ESPN: MN spring preview: What's new? Not much, and therein lies the secret to success

BleedGopher

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per ESPN:

What's new? Not much, and therein lies the secret to Kill's success. His coaching staff remained intact, extending its longevity, unmatched elsewhere in college football. In addition to its losses to graduation, Minnesota must move on without star tight end Maxx Williams, who left early for the NFL and may give the Gophers a first-round pick for the first time since Laurence Maroney in 2006. Receiver Donovahn Jones, a sophomore reserve in 2014, was dismissed in December during Minnesota's prep work for the Citrus Bowl.

Biggest question: Who's going to make plays on offense? Quarterback Mitch Leidner, a rising junior, will handle an increased load in 2015, for sure, but he needs new playmakers to emerge this spring without Williams and workhorse David Cobb at running back. Top wideout Isaac Fruechte is also gone, leaving KJ Maye as the most experienced returning receiver with 16 catches in 13 games last year. Freshmen Desmond Gant, Isaiah Gentry and Melvin Holland Jr. sit among a solid cast of young receivers. At tight end and H-back, a crucial position set in this offense, Minnesota has a cupboard full of big bodies but little production on which to draw.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/116338/minnesota-spring-preview

Go Gophers!!
 

ESPN B1G Blog: Minnesota Spring Preview piece

Per ESPN: "A second straight eight-win season and a New Year's Day bowl game have pumped energy into Jerry Kill's program. The Golden Gophers host TCU to open the season in September in what figures to rate as one of the more hyped non-conference games in years for Minnesota."

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/116338/minnesota-spring-preview
 

my bad. sorry. didn't see this article has been posted a couple hours ago.
 

The key is will Leidner be healthy for the whole year? If not, does our team have the backup QB to lead us into the B1G Championship game? Everything else will fall into place. Plenty of yards through the air this year and the run game better than ever. D takes a big step forward with a greatly improved front 7. Great to be a Gopher fan. We deserve this after suffering all these decades.
 

The key is will Leidner be healthy for the whole year? If not, does our team have the backup QB to lead us into the B1G Championship game? Everything else will fall into place. Plenty of yards through the air this year and the run game better than ever. D takes a big step forward with a greatly improved front 7. Great to be a Gopher fan. We deserve this after suffering all these decades.

Isn't it great that we can now actually realistically ask this question? That we could possibly be consistently playing for the West Division championship going into the last week of the season most years? At least in the conversation. We have really come a long ways thanks to this staff.
 





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