Gopher Football Roster Updated

[minibeaver]

I completely disagree. Who cares if you "have to" rely on Huff? He was very effective in a limited role. We aren't going to have a Joey Bosa at end probably, the staff knows, and they are dialing up different solutions to get more pressure on the QB. More 3-4 looks, pressure coming from different spots on the field, who cares as long as it works? We don't need to have a base 4-3, with 4 guys rushing the QB and getting pressure consistently. We just need to pressure the QB consistently. I like the new approach and thought it worked well in the bowl game.

The other component to this is: how strong is our D backfield? The last few years having a strong d backfield has allowed us to do some different types of things, and also gives the front more time (usually) to get to the QB. I think we'll be good back there this year, which will take SOME of the pressure off the line to get to the QB.

All that said, just looking at the line I think we won't be any worse off than we were last year. Interior will be upgraded from last year, maybe that will free up the ends a bit more?

If ever there's a time to be positive, it's the off season!

 

[John Galt]

I completely disagree. Who cares if you "have to" rely on Huff? He was very effective in a limited role. We aren't going to have a Joey Bosa at end probably, the staff knows, and they are dialing up different solutions to get more pressure on the QB. More 3-4 looks, pressure coming from different spots on the field, who cares as long as it works? We don't need to have a base 4-3, with 4 guys rushing the QB and getting pressure consistently. We just need to pressure the QB consistently. I like the new approach and thought it worked well in the bowl game.

I guess I'm not in the camp that Huff was "very effective." He showed some flashes, but he probably had what, 2 sacks and a few QB pressures all season? If he ends up with 8-10 sacks this year and a lot of QB hurries I'll change my mind.

 

[John Galt]

The other component to this is: how strong is our D backfield? The last few years having a strong d backfield has allowed us to do some different types of things, and also gives the front more time (usually) to get to the QB. I think we'll be good back there this year, which will take SOME of the pressure off the line to get to the QB.

All that said, just looking at the line I think we won't be any worse off than we were last year. Interior will be upgraded from last year, maybe that will free up the ends a bit more?

If ever there's a time to be positive, it's the off season!

The interior is solid and we have as much depth as I've seen in my lifetime. If we have an injury to Elmore or Ekpe, who makes up our DE rotation? It's scary thin...

 

[Urbandale]

I guess I'm not in the camp that Huff was "very effective." He showed some flashes, but he probably had what, 2 sacks and a few QB pressures all season? If he ends up with 8-10 sacks this year and a lot of QB hurries I'll change my mind.

I'm camping nowhere near your site in that case. He would have been on my short list for MVP of the bowl game. And I don't think 8-10 sacks is a realistic bar to set. That's rarefied air for a Gopher defender.

 

[Section2]

I guess I'm not in the camp that Huff was "very effective." He showed some flashes, but he probably had what, 2 sacks and a few QB pressures all season? If he ends up with 8-10 sacks this year and a lot of QB hurries I'll change my mind.

He was probably the defensive MVP for the TCU game. And he didn't play much at all. The staff is aware that we can't get the 3 down DEs who can get sacks consistently. we'll be using rush ends like Huff and more LB blitzes to get pressure. Point being, pressure is the goal, it doesn't really matter who gets the pressure.

 

[Section2]

The interior is solid and we have as much depth as I've seen in my lifetime. If we have an injury to Elmore or Ekpe, who makes up our DE rotation? It's scary thin...

We go more 3-4, we have a ton of LBs

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I guess I'm not in the camp that Huff was "very effective." He showed some flashes, but he probably had what, 2 sacks and a few QB pressures all season? If he ends up with 8-10 sacks this year and a lot of QB hurries I'll change my mind.

There were only 4 players in the entire Big 10 that had over 7 sacks last year. That's a pretty high standard. If Huff has six sacks next season, he will have been an effective spot pass rushing LB.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

The interior is solid and we have as much depth as I've seen in my lifetime. If we have an injury to Elmore or Ekpe, who makes up our DE rotation? It's scary thin...

Yeah, we are scary thin at DE. After our starters, we have the great unknown. I hope Jerry Gibson's move to DE turns out as well as Troy Stoudemire's move to CB. I hope Kafo and Winston have developed into contributors. Heck, maybe one of those smaller FR DE turn out to be like Steven Richardson in his FR season. But in reality, it's the great unknown and that's not a good spot to be in for a Big 10 football team.

 

[caliGopher]

Weep for defensive end this season, it's the biggest weakness on our entire team. Having to rely on Huff to generate a pass rush is desperation, not a season long solution. Neither is relying on a true freshman LB. The fact is Elmore and Ekpe have not proven yet they can ever get pressure on a QB, and behind them we have Kafo, who probably has about 20 career snaps to his name, and Winston D. who hasn't yet seen the field. Weep my friends... our ineptitude with DE recruiting will probably be on full display this season.

Agree that Huff was a gimmick, not a solution. It worked a little, didn't work as often as not. The challenge I have for your "we don't have a chance" attitude is that we altered the scheme last year. With the significant injuries we had on the D-line, the Ends were used in a different way. If (and that is a big IF) the DTs hold up better this year, we should be able to do more from the End and with various players on blitz packages. Hard to criticize guys for not getting to the QB when it was obvious at times the call was designed to use the DEs in a different way.

 

[minibeaver]

As mentioned before, and mentioned by the staff, they will be using a 3-4 at times this year right? Maybe we go 3-4 on obvious passing downs? That would give us a few more options to put pressure on the QB.