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Fall Preview: Offensive Line
Kyle Goblirsch, 247 Sports - Jul 25, 2:00 PM 0
Minnesota Newsletter
Offensive Line
Starters: Ben Lauer (Left Tackle), Joe Bjorklund (Projected Left Guard), Jon Christenson (Projected Center), Josh Campion (Right Guard), Jonah Pirsig (Right Tackle)
Backups: Brian Bobek, Foster Bush, Isaac Hayes, Connor Mayes, Alex Mayes, Chad Fahning, Matt Leidner, Luke Rasmussen, Jared Weyler, Matt Oldenkamp, Tyler Moore, Quinn Oseland, Ted Stieber, Bronson Dovich, Nick Connelly, Noah Kuehn
Newcomer To Watch: Quinn Oseland. The highest rated offensive lineman coming in. As Head Coach Jerry Kill pointed out recently on his weekly radio appearance with Sid Hartman, Quinn may be too much to keep the redshirt on this fall, especially when considering the backup Tackle spots are yet to be locked down.
Key Number: 2,801 and 32. The number of rushing yards and rushing TDs, respectively, that the offensive line helped produce. Obviously with the assistance of now Tennessee Titan David Cobb.
Reason For Optimism: With the projected starting five, the Gophers return 85 starts and a total of 130 game appearances among the offensive line, with another 9 starts via reserves. The offensive line is expected to be one of the most stable and strongest units the Gophers have on the offensive side of the ball.
Optimism also comes with clean slate of health. Lauer, Campion and Pirsig all battled injuries last year and played some rotation among the two tackle spots. Coach Matt Limegrover seems more determined than in the past to get Campion situated at RG for the overall strength of the line. It also allows Pirsig and Lauer to resume their natural positions.
Another reason for optimism is getting Jon Christenson back in the starting lineup after missing significant time due to a gruesome leg injury. While a concern to replace two starters (see below), that becomes somewhat lessoned with the addition of Christenson back into the fold.
Reason For Concern: The Gophers do have to replace two of their stronger offensive lineman in Tommy Olson and Zac Epping, both who had started for the Gophers almost their entire careers.
Big Question: While our Gopher247 team projects an interior combo of Bjorklund-Christenson-Campion at LG, C and RG respectively, Kill has noted publicly that Christenson and Bobek as LG and C is another possibility the staff will weigh out. The first being the most likely. We’ll get to see for sure who wins out in just a couple short weeks.
Another question heading into camp echos from this time last fall before injuries started to mount and Campion was tested as a RG. Now that the slide is inevitable, the only question remains IF he can fully adapt to a spot that calls for adjusting his footwork and reads. As the eldest of the OL, and most experienced, we don’t see a reason he won’t.
Our final question comes at the development in pass pro. The Gophers offensive line has been no slouch in the running game, but has had its shares of ups and downs when protecting Leidner. Some of that falls on the signal caller getting the ball out in a timely fashion and some has fallen on the wideouts gaining separation so Leidner can even consider doing so. All in all, the Gophers OL will need to continue improving in this department, giving Mitch as much time as possible.
What To Expect: We expect another strong uptick in the OL production, especially with so much overall experience returning this fall. Winning in the trenches has been key for Kill and Limegrover since taking over the program. The Gophers OL will likely be at the top of the conference again in production, which will help make the lives from the crop of running backs taking over for Cobb a lot easier and ideally Mitch’s development as well.
http://minnesota.247sports.com/Bolt/Fall-Preview-Offensive-Line-38386288
Kyle Goblirsch, 247 Sports - Jul 25, 2:00 PM 0
Minnesota Newsletter
Offensive Line
Starters: Ben Lauer (Left Tackle), Joe Bjorklund (Projected Left Guard), Jon Christenson (Projected Center), Josh Campion (Right Guard), Jonah Pirsig (Right Tackle)
Backups: Brian Bobek, Foster Bush, Isaac Hayes, Connor Mayes, Alex Mayes, Chad Fahning, Matt Leidner, Luke Rasmussen, Jared Weyler, Matt Oldenkamp, Tyler Moore, Quinn Oseland, Ted Stieber, Bronson Dovich, Nick Connelly, Noah Kuehn
Newcomer To Watch: Quinn Oseland. The highest rated offensive lineman coming in. As Head Coach Jerry Kill pointed out recently on his weekly radio appearance with Sid Hartman, Quinn may be too much to keep the redshirt on this fall, especially when considering the backup Tackle spots are yet to be locked down.
Key Number: 2,801 and 32. The number of rushing yards and rushing TDs, respectively, that the offensive line helped produce. Obviously with the assistance of now Tennessee Titan David Cobb.
Reason For Optimism: With the projected starting five, the Gophers return 85 starts and a total of 130 game appearances among the offensive line, with another 9 starts via reserves. The offensive line is expected to be one of the most stable and strongest units the Gophers have on the offensive side of the ball.
Optimism also comes with clean slate of health. Lauer, Campion and Pirsig all battled injuries last year and played some rotation among the two tackle spots. Coach Matt Limegrover seems more determined than in the past to get Campion situated at RG for the overall strength of the line. It also allows Pirsig and Lauer to resume their natural positions.
Another reason for optimism is getting Jon Christenson back in the starting lineup after missing significant time due to a gruesome leg injury. While a concern to replace two starters (see below), that becomes somewhat lessoned with the addition of Christenson back into the fold.
Reason For Concern: The Gophers do have to replace two of their stronger offensive lineman in Tommy Olson and Zac Epping, both who had started for the Gophers almost their entire careers.
Big Question: While our Gopher247 team projects an interior combo of Bjorklund-Christenson-Campion at LG, C and RG respectively, Kill has noted publicly that Christenson and Bobek as LG and C is another possibility the staff will weigh out. The first being the most likely. We’ll get to see for sure who wins out in just a couple short weeks.
Another question heading into camp echos from this time last fall before injuries started to mount and Campion was tested as a RG. Now that the slide is inevitable, the only question remains IF he can fully adapt to a spot that calls for adjusting his footwork and reads. As the eldest of the OL, and most experienced, we don’t see a reason he won’t.
Our final question comes at the development in pass pro. The Gophers offensive line has been no slouch in the running game, but has had its shares of ups and downs when protecting Leidner. Some of that falls on the signal caller getting the ball out in a timely fashion and some has fallen on the wideouts gaining separation so Leidner can even consider doing so. All in all, the Gophers OL will need to continue improving in this department, giving Mitch as much time as possible.
What To Expect: We expect another strong uptick in the OL production, especially with so much overall experience returning this fall. Winning in the trenches has been key for Kill and Limegrover since taking over the program. The Gophers OL will likely be at the top of the conference again in production, which will help make the lives from the crop of running backs taking over for Cobb a lot easier and ideally Mitch’s development as well.
http://minnesota.247sports.com/Bolt/Fall-Preview-Offensive-Line-38386288