Preston Jelen

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Find a way to get him more playing time PJ!!!
 


Maybe he can work himself into more playing time.
 



I would move Preston Jelen to linebacker, he plays like a linebacker and I would rather have him at Will Linebacker than playing three corners all of the time. Now is not the time to do that though, you need to do something like that in the offseason. Kids got chops and a knack of tackling, he is a good athlete.
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
I would move Preston Jelen to linebacker, he plays like a linebacker and I would rather have him at Will Linebacker than playing three corners all of the time. Now is not the time to do that though, you need to do something like that in the offseason. Kids got chops and a knack of tackling, he is a good athlete.
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If I were coach, I’d move him to LB. If I needed to play him at LB this year, I’d have him blitz 100% of the time. I wouldn’t have him do anything but attack the ball.
 








Wasn't Jelen a standout 2-way player (RB and LB) at Prior Lake?

As I mentioned in another thread ... sometimes a guy with outstanding football instincts can still beat out a guy who is just physically more gifted.


I would absolutely give him a shot at some LB reps, probably at the position we currently have Aune starting. See what happens.

If he makes some plays, give him more reps, and so on.
 



From his roster bio:

PRIOR TO MINNESOTA: Attended Prior Lake High School • was a Mr. Football finalist, earned All-State and All-Metro honors • was named Team Offensive MVP • played in the Minnesota Football Coaches Association All-Star Game • also earned four letters in lacrosse where he was a two-time captain, 2016 state champion and Team Defensive MVP.

So maybe I'm wrong then, about him playing LB for PL. That school is so huge now (like Lakeville was before it split), I would be surprised if they didn't exclusively platoon.
 

MplsGopher said:
From his roster bio:

PRIOR TO MINNESOTA: Attended Prior Lake High School • was a Mr. Football finalist, earned All-State and All-Metro honors • was named Team Offensive MVP • played in the Minnesota Football Coaches Association All-Star Game • also earned four letters in lacrosse where he was a two-time captain, 2016 state champion and Team Defensive MVP.

So maybe I'm wrong then, about him playing LB for PL. That school is so huge now (like Lakeville was before it split), I would be surprised if they didn't exclusively platoon.
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Still, he looks like one helluva an athlete.
 

Jelen's a Killer on special teams. Totally impressed. Get him on the field as an LB.
 

Wonder how long it would take to learn the linebacker's position on the college level? Few weeks? Can't believe you could jump right in.
 


SJUgopher said:
I want to give kudos tho Preston Jelen for his outstanding special teams play. He reminds me how Blake Cashman first flashed on ST always around the ball/making the tackle.
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Also reminiscent of how Thomas Barber worked himself from special teams to starting defense so quickly, basically seemed to make 50% of the tackles on special teams, you couldn't not notice.

This is the way it is supposed to work, you have opinions, you can see guys in practice, but you can't deny what you see in game. I was worried for the last two years that we weren't seeing someone emerge like this on special teams to fill roles for the future.

Three games in there are guys clearly playing themselves out of starting roles and some guys like Jelen looking like they should be playing their way in. If your already giving up touchdowns on 80-90% of your defensive possessions, maybe you take a risk on seeing if other guys can fill roles.

IMO BS Ford is about one or two missed opportunities from being benched as well. You just only get so many chances to make a play no matter how great you look in practice.
 


Agree with the Blake Cashman comps and would be very interested to see him move to D in the offseason. It's almost always the case that a "good" athlete who knows how to shed a block, take proper angles, and get a guy on the ground is better on D than a superior athlete who struggles with those things.
 

If he's got speed and block shedding ability, maybe convert him to a edge rush specialist like Julian Huff was. That kid changed some games with his burst.
 

Jelen is listed at 5' 10" and 210 ponds -- essentially another Mo Ibrahim-sized package at running back. Probably too small to be an effective every play LB. But, he might be good in the Chris Williamson position, the hybrid DB and LB, whatever we call it. Or used in specific spots like Julian Huff was. Jelen obviously has decent speed and a high motor; he knows how to tackle, as his work on special teams shows; he'd be good to blitz from that position. Can he cover when needed? I don't know. But he also looks like a leader when he is on the field. This defense really needs some leadership on the field.
 

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