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Joe Christensen's Blog from Fifth Day of Spring Practice

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/blogs/Gridiron_Gold.html

It was only the fifth spring practice, too soon to read much into things, but Gophers sophomore cornerback Eric Murray continues to establish himself as a player to watch.

Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said he waits until after the sixth practice of the spring to establish a firm depth chart, so the team is still at the stage where the staff is mixing personnel.

Still, it was notable that sophomore Eric Murray was with the first-team defense at cornerback, instead of senior Martez Shabazz. Derrick Wells was at the other corner, as he has been all spring.

The Gophers need to replace two outgoing seniors at cornerback this year, in Michael Carter and Troy Stoudermire. Murray is definitely in the mix.
"After the first four days of practice, he’s really emerged," Coach Jerry Kill said. "He’s got such great focus and great maturity for a young person and tremendous talent.”

Murray -- a 6-0, 194-pound speedster out of Riverside University High School in Milwaukee -- played in all 13 games last season as a true freshman, mostly on special teams.

"Being a freshman coming out of high school, you’re really not accustomed to the speed of the game," Murray said. "So I think that really helped and gave me some more football knowledge on top of the football knowledge I already had."

• The Gophers stayed indoors again. With rain in the forecast Saturday, it looks like it’ll be into next week before they move outside for the first time this spring.
• WR Devon Wright was in an orange non-participation jersey because of an injured shoulder.
• Damarius Travis played safety with the first-team defense, over Cedric Thompson, and Nick Rallis was at outside linebacker, instead of James Manuel. If those same substitutions are made next week, it'll really be time to take note.
• Andrew Stelter, a junior defensive end from Owatonna, attended Thursday's practice. According toRivals.com, he has offers from Minnesota and Iowa State.
 

I was able to take in practice yesterday and came away impressed with the progress. The main thing is the number of players they have in spring practice. I thought I heard that they have about 25 walk-ons on the team this spring. They are able to go 11 v 11 on both ends of the field and get tons of snaps in. Tons of offensive linemen. The WR and DB's really went at it and a concern I would have is the amount of dropped passes I saw.

Individual players that stuck out to me.

Jordan Hinojosa- High energy guy with a mouth going all the time. Hope he backs it up.
Harbison- Guy is a stud. His return is key to offense.
Offense was able to open some good holes for backs.

Only 1 Loafer Shirt on the field, more in the past when I've gone to practice. Only a couple of orange injured jerseys. Team looks healthy.
 



MaxyJR1 said:
I was able to take in practice yesterday and came away impressed with the progress. The main thing is the number of players they have in spring practice. I thought I heard that they have about 25 walk-ons on the team this spring. They are able to go 11 v 11 on both ends of the field and get tons of snaps in. Tons of offensive linemen. The WR and DB's really went at it and a concern I would have is the amount of dropped passes I saw.

Individual players that stuck out to me.

Jordan Hinojosa- High energy guy with a mouth going all the time. Hope he backs it up.
Harbison- Guy is a stud. His return is key to offense.
Offense was able to open some good holes for backs.

Only 1 Loafer Shirt on the field, more in the past when I've gone to practice. Only a couple of orange injured jerseys. Team looks healthy.
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any idea who happened to be in the shirt? have to imagine that'd be awful lonely bein the only one
 


The schedule I saw showed practice being at TCF tomorrow. Christensen mentioned that practice will likely be indoors tomorrow. Does anyone know which it will be or when they determine whether they will be outside or not?
 

zman said:
The schedule I saw showed practice being at TCF tomorrow. Christensen mentioned that practice will likely be indoors tomorrow. Does anyone know which it will be or when they determine whether they will be outside or not?
Click to expand...

It is inside due to forecast . Saw an official tweet earlier today.
 




STrib: QB Leidner progressing for Gophers

After a season of impersonating opponents’ quarterbacks, Mitch Leidner is emerging as strong second option at the U.

“You definitely need to be able to run here, so I had to get faster; there’s no choice,” Leidner said. “On the scout team, you’re running Nebraska’s offense, all those different offenses with running quarterbacks — you learn how to run the ball and set up blocks and read defenders, so it’s good.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/201719931.html

Go Gophers!!
 





This will be the 3rd practice I've been to today and every time I've been this spring I've noticed small improvements. I know it's only spring ball, but the mental errors seem to be less and less. The TE group has struggled a little bit the last couple practices I was at (running the wrong routes & missed assignments) so I will probably be paying more attention to them in Team time today.
 

​
The 12th Man said:
Rehabbing his ankle. Lighter weight and working for flexibility.
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Figured as much. Still It'd be nice to see a couple more plates being lifted by the linemen. It appeared that hageman had 3+ on the bench. I know that he is supposedly maxing at some ungodly number on the bench, but I'd be interested in his squat numbers.
 

bigtenchamps1899 said:
​

Figured as much. Still It'd be nice to see a couple more plates being lifted by the linemen. It appeared that hageman had 3+ on the bench. I know that he is supposedly maxing at some ungodly number on the bench, but I'd be interested in his squat numbers.
Click to expand...

Theres a press conf on the Minnesota Gophers app (sorry can't link). Kill gave the followinf numbers:
Hageman 500+ squat
Kirkwood 545
Campionb585
Bak 550
Christenson 455
 

Leidner is faster

BleedGopher said:
STrib: QB Leidner progressing for Gophers

After a season of impersonating opponents’ quarterbacks, Mitch Leidner is emerging as strong second option at the U.

“You definitely need to be able to run here, so I had to get faster; there’s no choice,” Leidner said. “On the scout team, you’re running Nebraska’s offense, all those different offenses with running quarterbacks — you learn how to run the ball and set up blocks and read defenders, so it’s good.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/201719931.html

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

Leidner looks noticeably faster and quicker this year. If he is not as fast as Nelson he is close.
 

diefirma said:
Leidner looks noticeably faster and quicker this year. If he is not as fast as Nelson he is close.
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Noticed that as well. He took off a couple of times and I was surprised as his quickness.

Nelson and Foreman both look like they put in good time in the gym. Fewer soft edges to them. Not crazy about Streveler's throwing motion. Looks like that ball should come out hotter than it does.

Can't believe Pirsig weighs over 300 lbs. His frame is massive, so he carries it like he weighs about 260.

Hageman is a beast...that is all.
 

Update from Joe C just now (btw, he's doing a GREAT job covering Spring practice. In honor Roger Ebert's passing, I'm giving Joe C 2 thumbs WAY up). In the major bummer column, Jonah Pirsig was apparently injured and had to be helped off the field. In the kinda cool column, Jeff Jones and Jashon Cornell attended practice.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/201778311.html
 

One other note, after practice, Jordan Hinojosa talked to my boys for about 5 minutes, asked them if they'll be at the games, etc.

Great kid. Really friendly, and seemed very down to earth.
 

Unregistered User said:
One other note, after practice, Jordan Hinojosa talked to my boys for about 5 minutes, asked them if they'll be at the games, etc.

Great kid. Really friendly, and seemed very down to earth.
Click to expand...

That's really cool to hear! ^^^^^^^
 

Nate said:
Theres a press conf on the Minnesota Gophers app (sorry can't link). Kill gave the followinf numbers:
Hageman 500+ squat
Kirkwood 545
Campionb585
Bak 550
Christenson 455
Click to expand...

So, basically they are only lifting the same weight that Reusse does when he stands up from the buffet...? I am so disappointed :rolleyes:
 

highwayman said:
So, basically they are only lifting the same weight that Reusse does when he stands up from the buffet...? I am so disappointed :rolleyes:
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Actually, I had the opposite reaction. I was thinking it would take herculean effort to lift fat patti. Therefore, I'm impressed we have four or five who could do it :)
 

MGGopher said:
Update from Joe C just now (btw, he's doing a GREAT job covering Spring practice. In honor Roger Ebert's passing, I'm giving Joe C 2 thumbs WAY up). In the major bummer column, Jonah Pirsig was apparently injured and had to be helped off the field. In the kinda cool column, Jeff Jones and Jashon Cornell attended practice.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/201778311.html
Click to expand...

That's a bummer about Pirsig. Hopefully it isn't too serious. He's probably another year away from significant playing time but you still don't like to hear that.
 

BleedGopher said:
STrib: QB Leidner progressing for Gophers

After a season of impersonating opponents’ quarterbacks, Mitch Leidner is emerging as strong second option at the U.

“You definitely need to be able to run here, so I had to get faster; there’s no choice,” Leidner said. “On the scout team, you’re running Nebraska’s offense, all those different offenses with running quarterbacks — you learn how to run the ball and set up blocks and read defenders, so it’s good.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/201719931.html

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

Leidner has progressed noticeably from this fall. Obvious offseason work in the weight room. Physically more impressed by him. He still needs work in my opinion. Seems to lack a full grasp of his read progression in the passing game. Ran the read-option better yesterday than any of our QBs. Very comfortable with him at the backup spot. Go Gophs!
 

Spring Practice Central - 6th Practice

Click on the link below to also hear three audios (Jeff Phelps, OC Limegrover, DC Claeys) from the practice.

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/spring-football-central.html

Rain and chilly temperatures kept Minnesota inside at the Gibson-Nagurksi Football Complex for practice No. 6 of spring ball this afternoon. Minnesota has yet to practice outside and today there were some Gophers who displayed an edgy cabin-fever attitude at practice, as there were more than a few post-whistle scuffles. Most of the fracas involved offensive and defensive lineman and lasted only a few seconds before it was broken up.

The quick melees are not something the coaches are concerned about. In fact, they will use it as a way to educate their players.

“As long as it is controlled,” said defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys. “You will never see us just let them go. We do not believe in that. We will use it as a teaching moment. If that happens in a game, you are out the next game. That is one thing that coach pointed out to them today. We will also show those same plays to the kids again on Tuesday and that is all we will talk about. ‘If you do this then you are not playing the next game and then you are hurting everyone.’ But you are going to get a few of those. We really have not scrimmaged. When you put the ball down and start to play, you really do not have as many of those little scuffles. But the kids are getting tired of running plays off of scripts too. It tells you as a coaching staff that it is time to move on and start working on situations.”

Defensive line coach Jeff Phelps said it was just a matter of intensity increasing during the spring practice sessions.

“The intensity level goes up a little bit and that is how you are going to get better,” said Phelps. “One side picks it up and then the other side has to pick up their intensity level as well, and I think we did a pretty good job of matching each other’s intensity and getting good clean work in there.”

Before coach Kill addressed the team at the end of practice, he had everyone go around and hug and shake hands so no ill-will would spill over into the locker room or away from the complex. According to Claeys, it is something that Kill has done before in the past after a heated practice.
 

Joe Christensen's Blog from Seventh Day of Spring Practice

I'll have a feature story on Gophers middle linebacker Jack Lynn in tonight's first editions. Meantime, here are some quick notes from today's practice:

• Wide receiver Devon Wright had surgery on his shoulder capsule Tuesday and will miss the rest of spring camp. The Gophers hope to have him ready for the start of fall camp.

• Tackle Jonah Pirsig wore an orange non-participation jersey Tuesday. He’s having more trouble with his left knee cap, but it doesn’t appear he’ll need major surgery.

• The Gophers moved their next practice from Wednesday night to Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Kill canceled his one-day trip to The Masters with Gophers booster T. Denny Sanford. The University shelved all fundraising discussions with Sanford until merger talks conclude between Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services, a deal that could give the South Dakota firm control of the University’s Medical Center.
 

Do we know if Pirsig has had or will have an MRI? That would be a good indicator of how serious the knee injury is...

Notes from Saturday's practice:
-A few big recruits invited and on field before and during practice
-David Cobb making more improvements and looked great.
-Max Williams effort level for spring ball is off the charts.
-Inside linebackers making a few mental errors.
-Jonah Pirsig taken off field onto cart with knee injury.
-TC had another great practice making plays.
-Things got heated in the trenches a few times and Kill called a meeting to address it.
 


FSN: Engel, Fruechte aim to lead Gophers' offense

"It's all about comfort," said Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover. "I think the biggest thing is that Derrick Engel, he knows he's got a role now. It isn't an up-in-the-air thing. He knows he's part of this. Isaac Fruechte's a whole entire year out of junior college. He's been here through now, his second spring, a full season. … There's a relaxation among those two."

http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/colle...lead-gophers-offen?blockID=890243&feedID=3590

Go Gophers!!
 

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