ESPN: Spring previews: Legends Division

[BleedGopher]

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/45598/spring-previews-legends-division

MINNESOTA

Spring practice start date: March 22
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

The search for a pass rush: Minnesota should be improved on offense in Year 2 of the Jerry Kill era, but the team could sink or swim depending on the defense. It starts up front with a defensive line that hasn't generated much pressure for several years. Coordinator Tracy Claeys wants to be aggressive, but can he find difference-makers? The Gophers haven't had an elite pass-rusher since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008.

Supporting cast on offense: Although quarterback MarQueis Gray had his ups and downs in 2012, he accounted for most of Minnesota's offense, leading the team with 966 rush yards and six touchdowns. Gray needs more help if the Gophers intend to take the next step in 2012. Minnesota will be looking for a featured running back this spring, as Donnell Kirkwood and others are in the mix. The Gophers also need more options at receiver after losing Da'Jon McKnight.

Troy Stoudermire: Stoudermire turned heads last spring with some big hits from the cornerback spot. After receiving an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA in January, he'll look to deliver more punishment. Minnesota desperately needs leaders and playmakers to emerge in the secondary, and Stoudermire's return could be huge after he missed most of the 2011 season with a broken bone in his forearm.

Go Gophers!!

 

[Killjoy]

Do they actually pay people to write this dribble? The difference between MV's writing about the Gophers and these guys is about the same as somebody in grade school and a professional writer. They should be embarrassed to publish this fluff.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

"dribble"? LOL.

 

[Killjoy]

"dribble"? LOL.

Per the dictionary it has several meanings but this the one I was using is "a small quantity or supply".

 

[Deleted_User]

Leaves us all to speculate

The summary gives no credit and only leaves doubt. Junk!

 

[oleboy41]

Do they actually pay people to write this dribble? The difference between MV's writing about the Gophers and these guys is about the same as somebody in grade school and a professional writer. They should be embarrassed to publish this fluff.

You have to remember that MV and others like him focus on ONLY the Gophers and put out material whenver they want/can. The guys that write for national sites need to write about 12 teams and constantly pump out info. They're not analyzing 3rd and 4th string safeties. That's why there is the niche there is for local writers.

 

[Monty519]

You have to remember that MV and others like him focus on ONLY the Gophers and put out material whenver they want/can. The guys that write for national sites need to write about 12 teams and constantly pump out info. They're not analyzing 3rd and 4th string safeties. That's why there is the niche there is for local writers.

Haha seriously, it feels like every Rittenberg blog post has someone ripping the content talking about how it doesn't say anything. Again, we at GH know more about the Gophers than Rittenberg will probably ever know. All he is simply doing is reporting what he's been told, what he's noticed from watching a game or two, and looking at stats. Don't look for in depth analysis from this guy, he's just simply telling a general audience what to watch for if they so happened to care at all about the Gophers.

 

[Unregistered User]

It's not like he's picking on the Gophers and giving them nothing more than a passing glance. Here is what he wrote about Iowa and Michigan. Keep in mind that the typical reader of this would be someone that does not frequent a board like this and appreciates seeing the "broad strokes" just to get a flavor of the league as a whole.


IOWA

Spring practice start date: March 24
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:
New coaching flavor: For the first time in the Kirk Ferentz era, Iowa will welcome new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Phil Parker isn't exactly new, having served as Iowa's defensive backs coach throughout Ferentz's tenure, but he now takes charge of the defense for the first time. Will he continue running Norm Parker's scheme or shake things up? Iowa also will have a new offensive coordinator (yet to be named) and several new position coaches, including Reese Morgan, who moves from offensive line to defensive line.

Running back auditions: Iowa once again needs to identify a featured back after Marcus Coker transferred to Stony Brook in January. Coker basically was the team's rushing attack in 2011, accounting for 77.3 percent of the rushing yards and 61.9 percent of the carries. Jordan Canzeri and Jason White will compete with several other unproven players this spring. The good news is Iowa has had little trouble developing backs. Keeping them is another story.

Reloading the defensive line: The running backs might get more attention, but defensive line is Iowa's most pressing need entering the spring. The Hawkeyes lose three starters from the 2011 squad, including NFL prospect Mike Daniels at defensive tackle. While D-line historically has been a strength for Iowa, the Hawkeyes haven't had so much uncertainty in quite some time. Morgan, who hasn't coached on the defensive side, has his work cut out this spring.


MICHIGAN

Spring practice start date: March 17
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:
Defensive line rotation: It's a good thing head coach Brady Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison focus so much on the defensive line. The unit needs some extra attention this spring after losing standouts Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen. The defensive tackle spot will be particularly interesting. A lot of eyes will be on Will Campbell to see if the big man can finally blossom. Quinton Washington and others are in the mix.

Receiving orders: Michigan needs to develop more options in the passing game this spring. The team loses top wideout Junior Hemingway, and Darryl Stonum was dismissed from the squad in January following another legal issue. Roy Roundtree needs a big spring as he looks to re-establish himself as the team's No. 1 wideout after a production drop-off in 2011. Tight end Kevin Koger also departs, creating an opportunity for others.

Al Borges' offense, Take 2: The new offense had some highs and lows in Year 1, and Michigan will be looking to establish greater consistency for the 2012 season. It'll be interesting to see how a full year in the system impacts quarterback Denard Robinson. Robinson must cut down on his interceptions after tossing 15 in 2011. The Wolverines also are looking for an offensive line anchor following the departure of All-America center David Molk.

 

[It's a Pig Man!]

Per the dictionary it has several meanings but this the one I was using is "a small quantity or supply".

I think the word you were looking for is drivel

drivel - Stupid or senseless talk.

 

[GopherHomer]

You have to remember that MV and others like him focus on ONLY the Gophers and put out material whenver they want/can. The guys that write for national sites need to write about 12 teams and constantly pump out info. They're not analyzing 3rd and 4th string safeties. That's why there is the niche there is for local writers.

I see what you're saying, but I think you're being too kind to these national guys. It's their JOB to know about each team in the conference. In the same way that, because I'm in sales, it's my job to know about ALL of our products. I love MV's blog and it's existence provides even less of an alibi for national writers...if they don't know much about a program, they should be expected to do some research and read articles from people that do. Professional writers can pump out articles with very little effort, they have a lot of down time to become experts on 12 organizations.

 

[nsmike]

I sometimes wonder how much Rittenberg knows about football. If he watched the games, and was paying attention, he would have seen that the DB's often played back, giving the opposing QB his first option. I don't care how good the D line is, if you give the QB his first read, he's going to be hard to sack. Oh gee wizz, we recruited six DB's with speed, three of them JUCOs. You would think he had a clue.

 

[920/414 Gopher]

I think the word you were looking for is drivel

drivel - Stupid or senseless talk.

I dunno how he confused the two. It's mind-bottling. You know...when things are so crazy it gets your thoughts all trapped, like in a bottle.

 

[josh087]

Do they actually pay people to write this dribble? The difference between MV's writing about the Gophers and these guys is about the same as somebody in grade school and a professional writer. They should be embarrassed to publish this fluff.

The purpose of the synopsis isn't to give the reader "everything you need to know about minnesota football."

It is a quick look at the team, highlighting the biggest issues. I think the article does that. If you want player-by-player breakdowns, feel free to start your own blog or read MV. ESPN is giving the layperson a quick look at the team. Mission accomplished.

 

[Killjoy]

It's a Pig Man!

I think the word you were looking for is drivel

drivel - Stupid or senseless talk.

Actually one of the definitions given for dribble is drivel. I am old school and follow W.C. Fields philosophy that if you can't spell a word at least three different ways you are not very cleaver. Now let's see how you are going to cut that to pieces.

 

[Deleted_User]

Actually one of the definitions given for dribble is drivel. I am old school and follow W.C. Fields philosophy that if you can't spell a word at least three different ways you are not very cleaver. Now let's see how you are going to cut that to pieces.

+1

You know it is the off-season when we begin to eat our young.

 

[It's a Pig Man!]

Actually one of the definitions given for dribble is drivel. I am old school and follow W.C. Fields philosophy that if you can't spell a word at least three different ways you are not very cleaver. Now let's see how you are going to cut that to pieces.

fair enough, I wasn't trying to attack you or anything I just thought it was an honest mistake. I certainly meant no offense by it.

out of curiosity, where did you get this definition from?

 

[Unregistered User]

Actually one of the definitions given for dribble is drivel. I am old school and follow W.C. Fields philosophy that if you can't spell a word at least three different ways you are not very cleaver. Now let's see how you are going to cut that to pieces.

"Ah, the patter of little feet around the house. There's nothing like having a midget for a butler." - W.C. Fields

 

[Killjoy]

It's a Pig Man

fair enough, I wasn't trying to attack you or anything I just thought it was an honest mistake. I certainly meant no offense by it.

out of curiosity, where did you get this definition from?

I am sorry that my humor is so bad but I was just having a little fun. I expect nobody understood the humor in my comment that "I am old school and follow W.C. Fields philosophy that if you can't spell a word at least three different ways you are not very cleaver. Now let's see how you are going to cut that to pieces."

To tell the truth when I originally wrote dribble I thought that is not right, so I looked it up and to my surprise I found out that it could be used in place of drivel. Since it could, I left it in to see if I get any comments and I did. The dictionary I used was:

http://dictionary.reference.com/

Lastly, I apologize again. I am afraid this is what happens when there is not much going on with Gopher football and one becomes bored. Therefore keep on writing more of those great articles and hopefully I will be able to behave.

 

[It's a Pig Man!]

Oh don't worry it's all good, I just wanted to make it clear that my intention was not to offend.

FWIW, apparentlly drivel can also mean to allow saliva to flow from the mouth and that's what makes it synonymous with dribble.

 

[ncgo4]

This was a great preview of the Gophers. We were not good last year and we did not have a particularly strong recruiting class. We were at the tail end of the Big 10 and nothing on paper points to a resurgence.

I believe that Kill & Co will surprise us next year. However, no professional analyst looking at the players we lost and the ones we brought in is stupid enough to say, "This team is going to rock."

The good news is that if Kill coaches us "up", we'll surprise a lot of people. Certainly, any recruits will look at us as a place with a lot of available playing time. Coupled with two or three additional victories we will point to a team heading on up.

In the mean time, don't complain about a review that couldn't have been written any differently.

 

[highwayman]

"Ah, the patter of little feet around the house. There's nothing like having a midget for a butler." - W.C. Fields

“I never hold a grudge. As soon as I get even with the son-of-a bitch, I forget it.”

“Whilst traveling through the Andes Mountains, we lost our corkscrew. Had to live on food and water for several days.”

" 'Twas a woman who drove me to drink. I never had the courtesy to thank her."

Secretary: "It must be hard to lose your mother-in-law."
W.C. Fields: "Yes it is, very hard. It's almost impossible."

"I'll be sober tomorrow, but you'll be crazy for the rest of your life.''

--My friend Dave used a variant of the last one on a Budgie fan last season when Sconnie was in town. "Oh, yeah? The Gophers are going to get better and better, but you'll still be an assh0le!"