BleedGopher
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per ESPN:
2. The new coordinators aren't afraid of changing it up.
Granted, they have been a bit secretive about specific changes -- Claeys said he'd like Minnesota to catch its opponents off-guard -- but there already have been quite a few adjustments. Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson has moved to a zone-blocking scheme, while defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel has experimented with different schemes in third-down situations.
The running backs already seem to have bought into Johnson's tweaks. Brooks told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "I feel like it fits this offense here more than just power all the time." Because of Johnson's past at Louisiana-Lafayette, Minnesota is expected to use some pistol formations.
As for Sawvel, who's in his sixth year at Minnesota but first as coordinator, he emphasized during the spring just how much the Gophers need to improve on third-down defense. Last season, Minnesota ranked No. 88 nationally in opponent third-down percentage (41.6 percent). The only B1G teams that fared worse? Indiana, Purdue and Rutgers. Sawvel might choose to run a 3-4, add different blitz packages and/or just put some faster personnel in on third-and-longs. It's not quite clear just what he'll do. But we did learn these two coordinators aren't sticking to the stats quo.
3. Minnesota is getting a lot of help in the trenches from its junior-college enrollees. Give a lot of credit to the Gophers here because, on paper, none of their three junior-college linemen was rated above three stars. Still, they were expected to come in and make an immediate impact. And they've done that: Merrick Jackson at defensive tackle, Vincent Calhoun at right guard and Garrison Wright at left tackle.
Calhoun was our spring breakout player after the right side of the line experienced a lot of success in the spring game. And Wright also earned a start in the scrimmage.
"I've been very pleased," offensive line coach Bart Miller said about the pair. "Not only with their retention, but that they've come in and competed right away. They've added a physical element; they've got some ability."
Jackson is no different. Defensive tackle has more depth, so Jackson might not start. But he'll still contribute behind Steven Richardson and Scott Ekpe. Claeys complimented his offseason work even before spring practice started. And, during the spring game, Jackson turned in a scrimmage-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
All in all, those three juco players bring a lot more size and physicality to the Gophers. Of Minnesota's four biggest players, in terms of weight, three of them are the jucos.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post...from-spring-practice-minnesota-golden-gophers
Go Gophers!!
2. The new coordinators aren't afraid of changing it up.
Granted, they have been a bit secretive about specific changes -- Claeys said he'd like Minnesota to catch its opponents off-guard -- but there already have been quite a few adjustments. Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson has moved to a zone-blocking scheme, while defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel has experimented with different schemes in third-down situations.
The running backs already seem to have bought into Johnson's tweaks. Brooks told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "I feel like it fits this offense here more than just power all the time." Because of Johnson's past at Louisiana-Lafayette, Minnesota is expected to use some pistol formations.
As for Sawvel, who's in his sixth year at Minnesota but first as coordinator, he emphasized during the spring just how much the Gophers need to improve on third-down defense. Last season, Minnesota ranked No. 88 nationally in opponent third-down percentage (41.6 percent). The only B1G teams that fared worse? Indiana, Purdue and Rutgers. Sawvel might choose to run a 3-4, add different blitz packages and/or just put some faster personnel in on third-and-longs. It's not quite clear just what he'll do. But we did learn these two coordinators aren't sticking to the stats quo.
3. Minnesota is getting a lot of help in the trenches from its junior-college enrollees. Give a lot of credit to the Gophers here because, on paper, none of their three junior-college linemen was rated above three stars. Still, they were expected to come in and make an immediate impact. And they've done that: Merrick Jackson at defensive tackle, Vincent Calhoun at right guard and Garrison Wright at left tackle.
Calhoun was our spring breakout player after the right side of the line experienced a lot of success in the spring game. And Wright also earned a start in the scrimmage.
"I've been very pleased," offensive line coach Bart Miller said about the pair. "Not only with their retention, but that they've come in and competed right away. They've added a physical element; they've got some ability."
Jackson is no different. Defensive tackle has more depth, so Jackson might not start. But he'll still contribute behind Steven Richardson and Scott Ekpe. Claeys complimented his offseason work even before spring practice started. And, during the spring game, Jackson turned in a scrimmage-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
All in all, those three juco players bring a lot more size and physicality to the Gophers. Of Minnesota's four biggest players, in terms of weight, three of them are the jucos.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post...from-spring-practice-minnesota-golden-gophers
Go Gophers!!
