ESPN: B1G's 5 top impact true freshmen (Jeff Jones - Minnesota)

[diehard]

Jones will be in Maroon and Gold this fall and will be an immediate game changer. We have a very solid group of RBs and there will be touches for all of them. We need a super polished OL with a center that makes terrific calls. Brawn plus brains.

BT, make sure you read the whole Mike Sherels interview the Bleed posted.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Yep. Especially in the last three games, opposing D's sold out to stop the run leaving wide open wideouts and the they still couldn't connect on plays. Unfortunate because the D played more than well enough to win these games. If a few more connections were made on the passsing side, the running game would have opened up even more leading to possiblly different outcomes in those games.

The last three games were played without 40% of the starting Offensive Line (Bak, Christenson) and a good chunk also without Engel. Nelson, Leidner, D. Jones, Wolitarsky, et al could/should have stepped up more than they did but there were other factors in play that people seem to forget about. Both Bak and Christenson were huge, HUGE losses. Major losses.

That is a good point because the problems on offense last year did not come from an inability to move the ball on the ground. They came mostly from a complete inability to utilize the forward pass as a weapon in the offense.

Complete inability? Maybe just a slight exaggeration? They needed to throw the ball, a lot, to beat Indiana on the road and they did. They needed to throw it effectively to build a first half lead against PSU, and they did.

There was a game plan last year, for the most part, to shorten games and reduce risk and exposure. With veterans across the board on offense for the most part this coming season, I don't believe that this year's offense will be a mirror image of what we'll see in 2014. 2013 was about doing what they had to do to win games, no matter how ugly. I don't fully expect that to be the case moving forward, now that they have mostly upperclassmen along the O-Line (along with real depth), and more experienced receivers. I could be wrong, but that's the way I see it.

 

[diehard]

The Gophers could be an authentic offensive juggernaut this fall. Still young but really breaking out. That is my prediction! Although not a favorite we will be a contender for the conference championship. Yup, I said it.

 

[Halsey Hall]

That is a good point because the problems on offense last year did not come from an inability to move the ball on the ground. They came mostly from a complete inability to utilize the forward pass as a weapon in the offense. Any running back, no matter who they are tends to look better when the opposing teams can't stack 8 in the box against them. To really get the most out of a guy like Jones you need the passing game to be enough of a threat to keep teams from selling out to stop the running game.

Mason had that formula on offense down pat. The passing game was never elite like the running game was. But the passing game was good enough to keep teams somewhat honest on defense and the offense could hurt you through the air if you gave them a chance to.

If Mase had had an average qb and a so-so defense we could have done some big things. But all of his qbs were sub par, then we had the bounce pass era and the latest, the over the head era. We just need someone who can complete a 10-yard pass on a consistent basis

 

[stocker08]

I hear you. But, it all works out. Gray is collecting an NFL paycheck. It worked out okay for him. He must still enjoy Minnesota as he recently moved to Eagan.

He also commonly tweets support of the team.

 

[stocker08]

The Gophers could be an authentic offensive juggernaut this fall. Still young but really breaking out. That is my prediction! Although not a favorite we will be a contender for the conference championship. Yup, I said it.

+08

 

[DMB123]

If Mase had had an average qb and a so-so defense we could have done some big things. But all of his qbs were sub par, then we had the bounce pass era and the latest, the over the head era. We just need someone who can complete a 10-yard pass on a consistent basis

Bryan Cupito's Jr and Sr seasons were definitely not sub par. He was actually one of the better passers in the Big Ten.

 

[MinneStoa]

I hear you. But, it all works out. Gray is collecting an NFL paycheck. It worked out okay for him. He must still enjoy Minnesota as he recently moved to Eagan.

I work in Eagan. Gray won't like Minnesota for very much longer if he is actually living here

 

[WarriorGopher]

Obviously Jones gets most of then national attention in these situations (and rightfully so), but you could make an argument that Gentry or Holland may make as big an impact next year. Over the next four years? Jones wins.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

I repeat: MG should sue the University of Minnesota.

No question about it. With that precision pinpoint accuracy and decision-making in the pocket, he was no doubt denied a shot at 2, maybe 3 Heisman trophies. A master at finding the open receiver, but also at knowing when to tuck and run (which was almost always immediately followed by the drop-back motion).

 

[Gopher_Ace]

Maroney was probably the closest.

Not even close. Maroney?

 

[Spoofin]

Obviously Jones gets most of then national attention in these situations (and rightfully so), but you could make an argument that Gentry or Holland may make as big an impact next year. Over the next four years? Jones wins.

I agree with you on Holland. Him RS'ing is as unlikely as for Jones. They'll both play this year. Gentry tho - I think it is almost a certainty that he will RS. Not a knock on his talent, but dude needs to put on some bulk to play and block in the B1G.

 

[jaymil]

I agree with you on Holland. Him RS'ing is as unlikely as for Jones. They'll both play this year. Gentry tho - I think it is almost a certainty that he will RS. Not a knock on his talent, but dude needs to put on some bulk to play and block in the B1G.

Donovahn Jones was pretty skinny this past year (190 lbs.) and he played quite a bit. If the coaches think Gentry can make plays in the passing game and stretch the field next year he'll play. Our WR depth should be a little better this year though, so we may not need Gentry to play like we needed Jones last year.

 

[die hard gopher]

Donovahn Jones was pretty skinny this past year (190 lbs.) and he played quite a bit. If the coaches think Gentry can make plays in the passing game and stretch the field next year he'll play. Our WR depth should be a little better this year though, so we may not need Gentry to play like we needed Jones last year.

Gentry is a good amount skinnier then Jones

 

[jaymil]

Gentry is a good amount skinnier then Jones

The official roster lists him as 5 pounds lighter than Jones. I realize he's a little taller so he's more frail, but he also has all off-season to add weight.

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[stocker08]

If either Gentry or Holland has an equal amount of talent as Donovahn Jones, we'll be in good shape at the WR position for several years.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

No question about it. With that precision pinpoint accuracy and decision-making in the pocket, he was no doubt denied a shot at 2, maybe 3 Heisman trophies. A master at finding the open receiver, but also at knowing when to tuck and run (which was almost always immediately followed by the drop-back motion).

Well, he didn't exactly set the world on fire. But Gray had a terrible situation. He had awful WRs, a terrible OL and ZERO running game outside of him.

His JR season he threw the ball as "well" as our current QBs with NOTHING around him, literally nothing around him. Oh, he also nearly ran for 1000 yards (966).

His SR season was a mixed bag because of injuries and being moved around. He had a nice start to his season, he played WR and he ran for nearly 400 yards.

I think we all understand Studwell was using a bit of hyperbole, but he had a point. Gray's career was largely wasted by the U. I don't think he would have won multiple Heisman's or anything like that, but it's really safe to assume that his passing would have improved with a running game around him and a better OL (WRs were probably equally as bad) not to mention being moved around constantly. I don't think he would have been great, because of accuracy issues but certainly he could have been put in a much better situation to be successful.

 

[Dilemina]

If we had more than one gray on that team, one to play running back, one to play receiver, one to play qb, and maybe even one to play tight end. I bet we would have gotten much more out of him. But one Gray can only play one position at a time, and he had to move to wide-out because he had nobody that could get his throws.

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