Injury report

[Gopherprof]

We were all worried about linebackers last year and they recruited Damien Wilson and DeVondre Campbell and now it is a position of strength.

Wilson and Campbell were great additions, but our run defense this year continues to be bad and the depth beyond the starting lineup + Campbell is a concern.

I would agree that we at least have the numbers at linebacker, however, and the proper steps were made to get us going in the right direction.

 

[Gopherprof]

My point isn't about the quality of guys that we have, it's about numbers.

If you go back and look at the visitors from last year, we were in on a bunch of cornerbacks and missed out on all of them but Myrick. The staff at the time even mentioned how they wished they would have added more secondary depth.

With three guys graduating this year, that concern only goes up. 11 scholarship players for the entire secondary isn't nearly enough.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

My point is.

Your point is perched squarely on the top of your negative head. I keep reading your posts thinking eventually you will write something positive but I now see it isn't in the cards. I am adding you to my list of "who cares."

 

[Gopherprof]

Your point is perched squarely on the top of your negative head. I keep reading your posts thinking eventually you will write something positive but I now see it isn't in the cards. I am adding you to my list of "who cares."

Neat.

I also said in another thread that I thought we should be much bigger favorites against Penn State, but if you want to hear nothing but sunshine up your arse all day by all means.

11 defensive back scholarships isn't enough. It needs to be addressed. Hopefully it will be. That's not even negative, it's just obviously true, and the coaching staff more or less said as much on signing day.

 

[Spoofin]

IMO Eric Murray is our best cover corner. He blankets his guy and is in the right spot all the time. As soon as he learns to turn his head back to the pass he will be an All B1G CB. I hope that will happen next year. Could end up being one of the best CBs we've had around here in a while. Upside on this former 2-star recruit us HUGE.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Five cornerbacks on scholarship isn't nearly enough, especially when two of them have serious injury concerns. We play about 12 defensive backs most games. We should have, at minimum, 16 defensive backs on scholarship to account for this. We currently have 11 going into next season.

I don't disagree that we'll want to reload on the players we're losing & maybe add a Juco to balance the classes as usual & play Special teams. That said, we really only play 3 CB's on Defense, 4 in certain situations, so we're pretty stacked with what we've got returning. Realistically no Freshmen (Or Juco for that matter) is likely to leap-frog Wells, Murray, BBC & Myrick anyhow. It's definitely a position of strength, not weakness.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Five cornerbacks on scholarship isn't nearly enough, especially when two of them have serious injury concerns. We play about 12 defensive backs most games. We should have, at minimum, 16 defensive backs on scholarship to account for this. We currently have 11 going into next season.

Yes but only about 8 on Defense, the rest are on Special Teams. The Freshmen & Juco that we sign should step right in to fill the Special Teams void.

 

[jaymil]

Relying on Wells and BBC to be part of the CB rotation next year is risky IMO. BBC had an AP-like injury and not everyone can return to full strength from that. Derrick Wells seems like a great kid, but he's been incredibly disappointing the majority of his career, mostly because of injuries. Gopherprof is right, the depth at CB is concerning.

 

[Gopherprof]

Yes but only about 8 on Defense, the rest are on Special Teams. The Freshmen & Juco that we sign should step right in to fill the Special Teams void.

By my count it's higher than 8/12. Murray, Shabazz, Wells, Vereen, Jones, Baltazar, Thompson, Levine, Johnson and Travis all have played pretty regularly on defense. That's 10 of the 12. The only guys that are really strictly special teamers are Montgomery and Myrick.

 

[I've been to Duluth]

Also no reason BBC shouldn't be able to rehab his injury & be ready to go. It wasn't a career-ender.

Wasn't it pretty serious, though? Didn't he shred every ligament in his Knee?

I'm not very comfortable with the secondary depth, this year or next.

 

[DoubleB]

Does anyone one have any insight of Wells? Maybe he played yesterday and I missed it, but seems like the type of game where they would need him if healthy. Is his shoulder still bothering him, or am I just missing him when he is on the field?

Wells played, not sure how much but he missed the tackle towards the 10 yard lilne when the option pitched to the running back went for a TD when we blitzed and the safety and LB's took bad angles and the RB took off down the sidelines. Wells had a chance and a good angle but went for the legs and didnt tackle him. He is playing hurt and is not his normal self. We need healthy options back there

 

[Killjoy]

Your point is perched squarely on the top of your negative head. I keep reading your posts thinking eventually you will write something positive but I now see it isn't in the cards. I am adding you to my list of "who cares."

Gopherprof has made it clear in the past that he is not a fan of Jerry Kill or of people who like Kill. I certainly can't speak for Gropherprof but I wouldn't be surprised if his negativism is really about Jerry Kill.

 

[John Galt]

I'm all for bringing in a Juco for depth next year, but actually think we look to be in really good shape at the position.

There's no reason Wells shouldn't be healthy next season & poised for an All-B1G type Sr year. He injured his shoulder in game 2 or 3 & tried to play through it, but sitting down was the right choice. Hopefully he can sit out PSU + the Bye week & be back for Wisconsin, or at least healed up for the bowl game. Also no reason BBC shouldn't be able to rehab his injury & be ready to go. It wasn't a career-ender. Plus Eric Murray is playing ok as a starter & only going to be better next year. Add in Jaylen Myrick (who I think is going to be a star) who's played well in limited duty so far & on paper we've got one of the strongest CB rotations in Gopher history.

Sr-Wells
Jr- Murray
Jr- BBC
So- Myrick

I like all four of those guys, but the problem is that there's only four. Wells has been injured all year, BBC is an unknown due to the injury, and Myrick has only played special teams. Getting 3-4 DBs and 3 quality O-lineman should be the two biggest priorities. We have a lot of youth and guys redshirting at pretty much every other position. Vereen's versatility has been huge for us this year, as there is no way we're 7-2 if he couldn't play CB.

I keep telling myself that 1-2 of the RBs we're recruiting will end up at CB. We're recruiting 5-6 backs really hard, and I don't see how we need more than 1-2 with Edwards redshirting.

 

[John Galt]

Gopherprof has made it clear in the past that he is not a fan of Jerry Kill or of people who like Kill. I certainly can't speak for Gropherprof but I wouldn't be surprised if his negativism is really about Jerry Kill.

Disagree. GopherProf loves his squad and is fairly objective.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I like all four of those guys, but the problem is that there's only four. Wells has been injured all year, BBC is an unknown due to the injury, and Myrick has only played special teams. Getting 3-4 DBs and 3 quality O-lineman should be the two biggest priorities. We have a lot of youth and guys redshirting at pretty much every other position. Vereen's versatility has been huge for us this year, as there is no way we're 7-2 if he couldn't play CB.

I keep telling myself that 1-2 of the RBs we're recruiting will end up at CB. We're recruiting 5-6 backs really hard, and I don't see how we need more than 1-2 with Edwards redshirting.

Agree that out of those 4 the only one you can feel really confident about heading into next season is Murray. BBC is a major crap shoot as to how he comes back, after looking like a potential star last year Wells has been invisible for the most part this season, for one reason or another. As for Myrick he looks like a good athlete, as to his ability to play corner in the Big Ten....that one is still very up in the air. It will all work itself out but will be an interesting position to keep an eye on during spring and fall to see how it is going to shake out.

 

[tikited]

Steven Montgomery is still only a Sophomore so he could still surprise us & contribute at CB too.

Probably just me, but it seems like Montgomery has been here for years. I'd love to see him be more productive.

 

[jaymil]

Wells played, not sure how much but he missed the tackle towards the 10 yard lilne when the option pitched to the running back went for a TD when we blitzed and the safety and LB's took bad angles and the RB took off down the sidelines. Wells had a chance and a good angle but went for the legs and didnt tackle him. He is playing hurt and is not his normal self. We need healthy options back there

That was Marcus Jones. I'm almost positive Wells didn't play at all on Saturday.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

The biggest mistake made with Wells was moving him out of his safety spot.

 

[e.bigelow]

Anyone heard anything on Nelson? I know he came back and played, but in a post game interview, he mentioned "getting shot up" in the locker room when he got hurt, initially and came back out. Wondering if anyone has heard anything or what the specific injury was? I would guess, hip pointer? Maybe?

 

[killme]

Anyone heard anything on Nelson? I know he came back and played, but in a post game interview, he mentioned "getting shot up" in the locker room when he got hurt, initially and came back out. Wondering if anyone has heard anything or what the specific injury was? I would guess, hip pointer? Maybe?

It was a hip pointer. I saw an interview clip from him after the game where he said he got a couple of shots and they were already starting to wear off.

 

[John Galt]

That was Marcus Jones. I'm almost positive Wells didn't play at all on Saturday.

It was Jones. Travis took a terrible angle at the line of scrimmage and let the RB get outside, and Jones whiffed badly on his attempted tackle.

 

[e.bigelow]

It was a hip pointer. I saw an interview clip from him after the game where he said he got a couple of shots and they were already starting to wear off.

That is the interview I was referring to as well. Maybe I missed it if they said what it was in the interview.

 

[jaymil]

Yeah, I'm definitely worried about Nelson's availability this week. And if he can play, whether or not he'll be as effective. Leidner has done some good things but with the way Nelson is playing lately I feel much more comfortable with him in the game.

 

[John Galt]

The biggest mistake made with Wells was moving him out of his safety spot.

What other options did they have? No way you are going into a season with Murray, BBC, Shabazz, and Baltazar as your 4 CBs. They needed a corner who had significant game experience.

Either Wells or Vereen had to move.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

What other options did they have? No way you are going into a season with Murray, BBC, Shabazz, and Baltazar as your 4 CBs. They needed a corner who had significant game experience.

Either Wells or Vereen had to move.

It's been apparent since the UNLV game that Wells was in over his head at corner. He was a stud in the making at safety last year.

 

[killme]

That is the interview I was referring to as well. Maybe I missed it if they said what it was in the interview.

Killer said it was a hip pointer Sunday with Sid & Dave.

 

[John Galt]

It's been apparent since the UNLV game that Wells was in over his head at corner. He was a stud in the making at safety last year.

He's had a bad shoulder all year, so it's hard to say. The staff sure talked him up at corner during spring ball and fall camp.

When you are as young as the Gophers are and still don't have the depth you need at all positions, sometimes guys have to play a position that's best for the team even if it isn't their best position. Like I said, what other options did they have?

 

[mnsportsgeek]

He's had a bad shoulder all year, so it's hard to say. The staff sure talked him up at corner during spring ball and fall camp.

When you are as young as the Gophers are and still don't have the depth you need at all positions, sometimes guys have to play a position that's best for the team even if it isn't their best position. Like I said, what other options did they have?

They probably were limited in their options. For the team, it may not have been a mistake. For Wells personal development as a player? It didn't help.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

It was Jones. Travis took a terrible angle at the line of scrimmage and let the RB get outside, and Jones whiffed badly on his attempted tackle.

Jones has been downright frightful when he's been on the field in a defensive capacity. I know, he's just getting back into it but wow. Some of his efforts have been less than stellar. At the end of the day, if he can give a starter a breather for a couple plays here and there, and not give up a big play when he does, that's going to be a solid contribution. It's all about filling a role.

 

[Killjoy]

Disagree. GopherProf loves his squad and is fairly objective.

I don't think you understood what I was saying. You may be right about his feelings for the squad. It is his feelings towards Jerry Kill that I suggested where his negativism comes from. If you don't believe me that's fine but you should believe GopherProf. He has admitted here that he doesn't like Jerry Kill and would prefer a different coach.