Kill pleased with RBs pass protection, which is no small thing

Gophers coach Jerry Kill says all of the team's running backs have done a good job with pass protection.

April 3, 2015 at 10:49PM

David Cobb made several good plays plays in the Citrus Bowl, with his usual assortment of runs along with four receptions out of the backfield. But I still remember how fired up Gophers coach Jerry Kill got when Cobb made a key pass block for Mitch Leidner, helping set up the Maxx Williams double-hurdle touchdown.

Cobb wasn't always the best pass blocker, but that's something he worked hard at, clearing the way to more playing time as a junior and senior. It was fair to wonder how well the running backs would be at pass protection this spring, with Cobb now graduated.

That was an issue for Rodrick Williams in the past. Whenever he was in the game, opponents basically knew the Gophers were going to run. But I don't think that's been an issue this spring for Williams or any of the backs.

"We've done a good job with the backs with protection," Kill said Thursday. "And to be honest with you, with [running backs coach Pat] Poore, we've always done a pretty good job. If they don't pass protect, they don't play."

Kill specifically mentioned the job Berkley Edwards has done in pass protection and said this hasn't been an issue for freshman Jeff Jones, either.

"They've all done a good job," Kill said.

Asked about Leidner, Kill said the junior has been more composed of late.

"He's throwing the ball very well, but our protection's been better, so it's a combination of many things," Kill said. "But his composure over the last three or four practices has been really good."

Update: The Gophers announced that they will practice at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday at 9:40 a.m. These sessions are open to the public, and they typically scrimmage for long portions of practice on spring Saturdays.

about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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He played 10 years of pro ball, six of them in the Mexican League, and coached at Park of Cottage Grove.

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