman or sophomore defensive tackle on this roster, we have one defensive tackle that's a junior, and everyone else is a senior. We have a major, major gap there, and a major shortage of offensive linemen. Offensive and defensive linemen, we have a major, major shortage of not talent, but depth. Those are things we're going to have to work on over the next few years.
"Once you get through this football season, we're going to get a heck of a lot younger, not older, that's for sure. You're going to see this football team in two years or a year and a half from now get a lot younger and go through a big youth movement over the next few years. There is a major depth issue here that we have to fix, and we look forward to doing that."
Taylor on contracts
While the Timberwolves are going to have a ton of cap space next season, somewhere in the area of $30 million entering the offseason, owner Glen Taylor knows the biggest contracts are going to be for Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine.
Taylor, who also owns the Star Tribune, said the team hopes to keep all three with long-term deals, but the Wolves also have to keep the whole team competitive and deep if they're going to compete.
"I think we're going to try to do that," Taylor said about signing the three young stars. "It's going to be a challenge because you have to surround them with other competent, good players, too. It isn't just those three guys that you have to worry about. You have to worry about the other two starters and a few guys that can come off the bench.
"We are now [under the cap], and that's what we'll have to be very thoughtful as we sign these contracts in the future so we can work within that range."
Jottings
• Several current and former Twins were involved in the World Baseball Classic championship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico on Wednesday night. Jose Berrios came in for Puerto Rico the sixth inning and struck out American All-Stars Giancarlo Stanton, Jonathan Lucroy and Ian Kinsler. In the bottom half of that inning, right fielder Eddie Rosario recorded a groundout. Berrios came back out in the seventh inning and got a groundout and another strikeout before loading the bases. Then Berrios was relieved by former Twin J.C. Romero, who last pitched here 12 years ago. Romero allowed all three inherited runs to score. Then in the eighth inning, Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas pinch hit for Puerto Rico and struck out swinging. The pitcher who struck him out was former Twin Pat Neshek.
• Gophers men's basketball coach Richard Pitino said one of the key players who could greatly improve this offseason is freshman Eric Curry, who averaged 5.5 points and 5.2 rebounds this season. "He's probably one of the most, for me, exciting guys I get to work with over the summer because I think he can really, really evolve as a terrific player. He can play the point, he can play the five, he has great length. … I think it's a great offseason for him and a great chance to take a huge step forward."
• Gophers men's hockey coach Don Lucia was asked about the growing quality of play in the Big Ten, and pointed out that next year Notre Dame, the Gophers' first-round opponent in the NCAA tournament on Saturday, is ready to join the conference next season and make it that much better: "I think we talked about each year it's going to get better, and certainly with three teams in the NCAA tournament and Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament — they're going to be in the Big Ten next year, I think the great thing is that we have seven like-minded schools. Great venues, teams are getting better, Michigan and Michigan State had tough years, but that's not going to stay that way because there's too much tradition with those schools. You're seeing a lot of good games. We saw that this past year with the quality of the games."
Sid Hartman can be heard Mondays and Fridays on WCCO AM-830 at 8:40 a.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. E-mail: shartman@startribune.com
