Zac Epping at Center?

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EE_Gopher

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Although he hasn't played there during the spring, if Kill plans to play the best five linemen, wouldn't it make sense to put Zac at center? If Brian Bobek doesn't take the spot, Zac Epping at center allows the Gophers to start both Caleb Bak and Tommy Olson at the guard spots. It also allows the Gophers to move Jon Christenson over to guard with Brian Bobek the back-up center.
 

EE_Gopher said:
Although he hasn't played there during the spring, if Kill plans to play the best five linemen, wouldn't it make sense to put Zac at center? If Brian Bobek doesn't take the spot, Zac Epping at center allows the Gophers to start both Caleb Bak and Tommy Olson at the guard spots. It also allows the Gophers to move Jon Christenson over to guard with Brian Bobek the back-up center.
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Good questions. But I am sure that Coach Kill and his staff are considering these and any/all other options. They are there every day.
 

Is Tommy Olson among our top five options on the line? He can't seem to beat out walk ons and younger players right now.
 

Also, why take Epping away from his best position to play him at a position we have so many quality options at now with Bobek and Christiansen?
 

I'm pretty sure I read that they HAVE been playing Epping at C.
 


Wasn't Bobek the #1 center in the nation in high school? I would assume he would be a favorite to get the job. Granted we should always play the best guys...
 

Epping is a very good guard and an average center. He is a mauler, and does not handle hand offs consistently.
 

Our best linemen are....Epping, Campion & Eddie Olson. Olson & Campion are locks at the tackles if healthy. Epping is a lock at A guard slot, most likely on the right side next to Campion. At center, Christenson is a staff favorite as they've talked ad nauseum about his dedication, intelligence, strength, etc. Bobek will have to beat him out fair & square. Can he do it? It'd be great for the program if he could. That leaves everyone else for the other guard spot, likely the left guard spot. Tommy Olson is the obvious candidate, but is being pushed imo.

This is my projected starting OL:

LT- E Olson (Sr)
LG- T Olson (Jr)
C- Christiansen (R-Soph)
RG- Epping (Jr)
RT- Campion (R-Soph)

We have depth in Bak, Bush, Lenk, Bobek (Mottla if he's good to go), plus talented youngsters like Isaac Hayes.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
Our best linemen are....Epping, Campion & Eddie Olson. Olson & Campion are locks at the tackles if healthy. Epping is a lock at A guard slot, most likely on the right side next to Campion. At center, Christenson is a staff favorite as they've talked ad nauseum about his dedication, intelligence, strength, etc. Bobek will have to beat him out fair & square. Can he do it? It'd be great for the program if he could. That leaves everyone else for the other guard spot, likely the left guard spot. Tommy Olson is the obvious candidate, but is being pushed imo.

This is my projected starting OL:

LT- E Olson (Sr)
LG- T Olson (Jr)
C- Christiansen (R-Soph)
RG- Epping (Jr)
RT- Campion (R-Soph)

We have depth in Bak, Bush, Lenk, Bobek (Mottla if he's good to go), plus talented youngsters like Isaac Hayes.
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I will go with:
LT- E Olson
LG- Epping
C- Christiansen
RG- Bjorklund
RT- Campion
 



Costa Rican Gopher said:
Our best linemen are....Epping, Campion & Eddie Olson. Olson & Campion are locks at the tackles if healthy. Epping is a lock at A guard slot, most likely on the right side next to Campion. At center, Christenson is a staff favorite as they've talked ad nauseum about his dedication, intelligence, strength, etc. Bobek will have to beat him out fair & square. Can he do it? It'd be great for the program if he could. That leaves everyone else for the other guard spot, likely the left guard spot. Tommy Olson is the obvious candidate, but is being pushed imo.

This is my projected starting OL:

LT- E Olson (Sr)
LG- T Olson (Jr)
C- Christiansen (R-Soph)
RG- Epping (Jr)
RT- Campion (R-Soph)

We have depth in Bak, Bush, Lenk, Bobek (Mottla if he's good to go), plus talented youngsters like Isaac Hayes.
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By the sounds of things, and judging by the staff choices over the last year or so, I'd say Bak is more likely to start than T Olson. Nothing against the kid but his play has been inconsistent at best, and the staff seems to be really high on Bak. I don't think they'd give him and Christenson scholarships if they didn't have plans for them going forward.
 

I agree with you HH. Bjorklund should be starting at RG. He is a mauler with a nasty streak. Watched him for 3 years at Rosemount as he caved in his opponent with pancake blocks time and time again. He is up to 310 now and is ready to dominate in the Big 10 the next 3 years.
 

Gopherprof said:
By the sounds of things, and judging by the staff choices over the last year or so, I'd say Bak is more likely to start than T Olson. Nothing against the kid but his play has been inconsistent at best, and the staff seems to be really high on Bak. I don't think they'd give him and Christenson scholarships if they didn't have plans for them going forward.
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I can say with good authority that Tommy Olson is worried about this situation.
 

We have an excellent teaching staff, and if someone (TO)doesn't have the work ethic or talent??? -line play is so coordinated,, and with our depth, I would not be surprised to see first unit get a breather by a whole 2nd unit, alla Tubby. But we are getting enough depth that it could happen every so often.
 



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