EARLY 2010 PROJECTED STARTERS

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RodentRampage said:
I think its vital to the offense that the QB running has to be a serious part of the offense, it opens so much. At the very least, it forces a defender to pay attention to the QB. I'd love to see some option thrown into the mix. That of course depends on Gray getting fumbling under control.

If Gray is the starter, does Weber just have the job as backup QB, or can we get some other use out of him on the field. He'd probably play in Wildcat, of course, but if we can get good use out of him for his last year, we should do that.
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Why would you bring in a slower QB to run the wildcat? The purpose of the wildcat is to have another RB as QB to create matchup problems. Single Wing with Weber as QB would be worthless.

Weber is too slow to contribute as anything other than a QB.
 

I sure hope

there are some new names listed on the offensive line or we our poor QB will be scrambling for his life again I am afraid.
 

The pass protection last year was vastly over criticized. The run blocking was bad, and the below average running backs made the run game combo look terrible. But the pass blocking was actually ok the majority of the time. The QB position for the gophers last season was slow in decision making and tenative. Just because the guy has to step up in the pocket and fails to do so does not make it bad protection.

Not saying the o-line was good by any stretch. But pass protection was not as bad as people think.
 

Rosemountain....

I agree 100%. Our pass blocking was adaquete. Our run blocking was a failure, and that sort of makes sense. It was our first year our OL were used to putting their hands on the ground and driving a guy off the line (or attempting to). Those philosophical changes in our OL would be evident in the running game (not the passing game). Our pass protection was actually pretty decent, especially towards the end of the year.
 

I think the Gophers will play the most freshmen out of anybody in the Big Ten, hands down.
 


My bet is that Royston is no longer starting, and Thert ??? I also wouldn't be suprised to see 4 LB at times, with a good rotation to keep them fresh, more like they did on the DL this yr. There are alot of good young kids.
 


Rosemountian said:
The pass protection last year was vastly over criticized. The run blocking was bad, and the below average running backs made the run game combo look terrible. But the pass blocking was actually ok the majority of the time. The QB position for the gophers last season was slow in decision making and tenative. Just because the guy has to step up in the pocket and fails to do so does not make it bad protection.

Not saying the o-line was good by any stretch. But pass protection was not as bad as people think.
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The truth.
 

QB: Gray / Weber
RB: Eskridge / Wright
FB: Hoese

TE: Eure
WR: McKnight
WR: Green / Carpenter
Slot: Stoudemire

LT: Michel
LG: Olson
C: Wynn
RG: Davis
RT: Wills


DE: Garin
DT: Kirksey
DT: Edwards
DE: Hageman

OLB: Cooper
MLB: Tinsley
OLB: Singleton

CB: Carter
CB: Lewis
S: Watkins / Theret
S: Royston / Thornton




2011 Rosebowl Champs!!!!!!
 



Cooper and Tinsley are locks at 2 of the Linebacking spots, at which spots I do not know. I think Maresh is battling Reeves and maybe Singleton. Tinsley has the speed to play outside and the size to play inside. Singleton is probably too small to play inside and Maresh is the slowest of the bunch, but still very good. I see maybe Cooper OLB, Tinsley OLB, and Maresh MLB. Or Cooper OLB, Tinsley MLB, and Reeves OLB.
 

littlebigboy said:
My bet is that Royston is no longer starting, and Thert ??? I also wouldn't be suprised to see 4 LB at times, with a good rotation to keep them fresh, more like they did on the DL this yr. There are alot of good young kids.
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I think Royston is a lock to be starting. I know I might get bashed for saying this, but I honestly thought he was our best DB last season (Carter will be this season).
 

That defense could be scary good. Offense...we'll see.
 

Yes, the defense could be very good. And there will be plenty of snaps for every LB who can do the job. Starters, I don't know, but FB has become a lot less about starting the game and a lot more about who is on the field at particular times. Last season was a good example, when there were plenty of times Edwards and Kirksey lined up at DT on big, I mean really big, downs.
 



Hooligan119th said:
Sorry buddy...Maresh will be playing in the middle this year...and for the following three after. And it will be because of his talent level as much as it is going to be a public relations deal.

I know you asked why does this fool think that Maresh is going to start over Tinsley?

...simple

First, Maresh is just that good...remember, if he didn't have his medical issues, he was expected to come in and play right away. His redshirt last season was just to ensure his body was recovered from the procedure he went through. and now two years removed from High School...I'm pretty sure he is going to be ready to go.

Second...put yourself in Brewsters shoes right now. You just lost the most important recruit to ever come out of MN and everyone in the state watched it all go down. Yes even more important than Baby Jesus because of the number of people that follow recruiting now days. but you just lost the most visible recruit to ever come out of MN and one of your core beliefs and preachings is keeping the best MN players in state. Do you think the best "in state" players are going to want to come to MN if they see Maresh riding the pine to an out of state guy? what are the coaches gonna tell their players? what about family members? Do you think they will help Brew out a little by gettin in their kids ear a little bit? ...NOPE!!! Brewster knows that he needs to play the top players that come from here, and if he isn't in one already, he will be in a public relations nightmare if he doesn't. He knows that the MN players need to be showcased and given every chance to succeed on the field and in the community or he will have lost them, the fans, and whatever media there is left on his side. and if that happens...we start this whole process over with a new coach.

Brewster is gambling...he has to. He's either going to hit the jackpot....or he is going to go broke trying and it all starts with Maresh being on the field.


You are right about Tinsley though...I think he will be playing over Reeves...on the outside.
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Tinsley is the one guy that has All Big Ten potential on what I think will be a good defense. The other thing that I hope may become part of the defense is a 3-4 alignment, especially against the spread offenses like Northwestern and Michigan.
 

I think we had success with the 3-4 last year in limited use. Depending on how the D-Line depth shakes out this spring, you could see more 3-4 next year by virtue of lack of depth. A D-line with Kirskey & Jacobs at DE and Edwards at NG is a very real possibility. We'd be big up front, with depth at LB. You'd have Hageman and Wilhite shuttling in depending on the situation. Hageman's size means he can play on every down. I really think Wilhite is still nothing more than a pass-rushing specialist.

On passing downs you could see Jacobs shift inside for Edwards with Hageman and Wilhite at the ends.
 

QB: Weber (New Coordinator: going to go with the guy who have seen defenses and should be able to digest the offensive plan a little quicker)
RB: Eskridge ( I have food riding on this bet with schnoodler)
FB: Hoese

TE: No opinion. ( I didn't get a good look at any of our other guys)
Wide: Mknight (should be able to handle coverages on his own)
Flanker: Green (should benefit from combination routes)
Slot: Allen (Guessing Stoudamires drops catch up to him)

OLine:
LT: Michel (felt like right side was the weaker link)
LG: Olson
C: Bunders (Don't think wynn's back will hold up)
RG: Careful (based on preference to run to this side
RT: Wills

DE: Wilhite (pass rushing specialist, most likely will play weak side)
DT: Kirksey
DT: Edwards
DE: Hageman (should hold down strong side)


OLB: Cooper (easy pick)
MLB: Maresh (Not really hot with this pick, basing it on hearsay more then watching him in the fall game. He needs to get off blocks better hopefully strength condition was what was needed)
OLB: Tinsley (Has enough speed to take triplet's spot and cover - can move to the inside in our 3-4 or if we go nickle and bring maresh out)
OLB: Reeves (comes in when we go to our 3-4 look)

CB: Lewis (My other random pick besides the right side of the line. I actually expect collado)
CB: Carter ( Looked real close on some coverage, hopefully film study and strength makes him the playmaker we want)
SS: Theret (captain of defense, pretty much a lock like cooper)
FS: Roysten (another lock gives the defense a cover safety that got better in run support as the season went on
Nickle: Collado (ability to blizt, cover, and play run should give him the nod)
 

tpbeight said:
I think we had success with the 3-4 last year in limited use. .
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I'm intrigued if we will use the 3-4 more. I thought with cooper and our 3 lb's we would have seen it more last year, however, it might be under the montra of keeping the defense simpler.

I am actually really interested if we remove a lb or go to a 3-3-5 to get another db on the field this year. Wouldn't mind giving our safeties a bit more help. That would all hinge on our ability to get to the qb though.
 

I know it is fun to guess at the starters, but the coaches proabably don't have any starters penciled in at the point. One thing Brewster said about this years class is that it will bring a lot of competition to the team. Spring practice is going to be huge for this team.
 

Jacobs will be a starter. I have no doubt. He may move around a lot, but he's going to be on the field a ton.

I think we will see a lot more situational substitutions with our front 7. Pass rush packages, 3-4 package, base 4-3 package....etc. You could even see a kid like Garin get time in the Nickel and Dime as a pass-rush specialist.
 

My $0.02

I'm probably going to get ripped for saying this but I would love to see Gray at wide reciever and Alipate at QB. After watching Gray in person at the Insight, he actually looked the part of a Big Ten reciever. And the only reason I say Alipate is because I don't think Weber is the answer unless he does some major improvement in the offseason and Alipate has the pro set quarterback body IMHO. I like Collado only when he's blitzing. Point in case the Iowa game he was phenominal at getting to the QB off the corner. However he usually got burned downfield. I really think Eskridge is going to put it together this year but mostly as a between the tackles guy. One play that sticks in my mind was against Mich. St. I think but he was pushing 4 or 5 guys by himself. and he definately looked bigger this last year than his first year. If he puts together his vision I think he'll be starting. Thoughts anyone? I'm curious if I'm the only one thinking this.:cool02:
 

I could see that scenario only happening the following year when Weber is gone. And that's only if the coaches think Alipate is better than Gray. But, for the time being I don't see the Gophers wasting a player that has the skills to play QB, and throw him at WR just because of his size.
 

My Bad

I should have put more info on the QB part. My reasoning for the Alipate at QB was hearing from people around his high school program was that he was an accurate passer with "decent" mobility. If they stay pro set I just don't see Gray staying at QB only because his skill set is obviously better for the spread. Unless he turns into a much better passer, than I would love to see him at QB with his running ability. The reason I like him at receiver is when he was thrown the ball in the bowl game, watching him run with it and stiff arm DB's he looked like a natural at receiver. Obviously he was bred to be a QB and if he's there than I would still be excited for the offense. And this is just a feeling but I honestly think that it will be between Alipate and Gray for QB. What did you think about the other thoughts?:cool02:
 

gopherpride32 said:
I could see that scenario only happening the following year when Weber is gone. And that's only if the coaches think Alipate is better than Gray. But, for the time being I don't see the Gophers wasting a player that has the skills to play QB, and throw him at WR just because of his size.
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Do you think Weber wins the starting job this year then?
 

I think Weber will get the first look to start again, but I believe he is going to be on a short leash. And either Gray or Alipate could play. I remember watching Alipate in the Under-Armour All-American game, and I remember him having the best arm in that game. He is probably one the biggest quarterbacks in the Big Ten as well, around 6'5'' 240. I think Gray wants to be a QB and only a QB, but for the team to possibly win games, the Gophers might have to have Alipate throw to Gray.
 

gopherpride32 said:
I think Weber will get the first look to start again, but I believe he is going to be on a short leash. And either Gray or Alipate could play. I remember watching Alipate in the Under-Armour All-American game, and I remember him having the best arm in that game. He is probably one the biggest quarterbacks in the Big Ten as well, around 6'5'' 240. I think Gray wants to be a QB and only a QB, but for the team to possibly win games, the Gophers might have to have Alipate throw to Gray.
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Agreed. Good points. Thanks for weighing in. It's a :party:
 

monk10 said:
I'm intrigued if we will use the 3-4 more. I thought with cooper and our 3 lb's we would have seen it more last year, however, it might be under the montra of keeping the defense simpler.

I am actually really interested if we remove a lb or go to a 3-3-5 to get another db on the field this year. Wouldn't mind giving our safeties a bit more help. That would all hinge on our ability to get to the qb though.
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I'm also intrigued with the 3-4. But who's the big nose tackle that controls the A gaps? Edwards? Kirksey? How big are those guys?
 

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