Depth Chart

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The 12th Man

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Acknowledging the fact that it is way too early to know anything for certain, who wants to take a stab at the depth chart given what we know (very little) about the new guys? Think of it as our own preseason poll- an educated guess at best.
 

QB: Weber/Gray
RB: Bennett/Eskridge or Lipscomb
FB: Hoese
WR: Decker/Smith
WR: Green/Kuznia
WR: Carpenter/Pittman
TE: Tow-Arnett/Hageman or Lair
OT: ??
OT: ??
OG: ??
OG: ??
C: ??

DE: McKinley/Henderson
DE: Onwauchi/Jacobs
DT: Brown/Edwards
DT: Small/Kirksey
LB: Campbell/Maresh
LB: Lawrence/Reeves
LB: Cooper/Tinsley
CB: Simmons/Carter
CB: Sherels/Stoudermire or Collado
S: Theret/Dandridge
S: Royston/Rallis

KR: Thomas and Stoudermire
PR: Allen or Stoudermire
K: Ellestad or Schewerman
P: Orseske
LS: Coleman

Purposely left all OL positions blank. I have no idea and I don't think the coaches know much right now either. There will be at least 18 guys competing and it could shake out many ways. People say Carufel has an inside track for one of the guard spots. That's about all I know. The new power running game might make those that saw significant playing time last year sit on the bench. Maybe those guys will bulk up and still hold on to their starting job. Who knows really?

As for the other positions...just a guess. I'm sure it'll look a bit different come September.
 

I think you might be surprised to see lipscomb receiving more carries as a frosh than you might think, our running game last year was less than spectacular so I think they are really going to try and switch things around, probably going to a running back by committee or a two headed monster and modeling their game after the pros i.e the Tennessee Titans extremely successful running game last year with White and Johnson. Heard a lot of good things about lipscomb so just a hunch of mine that he will see more time than people might think. I think the defense will go mostly untinkered with and see if the guys continue to gel and create turnovers. Our D for the most part was good so I would like to see what these guys can do with another season of playing together.
 

I actually agree with your depth chart almost exactly.

Here's my best guess as to the 2-deep OL against Syracuse:

LT Alford/Meinke
LG Carufel/Bunders
C Tow-Arnett/Davis
RG Wynn/Tavale
RT Wills/Stommes

And then, of course, you have Burris to back up all 3 interior positions, as well as Ruckdashel at either G spot (no pun intended), and Orton at either T. That gives 13 guys rotating through 5 spots, and while I like all 3 of our incoming frosh OL, I think it would be a colossal blunder to do anything but redshirt all 3.

I also think we may see a little 3-4 mixed in next year, with Small moving to the outside, and Edwards lining up over center. That way, we could have Lawrence/Campbell/Maresh/Cooper all on the field at the same time. Furthermore, I have a hunch that the coaches may have a tough time keeping Garin off the field next year.
 

Projected OL

dpodoll68 said:
LT Alford/Meinke
LG Carufel/Bunders
C Tow-Arnett/Davis
RG Wynn/Tavale
RT Wills/Stommes
Click to expand...

I would say that this mostly repeats where we left off last year, adding in the newcomers Carufel and Wills.... That is as good a place as any to start, but with a new OL coach challenging a bunch of young guys to improve their strength, conditioning, bulk and footwork, it is hard to imagine that there won't be at least a couple of surprises in who does and who does not step forward. For now, I'll just say (guess) Davis.
 


Sherels and Theret may have seen their last starts. Brock (will be back) and Royston are our safeties and Carter could easily beat out Sherels. Sherels was a former receiver and a walk on, Carter is a 4*. Sherels performed better than anyone we had in awhile but that does not take much, and Simmons will be playing on Sundays.
 

I agree completely with Pewterschmidt's depth chart. Cooper is not a guarantee to start at OLB but I hope he does. I also hope Lawrence21 is right because it means we are improving but I have a hard time expecting a true freshman to beat out a returning starter at CB and we're just hoping Brock gets his academics together. Brewster didn't sound 100% confident about Brock returning when he talked last night.

As far as NC 2 MN's line I agree with the starters except I'd swap Carufel to RG and Wynn to LG from what I've heard. I don't know about the two deep across the line but from what I heard the coaches were adjusting the positions up until the week of the bowl game so there may be more position changes coming.
 

Sherels played because he was that good, not because we had no one else. So he will not be handing the keys over to Carter upon arrival. Expect a bigger battle, which is just what we want.
 

Offensive Line

OT Meinke/Alford
G Careful/Tavale
C Davis/Tow Arnett
G Wynn/?
T Willis/?
TE Hageman/Tow Arnett

Watch closely in the line drills, and spring practice. This offensive line is the key to winning.
 



Schnoodler said:
Sherels played because he was that good, not because we had no one else. So he will not be handing the keys over to Carter upon arrival. Expect a bigger battle, which is just what we want.
Click to expand...

Personally I think it won't matter which corners start, three will play on the regular.
 


I would hate to see Sherels lose his starting spot not just because I've known him almost my whole life and watched him in high school but because he hadn't played cornerback for more than a few years before switching this past season and I think he performed quite admirably in that situation so I would like to see how much more he can improve.
 

I wonder how secure Brock's spot is with the fact he had to go home, the new defensive coordinator and Roysen playing in the mix. Maybe Theret will continue to shine when he gets moved closer to the LoS during spring drills and that will seal Brock's spot.
 



monk10 said:
I wonder how secure Brock's spot is with the fact he had to go home, the new defensive coordinator and Roysen playing in the mix. Maybe Theret will continue to shine when he gets moved closer to the LoS during spring drills and that will seal Brock's spot.
Click to expand...

With all Brew's talk about family and loyalty, I'd be surprised, nay shocked, if Brock wasn't right in the middle of things if he can get his academics in order.
 

monk10 said:
I wonder how secure Brock's spot is with the fact he had to go home, the new defensive coordinator and Roysen playing in the mix. Maybe Theret will continue to shine when he gets moved closer to the LoS during spring drills and that will seal Brock's spot.
Click to expand...

Do you honestly believe that if Brock comes back Theret has a chance of startng ahead of him? I mean no insult to Theret because he is a good kid and works his *ss off but Brock is much more talented.
 

The one thing you can't take away from Theret is he played at Big Ten Honorable Mention at most likely not his best postion. If people are really down on his physical talents, it must truely speak to his football iq then. Given that we have another new defensive coach and another new system to learn. Don't you think it is hard to bet against a guy who gets football?
 

It's really hard to bet against a guy who continues to find his way onto the field and is one year more experienced.
 

I agree with most of your list, my changes are in bold.

QB: Weber/Gray
RB: Eskridge or Lipscomb 3rd down back Whaley
FB: Hoese
WR: Decker/Smith
WR: Green/Kuznia
WR: Carpenter/Pittman
TE: Tow-Arnett/Hageman or Lair
LT: ??Alford/Meinke keeps the spot warm for Seantrell
RT: ?? Wills/Wynn
LG: ?? Tavale/Bunders
RG: ?? Carufel/Orton
C: ??Davis/Tow Arnett

DE: McKinley/DL Willhite
DE: Onwauchi/Jacobs
DT: Brown/Edwards
DT: Small/Kirksey
LB: Campbell/Triplett
LB: Lawrence/Rallis
LB: Cooper/Tinsley
CB: Simmons/Carter
CB: Sherels/Stoudermire or Collado
S: BrockTheret
S: Royston/Dandridge

KR: Thomas and Stoudermire
PR: Whaley
K: Ellestad or Schewerman
P: Orseske
LS: Coleman
 

people are assuming that wills will be starting, but gophersports.com says that he is 375 pounds. that is up from 350 when being recruited.

will he be in shape by the time the season rolls around? is he in school now, will he take part in spring practices? i don't think that 375--which by some acccounts might be a little generous in the wrong direction--is a good playing weight.

gophersports.com on wills

he is enrolled at the U right now.
 

Brew seems to be on top of it...

Brew mentioned his weight and talked about getting him into shape in time. He will be participating in Spring Practice. I don't think Brew brought him here to sit. You usually go after JUCOs that you think can come in and play right away. That being said... Time, and Wills performance in practice, will tell...
 

I would not exclude DJ Burris at the guard/center position in the two deeps. He has been a starter for a good part of his Gopher career.
 

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