KoolAid
Red Drank Brewmaster
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2008
- Messages
- 2,003
- Reaction score
- 267
- Points
- 83
I checked the board, but didn't see anyone post this yet. I apologize if someone has already:
It might only be four practices into preseason camp, but a couple of position battles are starting to get interesting for the Gophers.
The most intriguing competition on defense is at weakside linebacker with senior Nate Triplett and redshirt freshman Keanon Cooper. Basically, it's power and experience against speed and youth. Triplett is currently on the first team, but he can feel Cooper right on his tail.
"(Cooper) has been making plays from the other side of the field," Triplett said. "That's good. Anything he can bring to help out our linebacking corp the better. As far as Coop and I goes, he's pushing me and I'm pushing him everyday. We're trying to make each other better."
At the same time, Triplett said he's the first one to help Cooper out if he makes a mistake on the field. At 210 pounds, Cooper, a former safety turned strongside linebacker, is also trying to adjust to the physical side of the weakside position. The 243-pound Triplett doesn't have that problem.
"It's definitely kind of a friendly rivalry," Triplett said. "He moved positions this year. He was a (strongside) linebacker, but now he moved behind me at (weakside). So, it's different for him. It's a little more physical inside the box at times. He's learning. He's getting stronger and bigger. He's young, so he's got something to learn still. But he's starting to fit into the position."
I imagine that the Gophers won't name a full-time starter at weakside this season. They will probably rotate Triplett and Cooper with the first unit, depending on the opponent and situation. A similar scenario occurred last year with linebackers Kevin Mannion and Simoni Lawrence.
-- The competition for the No. 2 option behind All-Big Ten receiver Eric Decker is wide open, but it might come down to sophomores Brandon Green and Da'Jon McKnight and junior college transfer Hayo Carpenter.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound McKnight said his size gives him an advantage over teammates Green (6-0) and Carpenter (5-11).
"I think I bring (being physical) and speed," he said. "I'm a bigger receiver, so I can give big blocks and things like that. I bring attitude, just a bigger receiver mentality."
-- Senior tight end Nick Tow-Arnett might look up to 6-foot-6, 260-pound freshman Ra'Shede Hageman literally, but he has been setting the tone for the youngster to follow in camp. Hageman's presence also has made Tow-Arnett continue to pick up his game.
"That's what it's all about is competition," Tow-Arnett said. "People come in and it just makes you work harder. I'm fine with that. There's no problem."
Tow-Arnett said he wasn't jealous of Hageman's NFL-type frame for the position.
"Someone that big can definitely move some weight around," he said. "He's definitely going to be a good player. I'm working with what I was given. I'm not complaining about that."
-- The No. 1-ranked high school player in the 2010 class Seantrel Henderson visited Minnesota's practice Thursday. The Gophers have a serious shot at landing the 6-8, 315-pound offensive lineman from Cretin-Derham Hall.
-- Gophers coach Tim Brewster, who is looking forward to camp getting more physical with the first full-pads practice Friday, denied a report that offensive lineman Ryan Wynn's back injury threatened to end his season.
-- Minnesota received an oral commitment from 330-pound Pahokee (Fla.) High School senior defensive tackle Doral Willis on Thursday, according to GopherIllustrated.com. Willis is the 11th commitment in the 2010 class.
It just amazes me how Fuller's blog is so much better than Youngblood's. Kent usually starts his blog with an apology of some sort and then continues to write without the use of paragraphs. At least all of his posts don't begin with "What's up everyone?"
All I can say is I think Marcus Fuller does an awesome job. This particular post is exactly the information I want to ready about.
It might only be four practices into preseason camp, but a couple of position battles are starting to get interesting for the Gophers.
The most intriguing competition on defense is at weakside linebacker with senior Nate Triplett and redshirt freshman Keanon Cooper. Basically, it's power and experience against speed and youth. Triplett is currently on the first team, but he can feel Cooper right on his tail.
"(Cooper) has been making plays from the other side of the field," Triplett said. "That's good. Anything he can bring to help out our linebacking corp the better. As far as Coop and I goes, he's pushing me and I'm pushing him everyday. We're trying to make each other better."
At the same time, Triplett said he's the first one to help Cooper out if he makes a mistake on the field. At 210 pounds, Cooper, a former safety turned strongside linebacker, is also trying to adjust to the physical side of the weakside position. The 243-pound Triplett doesn't have that problem.
"It's definitely kind of a friendly rivalry," Triplett said. "He moved positions this year. He was a (strongside) linebacker, but now he moved behind me at (weakside). So, it's different for him. It's a little more physical inside the box at times. He's learning. He's getting stronger and bigger. He's young, so he's got something to learn still. But he's starting to fit into the position."
I imagine that the Gophers won't name a full-time starter at weakside this season. They will probably rotate Triplett and Cooper with the first unit, depending on the opponent and situation. A similar scenario occurred last year with linebackers Kevin Mannion and Simoni Lawrence.
-- The competition for the No. 2 option behind All-Big Ten receiver Eric Decker is wide open, but it might come down to sophomores Brandon Green and Da'Jon McKnight and junior college transfer Hayo Carpenter.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound McKnight said his size gives him an advantage over teammates Green (6-0) and Carpenter (5-11).
"I think I bring (being physical) and speed," he said. "I'm a bigger receiver, so I can give big blocks and things like that. I bring attitude, just a bigger receiver mentality."
-- Senior tight end Nick Tow-Arnett might look up to 6-foot-6, 260-pound freshman Ra'Shede Hageman literally, but he has been setting the tone for the youngster to follow in camp. Hageman's presence also has made Tow-Arnett continue to pick up his game.
"That's what it's all about is competition," Tow-Arnett said. "People come in and it just makes you work harder. I'm fine with that. There's no problem."
Tow-Arnett said he wasn't jealous of Hageman's NFL-type frame for the position.
"Someone that big can definitely move some weight around," he said. "He's definitely going to be a good player. I'm working with what I was given. I'm not complaining about that."
-- The No. 1-ranked high school player in the 2010 class Seantrel Henderson visited Minnesota's practice Thursday. The Gophers have a serious shot at landing the 6-8, 315-pound offensive lineman from Cretin-Derham Hall.
-- Gophers coach Tim Brewster, who is looking forward to camp getting more physical with the first full-pads practice Friday, denied a report that offensive lineman Ryan Wynn's back injury threatened to end his season.
-- Minnesota received an oral commitment from 330-pound Pahokee (Fla.) High School senior defensive tackle Doral Willis on Thursday, according to GopherIllustrated.com. Willis is the 11th commitment in the 2010 class.
It just amazes me how Fuller's blog is so much better than Youngblood's. Kent usually starts his blog with an apology of some sort and then continues to write without the use of paragraphs. At least all of his posts don't begin with "What's up everyone?"
All I can say is I think Marcus Fuller does an awesome job. This particular post is exactly the information I want to ready about.
