The OL

Donate To GopherHole
B

Bayfieldgopher

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
9,136
Reaction score
1,653
Points
113
Guys were in and out of the OL all day against Wisky. The Olson bro's were out there for a good share of the second quarter if I remember right. But I don't recall seeing #53 out there much the second half. Wonder how his ankle held up as it was heavily supported. It looked like Ed had some additional support on his knee as well.

It looked as if all the two deeps played and there were different combo's used after the first quarter. I would have liked to ask Coach Kill about all the rotation and the health status of the OL.

It will be interesting to see who lines up against NU on Saturday.

Does anyone have any new info on the OL?
 

Liked seeing multiple guys getting extensive PT. Almost never a bad thing. Staff is still sorting out who CAN play, who WANTS to play, etc.

You're right though, I wonder who will be getting the minutes on Saturday.

The staff has been pretty consistent for most of the BT schedule so far though; in the games the Gophers have been in it to the very end (basically Iowa and MSU), the starters have played a HUGE majority of the game with much less subbing. In the other games, particularly once they got out of hand, LOTS of guys saw more PT.

With each of the last two games somewhat "winnable", I'm thinking we'll see the starters playing most of the game throughout, but what do I know...
 

It will be interesting to see who emerges and is at the top of the depth chart next August. My way too early prediction would be:

LT - E. Olson (Jr)
LG - T. Olson (So)
C - Z. Mottla (Jr)
RG - Z. Epping (So)
RT - J. Gjere (So)

It's amzing how young our O-line will be even next year (2 Juniors/3 Sophs). My predictions are assuming that none of the Freshmen/Redshirt Freshmen are quite ready to start, and if that happened, we'd be even younger. Bak, the McAvoy brothers, Bjorklund, Bush and Lenkiewicz should be part of the 2-deeps. I'm hoping that Pirsig, Hayes and the tbd 3rd O-lineman can all get a red-shirt year.
 

John Galt said:
It will be interesting to see who emerges and is at the top of the depth chart next August. My way too early prediction would be:

LT - E. Olson (Jr)
LG - T. Olson (So)
C - Z. Mottla (Jr)
RG - Z. Epping (So)
RT - J. Gjere (So)

It's amzing how young our O-line will be even next year (2 Juniors/3 Sophs). My predictions are assuming that none of the Freshmen/Redshirt Freshmen are quite ready to start, and if that happened, we'd be even younger. Bak, the McAvoy brothers, Bjorklund, Bush and Lenkiewicz should be part of the 2-deeps. I'm hoping that Pirsig, Hayes and the tbd 3rd O-lineman can all get a red-shirt year.
Click to expand...
You forgot to account for Campion.
 

One of the nice things about having so many young OL on scholarship is that we can afford to go exclusively after high-end prospects. If we miss out, it doesn't hurt too badly because we have a full 3 deep consisting mostly of youngsters with a few Jrs mixed in. I look for the staff to target 3 high-end prospects per year and push hard to continue to build both lines.

You should also account for Sean Ferguson in your depth chart projections.
 


dpodoll68 said:
One of the nice things about having so many young OL on scholarship is that we can afford to go exclusively after high-end prospects. If we miss out, it doesn't hurt too badly because we have a full 3 deep consisting mostly of youngsters with a few Jrs mixed in. I look for the staff to target 3 high-end prospects per year and push hard to continue to build both lines.

You should also account for Sean Ferguson in your depth chart projections.
Click to expand...

The O-Line is probably THE reason why I'm so optimistic about 2013 and beyond. At such critical positions, the number of players that will be on the O-Line that season that will have 2-3 seasons of significant minutes under their belt is ultra encouraging. It sucks that Gjere lost so much time this year. This could/should have been a great learning experience for him. Hopefully it doesn't set him back too much.

Hopefully the days of even ONE freshman starting or even seeing major minutes on the O-line are ancient history after this season. By 2013, the roster is shaping up to see mostly JR's and Sr's starting, with the occasional rockstar Soph, for quite a while. That's the the way it should be.

I wonder how many, if any, of the above-mentioned younger O-Linemen (McAvoy's, Bjorklund, Campion, Lankiewicz, Bush, Bak, Campion, Ferguson, et al) might see a position change to DT at some point?
 

I believe there was word floating around that one of the McAvoy's could be moved to DT. That did not happen but I am sure it probably still could.
 

I agree with the optimism for 2012, 2013 and beyond based on the O-line. With all injuries and young talent we have, it seem to me like really the only 2 positions that are set in 2012 are the Olson boys on the left side of the line.

For the rest of the spots, Gjere and Epping have played quite a bit, but you wonder if they can hold their spots with all the other talent around - Foster Bush, Campion, Mottla, Lienkewicz, Caleb Bak (unheralded but looking OK to good in game action), plus Ferguson & the McAvoys. Then, hopefully these guys will redshirt in 2012, but Pirsig and Hayes coming in look like beasts - who knows maybe they'll push for PT in 2012 or 2013?
 

Golden Elephant said:
I agree with the optimism for 2012, 2013 and beyond based on the O-line. With all injuries and young talent we have, it seem to me like really the only 2 positions that are set in 2012 are the Olson boys on the left side of the line.

For the rest of the spots, Gjere and Epping have played quite a bit, but you wonder if they can hold their spots with all the other talent around - Foster Bush, Campion, Mottla, Lienkewicz, Caleb Bak (unheralded but looking OK to good in game action), plus Ferguson & the McAvoys. Then, hopefully these guys will redshirt in 2012, but Pirsig and Hayes coming in look like beasts - who knows maybe they'll push for PT in 2012 or 2013?
Click to expand...
Definitely deserves a look. Has looked great as a freshman walk-on.
 



Hopefully we don't see any of Pirsig or Hayes on the field at all in 2012 as it would be ideal to redshirt both of them. And with our young OL perhaps only seeing mere glimpses of them in 2013 as our line SHOULD be made up of uber productive upper-classmen. In an ideal world that is.
 

Golden Elephant said:
I agree with the optimism for 2012, 2013 and beyond based on the O-line. With all injuries and young talent we have, it seem to me like really the only 2 positions that are set in 2012 are the Olson boys on the left side of the line.

For the rest of the spots, Gjere and Epping have played quite a bit, but you wonder if they can hold their spots with all the other talent around - Foster Bush, Campion, Mottla, Lienkewicz, Caleb Bak (unheralded but looking OK to good in game action), plus Ferguson & the McAvoys. Then, hopefully these guys will redshirt in 2012, but Pirsig and Hayes coming in look like beasts - who knows maybe they'll push for PT in 2012 or 2013?
Click to expand...

I am holding back and not getting overly giddy over the future performance of the OL. Potential does not win games. It appears that we will have solid depth in two years and, if the group stays together, stays healthy and develops, we should field an experienced and game ready OL down the road. Right now, injuries are holding back the development and will show next Fall.

At this time, it looks as the OL could be the strength of the team and rank with the top OL's in the BT. Lets hope that will be the case.
 

It is okay Bayfield

Bayfieldgopher said:
I am holding back and not getting overly giddy over the future performance of the OL. Potential does not win games. It appears that we will have solid depth in two years and, if the group stays together, stays healthy and develops, we should field an experienced and game ready OL down the road. Right now, injuries are holding back the development and will show next Fall.

At this time, it looks as the OL could be the strength of the team and rank with the top OL's in the BT. Lets hope that will be the case.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your desire to "hold back and not get overly giddy over the performance of the OL." It appears though that you may be having some difficulty in actually doing this. In your last paragraph you go on to say "At this time, it looks as the OL could be the strength of the team and rank with the top OL's in the BT."

But why should you be any different than the rest of us? I think we are all pretty excited to be able to watch and experience the building of a new Gopher football culture with our OL.
 

let klien get ahold of these hogs over the next few summers... by 2013 we should have a damn good ol
 



Coach Kill just said Foster Bush would be a starter on his radio show.

The proven track record of Limegrover overseeing great ground games really gives me confidence we'll be set up front for a long time.
Many of our "best"/highest rated recruits have been OL the past few years, going back to E. Olson and Campion, Gjere, T. Olson and K McAvoy, through now Hayes and Pirsig.
I'm excited to see how he develops this group, i bet he is too.

There's no reason Minnesota can't produce 5 FBS caliber Olinemen a year, no reason we can't get the majority of those every year if we want them.
If I recall, even some underrecruited MN kids have started on various programs the past few years, I think Wyoming had a few, maybe Boise St, Trevor Olson played for Kill and Limegrover at NIU and by all accounts is one of the best OL in the MAC.
This is one position where I think the future is very bright.
 

Ole said:
Coach Kill just said Foster Bush would be a starter on his radio show.The proven track record of Limegrover overseeing great ground games really gives me confidence we'll be set up front for a long time.
Many of our "best"/highest rated recruits have been OL the past few years, going back to E. Olson and Campion, Gjere, T. Olson and K McAvoy, through now Hayes and Pirsig.
I'm excited to see how he develops this group, i bet he is too.

There's no reason Minnesota can't produce 5 FBS caliber Olinemen a year, no reason we can't get the majority of those every year if we want them.
If I recall, even some underrecruited MN kids have started on various programs the past few years, I think Wyoming had a few, maybe Boise St, Trevor Olson played for Kill and Limegrover at NIU and by all accounts is one of the best OL in the MAC.
This is one position where I think the future is very bright.
Click to expand...

What was the context of this statement: that he will eventually be a starter when he's an upperclassmen, or he's been dominant and will start next year?
 

I hesitated to write what i think he actually said which was "he's our best lineman and would be starting right now if some things were different depthwise" That's a pretty big endorsement to just throw out there. Good news though. He said the same thing about Thieran Cockran at DE who is also redshirting if I recall.
 

That's great to hear and if true will help to validate Kill's ability to identify and develop talent.
 


I think you have to look no further than what NIU is doing on offense this year to validate Kill's ability to identify and develop talent. They are ripping the MAC apart. I have watched bits and pieces of them each of the past 3 Tuesday nights. They have scored. 63, 45 & 41 their last three games. The hung 49 on an Army team that beat Northwestern. Obviously the staff is here now, but they groomed those guys for 3 years and they are rolling now.
 

As always: the total number of Big Ten wins vs. the total number of Big Ten losses that Coach Kill willachieve here at Minnesota will be the unchallengable FINAL WORD about how his program rates with every other Big Ten Porgram within the division as well as within the conference. Each year, we will be able to see how the Gophers shape up against every other Big Ten Program.

It is all so simple. It is all so clean. All we will have to do is to observe the Big Ten Record of Big Ten Wins and Big Ten losses. We can figure it out for a one year period...three year period...five year period and 10 year period if we wish.

There does not need to be guess work involved. All we will have to do is to study the Big Ten record each year to know exactly where our Gophers rank.

; 0 )
 

imthewalrus said:
As always: the total number of Big Ten wins vs. the total number of Big Ten losses that Coach Kill willachieve here at Minnesota will be the unchallengable FINAL WORD about how his program rates with every other Big Ten Porgram within the division as well as within the conference. Each year, we will be able to see how the Gophers shape up against every other Big Ten Program.

It is all so simple. It is all so clean. All we will have to do is to observe the Big Ten Record of Big Ten Wins and Big Ten losses. We can figure it out for a one year period...three year period...five year period and 10 year period if we wish.

There does not need to be guess work involved. All we will have to do is to study the Big Ten record each year to know exactly where our Gophers rank.

; 0 )
Click to expand...

What does that have to do with the offensive line?

Seriously, what in the h-e-double hockey sticks does this guy have to do to get banned? Virtually every single post is the poster definition of trolling.
 

If Wren ran Gopherhole there would be four threads:

#1: Big 10 Wins;
#2: Big 10 Losses;
#3: Oops Wrong Forum;
#4: Prexy K.
 

imthewalrus said:
As always: the total number of Big Ten wins vs. the total number of Big Ten losses that Coach Kill willachieve here at Minnesota will be the unchallengable FINAL WORD about how his program rates with every other Big Ten Porgram within the division as well as within the conference. Each year, we will be able to see how the Gophers shape up against every other Big Ten Program.

It is all so simple. It is all so clean. All we will have to do is to observe the Big Ten Record of Big Ten Wins and Big Ten losses. We can figure it out for a one year period...three year period...five year period and 10 year period if we wish.

There does not need to be guess work involved. All we will have to do is to study the Big Ten record each year to know exactly where our Gophers rank.

; 0 )
Click to expand...

Huh?
 


imthewalrus said:
As always: the total number of Big Ten wins vs. the total number of Big Ten losses that Coach Kill willachieve here at Minnesota will be the unchallengable FINAL WORD about how his program rates with every other Big Ten Porgram within the division as well as within the conference. Each year, we will be able to see how the Gophers shape up against every other Big Ten Program.

It is all so simple. It is all so clean. All we will have to do is to observe the Big Ten Record of Big Ten Wins and Big Ten losses. We can figure it out for a one year period...three year period...five year period and 10 year period if we wish.

There does not need to be guess work involved. All we will have to do is to study the Big Ten record each year to know exactly where our Gophers rank.

; 0 )
Click to expand...

Gabby Johnson? Is that you?

"He said 'The Sheriff is near!'"
 

You forgot two

Bob_Loblaw said:
If Wren ran Gopherhole there would be four threads:

#1: Big 10 Wins;
#2: Big 10 Losses;
#3: Oops Wrong Forum;
#4: Prexy K.
Click to expand...
Plus......
#5: Joe Maturi
#6: Saint Glen Mason (Or the time when Glen shook my hand)

The man is definitely in a rut.
 

The ignore list is one of the best tools on GopherHole. I added iamthewalrus to mine because I found his posts unreadable and repetitive. I highly recommend that you look into this feature.
 

WaterBoy said:
The ignore list is one of the best tools on GopherHole. I added iamthewalrus to mine because I found his posts unreadable and repetitive. I highly recommend that you look into this feature.
Click to expand...

I can see why you would ignore him, but I actually find him kind of entertaining. He is left of center, but he is a Gopher fan.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom