2014/15 Defense

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My biggest worry with this team for next year has always been the DT position. It seems like the staff is bringing in enough guys in the defensive backfield where their should be good depth. When you lose a couple good players up front (one a pro-prospect at that) it has to be a spot that causes some concerns. Is the Mays kid going to play OL for sure?
 

WarriorGopher said:
My biggest worry with this team for next year has always been the DT position. It seems like the staff is bringing in enough guys in the defensive backfield where their should be good depth. When you lose a couple good players up front (one a pro-prospect at that) it has to be a spot that causes some concerns. Is the Mays kid going to play OL for sure?
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DT is the position that concerns me the most next year as well. There could be some pleasant surprises in there though; Legania could step in and provide some valuable minutes next year, and Scott Ekpe could really continue to develop in his third year after getting a little bigger and seeing a LOT of playing time the last two seasons.

On a similar note:

Has there ever been a Gopher JUCO player that has been so quietly productive as Roland Johnson? For a guy that doesn't start and doesn't get much hype, this defense is really going to miss RJ next season. He has been just a really really good, solid player for his two years with the Gophers.
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
DT is the position that concerns me the most next year as well. There could be some pleasant surprises in there though; Legania could step in and provide some valuable minutes next year, and Scott Ekpe could really continue to develop in his third year after getting a little bigger and seeing a LOT of playing time the last two seasons.

On a similar note:

Has there ever been a Gopher JUCO player that has been so quietly productive as Roland Johnson? For a guy that doesn't start and doesn't get much hype, this defense is really going to miss RJ next season. He has been just a really really good, solid player for his two years with the Gophers.
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Totally agree on Johnson. He gets lost in the shuffle because of the position he plays and the lack of overall stats earned there but he has been solid. Not spectacular but very solid and he will be missed next season along with Big Shede.
 

jaymil said:
The reason I think he sticks at QB is this staff wants a QB recruit every class and after McKinzy committed last spring they essentially stopped recruiting QB's besides offering a guy like Perra a PWO spot. As for his arm, I think it's comparable to Nelson's after watching Dimonic's highlight tape. Seems to be a shiftier runner as well.
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You make good points that they stopped recruiting other QB's & that it would be odd to not have a QB in this class. At the same time whoever comes in will be behind Nelson (Jr), Leidner (r-So), Streveler (r-Fr), Rhoda (r-Fr) & also compete with Perra (hopefully) so there'd be plenty of time to plug the hole.

If McKinzy is offered immediate playing time as a CB vs. playing as a r-Jr as a QB, he might go the Donavahn Jones route & take the early playing time. You could be right, but I still think he'll end up on defense.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
You make good points that they stopped recruiting other QB's & that it would be odd to not have a QB in this class. At the same time whoever comes in will be behind Nelson (Jr), Leidner (r-So), Streveler (r-Fr), Rhoda (r-Fr) & also compete with Perra (hopefully) so there'd be plenty of time to plug the hole.

If McKinzy is offered immediate playing time as a CB vs. playing as a r-Jr as a QB, he might go the Donavahn Jones route & take the early playing time. You could be right, but I still think he'll end up on defense.
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According to several posters here McKinzy is too slow to play CB. I don't know if that is correct or not nor do I worry about that. That is because i've come to the conclusion that the coaches make that determination and not the posters here.:rolleyes:
 


I'm not worried about having decent DT play next season. Hageman cannot be replaced, he is a dominant force but Ekpe and Botticelli are solid football players. We should be pretty tough up the middle with Wilson really shoring up the MLB spot and our slew of good young safeties (Johnson, Travis, Thompson).

I said it last year with Wells, but playing that boundary corner in our defense is pretty similar to playing S. I wouldn't be shocked to see Johnson get some reps. The fact is that we are bringing back 5 guys who played a lot and have played well in the defensive backfield (Johnson, Murray, Travis, Wells, Thompson), we have another guy returning from injury (Boddy-Calhoun) and a couple other special teams standouts who could provide depth (Myrick and Levine). . . we are fine in the defensive backfield.
 

I fully agree that Hageman will be difficult to replace, but with the way the DL is rotated, Hageman was not on the field for many plays. I found this frustrating but the coaches apparently felt that was the best defensive strategy.
 

Bob_Loblaw

Bob_Loblaw said:
I'm not worried about having decent DT play next season. Hageman cannot be replaced, he is a dominant force but Ekpe and Botticelli are solid football players. We should be pretty tough up the middle with Wilson really shoring up the MLB spot and our slew of good young safeties (Johnson, Travis, Thompson).

I said it last year with Wells, but playing that boundary corner in our defense is pretty similar to playing S. I wouldn't be shocked to see Johnson get some reps. The fact is that we are bringing back 5 guys who played a lot and have played well in the defensive backfield (Johnson, Murray, Travis, Wells, Thompson), we have another guy returning from injury (Boddy-Calhoun) and a couple other special teams standouts who could provide depth (Myrick and Levine). . . we are fine in the defensive backfield.
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We also have in the pipeline at DT Harold Legania, Scott Ekpe, Jordan Hinojosa, Yoshoub Timms, and DeMaris Peppers in the pipeline. The last three haven’t seen any playing time but are part to Kill’s effort to build up more depth through red shirting. Only time will tell if they are able to contribute next year. I do know that Nebraska tried to steal Peppers from us last year but he turned them down. He said his commitment to Minnesota was solid. DT should be interesting position to follow during spring practice. Do you have any insight on any of these players?
 

What percentage of snaps has Hageman played this year?

I'm guessing it's around 50-60%?

Our system this year was to rotate 4 guys multiple times per series.

I'm hoping Campbell and Wilson take a big jump next year. Campbell barely knows how to play football, but the kid can move.
 



they rotate the big bodies to keep production and keep them thinking correct technique, If you watch Hageman when he is fresh he is pretty good. When he gets tired he gets his pad level up. So I LIKE the idea of playing a lot of kids and keeping them fresh. Hage will play a lot above, but still has some body to grow into.
 

Killjoy said:
We also have in the pipeline at DT Harold Legania, Scott Ekpe, Jordan Hinojosa, Yoshoub Timms, and DeMaris Peppers in the pipeline. The last three haven’t seen any playing time but are part to Kill’s effort to build up more depth through red shirting. Only time will tell if they are able to contribute next year. I do know that Nebraska tried to steal Peppers from us last year but he turned them down. He said his commitment to Minnesota was solid. DT should be interesting position to follow during spring practice. Do you have any insight on any of these players?
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Timms reminds me of Roland Johnson. He is a shorter and smallish DT that is really quick off the ball. I'd guess his issue is strength. He is only a FR and its good that we aren't seeing FR being forced to contribute at DT. So this should be a huge offseason for him. His development is really key because guys like Legania and Botticelli are not the super quick disruptive type of guys.

I know very little about Hinojosa. When I saw him play he was fresh to the U and he looked a bit over his head. So I'm not going to judge him based on that.

Legania is a big dude. He is a space eater and not an ideal Claeys type of DT (he seems to like to play more athletic DTs). I think he's looked good at times in practices/spring balls.

There could always be a chance that a guy like Salzwedel or H. Ekpe could grow into a DT.

I don't know anything about Peppers.
 

Thanks Bob - I always appreciate your perspective since I know that when you give an opinion it will be based on both knowledge and objectivity.
 

I loved Hinojosa's effort and attitude during the spring game. Obviously he has had a year to bulk up and learn more. He's my sleeper for next year on the DL.
 



Donovan said:
I loved Hinojosa's effort and attitude during the spring game. Obviously he has had a year to bulk up and learn more. He's my sleeper for next year on the DL.
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He will become a fan favorite. He spent some time with my boys during a camp last spring, and his enthusiasm is off the charts. Saw the same personality at practices, spring game, etc. I remember during the recruiting process how positive and excited he was about the "U", and I don't think the shine has worn off. I don't know all that will transfer to the field, but I'm excited to see the guy, I think he'll play like his head is a powder keg, and his hair is on fire.
 

I don't see McKinzy moving. I think he is a QB. Not playing real time until you are a Jr is not uncommon at that position and that may be the plan. RS next year then let him compete for playing time.
 

Isaac Hayes to DT?

Is it a possibility?

When he first signed with the U, I remember Coach Kill joking that Phelps (DLine) and Limegrover (OL) were fighting over him. He is built like a DT (6'2" 305) and he is definitely has a good first step. I'm curious to see if the staff flirts with the idea of flipping Hayes next season.

OL is a position of strength. We have Tommy the Tank, Christenson, Bak, Epping, Bjorklund, and Bush returning next season. They all seemed to be ahead of Hayes on the depth chart. If Bobek returns he' another. I also have no idea how Connor Mayes will fit and where this staff sees Alex Mayes (possibly Fahning as well).

I think it's certainly a possibility that this staff could float around the idea of Hayes at DT. It's a thin position, they certainly thought he could play there at one time and he might be a bit buried on the depth chart next year (and the following year) at OG/OC.
 

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