Two Players Who Could Really Make a Difference in 2010

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dbaldrich1

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Although I'm a bit down given the way our Offense played at PSU, I'm always one who likes to look for reasons to be positive. The recent WR commit, and the fact that RB Josh Huff (3 or 4 stars, depending on which site you look at) is reportedly leaning towards MN are reasons for optimism.

However, there are two recent recruits (one currently on the roster, and one committed for 2010) who have me very excited: Dan Orseske (punter) and Kip Smith (kicker).

Although Ellestad and Haudan are doing a fine job, I firmly believe that both Orseske and Smith bring an element to our special teams that we haven't had for a long time; possible game changing legs.

Orseske was starting, and averaging 44.56 yards per punt before getting hurt. If he were still playing and averaging that per kick, he'd be 11th in the nation (his punts combined with Haudan, MN is ranked 20th now). Barring injury, Orseske should only get better, and we should have at least 3 years of very solid punting with him back there.

From the film I've seen Smith looks to have an awesome leg (even if it's somewhat aided by high altitude), and should give us a dimension we've been lacking for a while -- a kicker who will consistently cause touchbacks, and who can kick and make 50+ yard FGs.

Although kickers and punters tend to be afterthoughts when it comes to looking at recruiting lists, having an excellent kicking game should help us by giving opposing offenses poor field position. It will also be huge in that close game where we need a 54 yard FG to win over (Wisky, Iowa, Michigan, etc.) to win the Big 10 outright for the first time in... :D -- OK, I got ahead of myself a bit there.

But -- we should give credit to Brew for not only increasing the talent and depth on O and D, but also improving the talent of our kicking game.
 

I'll agree they're better and it's very exciting to have them. But because the guys we have starting are doing so well, it might not mean that much of a difference.
 

Ellestad

dbaldrich1 said:
Although I'm a bit down given the way our Offense played at PSU, I'm always one who likes to look for reasons to be positive. The recent WR commit, and the fact that RB Josh Huff (3 or 4 stars, depending on which site you look at) is reportedly leaning towards MN are reasons for optimism.

However, there are two recent recruits (one currently on the roster, and one committed for 2010) who have me very excited: Dan Orseske (punter) and Kip Smith (kicker).

Although Ellestad and Haudan are doing a fine job, I firmly believe that both Orseske and Smith bring an element to our special teams that we haven't had for a long time; possible game changing legs.

Orseske was starting, and averaging 44.56 yards per punt before getting hurt. If he were still playing and averaging that per kick, he'd be 11th in the nation (his punts combined with Haudan, MN is ranked 20th now). Barring injury, Orseske should only get better, and we should have at least 3 years of very solid punting with him back there.

From the film I've seen Smith looks to have an awesome leg (even if it's somewhat aided by high altitude), and should give us a dimension we've been lacking for a while -- a kicker who will consistently cause touchbacks, and who can kick and make 50+ yard FGs.

Although kickers and punters tend to be afterthoughts when it comes to looking at recruiting lists, having an excellent kicking game should help us by giving opposing offenses poor field position. It will also be huge in that close game where we need a 54 yard FG to win over (Wisky, Iowa, Michigan, etc.) to win the Big 10 outright for the first time in... :D -- OK, I got ahead of myself a bit there.

But -- we should give credit to Brew for not only increasing the talent and depth on O and D, but also improving the talent of our kicking game.
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The place kicking job in 2010 is Ellestad's to lose. Smith's only chance to play next year will be as a kickoff specialist if his leg is truly as strong as advertised. If Ellestad continues to be nearly automatic the remainder of this season, there is no way in heck Brewster throws a thue Frosh out there next year to kick field goals, unless it's a 50+ yard bomb to end a half. The way things are going Orseske could be the team's MVP next year because he will likely get a lot of work with the offense getting more inept with each passing day.
 

2 Other Candidates

Gjere, Olson.

Gjere is going to look great at tackle - if as good as advertised/projected.

If only we got another certain OT to commit.
 

I wouldn't get too excited about Kip Smith just yet. Lots of smoke about UCLA coming after him, and some Bruins fans are quietly confident.
 



wiscbearsfan17 said:
I would assume Gjere is going to redshirt next year.
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hopefully the days of freshmen Olinemen playing are behind us. That's no way to succeed. there's too much technique, size, explosivness and experience involved for freshmen to be successful.
 





Don't forget that Kip Smith is kicking at a higher altitude which equals longer distances on his kicks then he would get here. Don;t get me wrong, he is a great add! But I will take a veteran like Ellestad in his Sr. year over an unproven freshman.
 

hopefully kip stays with us. he seems to be a steady, honest kid and if he gave his word to come here im sure he will honor it
 

Did Olsons dad play center in '81? Cuz if that was his dad then he was seriously owning the defensive lineman of Ohio State. If that was his dad I hope he turns out to be just as good. That would be awesome.
 





dayjoh said:
Didn't he just get mono?
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Yep, it was mono. They had to shut him down for 21 days, mostly as a result of the swelling of the spleen associated with mono. Take it from me and my firsthand experience - a ruptured spleen is an intensely unpleasant experience.
 

RUGoldenAZ said:
Did Olsons dad play center in '81? Cuz if that was his dad then he was seriously owning the defensive lineman of Ohio State. If that was his dad I hope he turns out to be just as good. That would be awesome.
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Yes, that was his dad. He was the captain of the gophers during his time at the U. Tom and Ed should beast out once they start playing.
 

paulser21 said:
Roszell Gayden?

:D
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Another 2 year starter who needs time to adjust before he can start playing at a high division one level? Honestly I'll pass in favor of someone who can red-shirt and hone his skills and get a solid 4 yours out of him.
 

JackiO said:
Another 2 year starter who needs time to adjust before he can start playing at a high division one level? Honestly I'll pass in favor of someone who can red-shirt and hone his skills and get a solid 4 yours out of him.
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really? you'll pass on a four star O-lineman with offers from: arizona stats, arkansas, california, miami, ole miss, oklahoma, oregon, tennessee?

i can understand swinging and missing on an unheralded o-lineman without other offers, but this guy has been scouted pretty heavily. doubt that all these teams could be wrong. but hey, if you want to pass, then i guess we will hope that the line improves next year.
 

i'm batman said:
really? you'll pass on a four star O-lineman with offers from: arizona stats, arkansas, california, miami, ole miss, oklahoma, oregon, tennessee?

i can understand swinging and missing on an unheralded o-lineman without other offers, but this guy has been scouted pretty heavily. doubt that all these teams could be wrong. but hey, if you want to pass, then i guess we will hope that the line improves next year.
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Carpenter had an offer from Florida and he hasn't done anything this year expect lose a key fumble near the red zone against California. A lot of these kids dominate in junior college against inferior competition than do little against the big boys.
 

Anyone see Henderson play last night. I didn't see one pancake the whole night and he was playing against real small defenders. He doesn't look all that mean or aggressive. Granted he made most of his blocks but they weren't ooh and aah blocks. On defense he did nothing.
 

There might be one more year where we could use a JC lineman, as there really is no one on the roster ready to step in and challenge our current starters. Give this year's and last year's recruits one more year to gain strength and learn the system, and Royzell could be a serviceable player--and also give us some competition along the line. With the current commits and last years players stepping in in 2 years, they should hopefully give us a solid backbone.
 

upchurch said:
Anyone see Henderson play last night. I didn't see one pancake the whole night and he was playing against real small defenders. He doesn't look all that mean or aggressive. Granted he made most of his blocks but they weren't ooh and aah blocks. On defense he did nothing.
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Would you rather have 2-3 'ooh and ahh' blocks and some missed assignments or 50+ 'normal' blocks with discipline. As a former OL myself, we know that our job is not pretty, but to stay disciplined and do our job is the most important part of the game. I would say Seantrel played pretty damn disciplined and well yesterday.
 

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