Marcus Fuller blog: Brewster thinks Theret can make a big difference

[BleedGopher]

From Marcus' blog:


Brewster thinks Theret can make a big difference
By Marcus Fuller on September 12, 2010 9:33 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Gophers senior safety Kyle Theret missed the first two games of the season while serving a suspension for violating unspecified team rules, but he's back this week.

The secondary really struggled in two games. But coach Tim Brewster expects Theret to immediately provide a steady presence alongside freshman starting safety James Manuel.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Theret started every game for the Gophers (26 straight starts) at strong safety in 2008 and 2009. He has 190 career tackles and nine career interceptions (sixth on the school's all-time list).

"Getting Kyle back will make a big difference," Brewster said. "Just from a communication standpoint. He's a savvy kid. We miss that savvy back there, particularly when the other safety is a true freshman. And Christyn Lewis is a junior college transfer, but it's almost like being a freshman. ...You need that vocal leadership on the back end."

Brewster said Lewis would now likely become a valuable reserve at safety and cornerback. Lewis had started at free safety against Middle Tennessee State and South Dakota. But Theret's experience could be critical in Manuel's development.

"He'll get James lined up based on formation and tendencies and personnel," Brewster said about Theret. "Just that little two yard movement can be the difference between a homerun like we saw (Saturday) and a deflected ball."

-- On fourth-and-2 to begin the fourth quarter, the Gophers ran a pitch play to Duane Bennett that was stuffed for a 3-yard loss. Brewster said it was his fault for calling the wrong play. Bennett ended up scoring a touchdown on the next drive after linebacker Mike Rallis' interception, but Brewster was still upset at himself.

"We bypassed the linebacker and blocked the safety," he said. "It left the linebacker free. It was a poor call in that instance on my part. We probably could have just ran the ball at them and got the first down."

-- Minnesota's defense got beat badly on two South Dakota screen passes on Saturday, including on a 26-yard touchdown by Chris Ganious on third-and-13 in the second quarter. Ganious also had a 30-yard play on third down earlier in the quarter.

Brewster said the plan was to blitz Coyotes quarterback Dante Warren, instead of dropping into coverage. He didn't think Warren discovered the blitz before the snap and called a check down. Brewster thought poor tackling resulted in the explosive plays.

"We felt like we wanted to be aggressive and bring the pressure," Brewster said. "They executed the screen well."

That's an area the Gophers better work harder on in practice this week, because Southern Cal is likely to exploit that weakness even more. With the talent that the Trojans have it could turn ugly.

-- What happens if sophomore backup quarterback MarQueis Gray leads the Gophers in receiving this season? That could very well happen if Gray continues to play like he did Saturday with nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.

In that scenario, Brewster said Gray would still move from the team's leading receiver to the starting quarterback spot next season. He would rather have Gray make an impact as a quarterback than as a receiver. Too bad Gray can't pass to himself.

"Next year, he will be our quarterback," Brewster said. "I think he can be really great at quarterback as well."

http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2010/09/brewster-thinks-theret-can-mak.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[Hindsight is 20/20]

Love Brewster's Veiled Excuses

Not too long ago, there were daily posts here about how it didn't matter if Theret were suspended, because one of the dynamic newcomers was going to beat him out anyway. I'm too lazy to look for them, but maybe someone else can help me out?

 

[gold04]

There were a ton of posts that the 11 new starters on defense were a lot better then the 11 starters last year. Posters thought this new defensive unit was not going to allow teams to cross the fifty-yard line this year.

 

[KoolAid]

Theret will help a lot...

 

[LaXGoph]

If there is anything positive to say, a least it's the d that is sucking so badly. A defense can be turned around alot easier than an offense. I am still reeling from the loss, but my misery is fading and by buffer from reality is forming. The d will b10x better this weekend and the gophs win by a td (by default because we can't kick field goals).

 

[Maroon]

When the final chip to be played is Kyle Theret, that's as big of an indication yet that it's all over.

 

[GoAUpher]

Not too long ago, there were daily posts here about how it didn't matter if Theret were suspended, because one of the dynamic newcomers was going to beat him out anyway. I'm too lazy to look for them, but maybe someone else can help me out?

There were a ton of posts that the 11 new starters on defense were a lot better then the 11 starters last year. Posters thought this new defensive unit was not going to allow teams to cross the fifty-yard line this year.

Sorry, but I call BS. The optimistic feelings expressed about this D were based on the INCLUSION of Theret and Royston. I honestly don't recall a big "Theret will get beat out" push or "11 new starters > 9 new starters plus Theret and Royston". That's BS, plain and simple.

I'll agree that there was widespread optimism about the new look defense. The optimism about the new players was due to their athleticism and upside and that many of them had previous experience as backups. But there were not "daily posts here about how it didn't matter if Theret were suspended, because one of the dynamic newcomers was going to beat him out anyway" or "a ton of posts that the 11 new starters on defense were a lot better then the 11 starters last year". There were optimistic posts about how a defense with 9 athletic newcomers (many with game experience) and 2 experienced players coming back in the safety positions could/would be better. And once Theret and Royston were ruled out there were optimistic posts that we could beat 2 lesser teams without them. But don't let what people were actually saying get in the way of your vitriol.

 

[Hindsight is 20/20]

Sorry, but I call BS. The optimistic feelings expressed about this D were based on the INCLUSION of Theret and Royston. I honestly don't recall a big "Theret will get beat out" push or "11 new starters > 9 new starters plus Theret and Royston". That's BS, plain and simple.

I'll agree that there was widespread optimism about the new look defense. The optimism about the new players was due to their athleticism and upside and that many of them had previous experience as backups. But there were not "daily posts here about how it didn't matter if Theret were suspended, because one of the dynamic newcomers was going to beat him out anyway" or "a ton of posts that the 11 new starters on defense were a lot better then the 11 starters last year". There were optimistic posts about how a defense with 9 athletic newcomers (many with game experience) and 2 experienced players coming back in the safety positions could/would be better. And once Theret and Royston were ruled out there were optimistic posts that we could beat 2 lesser teams without them. But don't let what people were actually saying get in the way of your vitriol.

Without trying too hard, here is one thread with several references:

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?t=18748&highlight=watkins

Try the search function and plug in watkins or manuel........

"Frankly, I am not so certain Kyle is reinserted in a starting roll immediately upon his return."

 

[GoAUpher]

Without trying too hard, here is one thread with several references:

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?t=18748&highlight=watkins

Try the search function and plug in watkins or manuel........

"Frankly, I am not so certain Kyle is reinserted in a starting roll immediately upon his return."

While I applaud you stepping up to avoid your admitted laziness, I'd point out that this is a single thread, containing 13 posts, that lasted 3 days before dying, in which only 3 posters advocate that Theret and Royston should be beaten out by the newbies. How this translates into the groundswell you asserted by saying "there were daily posts here about how it didn't matter if Theret were suspended, because one of the dynamic newcomers was going to beat him out anyway" I'm not really sure.

My point was that your broad statement was overblown and hyperbolic, not that there wasn't optimism in the D or that no one ever in the history of Gopher hole claimed that Theret shouldn't lose his spot. If you note, that's why I was careful not to claim that there were no posts ever asserting such a fact.

 

[Monty519]

Without trying too hard, here is one thread with several references:

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?t=18748&highlight=watkins

Try the search function and plug in watkins or manuel........

"Frankly, I am not so certain Kyle is reinserted in a starting roll immediately upon his return."

Check the source, Stargenes has been a big time Kenny Watkins guys all summer long. Yes, I recall posts talking about the young guys being better, but overall, you typically want your seniors on defense on the field, specifically when you're replacing 9 other starters. I was one who thought the defense would be extremely inconsistent, but would dominate on occasions due to sheer athletic ability. This South Dakota game would be an instance where I thought the defense would be staunch, but then I was expecting the following week to be ugly. The fact that now they failed so miserably against South Dakota is definitely a major cause for concern, but I'll await the response to this big time reality check and what affect the additions of the seniors Theret and eventually Royston have on the defense before I pass any final judgments.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

"On fourth-and-2 to begin the fourth quarter, the Gophers ran a pitch play to Duane Bennett that was stuffed for a 3-yard loss. Brewster said it was his fault for calling the wrong play. Bennett ended up scoring a touchdown on the next drive after linebacker Mike Rallis' interception, but Brewster was still upset at himself."

That's horrible! When I saw that play I thought "Oh man that's some weak-ass Jedd Fisch crap right there. POUND THE ROCK!!!". To find out it was Brewster's call (when did he start calling plays??) breaks my heart.

 

[GopherGod]

"On fourth-and-2 to begin the fourth quarter, the Gophers ran a pitch play to Duane Bennett that was stuffed for a 3-yard loss. Brewster said it was his fault for calling the wrong play. Bennett ended up scoring a touchdown on the next drive after linebacker Mike Rallis' interception, but Brewster was still upset at himself."

That's horrible! When I saw that play I thought "Oh man that's some weak-ass Jedd Fisch crap right there. POUND THE ROCK!!!". To find out it was Brewster's call (when did he start calling plays??) breaks my heart.

Example number 1 why he was never promoted to a coordinator position.

 

[jovs]

"On fourth-and-2 to begin the fourth quarter, the Gophers ran a pitch play to Duane Bennett that was stuffed for a 3-yard loss. Brewster said it was his fault for calling the wrong play. Bennett ended up scoring a touchdown on the next drive after linebacker Mike Rallis' interception, but Brewster was still upset at himself."

That's horrible! When I saw that play I thought "Oh man that's some weak-ass Jedd Fisch crap right there. POUND THE ROCK!!!". To find out it was Brewster's call (when did he start calling plays??) breaks my heart.

As well as the offense played, I wouldn't focus on any one or a couple of plays that really made a difference. Those are not what needs the drastic improvement. I really liked what I saw from the offense, I hope they keep improving the way they have.

 

[thailleagle]

They shouldn't have needed a 4th & 2 in the 4th Quarter to begin with...

 

[GopherFB]

If Brewster really thinks Theret will make that much of a difference, we're in more trouble than I thought.