Marcus Fuller tweets on RB battle, Hill/Maresh juco route, d-line

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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"Iowa Western coach said Marquise Hill is expected back at Minnesota after juco route, maybe as soon as next spring. Sam Maresh not so much."

"Tim Brewster has huge expectations for his defensive line, guys like Brandon Kirksey, Jewhan Edwards, Ra'Shede Hageman and Anthony Jacobs."

"After talking to Brewster, I also got the feeling Gophers will rely mostly on Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge at running back this year."

Go Gophers!!
 

I thought as much after Brewster refused to comment on Sam's situation. Outside of Hill we appear to be shipshape with the class of 2010. If he's here next year or the year after all the better.
 

Take Brewster's RB comments with a grain of salt. No coach, in his right mind plans on playing a freshman, they make their plans around their known players. If they get a surprise so much the better. Brewster's not planning on playing a freshman should be expected.
 

Watching the Wiconsin game again this morning. If Eskridge is getting stronger there were a couple places where if he could have maintained his balance he would have had bigger gains. Those are the types of things that made me think he would be a person eating up yards this year. He did have a tendency not to trust the running play though, like cutting back too early or trying to bounce instead of having the hole open up when he got there at full stride. I wonder if that will change with the emphasis on practicing running plays. (I have a food bet on this guy winning the starting job, so I make no excuses for being biased :) ).
 

monk10 said:
Watching the Wiconsin game again this morning. If Eskridge is getting stronger there were a couple places where if he could have maintained his balance he would have had bigger gains. Those are the types of things that made me think he would be a person eating up yards this year. He did have a tendency not to trust the running play though, like cutting back too early or trying to bounce instead of having the hole open up when he got there at full stride. I wonder if that will change with the emphasis on practicing running plays. (I have a food bet on this guy winning the starting job, so I make no excuses for being biased :) ).
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Bennett

:D
 


monk10 said:
Watching the Wiconsin game again this morning. If Eskridge is getting stronger there were a couple places where if he could have maintained his balance he would have had bigger gains. Those are the types of things that made me think he would be a person eating up yards this year. He did have a tendency not to trust the running play though, like cutting back too early or trying to bounce instead of having the hole open up when he got there at full stride. I wonder if that will change with the emphasis on practicing running plays. (I have a food bet on this guy winning the starting job, so I make no excuses for being biased :) ).
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I agree with you on your analysis, but not necessarily your conclusion. Bennett played a little "scared" most of last season on that reconstructed knee. He has also gotten huge in his upper body this off-season. I think they will both get plenty of touches.
 

I'm not sold on either Bennett or Eskridge. I don't think they are Big Ten caliber backs. Bennett might be if his injury was holding him back last year and now he's fully recovered. I hope one of the freshmen turns out to be the real deal. Bennet and Eskridge will only gain yards in what the offense gives them. We need a runner who can make something out of nothing at times. If our best running backs this year are Bennett and Eskridge we may be in line for a long season.
 

highwayman said:
I agree with you on your analysis, but not necessarily your conclusion. Bennett played a little "scared" most of last season on that reconstructed knee. He has also gotten huge in his upper body this off-season. I think they will both get plenty of touches.
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Bennet can have as many carries as he wants after I fill my belly on free food! :clap:


On a serious note I think Eskridge broke tackles and fought for extra yards. I think he wasn't strong enough to have people bounce off him so he could maintain his speed. We'll see if he is strong enough to do that this year.
 

I hope these guys prove to us that they are Big Ten caliber backs but time will only tell. My hope is that one of the freshmen is the real deal.
 



Dream scenario: One of the frosh comes in, is too good not to be the primary back, and Bennett and Eskridge are change of pace, 3rd down backs, with 1 or 2 of the other RB's taking a red shirt.
 

BleedGopher said:
"Iowa Western coach said Marquise Hill is expected back at Minnesota after juco route, maybe as soon as next spring. Sam Maresh not so much."

"Tim Brewster has huge expectations for his defensive line, guys like Brandon Kirksey, Jewhan Edwards, Ra'Shede Hageman and Anthony Jacobs."

"After talking to Brewster, I also got the feeling Gophers will rely mostly on Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge at running back this year."

Go Gophers!!
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I thought once you start JUCO you have to graduate from that JUCO so it was a minumum of 2 years before they can be back? Also Sam Maresh, not so much? Is it grades, Sam not wanting to be a Gopher? What?
 

Once again, it depends on why you don't qualify. The easy example is if you are missing credits. Once you complete them you are eligible.
 





Curseislifted33 said:
why isn't sam considered to be coming back?
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I wonder if it is not somehow related to the signing of Beal. They play the same position don't they. It may be mutual that he explore other schools.
 

tato2001 said:
Read between the lines. It's code for 'he's not welcome back.'
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Curseislifted33 said:
why isn't sam considered to be coming back?
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I think he wore out his welcome. His actions off the field (four altercations in which police were called in 6 months), on the sidelines (hardly ever paying attention to the game, goofing off), and in school (in two years he couldn't complete his academic freshman year) point toward some big commitment issues.

I wish Sam luck, but it ain't lookin' good.
 

highwayman said:
I think he wore out his welcome. His actions off the field (four altercations in which police were called in 6 months), on the sidelines (hardly ever paying attention to the game, goofing off), and in school (in two years he couldn't complete his academic freshman year) point toward some big commitment issues.

I wish Sam luck, but it ain't lookin' good.
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I know this was mentioned before, but should be brough up again. Sam may be experiencing some level of PTSD as a result of his heart surgery. I'm not trying to excuse his behavior, but perhaps explain it. I honestly don't know anything about him outside of what I read here or have seen on the news.
 

Seriously Weber all that love to Bennett, really....really?????

Schnoods did you bet me b/c you are BFF with our QB and he gave you a heads up?

GRRRRR!!!! *mad face*
 

gophmeister said:
I know this was mentioned before, but should be brough up again. Sam may be experiencing some level of PTSD as a result of his heart surgery. I'm not trying to excuse his behavior, but perhaps explain it. I honestly don't know anything about him outside of what I read here or have seen on the news.
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I went to school with Sam and the fact that he had to drop out is hardly surprising to me. He got away with plenty in HS and it is obvious that he thought he could act the same as he did in HS and get away with it. when youre in college you have to be responsible for your actions and he clearly isnt or mature enough.
 

Bennett and Eskridge would be solid backup RBs. They are borderline Big Ten starters.
 

Devon Wright is going to be the answer. He will tear it up this year.

But Eskridge is not Big Ten caliber. Bennet is a solid 3rd down type back. He runs hard, catches the ball better, and is faster than Ponce.
 

Is Wright one of the freshmen expected to contribute right away? Anyone know if he's in summer school?
 

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