1500: Sandell's notebook: Projecting Gophers' first- and second-team defense

[BleedGopher]

per Nate Sandell:

• Here's an idea of the early make-up of the first- and second-team defenses so far:

Defensive line: DE Theiren Cockran/Alex Keith, DT Scott Ekpe/Demaris Peppers, DT Cameron Botticelli/Yoshoub Timms, DE Michael Amaefula/Hendrick Ekpe

Linebackers: OLB De'Vondre Campbell/Ray Dixon, MLB Damien Wilson/Nick Rallis, OLB Jack Lynn/De'Niro Laster

Secondary: CB Derrick Wells/Briean Boddy-Calhoun, S Cedric Thompson/Antonio Johnson, S Damarius Travis/Grayson Levine, CB Eric Murray/Jalen Myrick

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/...ng_Gophers_first_and_secondteam_defense080914

Go Gophers!!

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Better put Richardson into the DT rotation. Based on what Kill said after the scrimmage, he is going to play a lot this year.

Other thought - The Gophers are a solid 8 deep in the Secondary. When was the last year anyone could say that with a straight face?

 

[oleboy41]

Better put Richardson into the DT rotation. Based on what Kill said after the scrimmage, he is going to play a lot this year.

Other thought - The Gophers are a solid 8 deep in the Secondary. When was the last year anyone could say that with a straight face?

Last year. Started the year with CBs as Murray, Wells, BBC, Shabbazz and Balthazar (Bazz and Balthazar had played a lo te previous year, Wells was seen as our best DB 2 years prior, Murray had emerged as our best corner and BBC was called our 2nd best CB). Our safeties were Vereen and Thompson, both multi year starters, with Johnson and Travis two guys that played well as freshmen and Levine who'd always been a solid backup. That's 10 guys that probably would've started or been a nickel guy at least for any of Brewsters teams and the first 2 Kill teams.

 

[corcoran1]

Wells is a good football player. He was our best DB in 2012, glad to have him back at full strength. At practice, watched him fight Maxx all the way down the sideline, Maxx won but Wells gave him a good fight for the ball all the way.
If we have 4 guys who can play well at DT and someone to rush besides TC, we have a very good D. I actually believe Stelter could play a lot at DE against power teams. Really strong kid, and he moves well in pursuit away from the line of scrimmage.

 

[hungan1]

The Gophers can do mass substitutions on defense to wear down the opposing offenses with relentless pressure with the team depth that they'll have.

After all, that is what Kill's NIU team that beat the Gophers did.