Shama: U QB Roster Worth Watching

[BleedGopher]

U QB Roster Worth Watching

MarQueis Gray told Sports Headliners after Saturday’s spring game he didn’t know who the Gophers’ No. 1 quarterback is, but a few minutes later offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said the job is Gray’s.

Limegrover and head coach Jerry Kill have become acquainted with the junior quarterback in meetings and practices during the last few months including spring drills that ended on Saturday. “He (Gray) did a great job,” Limegrover said. “I think he’s a guy who has proven that not only is he a wonderful athlete, but he’s got the mental makeup to be an outstanding quarterback.

“He makes mistakes but the great thing is he’ll be the first kid in on Monday watching this film (from the spring game) and he’ll be hard on himself. He’ll know he missed checks. He’ll know he missed some throws. His grasp of the offense isn’t where it needs to be but it’s a lot further along than what you’d almost expect. So we’re pretty excited about the overall package…the work that he’s put in.”

Limegrover didn’t hesitate when asked about Gray being the No. 1 quarterback. “He’s our No. 1,” Limegrover answered. “ Things always change but he’s earned that because of what he did prior to spring ball−as much as what he did during spring ball−with his preparation.”

Limegrover said Gray is an example of success for Minnesota’s backup quarterbacks, redshirt freshman Tom Parish and redshirt sophomore Moses Alipate. Joining the quarterback roster in the summer will be Max Shortell, among the more highly anticipated players in Kill’s first freshman class.

There’s been media speculation that Alipate, a big quarterback at 6-5, 285 pounds, might switch to another position. Asked about that after the spring game, Alipate said he isn’t aware of a change coming but if a switch will help the team he’s willing.

Limegrover, who is part of a new 2011 coaching staff headed by Kill, was asked about a change. “You’d have to talk to coach (Kill) about that,” he said. “He kind of keeps that part of it close to the vest. We’ll meet on every kid here before too long, probably some time this week. He’ll meet with them (all the players). He’s not a guy who kind of has that knee jerk reaction to anything. It will be a process to make sure it’s the right thing (changing anyone’s position) all the way around.”

Worth Noting

Limegrover said the Gophers showed about 40 percent of the playbook in Saturday’s spring game that was actually a controlled scrimmage with no score kept. Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said his unit used about 25 percent of its playbook.

College football teams typically hold back in spring games, reluctant to show opening game opponents too much of their tendencies.

Student tickets for the Gophers' seven game home schedule went on sale Saturday. Students purchasing tickets prior to May 6 will be entered in a drawing for an all expense paid trip for two to the season-opener against USC in Los Angeles. Student tickets are priced at $84 with a $7 handling fee.

The Gophers athletic department will send out 53,000 emails to students this week promoting football tickets.

The rescheduled and free Gopher Football Youth Clinic will be Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. Registration will be from 1 to 1:30 p.m., then drills and skills work with the Gopher football players and coaches from 1:30-2:30. The clinic ends with an autograph session from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

http://www.shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Halsey Hall]

I think Moses would be a good tight end, provided he can block. I like the way he runs with power and he most likely has good hands. And he's tough. I was reminded of Jerry Reichow, an outstanding Iowa qb who became a star receiver with the Vikings. Of course Gray became a very good receiver. Why not Moses??? He can always go back to QB.

 

[ncgo4]

It's up to Moses, really. You can't play QB at 280 lbs. From everything I've read he's a gifted athlete so I hope a decision is soon at hand.

 

[VACTERL]

What'd Lorenzen (sp?) outta Kentucky weigh?

 

[GoAUpher]

What'd Lorenzen (sp?) outta Kentucky weigh?

Basically 290.

 

[JohnnyGopher]

Moses currently weighs 263, he has been told they want him between 240-245 by fall camp. He has cut out some things from his diet and is working hard at it. he does not want to change positions but doesn't want to leave the U either so he would be willing to do whatever if it came to that. I think he will easily pass parish if he gets to where they want him.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Moses is doing all the right things right now and he actually looked pretty solid at the spring game (albeit in a vanilla offense).

Currently, Moses has a legitimate shot at being our #2 QB next season. I don't think the time to talk about moving him is right now. Things could certainly change, he could continue to fall behind Parish and Shortell could come in and beat him out on the depth chart. However, there is a very good chance that in 4 months, Alipate will be neck and neck with Parish and ahead of Shortell.

Now, if Alipate slips to #4 on the depth chart or it becomes abundantly clear that he will never be #2 on the depth chart, he should considering switching positions. Especially this season, a #2 QB is much more valuable to us than if he was converted to TE/H-Back right now (he'd probably be behind Lair, Eure, McGarry, Rabe, Henry, Cotton).

I'd love to see Moses come in to camp in shape and give it a real shot and if it doesn't work out at that point, move him to TE. Until then, he is our #2/#3 QB.

 

[Parski1]

Moses is a really big boy. Not sure Kill is excited about his mobility at that weight and we don’t need a pocket passer. This why there actually is not competition at QB. Gray is a lock even if he has bad fall practices....but the coaching staff can't say that.

 

[Cobra]

It's Gray all the way, he's a stud...

 

[Gopher028]

Granted, it was one game (practice) but after watching the spring game on BTN, it was clear to me that Alipate looked far more like a QB ready to run this offense than 'Quies.... yes I know Q is a far superior athlete, but i'm in the belief his NFL career is at WR and with our weakness at that position, it might not be a bad idea to move him back there putting Moses at QB. If Parrish has played in practice better than Alipate did in the spring game, then i'm convinced Parrish is the second coming of Chandler Harnish... I thought Alipate was rock solid, ran the offense like he's done it for years, threw the ball with strength and accuracy (unlike Gray) and for 260-280lbs ran deceivingly quick, like an OLB with the ball and would make me think twice about tackling him high if he got into the secondary.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Granted, it was one game (practice) but after watching the spring game on BTN, it was clear to me that Alipate looked far more like a QB ready to run this offense than 'Quies.... yes I know Q is a far superior athlete, but i'm in the belief his NFL career is at WR and with our weakness at that position, it might not be a bad idea to move him back there putting Moses at QB. If Parrish has played in practice better than Alipate did in the spring game, then i'm convinced Parrish is the second coming of Chandler Harnish... I thought Alipate was rock solid, ran the offense like he's done it for years, threw the ball with strength and accuracy (unlike Gray) and for 260-280lbs ran deceivingly quick, like an OLB with the ball and would make me think twice about tackling him high if he got into the secondary.

I know I just got done writing a post that Alipate should stay at QB but that is obviously as a backup to Gray.

Gray has looked better than any QB on our roster in every possible way. Neither Alipate or Parish are ready to be decent Big 10 players.

 

[mplsbadger]

Student tickets are priced at $84 with a $7 handling fee.

$13 a game for a schedule that includes Iowa, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. And we can't even get 25% to subscribe and sell out the student section.

 

[Rosemountian]

Alipate actually impressed me and I am a guy (as everyone probably knows) who is not very high on Moses. I will say this though. A non-QB-contact scrimmage is exactly the type of situation where people will fall in love with Moses. No pass rush to get him. Playing with a mix of 2's and 3's at WR against a mix of 2's and 3's at DB on a team with very poor DB depth. Playing against a 2nd team passrush that is not very good to start with and also they are not allowed to touch him. People fall in love with Moses because he has a big arm. He has a huge arm. I have never doubted that. I do doubt that he will be feeling comfortable when the "bullets start flying" and when he is not playing against a set of D-backs that could essentially be matched by 2 or 3 D-2 schools in the state (I am talking about the 2nd and 3rd team D-backs).

While Gray is playing with essentially the number 2 WR's against the 1 DBs on a team without a ton of depth....and with Gray's strength being running the football and him being blown dead upon getting touched (and him being a physical runner). Gray looked great outside the pocket. Looked great on the run scrambling. Looked average in the pocket. Ran for 20+ on his one called run play.

I will say I am more high on Alipate than I was before, because his arm was much more accurate than I had seen it in the past (including HS, past spring games, and practices this season I had been to).

 

[alchemy2u]

If Mosses gets his weight down, studies the film he could easily be the #2. Shortell will redshirt, the coaches talk about bringing in the replacement for the replacement. They will not burn a season of eligibility just to have him back up Q.

I don't know what game some of your were watching but Q looked real good. He had that bounce pass and another bad read across the middle, but his other passes were all catchable balls. There was that pass up the sidelines where the receiver stopped on the route and a couple of balls where he threw them correctly to the outside shoulder and you had the receiver looking inside. I would tend to trust the coaches evaluations when they say he is throwing the ball real well, these coaches won't BS and tell people something they don't believe is true.

 

[WAGopher]

In the spring game, Alipate was the better passer and Gray the better runner, which shouldn't surprise anyone. However, in the limited times I've seen Gray previously, he wasn't as stiff passing as he appeared to be at the Spring Game. I remember him being more fluid with good arm strength. I think his accuracy has always needed work, but Saturday he didn't look comfortable throwing. That said, now that he is more comfortable with the offense, I expect his accuracy to be much improved by fall.

Alipate surprised me with his play calling. While hard to tell from a limited scrimmage he seemed to call the right play more often than Gray did. He also seemed to know where all his receivers were, something Gray didn't always exhibit. Alipate was much more nimble than the practice reports indicated. I agree with a couple others here that if he can show Kill his commitment to football by losing another 30 or so pounds, he could very well be the number 2 QB this fall.

 

[highwayman]

...Things could certainly change, he could continue to fall behind Parish and Shortell could come in and beat him out on the depth chart. However, there is a very good chance that in 4 months, Alipate will be neck and neck with Parish and ahead of Shortell...

Why do we continue to bandy about Shortell as a possibility for 2011? That's just crazy talk. He will not play a down in 2011. Not one. None. Absolutely no way.

Two Juniors (Gray and Lueck), a Sophomore (Alipate), and a red-shirt Freshman (Parish) already on the team? Don't discount Lueck in a pinch. He doesn't have the whole package, but he has a sharp mind. He knew the playbook better than anyone last year and continues to be the holder on the FG unit. He would play before Shortell.

Kill would be insane not to redshirt Shortell. Since Kill is not insane, Shortell will not play. Kill will not burn a year of eligibility for a few plays...

Alipate will remain at QB for 2011 for depth purposes. He will not change positions until 2012, or maybe never. You can bank on it.

 

[GoAUpher]

Granted, it was one game (practice) but after watching the spring game on BTN, it was clear to me that Alipate looked far more like a QB ready to run this offense than 'Quies.... yes I know Q is a far superior athlete, but i'm in the belief his NFL career is at WR and with our weakness at that position, it might not be a bad idea to move him back there putting Moses at QB. If Parrish has played in practice better than Alipate did in the spring game, then i'm convinced Parrish is the second coming of Chandler Harnish... I thought Alipate was rock solid, ran the offense like he's done it for years, threw the ball with strength and accuracy (unlike Gray) and for 260-280lbs ran deceivingly quick, like an OLB with the ball and would make me think twice about tackling him high if he got into the secondary.

This is either an attempt at an Onion article, epic trolling, or really shallow analysis that ignores the details of how vanilla the Spring "Game" was, how it constitutes 6.7% of the Spring Practice schedule, and everything the coaches have said all Spring.