Other than a great coach...

[book]

What do we need in players? I still looking for much better special teams! A punter please. Someone who can kick off other than out of bounds. No long returns. Getting our kicks blocked, etc...
And of course - defensive players or at least ones that can stop 3rd down plays!

 

[Khaliq]

It's going to depend greatly on the type of system the new coach installs on both offense and defense, but you can go with the broad blanket statement of ~ better players ~ and call it a day.

 

[Formo]

I would take an offensive and defensive line that can play with the very best in the country over any new skill position player(s)..

 

[Foster]

You can't tell me that out of all of the students at the UofM and in the state that we can't find a few guys who can kick/punt better than what we have right now. It's actually sad to watch our kicking game. What I wouldn't do for a Nystrom right about now on this team.

 

[Khaliq]

I'll take Rhys-Lloyd for both jobs.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Orseske was considered a good talent out of high school (for a punter) if I remember right. He showed promise early on last year before getting mono. I'm surprised he has struggled so much this year.

 

[Gopher Fan]

It's going to depend greatly on the type of system the new coach installs on both offense and defense, but you can go with the broad blanket statement of ~ better players ~ and call it a day.

I agree. Then the key will be the development of those players in the system put in place. We're not able to reload yearly with in-state talent like the Elite programs across the country. Development of our players over 4-5 years is more important than recruiting ratings as proven by the Brewster era.

 

[MrGopher]

I would take an offensive and defensive line that can play with the very best in the country over any new skill position player(s)..

This is exactly the right place to start. Add to that either one dominant QB, or one dominant RB, and you have a guaranteed bowl-bound team.

 

[Great Plains Gopher]

Hayden Fry's philosophy was: defense first, then the kicking game, then a great QB and a really good running back. The formula seems to have worked pretty well now for over 30 years.

 

[Gopherholefan]

All the gophers need to add in recruiting this year to be a big ten contender are 5 o-lineman, 1 qb, 2 rb, 3 wr, 1 te, 4 d-lineman, 3 linebackers, 4 dbacks, and 2 kickers.....

 

[RedPoo]

All the gophers need to add in recruiting this year to be a big ten contender are 5 o-lineman, 1 qb, 2 rb, 3 wr, 1 te, 4 d-lineman, 3 linebackers, 4 dbacks, and 2 kickers.....

That's not fair. We have some good receivers, especially if Marquise stays there into the future, and a goodly amount of young talent on the defensive side of the ball, especially if they get a coach who can teach them what to do. For instance, if we can get someone who knows what to do with Hageman (sp?) we could go from no pass rush to among the sack leaders in the Big Ten in a year.

I'd say most important right now are interior linemen on both sides of the ball and a solid RB. The rest, with the right coach, we may already have.

 

[gophersfan]

We need to first of all, keep our damn players from the state of Minnesota in a Minnesota Uniforms. we need to keep our best players in state.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

What's really missing is a star. There's a pretty decent core, but they are still young. Michigan took a step up because of Robinson, same with Martinez at Nebraska and Lattimore at South Carolina. Maybe it's Gray, if he'd be given the chance to make this his team.