STrib: Kirkwood making progress but probably won't play against Western Illinois

[BleedGopher]

Christensen blog:

Kirkwood was in a green non-contact jersey Thursday and took some reps during practice.

“He’s got a great attitude,” Kill said. “Given his injury and how quick he’s coming back, it’s encouraging. No matter who we’re playing, he’s got to be 100 percent because it’s a long season.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/223387671.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[station19]

"Kirkwood is closer to returning than freshman running back Berkley Edwards, Kill said. Edwards sprained his left ankle and tweaked his knee in practice on Aug. 21."

Well that sucks.

 

[ruppertflywheel]

Kirkwood the Iowa game. Edwards, who knows?

 

[IDFM]

You have to start to wonder whether they will just pull the trigger and just redshirt Edwards. You don't want to waste it just on a few games.

 

[MNVCGUY]

You have to start to wonder whether they will just pull the trigger and just redshirt Edwards. You don't want to waste it just on a few games.

The decision on Edwards will come down to a combo of him getting back to 100% and how the other backs are performing. We don't really have a true speed back in our offense right now so there is a good chance Edwards plays simply for that reason alone.

As for Kirkwood, no way he sees the field this week, hopefully he is ready to go for San Jose State in some roll and 100% back for Iowa.

 

[Gophers09]

You have to start to wonder whether they will just pull the trigger and just redshirt Edwards. You don't want to waste it just on a few games.

Say hypothetically he's 100% by Northwestern after the bye week 10/19, and that he truely would be an effective speed option with a handful of touches a game, I would say it would definitely be worth playing him for the last 6 games and hopeful (probable?) bowl game. My 2 cents.

 

[Killjoy]

NM

 

[Killjoy]

NM

 

[IDFM]

The decision on Edwards will come down to a combo of him getting back to 100% and how the other backs are performing. We don't really have a true speed back in our offense right now so there is a good chance Edwards plays simply for that reason alone.

As for Kirkwood, no way he sees the field this week, hopefully he is ready to go for San Jose State in some roll and 100% back for Iowa.

I am not saying you make the decision today, but what if this keeps going to the bye week. Yeah, we definitely need this change of pace back, but I remember when Crean pulled the redshirt on Mbakwe with three or four games left in the season. I dont want them to pull it late.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I am not saying you make the decision today, but what if this keeps going to the bye week. Yeah, we definitely need this change of pace back, but I remember when Crean pulled the redshirt on Mbakwe with three or four games left in the season. I dont want them to pull it late.

I am sure the coaches have a point where they would say he was done for the year but the nice thing is you don't have to declare anything in regards to a redshirt. I think Gophers09 nailed it in that if the coaches feel he would be a valuable piece to the puzzle even if it is just for half the year (Nelson last year) they will play him. Too much gets made of redshirting by fans anyway, if a guy can legitimately help the team you don't worry about saving that extra year.

The problem comes in when you play a guy out of necessity who isn't ready to make an impact and you burn a year for little to no production. One fairly recent example of that that sticks out for me was Logan Payne.