2018 Depth Chart

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UpAndUnder43 said:
Keeping the red shirt on a lot of guys (Dunlap, Faalele, Dickson) would be helpful long-term. Playing a ton of freshman isn't ideal.

I also think Spann-Ford may redshirt. I think physically he could help right away but there is a chance he ends up on defense long-term and if Greene can be a pass catching TE, then the need for him to play a true FR is less.
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Playing a ton of freshmen isn't ideal but you go with the guys that give you the best chance to win and if that is freshmen so be it. I think the new redshirt rule will help keep the redshirt for a few guys but I also expect a number of freshmen to play more than 4 games this year and be a pretty big part to this teams success. Annexstad could, at least one of Edmonds and Williams probably will, Bateman will, Gibson could, Spann-Ford probably should, good chance at least one of Faalele and Dunlap do, Teague should, Ahanotu could, at least one and probably more than one of Oliver, Rush, and Sori-Marin will. At least one and probably a couple of Sapp, Smith, Smith, and Aune will.
I can't see Spann-Ford changing positions or redshirting but who knows. I think both him and Seth Green provide a different type of athlete at TE that we were sorely missing last season.
 

die hard gopher said:
I don't think it's likely Spann-Ford moves to defense. Not that he couldn't do, he'd certainly be capable of playing DE and would probably be good but it would be a huge waist of his considerable ball skills and body control to have him on the other side of the ball. I'm expecting him to the best redzone TE from day 1, maybe even the best redzone pass catcher from day 1. I mean I guess there is always a chance he could switch positions but no greater of a chance than say Terrell Smith moving to WR.
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I would agree with this. I really liked BSF's tape at DE, but we also recruited Okonji, Reigelsperger and Ahanotu (could be DE or DT) so it's not really a need. His catching ability will be pretty valuable on this team.
 

Just thinking out loud here, but, if they wanted to, the coaches could use the '4-game' rule as a form of try-outs. Play FR 'X' in a couple of games to see how he does in a game situation. If he looks really good, then they could pull the RS and use 'X' as a regular. If he doesn't look so good, or clearly needs more work, then he becomes a '4-game' player.

So, I could see plans changing on a lot of kids depending on their in-game 'try-outs.' Who knows - they might put some kid in a game, and he looks so good, that the coaches wind up deciding, "well, we'll RS X, but Y is going to play regular snaps."

Maybe I'm wrong - but I could see a very fluid roster all season long, with different kids coming and going - not necessarily as starters, but as backups or on special teams. Basically take (for example) the KO coverage team: one group of FR plays on KO coverage for 4 games - then a different group of FR plays on KO coverage for 4 games. You could preserve a year of eligibility for the FR and still get most - or all - of them some game experience.
 

Pretty happy to see so much potential. 8 days to fall practice and even though we won't really know anything until into the season this becomes more fun with each passing day.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
Just thinking out loud here, but, if they wanted to, the coaches could use the '4-game' rule as a form of try-outs. Play FR 'X' in a couple of games to see how he does in a game situation. If he looks really good, then they could pull the RS and use 'X' as a regular. If he doesn't look so good, or clearly needs more work, then he becomes a '4-game' player.

So, I could see plans changing on a lot of kids depending on their in-game 'try-outs.' Who knows - they might put some kid in a game, and he looks so good, that the coaches wind up deciding, "well, we'll RS X, but Y is going to play regular snaps."

Maybe I'm wrong - but I could see a very fluid roster all season long, with different kids coming and going - not necessarily as starters, but as backups or on special teams. Basically take (for example) the KO coverage team: one group of FR plays on KO coverage for 4 games - then a different group of FR plays on KO coverage for 4 games. You could preserve a year of eligibility for the FR and still get most - or all - of them some game experience.
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I think for teams like the Gophers it could be a lot more fluid at positions where maybe we're unsure of what we're getting.

A team blowing other teams out of the water you might see substitutions with "4 game RS guys" at predictable garbage times.

On the Gophers you might see a "4 game RS guy" come in at a surprising time, and that might reveal something about what the coaches are thinking....

Also earlier in the year you might see "4 game RS guy" come in and get a shot, but maybe he isn't the hot prospect at that position and they save that guy for the last 4 games maybe?

It will be interesting. It is a lot more for the coaches to juggle.
 


short ornery norwegian said:
Just thinking out loud here, but, if they wanted to, the coaches could use the '4-game' rule as a form of try-outs. Play FR 'X' in a couple of games to see how he does in a game situation. If he looks really good, then they could pull the RS and use 'X' as a regular. If he doesn't look so good, or clearly needs more work, then he becomes a '4-game' player.

So, I could see plans changing on a lot of kids depending on their in-game 'try-outs.' Who knows - they might put some kid in a game, and he looks so good, that the coaches wind up deciding, "well, we'll RS X, but Y is going to play regular snaps."

Maybe I'm wrong - but I could see a very fluid roster all season long, with different kids coming and going - not necessarily as starters, but as backups or on special teams. Basically take (for example) the KO coverage team: one group of FR plays on KO coverage for 4 games - then a different group of FR plays on KO coverage for 4 games. You could preserve a year of eligibility for the FR and still get most - or all - of them some game experience.
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Nothing wrong with this idea, but I think one of the biggest ways it could help, and perhaps even the sole reason it was proposed, was to help out late in the season with injuries.

So if you burn up all of the 4 games for a bunch of guys earlier in the year, they can't come in and help out late in the season unless you burn the redshirt.
 

Gophers_4life said:
Nothing wrong with this idea, but I think one of the biggest ways it could help, and perhaps even the sole reason it was proposed, was to help out late in the season with injuries.

So if you burn up all of the 4 games for a bunch of guys earlier in the year, they can't come in and help out late in the season unless you burn the redshirt.
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which I think is just fine. The thing you hate is playing a freshman for 5 snaps and burning his redshirt. If he plays in 4 games early, and then 2 games later you have an injury and he plays the rest of the year, I don't view that as a wasted redshirt.
 

I know Green is listed as "emergency QB". Just how bad are our other walk on QBs, that they can't beat out a TE? Is there any value from them, to be had?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 

It'll be interesting how they work some of these guys into the game. Getting some game experience is good but at the same time you still want the players in the game that give you the best chance to win.
 



I don’t mind the idea of playing freshmen. If Fleck is the guy then I’m going to assume that he is going to continue to recruit even better freshmen who can be redshirted down the line. The only way burning redshirts matters is if Fleck is not going to be around in 3 years.
 

Section2 said:
which I think is just fine. The thing you hate is playing a freshman for 5 snaps and burning his redshirt. If he plays in 4 games early, and then 2 games later you have an injury and he plays the rest of the year, I don't view that as a wasted redshirt.
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Nor would I. However, a different scenario is the freshman plays 4 early games, then they save him hoping for a redshirt, but the last game we’re 5-6 and it’s down to the wire, trying to get to a bowl game. Starter goes down, freshman goes in for 5 plays out of desperation ... but we don’t win. That would be the same waste, to me.

I’m sure we could go round and round. Too impossible to predict how it might go.
 

Gophers_4life said:
Nor would I. However, a different scenario is the freshman plays 4 early games, then they save him hoping for a redshirt, but the last game we’re 5-6 and it’s down to the wire, trying to get to a bowl game. Starter goes down, freshman goes in for 5 plays out of desperation ... but we don’t win. That would be the same waste, to me.

I’m sure we could go round and round. Too impossible to predict how it might go.
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But, in that scenario, that same freshman could become a '4-game player' the next year, depending on depth at his position. For all practical purposes, redshirts as we know them are done. you have 5 seasons to play 4 full seasons and 1 4-game season. So, unless a player absolutely is not ready to play, or has a season-ending injury, there's no reason to have any freshmen spend the whole year on the sidelines. Let all of them play 4 games - and let the very best freshmen play a full season - if needed, due to depth at their position. It's like an internship - on-the-job training.
 

QB: Morgan, Annexstad
RB: Smith, Ibrahim, Edmonds
WR: Tyler Johnson, Philip Howard
WR: Chris Autman Bell, Harry Van Dyne
WR: Demetrius Douglas, Rashod Bateman
TE: Beebe, Kieft, Paulson
LT: Green, Sassack
LG: Olson, Dovich
OC: Weyler, Schmitz
RG: Andries, Oseland
RT: Schlueter, Dickson

DE: Delattiboudere, Otomewo
DT: Moore, Silver
DT: Smith, Umlor, Robinson
DE: Coughlin, Devers
OLB: Martin, Julian Huff
MLB: Barber, Bailey Schoenfelder
OLB Cashman, Thomas Rush
CB: Antonio Shenault, Chris Williamson
S: Winfield, Braelin Oliver
S: Jacob Huff, Swenson
CB: Kiondre Thomas, Durr, Harris

Here's my shot at the week 1 depth chart. I think Fleck will do his best to redshirt as many freshman as possible again - especially on the OL. Several FR like Bateman, Rush, Oliver will play right away. If Bateman doesn't start week 1, I think he will be starting by the end of the year.

Oliver is tricky, I think he could play a hybrid S/LB and move all over the field. Our thinnest position by far is safety so I wouldn't be surprised if he plays a good amount there.

I've never been overly impressed with Shenault but think he'll at least start the season at CB. Whoever doesn't start out of Williamson/Thomas/Durr will push him, as long as Thomas and Durr are healthy.
 



GophersInIowa said:
It'll be interesting how they work some of these guys into the game. Getting some game experience is good but at the same time you still want the players in the game that give you the best chance to win.
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I think sometimes... it's neither.
 

Lordshawesome said:
I know Green is listed as "emergency QB". Just how bad are our other walk on QBs, that they can't beat out a TE? Is there any value from them, to be had?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
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I wouldn't expect them to be able to beat out Green.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
QB: Morgan, Annexstad
RB: Smith, Ibrahim, Edmonds
WR: Tyler Johnson, Philip Howard
WR: Chris Autman Bell, Harry Van Dyne
WR: Demetrius Douglas, Rashod Bateman
TE: Beebe, Kieft, Paulson
LT: Green, Sassack
LG: Olson, Dovich
OC: Weyler, Schmitz
RG: Andries, Oseland
RT: Schlueter, Dickson

DE: Delattiboudere, Otomewo
DT: Moore, Silver
DT: Smith, Umlor, Robinson
DE: Coughlin, Devers
OLB: Martin, Julian Huff
MLB: Barber, Bailey Schoenfelder
OLB Cashman, Thomas Rush
CB: Antonio Shenault, Chris Williamson
S: Winfield, Braelin Oliver
S: Jacob Huff, Swenson
CB: Kiondre Thomas, Durr, Harris

Here's my shot at the week 1 depth chart. I think Fleck will do his best to redshirt as many freshman as possible again - especially on the OL. Several FR like Bateman, Rush, Oliver will play right away. If Bateman doesn't start week 1, I think he will be starting by the end of the year.

Oliver is tricky, I think he could play a hybrid S/LB and move all over the field. Our thinnest position by far is safety so I wouldn't be surprised if he plays a good amount there.

I've never been overly impressed with Shenault but think he'll at least start the season at CB. Whoever doesn't start out of Williamson/Thomas/Durr will push him, as long as Thomas and Durr are healthy.
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I think this is a great job!

There are all kinds of little nuances — like possibly having two TE/FB type bodies on the field instead of three WR type bodies, or like Umlor being he 3-tech DL on passing downs perhaps, etc — but overall looks good.

Interesting that folks think RFr Andries will start at G over Dovich and Oseland, both of which played last year. If he’s better, then I support it! I know he was a highly rated high school recruit last season. But also that was at OT, which is also what I believe he practiced last year. Transition to G can be difficult, completely different techniques, blocking assignments, and the guys you block go from small and fast to wide and stout.
 

John Galt said:
I would agree with this. I really liked BSF's tape at DE, but we also recruited Okonji, Reigelsperger and Ahanotu (could be DE or DT) so it's not really a need. His catching ability will be pretty valuable on this team.
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I'm not saying he WILL move to defense but he is a heckuva a player on that side of the ball as well. Depending on how he matures physically, what holes show up (transfers, injuries, guys just not being good enough to play) and who is recruited, it is a possibility. I don't think he will, but if he redshirts, puts on 35lbs and looks like he could be a Big Ten DE, its a possibility.

I do think his pass catching and athleticism is intriguing. He isn't like Wozniack who was 6'10" and thats about it. He is a great athlete. Watch his basketball tape and tell me its not intriguing to think of him lined up against linebackers. He is too big for most d backs to cover
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
I'm not saying he WILL move to defense but he is a heckuva a player on that side of the ball as well. Depending on how he matures physically, what holes show up (transfers, injuries, guys just not being good enough to play) and who is recruited, it is a possibility. I don't think he will, but if he redshirts, puts on 35lbs and looks like he could be a Big Ten DE, its a possibility.

I do think his pass catching and athleticism is intriguing. He isn't like Wozniack who was 6'10" and thats about it. He is a great athlete. Watch his basketball tape and tell me its not intriguing to think of him lined up against linebackers. He is too big for most d backs to cover
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Looks like he already did that as he was listed at 230 in HS and 220 when he offered him and now is listed at 260 on the roster. If he put on another 35 pounds he'd probably end up at DT.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
I'm not saying he WILL move to defense but he is a heckuva a player on that side of the ball as well. Depending on how he matures physically, what holes show up (transfers, injuries, guys just not being good enough to play) and who is recruited, it is a possibility. I don't think he will, but if he redshirts, puts on 35lbs and looks like he could be a Big Ten DE, its a possibility.

I do think his pass catching and athleticism is intriguing. He isn't like Wozniack who was 6'10" and thats about it. He is a great athlete. Watch his basketball tape and tell me its not intriguing to think of him lined up against linebackers. He is too big for most d backs to cover
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I've heard he has incredible hands and catches everything, so that would lead me to believe he's not moving.
 

Section2 said:
I've heard he has incredible hands and catches everything, so that would lead me to believe he's not moving.
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He does have incredible hands. But if he gets too big to play TE (just from maturing) he may not have a choice.
 



UpAndUnder43 said:
Sure. But plenty of guys have added natural weight and been better suited for other positions, regardless of hands/athleticism.
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As was mentioned by another poster in a different thread, the one you think about that might be a good comparison is Hageman.
 

Gophers_4life said:
As was mentioned by another poster in a different thread, the one you think about that might be a good comparison is Hageman.
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Could be wrong, but thought he had stone hands. If he can run good routes and has great hands, keep him at TE.
 


IIRC, Florida and OSU offered Hageman as a DE, not TE. Could be wrong.

Anyways I think Spann-Ford demonstrates better hands and body control in his hudl highlights than Ra'Shede did in HS.

<iframe src='//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/4168020/59ffd2ea420f9a0c98a992f9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri's TE is more who the gophers recruited heavily is who BSF reminds me of. A long WR that rarely lined up on the line that was more slender and unable to showcase his blocking ability on film. Showed great ball skills on his tape I remember.
 

Having seen BSF play a lot of football and basketball, I can say he is a really good athlete with great hands and body control. However, he likes to block and is very good at it. He isn't going to line up outside the entire time, he doesn't need to. He will be bigger than most linebackers and a lot of DEs.

This thread isn't about Spann-Ford (we can start another one I guess?) but I'll say he could be a really really good DE. He is very athletic and doesn't shy away from contact. I do think he has a chance to be a game changing TE. Not really sure how you defend him in the red zone.
 

QB: Morgan (FR) // Annexstad (FR) // Green (SO)
RB: Smith (SR) // Ibrahim (FR) // Williams (FR)
WR: Johnson (JR)
WR: Douglas (SO)
WR: Autman-Bell (FR) // Bateman (FR) // Howard (SO)
TE: Kieft (SO) // Paulson (FR)

LT: Greene (SR) // Sassack (FR)
LG: Olson (SO) // Oseland (JR)
OC: Weyler (SR) // Schmitz (FR)
RG: Andries (FR) // Dovich (JR)
RT: Schlueter (SO) // Dickson (JR)

CB: Williamson (JR)
CB: Shenault (SR) // Thomas (SO) // Harris (SO) // Durr (JR)
S: Winfield (JR)
S: Huff (SR) // Swenson (SO) // Strazzanti (FR)

WLB: Huff (SR) // Oliver (FR)
MLB: Barber (JR) // Rush (FR)
SLB: Martin (JR) // Cashman (SR)

DE: Coughlin (JR) // Otomewo (FR)
DE: DeLattiboudere (JR) // Devers (JR)
DT: Moore (SR) // Umlor (SO)
NT: Smith (SR) // Silver (JR)

PK: Carpenter (SR) // Ryerse (FR)
PT: Ryerse (FR) // Herbers (JR)

Looking at this with classes listed kind of scares me. The Offense, especially the lineman, is really young. The Defense, however, looks very nice.
 

7 of 11 likely starters on offense will be in third (Olson, Schlueter, Green, Tyler Johnson), or fifth year (Greene, Weyler, Rodney). Andries, AutmanBell, Morgan all second year in program....fourth year guys Brooks, Oseland, Dovich, Beebe, Witham and third year guys Kieft and Howard will compete to start.

10 of 11 likely starters on defense will be in third (Coughlin, Barber, Martin, Kiondre, Winfield), fourth (Huff, Williamson, Cashman) or fifth year (OJ, Moore). Otomewo is second year guy...Shenault, Julian Huff, DeLattiboudere, Silver fourth year guys who could start. Durr a third year guy who is good if healthy, same with rs sr Gibson. Swenson a solid third year guy.

Specialists are all fourth (Herbers) or fifth year (Carpenter, Jordahl) guys.
 

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