Blue Ribbon Preview: Minnesota
Blue Ribbon Preview: Minnesota
ABOUT
Where it was bluster and big talk and quick fix before, it's self-deprecation and reasonable expectations and long term now. As is often the case when a head coach flames out the way Tim Brewster did at Minnesota, the new guy almost seems to be his exact opposite.
Athletic director Joel Maturi didn't list that as one of his criteria, but he made it clear he was looking for someone who had been successful as a college head coach -- someone like Jerry Kill. And someone unlike Brewster, a pro and college assistant who sold lofty dreams and brought in junior college-heavy recruiting classes but was fired midway through the 2010 season with a 15-30 record.
Kill and Northern Illinois beat Brewster and Minnesota last season, contributing to the 1-6 start that got Brewster canned, and giving Maturi an up-close look at the kind of coach he wants to revive his long-suffering program.
"During [the search] process, one name kept coming up during my efforts. That name was Jerry Kill," Maturi said when Kill was introduced on Dec. 7. "The more I spoke to others about him, that fact that his teams were always well prepared was mentioned time and time again. When you look at his resume and the job he has done at every school he has coached at, his teams just keep getting better. He has a record of 127-73, and in the past eight it is 73-30. During that time, he has won three conference championships and finished runner-up three more times. Jerry Kill is a winner."
He's also a cancer survivor, in remission after a 2005 scare with kidney cancer. His Northern Illinois program was in the top 10 nationally in Academic Progress Rate. And he has an answer for those who wonder if a guy who succeeded at Saginaw Valley State, Emporia State, Southern Illinois and Northern Illinois can get it done in the Big Ten.
"You know, Urban Meyer coached at Bowling Green, and not many people knew about Urban Meyer and [he did] pretty [well]," Kill said. "Jim Tressel [was a Football Championship Division head coach] at Youngstown, and [he did] a pretty good job. I think sooner or later you've just got to get a chance."
He has it, taking over a program that found some stability under Glen Mason -- but not quite enough to carry on with him -- then plummeted under Brewster, despite a sparkling new outdoor stadium. Brewster went 6-21 in the Big Ten and never beat main rivals Wisconsin or Iowa (although interim coach Jeff Horton did lead a stunning upset of the Hawkeyes in the 2010 regular-season finale).
Brewster also annoyed some with his rapid-fire hyperbole, talking Rose Bowl from intro to departure despite what was actually happening on the field. He couldn't keep a staff together, working with three offensive coordinators and three defensive coordinators in four years. He brought in some well-regarded recruiting classes, but he was big on JUCO transfers -- leading to situations such as 2010, when he had to replace nine defensive starters.
Kill is a slow-talking Kansan who has kept most of his staff with him for years. If anything, he iced expectations during spring ball after taking a look at a team with plenty of personnel holes. And he understands this will take time.
"There's processes to win," he said. "It just doesn't happen, you show up and hey, we're going to turn it around and win today and we're going to do this. I can give you all those promises and get you fired up, but those are false promises. I can promise you this: We'll go through the journey and work hard."
Kill brings a diverse offense known for running the ball -- right at people, with gap and zone blocking, and with some read option -- and a 4-3 defense known for pressuring people. And he caused quite a buzz during spring ball with his brown shirts with pink lettering that read "I let my teammates down" on the front and "Minnesota loafers" on the back. Anyone who is late to a meeting or non-compliant in any way gets to wear one as punishment.
"Everybody can see it and it's probably the best form of peer pressure," said offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover, who has been with Kill for 12 years and said the staff has been using similar shirts at every stop. "It's kind of like a scarlet letter, and it's amazing how they dread wearing them."
THE STAFF
Head Coach: Jerry Kill (Southwester '83)
Record at school: First year
Career record: 127-73 (17 years)
Assistants:
• Bill Miller (Texas-Arlington '78) Assistant head coach/linebackers
• Matt Limegrover (Chicago '94) Offensive coordinator
• Tracy Claeys (Kansas State '94) Defensive coordinator
• Brian Anderson (Western Illinoins '94) Running backs
• Jeff Phelps (Ball State '98) Defensive line
• Pat Poore (Fort Hays State '84)
• Rob Reeves (Saginaw Valley State '96) H-backs/tight ends
• Jay Sawvel (Mount Union '93) Defensive backs/special teams
• Jim Zebrowski (Mount Union '91) Quarterbacks
Offense
Quarterbacks
Limegrover has had trouble meeting people in Minneapolis. Rather than introduce themselves, everyone the OC runs in to immediately blurts out the question on the mind of Gophers fans: "Is MarQueis Gray going to be the quarterback?"
After spring ball, Limegrover had a much easier time giving a quick, decisive answer. Gray (6-4, 229), a junior, left no doubt that this job is his after an impressive spring.
The new Minnesota coaches knew Gray was a premier athlete -- they remember what a threat he was as a receiver last season when the teams met -- but they did not know if he was ready to take command of an offense. Because of an injury during his senior year of high school, then a year of sitting out because of academic ineligibility, then two years behind Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber, Gray hasn't played the position full time since 2006.
"Our biggest concern entering spring, we know he's a wonderful athlete but can he handle it mentally?" Limegrover said. "To his credit, he wore us out from day one."
Gray gobbled up the playbook, watched all the film his eyes could handle, put in extra time. He did an exhaustive passing workout the Monday after spring ball ended. There's no question he's determined to succeed at the position after catching 42 passes for 587 yards as a sophomore.
Limegrover is excited about Gray's approach and now needs his skills to catch up.
"Was he perfectly accurate during the spring? No. Was he terrible? No," Limegrover said of Gray, who was 12-of-20 for 71 yards, with no touchdowns or picks in the spring game. "He was somewhere in the middle. He has to get better and he knows it, or teams are going to be able to load up on us."
But Gray's running ability will keep opponents honest, too. Limegrover expects to call seven or eight quarterback runs a game with Gray. Factoring in some read option plays, he envisions Gray carrying it a dozen times or so every game.
"It's very tempting to completely build the offense around him," Limegrover said, "but it's the same thing with a great running back; you don't want to burn out a guy or put him in harm's way too much."
The No. 2 guy after spring ball is redshirt freshman Tom Parish (6-3, 218), but he doesn't have it cemented. Sophomore Moses Alipate (6-5, 281) is an intriguing prospect, a massive drop-back passer. Incoming freshman Max Shortell (6-6, 215) could also be in the mix.
Running Backs
The Golden Gophers will be running the football, and in a lot of different ways. Limegrover would like a 60-40 run-pass ratio. Minnesota will line up with two backs at times, two tight ends often and they'll run option and out of spread formations as well.
"We're truly multiple," Limegrover said.
With multiple candidates in the backfield, senior Duane Bennett (5-9, 210) may be the most complete of the bunch; especially after last season's leading returning rusher DeLeon Eskridge left school in mid June due to personal reasons.
Bennett had the better spring, showing off his versatility. He ran for 529 yards last season and was fourth on the team with 33 catches.
"He's a guy who's willing to step up and block, he's a guy who can do a lot of things," Limegrover said. "He can provide some matchup problems for people, and we've worked as a staff a lot more lately on utilizing guys like Duane not just as a running back. He can do a lot of different things. He's what we call a football player."
Redshirt freshman Donnell Kirkwood (5-10, 215) had a "really good spring" as a runner, Limegrover said, but his blocking has a long way to go. Still, he showed he deserves some carries, as did fellow redshirt freshman Lamonte Edwards (6-2, 210).
"He's our biggest back and we're partial to big backs," Limegrover said of Edwards, who tweaked a knee during the spring but should be fine. "Especially in the Big Ten, we think you've got to be able to ground and pound some."
Receivers
Minnesota's new coaching staff is thrilled that MarQueis Gray stepped forward at quarterback, but the problem with his move is how it weakens the receiver position.
"Right now on our offense, that is the spot we're most concerned about, by far," Limegrover said.
Gray and Da'Jon McKnight (6-3, 214) made up a productive combo last season, combining for 90 catches, more than 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. Now McKnight stands alone as a senior as the top downfield playmaker.
"The biggest thing he's got to understand is the sky's the limit. He's the classic case of a guy who everything comes easy to him," Limegrover said of McKnight, who led the Gophers with 48 catches, 750 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. "If he could find that extra something, he could go from a very good player in the Big Ten to a special player. And that's what coach Kill is trying to get across to him: 'Don't settle for being good, find a way to be great.'"
If he can, things will be that much easier on Gray. But it'll be hard for McKnight to get there if the Gophers can't find a complement on the other side to take some attention away from him. "That is the million dollar question," Limegrover said. "Who will that be?"
Running back Duane Bennett is one guy who could see reps on the outside. Minnesota can use its tight ends in different ways as well. In terms of actual wide receivers, there is hope in Ge'Shun Harris (6-3, 226), a JUCO transfer. "He really came on during spring ball," Limegrover said of Harris. "But he still has a ways to go."
Another player with things to learn but talent to utilize is freshman Marcus Jones (5-8, 168), who enrolled for spring semester and spent spring ball zipping all over the field. He'll be a part of Minnesota's three-receiver sets.
"He's really, really fast," Limegrover said. "He's not very big, but he's the typical fast slot receiver guy, and he's fearless. He has that little bit of extra burst."
The tight end position is much less concerning for the new coaching staff -- in fact, Limegrover said, he's actually "encouraged with the personnel we have there."
The encouragement starts with senior Eric Lair (6-3, 239), who was third on the team last season with 39 catches for 526 yards. He'll be a big part of this passing attack, and he wants to be a bigger part of the run game as well.
"We were really pleasantly surprised with Eric; he was sticking his nose in there and working to be physical," Limegrover said. "He can put a lot of stress on a defense; we can bump him out to be that third wide receiver at times, and we're excited about that."
Junior John Rabe (6-4, 248), a JUCO transfer, caught the ball and blocked well during the spring and is a solid No. 2. Rabe and Lair will be on the field together a lot, because Limegrover likes the way two versatile tight ends can keep a defense off balance.
Senior Colin McGarry (6-4, 252) is the third guy, and he's more of a blocker than a receiver. McGarry has battled injuries over the years but was mashing people during spring drills, and Limegrover loves what he can give the Gophers in short-yardage situations.
Offensive Line
Starters Matt Carufel, DJ Burris and Jeff Wills are gone from last season's offensive line. "Don't remind me," Limegrover said.
He's excited about some of the young talent in the program, though, and he's glad he has sophomore left tackle Ed Olson (6-7, 302) to build around.
"He's gonna be a great player, not just a good player but a great player," Limegrover said of Olson, who started eight games at the position as a redshirt freshman. "I'm not a big hyperbole guy, but I've never been around a kid who takes coaching like him. He takes it and he goes out and does it right away. He's like a sponge; he wants to be great and he puts in the extra time."
Three more seasons of Olson at that position is a comforting thought as Limegrover, who also serves as offensive line coach, tries to put everything else together. He has another returning starter at left guard in senior Chris Bunders (6-3, 304), and he has an intriguing player in senior Ryan Wynn (6-5, 293) at center.
Wynn was a starter at right tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2008, but back problems and surgeries have limited him. He missed the 2009 season and was a utility guy last season. A trainer told Limegrover that Wynn would be a four-year starter and star by now if not for the back issues, which have subsided.
The right side of the line is the bigger question mark. Senior Ryan Orton (6-4, 291) is ahead of sophomore Brooks Michel (6-7, 294) at right guard, but incoming freshman Tommy Olson (6-4, 275) -- younger brother of Ed -- also could contend there.
True freshmen rarely play right away at this position, but Olson has been around the program and may be equipped to defy that rule.
At right tackle, redshirt freshman Jimmy Gjere (6-7, 308) was leading in the spring before a concussion allowed more reps for others. Redshirt freshman Sean Ferguson (6-6, 312) stepped in and did well, making for a preseason camp competition there as well.
"We may need him quicker than he's ready," Limegrover said of Ferguson, who still lacks the instincts he'll need to play the position effectively.
The Gophers have a promising freshman in Josh Campion (6-5, 304), who had to go to Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy for a year after high school and attracted a lot of college attention there. He stuck with his original commitment to Minnesota and figures to be a significant piece of this line in the future.
"He's just got to get comfortable and cut it loose," Limegrover said. "He's such a good kid and doesn't want to make a mistake, but we've just got him to say, 'The hell with it' and play fast."
Campion has been working on the right side but will probably end up as Olson's backup at left tackle.
Defense
Defensive Line
Tracy Claeys will not sit back. Minnesota's new defensive coordinator wants his defensive line to attack, a switch from the way it played under the last regime.
"In the past they did more reading and reacting, and we're gonna be more aggressive," Claeys said. "We have to improve our sacks of the quarterback without having to blitz all the time. We're gonna turn these guys loose a little bit."
Minnesota managed a pitiful nine sacks last season, three from departed defensive lineman Jehwan Edwards. The other three starters are back, though, and Claeys thinks his front four could be the strength of the defense.
"Our defensive line had a really good spring, there's no question about it," Claeys said.
Senior Brandon Kirksey (6-2, 299) anchors the interior; he's a powerful player who can be disruptive. He's joined by returning starter Anthony Jacobs (6-2, 295), who played mostly end last year but will do most of his work inside as a senior.
"Jacobs is extremely athletic," Limegrover said.
Junior D.L. Wilhite (6-4, 237) is back at one end position and needs to make more plays. No. 1 at the other spot after spring ball is sophomore Kendall Gregory-McGhee (6-5, 253), although redshirt freshman Ben Perry (6-5, 248) showed some ability. Junior Leston Simpson (6-3, 251) adds depth.
One player with tremendous upside is reserve tackle Ra'Shede Hageman (6-6, 302), who has bounced around and is still trying to harness his physical ability.
"We moved him inside during spring ball and he came on pretty good during the last week," Claeys said. "It'll take him another year to develop into the kind of player we think he can be, but he's got a lot of upside to him."
Linebackers
Fans are no doubt excited about the addition of Brendan Beal (6-3, 245), a transfer from Florida with a lot of ability. But senior Gary Tinsley (6-1, 237) isn't just going to concede middle linebacker to Beal, not after leading the team with 90 tackles last season.
The good news for the Gophers is that Tinsley can slide to the Sam spot if Beal is ready inside, but right now it's a direct competition.
"Beal is right there," Claeys said. "He's trying to learn a new system, but he has the physical ability. I don't know if he can win that job, but that competition should be really good for both players."
At the Will position, junior Keanon Cooper (6-0, 217) is the man after a big spring. Cooper is just the kind of versatile player Claeys desires at that spot.
"Cooper is very athletic and he makes plays in space," Claeys said. "The way the game has changed, with people spreading you out and putting so much pressure on you that way, you have to have someone at that position that can make tackles in the open field. Keanon did a good job of that in the spring."
Junior Mike Rallis (6-2, 236) started six games last season and could play at either outside spot. It could be Rallis-Tinsley-Cooper, or it could be Tinsley-Beal-Cooper. So in a way, Rallis and Beal are competing for a starting position -- just different positions.
Defensive Backs
Although Claeys likes his defensive line the best among his units, the individual who has him most excited is junior cornerback Troy Stoudermire (5-10, 195). He moved from receiver to corner midway through last season because of injuries, and it was quickly apparent that's where he should have been all along.
"He has awfully good instincts for where and when the ball is gonna be thrown," Claeys said of Stoudermire, who is best known as a terrific return man. "I'm excited to watch him play for a full year. That's one position I don't worry about."
It may even be a position that alters game plans.
"It could be," Claeys said. "For us to be a good defense, Troy has to play well and be that kind of player."
The plan is for Stoudermire to play at boundary corner, which sees a lot of action and requires physicality in run support, though the Gophers went through the spring with right and left corners. The leader right now at what will be the field corner position is junior Michael Carter (5-11, 182). But senior Kyle Henderson (5-11, 178) and sophomore Brock Vereen (6-0, 181) are viable candidates, while senior Johnny Johnson (5-9, 202) is Stoudermire's backup. That's decent depth at cornerback. Safety, meanwhile, is a major worry.
Senior Kim Royston (5-11, 195) is back after missing last season and getting a sixth year because of a broken leg. He's a reliable free safety.
"We need him to stay healthy," Claeys said. "Injuries have been a problem at safety. The overall depth at safety is the No. 1 concern on this defense. After Kim it's just a big & it's a lot of young guys who were really inconsistent in the spring."
Sophomore James Manuel (6-2, 209) is No. 1 at strong safety, but nothing is set. Sophomore Kenny Watkins (6-0, 196) has talent but had an inconsistent spring.
Special Teams
Troy Stoudermire is one of the best kick returners in the nation. He averaged 27.2 per return last season and is just 190 yards away from breaking the all-time NCAA record for kick return yards.
Punt return is less certain for Minnesota. Sophomore Jake Filkins (6-2, 197) returns as the team's long snapper.
Eric Ellestad is gone after a strong career in Minneapolis, leaving the job to sophomore Chris Hawthorne (6-4, 180). He is a transfer from NC State who enrolled in the spring.
Hawthorne walked on for the Wolfpack and saw action when the starting kicker was injured. Against Wake Forest, Hawthorne was 5-of-5 on PATs and kicked a 25-yard field goal.
A former soccer player, Hawthorne has played football for only two years, but he's turned himself into a versatile guy who can also kick off and punt.
Sophomore Dan Orseske (6-3, 214) won the starting job in 2009 and was terrific in the first two games before mononucleosis forced him to redshirt.
He was somewhat disappointing last season, averaging 36.1 yards per punt, while placing 15 punts inside the 20.
Newcomers
Receiver Marcus Jones is a good bet to help right away. The product of Roleson (N.C.) High School played both ways in 2010 and was a well-regarded defensive back among recruiting analysts. As a running back, he ran for 797 yards on just 98 carries and scored 19 touchdowns.
Another recruit who could impact the receiver corps is Ge'Shun Harris, who like Jones enrolled early and was able to take part in spring practice. Last season he caught 47 passes for 612 yards and six scores.
Offensive linemen Josh Campion and Tommy Olson could be in the playing group right away. Four defensive backs are part of the class, and they could have a chance in a secondary that is thin, especially at safety.
Blue Ribbon Analysis
Kill has a new team in a transitioning league. The Gophers are in the Big Ten's Legends division, along with Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern and Big Ten newcomer Nebraska.
He also has a brutal opening assignment. Minnesota must start at USC, an ABC telecast that will not allow the Gophers to ease into things. Minnesota then hosts New Mexico State, Miami (Ohio) and North Dakota State before Big Ten play begins.
The Gophers miss Penn State and Ohio State and get Nebraska and rival Wisconsin at home. Still, a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility would be a major achievement in Kill's debut season, considering this team's defensive deficiencies and unproven passing game.
That is a very nice job on the Preview by espn. Seems to give good insights on how things are developing. It certainly gives me a good idea of the depth chart for the fall. Thank you for posting Stocker08.