Fox 9: Gophers football: What will the 2023 defense look like?

[BleedGopher]

Per Fox 9:

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Gophers need to generate a consistent pass rush this season, they had only 19 sacks in 13 games last year. That effort starts up front, and P.J. Fleck says as many as eight or nine players will rotate in and get snaps on the line. The unit is led by Danny Striggow, Jalen Logan-Redding, Kyler Baugh and Jah Joyner. Those four combined four seven sacks last season.

Also, don’t sleep on Deven Eastern, Darnell Jefferies, Chris Collins and Anthony Smith, who at 6-6 and 285 pounds was one of the standouts of fall camp.

LINEBACKER

What we know is that Cody Lindenberg is new the middle of the Gophers’ defense, handed the torch from Mariano Sori-Marin. The former Anoka standout is ready after finishing last season with 71 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack in 13 games.

What we don’t know is who plays alongside him, and who steps in if he gets hurt? The names to watch are Devon Williams, who played a ton with the first-team defense in fall camp. Maverick Baranowski, Joey Gerlach and Ryan Selig are also competing for playing time. The role alongside Lindenberg has been one of the more intriguing battles of fall camp.

SECONDARY

Jordan Howden and Terell Smith are gone from the secondary. The unquestioned leaders of the back unit this season are Tyler Nubin and Justin Walley. Nubin has garnered several preseason accolades after collecting 58 tackles, and leading the defense last year with four interceptions. Walley had 39 tackles and three interceptions.

After those two, it gets a little cloudier in the secondary with less recognizable names. Some of the ones to watch are Tre’Von Jones, Tyler Bride, Za’Quan Bryan, Aidan Gousby, Tariq Watson, Darius Green and Coleman Bryson. The Gophers are also waiting on an NCAA waiver decision on Craig McDonald, which would give the defense a big boost if he’s eligible.

Gophers football: What will the 2023 defense look like?

The Gophers defense will feature many new faces in 2023, but the standard remains the same under Joe Rossi.

www.fox9.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[PMWinSTP]

Just like every year, new players will step up and fill the void.

 

[BleedGopher]

Just like every year, new players will step up and fill the void.

Next man up, if you will.

Go Gophers!!

 

[short ornery norwegian]

the secondary is going to be very interesting to watch. from what I've read online and heard from Ryan Burns and others, it sounds as if the starters and rotational players are still being sorted out.

I mean, we know Walley and Nubin will start - but beyond that - who starts at the other S and CB?
who plays Nickle CB? how about the Dime package?

don't get me wrong - I assume the coaches have a plan, including various options. But they operate under the Cone of Silence. for the fans, we won't know until we see what happens on Thursday.

 

[Dakota2]

the secondary is going to be very interesting to watch. from what I've read online and heard from Ryan Burns and others, it sounds as if the starters and rotational players are still being sorted out.

I mean, we know Walley and Nubin will start - but beyond that - who starts at the other S and CB?
who plays Nickle CB? how about the Dime package?

don't get me wrong - I assume the coaches have a plan, including various options. But they operate under the Cone of Silence. for the fans, we won't know until we see what happens on Thursday.

The cone of silence is also known as coaches watching practice and taking all the time needed to make decisions on personnel.

Can you imagine fans in Ann Arbor and Columbus being all in a tizzy about who is going to replace the 6-8 guys they lose every year to the NFL? Nope, they know coaches have recruited well and the pipeline is full of guys with same level of ability waiting for their chance.

Minnesota is recruiting well and our development of young players is excellent. We will be fine in the secondary.

 

[Cobra]