Unheralded Players

Ogee Ogilthorpe

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Two guys jumped out to me today that may not get much ink:

Joe Bjorklund - When Bush struggled in the first series or two, Joe B came in and played really well for most of the remainder of the game (if I'm not mistaken, correct me if I'm wrong)

Jack Lynn - Lynn has really impressed me for pretty much the entire season as a REALLY good LB with really good instincts. I think he's better than Campbell already, but that's just my opinion. Jack Lynn has been a really, REALLY pleasant surprise this year on a unit that had some question marks coming, particularly with depth.

Who else...?
 

Good call on those two.

Botticelli is the obvious choice for me. He was a beast in the run and pass game today. A few others:

Steven Richardson
Lincoln Plsek
Craig James
Gaelin Elmore
 

There were many guys that stepped up that we hadn't seen much of yet. A great TEAM win.
 

Other than the muffed punt he recovered, I was really impressed with Craig James' vision, cutback ability, and decent speed on those punt returns.
 



Good eye. the offense certainly moved the ball better once Bjorklund entered the game.
 

Two guys jumped out to me today that may not get much ink:

Joe Bjorklund - When Bush struggled in the first series or two, Joe B came in and played really well for most of the remainder of the game (if I'm not mistaken, correct me if I'm wrong)

Jack Lynn - Lynn has really impressed me for pretty much the entire season as a REALLY good LB with really good instincts. I think he's better than Campbell already, but that's just my opinion. Jack Lynn has been a really, REALLY pleasant surprise this year on a unit that had some question marks coming, particularly with depth.

Who else...?

Said it in another thread, I've been impressed with Lynn. He appears to be learning from Wilson, and can't think of anyone better to learn from. We need to keep a lifeline of great LBs, and we appear to have 3 really good ones starting for us right now.
 

Other than the muffed punt he recovered, I was really impressed with Craig James' vision, cutback ability, and decent speed on those punt returns.

Yeah, James muffed that punt for minus yardage and still averaged 16.5 yards on 4 punt returns. All the guys mentioned played great. The biggest surprise of all to me is Elmore...he was a tight to begin the fall. He looks like a monster in the making. Botticelli was freaking amazing and Richardson is strong...is there a limit to how strong someone can get? I mean he is a true freshman as is Elmore.

I didn't notice Bjorklund but I noticed the difference he made.
 

Said it in another thread, I've been impressed with Lynn. He appears to be learning from Wilson, and can't think of anyone better to learn from. We need to keep a lifeline of great LBs, and we appear to have 3 really good ones starting for us right now.

AMEN. Lynn plays fast and smart. He will be a good MLB next year.
 




AMEN. Lynn plays fast and smart. He will be a good MLB next year.

When he got hurt in the spring...Poock was a starting linebacker. Coach Kill's comments from an early practice from DL: linebacker Cody Poock (recruits that reported early): Coach Kill sounded very excited about Poock’s first week of practice, “Cody Poock – you go wow!” He added, “He’s going to be a very good football player . . . He’ll be fun to watch.” He also said Poock loves to hit.

I think, if healthy he might be in that mix too.
 

Botticelli, Lynn and Elmore. Really impressed by all but Elmore as a freshman really stood out. He could be a beast before it's over.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

When he got hurt in the spring...Poock was a starting linebacker. Coach Kill's comments from an early practice from DL: linebacker Cody Poock (recruits that reported early): Coach Kill sounded very excited about Poock’s first week of practice, “Cody Poock – you go wow!” He added, “He’s going to be a very good football player . . . He’ll be fun to watch.” He also said Poock loves to hit.

I think, if healthy he might be in that mix too.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Kill say Poock might be back for the Big Ten season, but if he didn't play in the first game he would be redshirted for the season? Might be better to save him for next year at this point.
 



Two guys jumped out to me today that may not get much ink:

Joe Bjorklund - When Bush struggled in the first series or two, Joe B came in and played really well for most of the remainder of the game (if I'm not mistaken, correct me if I'm wrong)

Jack Lynn - Lynn has really impressed me for pretty much the entire season as a REALLY good LB with really good instincts. I think he's better than Campbell already, but that's just my opinion. Jack Lynn has been a really, REALLY pleasant surprise this year on a unit that had some question marks coming, particularly with depth.

Who else...?
Definitely agree with you on both. Bush struggled on the first series and I'm not sure if he got back in there at all or not but Bjorklund stepped in and played well. I thought Lynn struggled in the season opener and kind of looked out of place at times but he has played better and better every week and really made some nice plays today.
 

Definitely agree with you on both. Bush struggled on the first series and I'm not sure if he got back in there at all or not but Bjorklund stepped in and played well. I thought Lynn struggled in the season opener and kind of looked out of place at times but he has played better and better every week and really made some nice plays today.

I had to go back and look, just for my own sake, fast-forwarding through the game. Looks like Bush played one more series early in the 2nd quarter and that was it. Bjorklund the rest of the way.

And from what I saw, looking for him, he played pretty well.
 

Santoso got 12 points..
Mortell kept giving them lousy field position…
Our kickers are really good..and Santoso is a freshman!
 

Botticelli was the absolute unsung hero today. The guy just gets the job done
 

Laster got a little bit of action today and did some good things.

Really, special teams was great once again. Santoso made all three of his FGs and was awesome on kickoffs. Mortell had three punts inside the 20 (should have had 4). James was very good after his first return. The blocking as very good on the returns as well. Add in the coverage and it was a great day. For a good part of the game it was all about field possession. We dominated that and special teams was a big reason why.
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Kill say Poock might be back for the Big Ten season, but if he didn't play in the first game he would be redshirted for the season? Might be better to save him for next year at this point.

Definitely. LB was a little bit of a question mark going into the season, but with Wilson, Campbell, and Lynn playing well as starters we can afford holding Poock back. Plus, DeNiro Laster getting some PT is a good sign that he must be making a jump in practice and could provide a 4th LB the staff feels comfortable with.
 


Botticelli was the absolute unsung hero today. The guy just gets the job done

The team played well as a whole unit. I'd have to tip my hat to "Bot". He played behind 'Shede's shadow last year, and was an unsung hero.
 

Peter Mortell, his punting will go unoticed but was critical to field position in todays game. Botticelli will not be unheralded much longer that dudes a beast.
 

Count on a few players on both O & D getting a look from the pros. This will open up the recruiting to a higher level I can almost bet.
 

Count on a few players on both O & D getting a look from the pros. This will open up the recruiting to a higher level I can almost bet.

Cobb is really making a case that he deserves a shot at the next level. He's just tough, he blocks well, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Damien Wilson is as well.
 

I have always been a believer in Coach Kill... Limegrover? Not so much... but it's hard to ignore the possibility of having a number of players that will probably be drafted and play on Sundays. Cobb, and Williams and Murray for sure. Wilson has a great chance. But how about Elmore and Richardson? They're true freshmen and playing great already.
 

Jack Lynn...I think he's better than Campbell already, but that's just my opinion.

They are different kinds of players. Even before the pick 6, I saw Campbell in on a ton of plays. I think his game (just like Lynn's) is getting better every game.
 

I have always been a believer in Coach Kill... Limegrover? Not so much... but it's hard to ignore the possibility of having a number of players that will probably be drafted and play on Sundays. Cobb, and Williams and Murray for sure. Wilson has a great chance. But how about Elmore and Richardson? They're true freshmen and playing great already.

Cockran as well.
 


Great call on Bjorklund. He looked good today and is really an athletic guard.

I think today was Pirsig's best game as a Gopher as well.
 





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