Good Class, Now Where Are the Holes, If Any?

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Tater

f.k.a. "Tubtastic"
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Much has been made about this year's class being solid and filling our needs well, even though it lacks the overall number of recruits we've had in the past or the number of 4+ kids we had last year. I tend to agree that except for the defensive line. I think we're really going to miss Willie Van DeSteeg and think that 2009's D-line could be 2008's O-line (that is, needs improvement). Please convince me I'm wrong.

My question to everyone is, where are our holes of the team and needs for next year's class?
 

DLine and the secondary. We have playmakers in each area, just not enough depth. That's going to be our weakness next year.
 

Tubtastic said:
Much has been made about this year's class being solid and filling our needs well, even though it lacks the overall number of recruits we've had in the past or the number of 4+ kids we had last year. I tend to agree that except for the defensive line. I think we're really going to miss Willie Van DeSteeg and think that 2009's D-line could be 2008's O-line (that is, needs improvement). Please convince me I'm wrong.

My question to everyone is, where are our holes of the team and needs for next year's class?
Click to expand...

Well, looking at the current roster, it looks like we have a seven DEs and four DTs. We just picked up another DE (maybe two -- depending on where they put Gregory-McGhee) and two DTs. We may be a bit thin but it doesn't look too bad.
 

I don't think we have any more holes. Depth and experience?, yeah.

I'm not sure you can really replace Willie, but we have a solid guys to plug into his spot and the rest of the line will improve. So if you look at his spot, we take a step back, but if you look at the overall unit, I think we get much better.

For me, after watching how long it took for the new guys to find their groove this year, the big question is how long before this class impacts. Also how long does it take the coaching staff to figure out who plays and when. I think it's reasonable to expect at least half the season. In which case our tougher NC schedule could be troublesome.
 

There are more questions than answers right now. I think this is what I know:

1. Weber will be the starting QB and Gray is the likely backup.
2. Bennett will be one of the top 2 RBs.
3. Decker, Green, and Hayo are the favorites to start at WR. Pittman and Smith are also likely to see significant playing time.
4. Nick Tow-Arnett will be one of the top 2 TEs on the depth chart
5. Cedric McKinley and Derrick Onwauchi will be 2 of the top 3 DEs on the depth chart
6. Garrett Brown and Eric Small will start at DT with Jewhan Edwards being a big contributer
7. Simoni Lawrence will start at LB with Lee Campbell a likely starter as well.
8. Traye Simmons will start at CB. Marcus Sherels likely will start as well.
9. Kyle Theret and Kim Royston will likely be 2 of the top 3 safeties on the depth chart.

That's about it. There are many more questions. I'll try to list some of the more important questions...

1. How will the new power running game affect the RB rotation? Will someone like Lipscomb see early PT because of his size?
2. Tow-Arnett will play some major minutes at TE but who will join him as the other primary TE? Hageman? Lair? Hughes seems to be a goalline TE only.
3. The OL has 17 players that could be in the 2 deep. I could project the starting 5 and wouldn't be surprised if I missed on all 5 come September. Who will win the battles at the 5 positions. There really is nothing promised to anyone (compared to Decker being a guarantee to start at WR for example). I wouldn't even know where to begin with a depth chart at OL. Who adds muscle in the offseason? Too many questions here.
4. Most defensive end rotations include 4 or 5 players. Who are those players and what's the rotation? Can Henderson or Jacobs beat out Onwauchi for a starting spot? What about Combs and Wilhite? Garin and Gregory-McGhee need to add weight so they probably are a year away.
5. Who starts along side Lawrence and Campbell at LB? Maresh? Reeves? One of the other 6 players on the depth chart? Does Maresh possibly replace Campbell at ILB?
6. Who are the nickel and dime CBs? Stoudermire? Collado? Carter? Do any of them push BPT or Sherels?
7. Who takes over Brock's spot? Is Theret still a starter? The depth chart is unclear. What about Cooper?
 


Nice write up PS. I think though I'd put Kuznia at 3rd WR regardless of any rotation they might have. sure hands usually finds its way on the field. I wouldn't be surprised if he saw more snaps than all but Decker.
 

Some other folks to keep an eye on: Tinsley, Kirksey, and McKnight.
 

Last year we were 7-1 and talking junk. We found out real quickly how many weaknesses we had, particularly at O-line, receivers and d-backs. This year we've added speed, size and depth at all of these and more. Next year we will be better than this year. Assume that Brew can keep his ass't coaches for two more years (can you imagine such a thing?) with a slightly improved record and a beautiful, loud and filled stadium, next year's class could be a shocker to the football gurus.
 

I think Rallis will initially pick up the OLB spot and Cooper will fill in for Brock.
 



We need more than Weber to Decker

With double even some triple coverage Weber still fires to Decker, if Weber is taking any math, and the defense has eleven player. It would seem that 8 remain to play against 10. Someone needs to get open taken advantage of the mismatch, CATCH the ball, and take it to the house. Or provide a deep threat against the remaining safety. Someone, anyone? And Weber needs to see the field for what it is, 10 on 8.
 

There is no reason to belive Brock won't be back

At least that was the impression Coach Brewster gave.
 

Besides Decker, our entire WR group had very little or no experience last year. Kuznia didn't have a career reception before last year, Pittman was playing WR for the first time in college, and the rest were mostly true freshmen. You have to think that having more experience going into 2009 will certainly help.
 

Big hole at DT down the road if Searcy doesnt get in. I think the secondary will be improved for a 3rd year in a row. There is more depth now then there was last year, along with more experience.
 



Going into this recruiting cycle, Defensive Backs seemed to be a focus, and that was before Brock's Gopher career went on life support. Carter's last minute signing was huge, but Paiges defection to follow Roof still hurts our depth. Pass coverage improved from its historically awful level (an area that Mason's cupboards were most barren) to fair to bad at time this season. Loosing Roof was a big blow. Several more high level recruits were sorely needed in this area to see some serious depth.
 

I like the added depth at D-back but I'm concerned that we won't have much of a pass rush. Without a pass rush, the best d-backs look like junk.... Who's going to get up field and put fear into an opposing QB.
 

ulfr said:
Going into this recruiting cycle, Defensive Backs seemed to be a focus, and that was before Brock's Gopher career went on life support. Carter's last minute signing was huge, but Paiges defection to follow Roof still hurts our depth. Pass coverage improved from its historically awful level (an area that Mason's cupboards were most barren) to fair to bad at time this season. Loosing Roof was a big blow. Several more high level recruits were sorely needed in this area to see some serious depth.
Click to expand...

Paige didn't defect to follow Roof. He didn't qualify academically to get into school.

Yes, losing Roof was big. Brewster's comment about Roof and loyalty leads me to believe he wanted Roof to stay. Roof seems like a good recruiter and he could have helped close the deal on some kids we were close to signing.
 

go4holer said:
DLine and the secondary. We have playmakers in each area, just not enough depth. That's going to be our weakness next year.
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I'm less concerned with depth in 2009 than I am in 2010.

D-line depth isn't going to be a problem next year, it will be a problem in 2010. We have 5 DT's next year that have received playing time at the college level (Brown, Small, Moen, Edwards, Kirkesy). We lost 0 DT's so by adding any (there are 2 signed) we have more depth than in 2008. However, three of the DT's are seniors which creates the problem for 2010. We need Searcy and Jasquez to step in and be ready to help in 2010. We will also need to add another two freshman for 2010 and I wouldn't be surprised to see a Juco addition.

We lost our best DE in Van De Steeg but everybody else is back. The depth is adequate here but we need someone to step up and make up for the loss of sacks. Can Jacobs or Henderson step up and fill the void and challenge Onwauchi & McKinley for a starting spot?

Secondary will be thin next year if Brock doesn't return. If a freshman (Carter, Lewis, Watkins) steps up or Dandridge, Johnson or possibly Stoudermire moving back to CB steps up it would solidify the depth and answer some questions. We graduate both of the returning starting CB's after next year and even if Brock returns he is done after 2009. That leave Royston, Theret, Dandridge, Watkins and any future recruits as our safeties in 2010. The CB position is much thinner with Carter likely projecting as our #1 CB in 2010. After Carter we have Lewis (who could also line up as safety), Collado, Johnson, Stoudermire having to fill the other CB position, nickel back, and dime back positions. It seems likely we will still target CB in next year's class and I would be surprised if we don't take at least two freshman CB's and a Juco in the 2010 class.

The other position that has some question marks is LB. I'm less concerned with depth because we have a lot of talented players there but we have never seen Maresh, Cooper, Reeves, Singleton and Grant play at the college level. I'm assuming Rallis moves to OLB but we haven't seen him at LB yet. The only LB that has seen game action at LB that will still be here in 2010 is Gary Tinsley and he has only played junk minutes at LB.
 

WR's stepping up.

husker70 said:
With double even some triple coverage Weber still fires to Decker, if Weber is taking any math, and the defense has eleven player. It would seem that 8 remain to play against 10. Someone needs to get open taken advantage of the mismatch, CATCH the ball, and take it to the house. Or provide a deep threat against the remaining safety. Someone, anyone? And Weber needs to see the field for what it is, 10 on 8.
Click to expand...

This is where the new OC comes in. Last year the offense was so complicated that the freshmen WR's couldn't figure it out and get open regularly enough to get Weber's attention. Fisch promises to see what he's got and design an offense to use it. Provided the OL improves as much as we think, that should work well for everyone, including the running game and the passing game! :D
 

Hard to talk about holes. There will always be a need to improve the talent level of the guys that are brought in regardless of position.

Brewster does it right. He has recruited good athletes across-the-board and now he has to develop them.

I hope he just keeps doing what he's doing. If we need to concentrate on a specific area in the short term, go to the JCs. If not, get top-level HS seniors to commit.
 

Pewterschmidt said:
There are more questions than answers right now. I think this is what I know:

1. Weber will be the starting QB and Gray is the likely backup.
2. Bennett will be one of the top 2 RBs.
*Given the amount of injuries the Gophers had last year, depth at both positions is not only welcome, but needed. The Gophers are at the very least solid at both QB and RB now.

3. Decker, Green, and Hayo are the favorites to start at WR. Pittman and Smith are also likely to see significant playing time.

* Given his play late last year, Stoudemire deserves some time there as well!

4. Nick Tow-Arnett will be one of the top 2 TEs on the depth chart

A quality TE each year, like QB, and the Gophers are fine. Lair and Hageman are moer then solid depth. They will start to show why they are rated as high as they are.

5. Cedric McKinley and Derrick Onwauchi will be 2 of the top 3 DEs on the depth chart 6. Garrett Brown and Eric Small will start at DT with Jewhan Edwards being a big contributer

- I have to agree that WVDS is going to be hard to replace! Otherwise looking very solid and good. Next year may need a little love and attention though!

7. Simoni Lawrence will start at LB with Lee Campbell a likely starter as well.
8. Traye Simmons will start at CB. Marcus Sherels likely will start as well.
9. Kyle Theret and Kim Royston will likely be 2 of the top 3 safeties on the depth chart.

- I think the LBs are looking pretty good (though Gainer would have been a help) and the DB are looking much better. Call me nieve, but I think Brock will be back. He has way to much to play for. At the very least an UDFA signing if not a late round pick in the draft.


That's about it. There are many more questions. I'll try to list some of the more important questions...

1. How will the new power running game affect the RB rotation? Will someone like Lipscomb see early PT because of his size?
2. Tow-Arnett will play some major minutes at TE but who will join him as the other primary TE? Hageman? Lair? Hughes seems to be a goalline TE only.
3. The OL has 17 players that could be in the 2 deep. I could project the starting 5 and wouldn't be surprised if I missed on all 5 come September. Who will win the battles at the 5 positions. There really is nothing promised to anyone (compared to Decker being a guarantee to start at WR for example). I wouldn't even know where to begin with a depth chart at OL. Who adds muscle in the offseason? Too many questions here.
4. Most defensive end rotations include 4 or 5 players. Who are those players and what's the rotation? Can Henderson or Jacobs beat out Onwauchi for a starting spot? What about Combs and Wilhite? Garin and Gregory-McGhee need to add weight so they probably are a year away.
5. Who starts along side Lawrence and Campbell at LB? Maresh? Reeves? One of the other 6 players on the depth chart? Does Maresh possibly replace Campbell at ILB?
6. Who are the nickel and dime CBs? Stoudermire? Collado? Carter? Do any of them push BPT or Sherels?
7. Who takes over Brock's spot? Is Theret still a starter? The depth chart is unclear. What about Cooper?
Click to expand...

All that to say good breakdown.

Next year, along with the normal recruiting for positions, I think DL and WR will continue to be the main focus. Another RB and QB. The big thing though is to start getting less JUCOs and focus more on HS grads!

Hopefully the top MN players (Henderson and the recruit from the iron range among them) will see more of the UofM as a place they want to be rather than a fall back consideration. I think the top players are starting to look at the U as a team they want to be a part of.
 

Needs

This year is like any other year. We are shallow and thin at every single position on the field. We need help everywhere.

There was one bright, shining moment in recent Gopher football history where we didn't need help at one or two positions. For about 20-30 months we didn't need help at running back or the interior of the offensive line. The exception that proves my rule.

Other than that, we are perennially desperate.

Wish we had a quick-fix running back this year. Hopefully one of the receivers will work out right away. And if Royston or Brock is not an option, we're in trouble before the first snap. Of course, all of this is moot if our offensive line returns in the same shape. Lord have mercy!
 

Studwell55 said:
This year is like any other year. We are shallow and thin at every single position on the field. We need help everywhere.

There was one bright, shining moment in recent Gopher football history where we didn't need help at one or two positions. For about 20-30 months we didn't need help at running back or the interior of the offensive line. The exception that proves my rule.

Other than that, we are perennially desperate.

Wish we had a quick-fix running back this year. Hopefully one of the receivers will work out right away. And if Royston or Brock is not an option, we're in trouble before the first snap. Of course, all of this is moot if our offensive line returns in the same shape. Lord have mercy!
Click to expand...

Not that concerned about the OL next year. Along with the players, Davis will have them up and running. Good depth there and looking good. They have something to build on now!
 

calminnfan said:
All that to say good breakdown.

Next year, along with the normal recruiting for positions, I think DL and WR will continue to be the main focus. Another RB and QB. The big thing though is to start getting less JUCOs and focus more on HS grads!

Hopefully the top MN players (Henderson and the recruit from the iron range among them) will see more of the UofM as a place they want to be rather than a fall back consideration. I think the top players are starting to look at the U as a team they want to be a part of.
Click to expand...

By the recruit from the Iron Range, do you mean Gjere from Irondale? Irondale is the name of the public HS in New Brighton. I have no idea where the name comes from.

I agree with your thought that top players appear to see more reasons to be a Gopher and less reasons to leave Minnesota. I think Henderson is going to give the U a real shot so hopefully Davis can whip the line in to shape and show Henderson why he should be a Gopher.
 

Running with little depth at DT, any chance that we may see a few 3-4 packages?
This would allow Campbell and Maresh both to get some time on the field at ILB and/or have Garin play standing up for the first year.
 

I agree we should see more 3-4. I think we will have a ton of speed at LB next year. With the speed that Lawrence, Reeves, and Cooper will have at LB. I think it would be fun to see those guys on the field at the same time. I know those 3 are all outside linebackers, but they all can come in and give the team more speed especially against spread offenses. I think our linebackers are gonna be our stongest point on our team for at least the next 3 to 4 years. And not saying we dont have good athletes on our D-line, but I think our linebackers are a much stronger unit all around than our line is, so why not put more of those guys on the field at certain times of the game.
 

I think it's tough to know where the holes will be next year without knowing how well some of the younger kids will play. Here's just a guess of what we may look at next year.

QB: I think Brewster wants a QB a year, but next year will be a real difficult year to get a quality kid to come to Minnesota with a Weber/Gray/Alipate depth chart staring him in the face.

RB: I hope this isn't a huge need, but we don't have a proven success on the roster. Eskridge was servicable last year and who knows how Bennett will look coming back from injury. Whaley and Lipscomb haven't taken a Big Ten snap. I think we are probably looking at a minimum of 2 RB's in next years class because we wanted 2 this year and only came away with one.

TE: Might be able to skip this position in '09 with Lair, Combs (I think he's at TE now), Gregory McGhee, and Hageman all on the roster.

OT: Obviously, Gjere and Henderson are targets. I think we take 2-3 OT's as I see Olson and Campion as guards more than tackles.

OG: Might go light here

OC: I think we will make every effort to bring in a top C as nobody in the program seems to play the position well

WR: We need speed at the position. Hayo will bring that element over 2 years, but our younger guys seem to be more possession types. I'd guess Brewster tries to bring in 2-3 receivers, hopefully one of them will be 6'3 or taller.


DT: Big need, probably need to add a JUCO DT for 2010 with only 3 on the roster. That said the 3 are pretty impressive recruits in Edwards, Kirksey, and Searcy.

DE: Another big need depending on how Garin and possibly Gregory McGhee develop. I'd say we take 5 Dlineman next year either 3 DE's and 2 DT's or 2 DE's and 3 DT's.

LB: Already added a MLB prospect, so I see Brewster trying to add two smaller guys that can run. A lot depends on how Maresh comes back and how guys like Tinsley, Reeves, and Cooper progress. We could think we have a great young nucleus at LB after this year or be looking for an immediate starter out of the 2010 class.

CB: The other position where I look for a JUCO as both Simmons and Sherels graduate. I hope the coaches have as much success recruiting JUCO CB's next year....just that they have the grades and/or don't decide to try boxing. I'd say 3 CB's 1 JUCO and 2 HS would be likely next year.

S: Brock will be gone (if he's not already) and that leaves us with Theret, Rallis (if he doesn't move to LB), Royston, Dandridge, Watkins, and possibly Lewis (through Brewster mentioned him as a CB today). I think we look for a safety with a lot of speed to play the Brock role going forward.

Kicker: Depends on how the walk on from Wisky does next year
 

Can't believe it took 26 posts for someone to bring up a kicker.

The Gophers need a "rock solid" kicker.
 

EG#9--Excellent post. I would like to add a few thoughts.

QB: Like you said, Brew wants one every year and they'll still go after an elite QB but if we get a 3-star that is a little bit more of a project I'm not at all concerned.

RB: I think they'll look to add 2. Lamonte Edwards is listed as an athlete and can play RB or LB but I think he'll end up at RB if he comes here. We'll also probably look to add a smaller spread type back.

WR: Bryant Allen is the one exception to your statement that the young receivers are more possession type than speed. Allen runs a sub-4.40 40 yard dash and I personally think he is one of the most underrated players in this class. He'll compete with Hayo to return punts. We already have a lot of offers outstanding to WR's so the Gophers are still targeting bringing in at least one elite WR (hopefully we can pull Davis from Skyline).

TE: We'll likely still add one TE in the class because it will be a big class and good TE's are hard to find. The fact that Rengel is grey-shirting makes it less of a need but there is a good prospect in upstate NY that had a father play for the Gophers so my guess is we go after him.

OL: Of the new recruits, I have a hard time seeing Michel at anywhere other than OT, Brewster said tonight that Campion could play C, G or T and Olson probably could fit in more than one spot along the line. From what I've heard Gjere actually projects as guard so that fills a different need. Henderson is the ideal bookend LT and we're going after a couple kids from Wisconsin. My guess is that we take 3-4 OL in next year's class.

DT/DL: I completely agree, we need to add 5. However, one correction, assuming no problems with anyone there should be 4 on the roster next year. You left out Eric Jacques who signed today. Rivals lists him as an OG but he played both ways and Brewster announced him as a DT.

MLB: After 2009 we'll be thin at MLB with Maresh as the only returning MLB on the roster (Tinsley can play OLB or MLB and now that I type that I'm not sure if Grant is a MLB or OLB). Therefore, I think we'll still target another MLB in this class. Zagzebski is projected as a MLB but there is still a chance he could be moved to DE if his speed doesn't get back to where it was. In any case, if we want to think about playing a 3-4 we need to add at least one more MLB.

OLB: We'll need to add two in the 2010 class. Our returning OLB's will be Cooper, Reeves, Tinsley (MLB too), Rallis (assuming he moves here), Singleton (expect him to RS in 2009, he needs to add 30 lbs).

CB: Your expectations are the exact same as I said earlier in the thread. 1 Juco, 2 freshman

S: In 2010 we'll have Royston (Sr), Theret (Sr), Dandridge (Jr), Watkins (So), Lewis--unless they have him at CB (So). We will need to add at minimum one Safety in the 2010 class but I expect that we will add two. We'll know more in 2009 whether we need to look at Juco or freshman but I suspect we'll go the freshman route because I'm pretty excited about the new safeties we have brought in to the program.

K: As fans we have no idea until we see Ellested and Schwermann (I think those are their names). From what I've heard the younger of the two kickers has the better leg.
 

Play the first six games on the schedule and the coaches will know where the holes are and where they will be when the seniors leave. Nothing like a little reality to chase away the hype.
 

PS Unless the football gods are kind, several of the non seniors will also not be on the team in two seasons as well.
 

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