BleedGopher
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per ESPN:
Last year’s record: 9-4 (5-4)
Key returning players: RB Rodney Smith, RB Shannon Brooks, LB Jonathan Celestin, LB Blake Cashman, WR Rashad Still
Key losses: QB Mitch Leidner, WR Drew Wolitarsky, DB Jalen Myrick, DB Damarius Travis
Reason for optimism: The college football world has yet to find the bottom of P.J. Fleck's well of infectious optimism. The new coach's unique brand of leadership helped build Western Michigan into a Group of 5 powerhouse. Now he starts over with a Gophers team that won nine games a season ago and returns some talented players in important places.
Cause for concern: Depth, especially in the trenches. The Gophers put together a solid pass rush (37 sacks) last season, but doing so again will require that they avoid the injury bug. Defensive tackle Steven Richardson provides a good anchor up front, but developing a rotation on the edges of the line will be a project to start the season. Losing two talented starters from the secondary also leaves that group without margin for injury.
X factor: Minnesota as a whole might be the Big Ten's most intriguing X-factor this season. The Gophers can make things interesting in the West, especially if they find a way to develop a passing game to go with two good running backs. Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft both will get a chance to win the quarterback job during the first couple of weeks of the season. Fleck, a former receiver himself, developed some good pass-catchers at Western Michigan. If Rashad Still can transform into a consistent playmaker this season, that would be a significant step in the right direction.
Game to watch: Sept. 30 vs. Maryland
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...can-anyone-slow-down-ohio-state-or-penn-state
Go Gophers!!
Last year’s record: 9-4 (5-4)
Key returning players: RB Rodney Smith, RB Shannon Brooks, LB Jonathan Celestin, LB Blake Cashman, WR Rashad Still
Key losses: QB Mitch Leidner, WR Drew Wolitarsky, DB Jalen Myrick, DB Damarius Travis
Reason for optimism: The college football world has yet to find the bottom of P.J. Fleck's well of infectious optimism. The new coach's unique brand of leadership helped build Western Michigan into a Group of 5 powerhouse. Now he starts over with a Gophers team that won nine games a season ago and returns some talented players in important places.
Cause for concern: Depth, especially in the trenches. The Gophers put together a solid pass rush (37 sacks) last season, but doing so again will require that they avoid the injury bug. Defensive tackle Steven Richardson provides a good anchor up front, but developing a rotation on the edges of the line will be a project to start the season. Losing two talented starters from the secondary also leaves that group without margin for injury.
X factor: Minnesota as a whole might be the Big Ten's most intriguing X-factor this season. The Gophers can make things interesting in the West, especially if they find a way to develop a passing game to go with two good running backs. Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft both will get a chance to win the quarterback job during the first couple of weeks of the season. Fleck, a former receiver himself, developed some good pass-catchers at Western Michigan. If Rashad Still can transform into a consistent playmaker this season, that would be a significant step in the right direction.
Game to watch: Sept. 30 vs. Maryland
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...can-anyone-slow-down-ohio-state-or-penn-state
Go Gophers!!