During P.J. Fleck’s news conference to kickoff spring practices on March 6, four questions were asked before an inquiry about the Gophers’ current stable of quarterbacks, and the head football coach was surprised by the delay.

On Tuesday, after the third spring practice, Fleck steered the first question about how the team looked in its return after a week-long spring break to the pivotal position.

“We’re growing, getting better,” Fleck said. “… I think you go as well as the quarterback goes.”

Fleck then stated — and will repeat — an essential fact leading up to the 2018 season opener Aug. 30 against New Mexico State: He does not have a quarterback who has thrown a single pass in a game for the U.

“That’s not an excuse; that’s just reality,” Fleck said. “It’s the fun of it. We get to develop from the ground up.”

The group is led by redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan, junior college transfer Vic Viramontes and redshirt sophomore Seth Green. Morgan took some of the first reps in drills Tuesday, but that’s only one barometer.

Fleck said the improvements he needs to see from his quarterbacks are accuracy and decision-making. To prepare them this spring, Fleck plans to institute more game-like scenarios during the 15 available practices through April 16.

“(It’s) the things that we talk about that make an elite quarterback here: Getting the ball out of your hand and making decisive decision-making, moving in the pocket really well, being comfortable in those positions,” Fleck outlined.

“It’s hard when you’ve never really played quarterback or thrown passes, it’s a little difficult to do your third practice into it as you are becoming the guys. Can’t say ‘the guy’ because we don’t have a guy yet.”

Fleck said on the day spring ball started that the quarterback competition likely will go past spring ball and into fall camp, much like it did last year with senior Conor Rhoda, who graduated, and sophomore Demry Croft, who transferred to Tennessee State.

How will a quarterback separate himself from the pack? “The amount of work he puts in,” Fleck responded. “You get what your work deserves.”

GREEN’S SPOT?

On March 6, Fleck posed his own question:

“Is (Seth Green) going to be a quarterback?” Fleck asked. “We’re going to find out in the spring. Seth and I have had very open talks about things. You might see him on some special teams. Maybe even the starter. He’s so athletic. He’s one of those guys who we have to find out what he truly is as we go forward, but he’s right in the thick of the quarterback battle.”

Green, who attended East Ridge High School in Woodbury, is the only Gophers quarterback to play in a game, but he only handed the ball off during the 34-3 blowout win over Middle Tennessee State last September.

Off the field, Green seems to have adjusted to the full-throttle, in-your-face style Fleck has brought to the program since being hired in January 2017.

“When we first got here, I didn’t know how much Seth Green was really all-in,” Fleck said. “When you look at him now, he is an advocate of the culture. He’s on the leadership council. He eats, breathes, sleeps the culture, and it’s pretty nice to see that transition.”

COUSINS’ VISIT TO U

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“He’s a first-class guy and his message is really important to our players,” Fleck said. “… (It) brings validation to things you are doing inside your program as somebody that’s obviously a very, very successful person at quarterback.”

Fleck said he and Cousins have had an ongoing relationship for a while, and Cousins speaking to the team and separately with Fleck for an hour and a half was an extension of that.

“He’s thirsty for knowledge; I’m thirsty for knowledge,” Fleck said. “It wasn’t an interview to me. It started that way, and then knowing me, I flipped it and I need to know probably more from him than he needs to know from me. We share a lot of information. We are both in leadership roles.”