Depth Chart vs New Mexico State

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https://gophersports.com/documents/2018/8/28/08_30_18_Depth_Chart.pdf

Denotes true freshman

Offense

QB
Annexstad
Morgan

RB
Smith
Ibrahim OR Williams

WR
Bateman
Green OR Morse

WR
Douglas
Howard OR Geary

WR
Johnson
Autman-Bell OR Gossage

TE
Kieft
Paulson OR Witham

LT
Greene
Oseland OR Sassack

LG
Olson
Dovich OR Beier

C
Weyler
Schmitz OR Boe

RG
Andries
Dunlap

RT
Schlueter
Faalele OR York


Defense

DE
DeLattiboudere
Otomewo

DT
Moore
Renner

DT
Smith
Silver OR Teague

DE
Coughlin
Devers OR Mafe

LB
Martin
Sori-Marin

LB
Barber
Rush OR Oliver

LB
Cashman
Huff

DB
Thomas
Durr OR Estes

DB
Winfield Jr
Howden OR Sapp OR Aune

DB
Huff
Swenson OR Williamson

DB
T. Smith
C.J. Smith

(DB)
Shenault
Harris


Special Teams

KR
Smith
Ibrahim

PR
Winfield
Shenault
Douglas

K
Carpenter
Mack

P
Herbers
Melvin

LS
Jordahl
Vojvodich
 
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That is a really old defense. 10 of 11 starters third, fourth or fifth year guys, plus the slot db Shenault.

Pretty old starting offense as well with 7 of 11 starters third, fourth or fifth year guys.

Six of the six top specialists third, fourth or fifth year guys.

That maturity should serve team well.
 

That is a really old defense. 10 of 11 starters third, fourth or fifth year guys, plus the slot db Shenault.

Pretty old starting offense as well with 7 of 11 starters third, fourth or fifth year guys.

Six of the six top specialists third, fourth or fifth year guys.

That maturity should serve team well.

Now you've gone and done it...
 

Nobody is going to score on us this year! We have 12 starters listed on the Defense!
 


Interesting to have probably two of the most critical pieces on both offense & defense listed as returners (Smith & Winfield). We will find out Thursday how much action they will really get and if this is just coaches being coaches. I understand you want the best playmakers in situations to make plays but also risking injury in plays where athletes can sub in easier vs DB or RB
 
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Interesting to have probably two of the most critical pieces on both offense & defense listed as returners (Smith & Winfield). We will find out Thursday how much action they will really get and if this is just coaches being coaches. I understand you want the best playmakers in situations to make plays but also risking injury in plays where athletes can sub in easier vs DB or RB

Rodney is not a change from last year...
 

Rodney is not a change from last year...

Yeah. But Shannon Brooks was back there for 6 games last year and Kobe the rest of the way. None of the other guys at RB besides Femi-Cole have college experience. Interesting that fleck would want to rush his #1 RB.
 

There are 17 positions with an "or" listed and almost all of them include a freshman. I think it'll help the narrative that this is such a young team with that many freshmen on the "2-deep."
 

Couple guys in particular I’m wondering about: Beebe at TE and Umlor at DL (started last year as true fr). Otherwise I guess it looks like I expected!
 



Couple guys in particular I’m wondering about: Beebe at TE and Umlor at DL (started last year as true fr). Otherwise I guess it looks like I expected!

Umlor is a surprising omission. Is Jason Dickson hurt?
 

Taiyon Devers listed at backup DE? Maybe a 3rd down pass rush guy?
 


A lot of experience and leadership on the field. Injuries and dings change that in a hurry. Looks pretty good on paper, especially if the OL opens holes for the RBs. I wonder how far Dunlap and Faalele are from being B1G road graders. Solid players ahead of them.
 
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I'm excited to see the young athletes in the 2 deep. Hope to see them play Thursday. Williams at RB, Bateman at WR, Tommy Rush and Oliver at LB to name a few
 

When freshmen move ahead of those that have been on the program it demonstrates an elevated level of talent. This is college football. Freshmen play for everyone.
 

Dickson will redshirt

What about RS Fr Malcolm Robinson at DT? Surprised to see the smaller Renner as 2 deep DT rather than at DE. Esp over Robinson if he is avail and has done well. Also thought Hickock would have been preferred over Renner at DT.

Also, what about Jerry Gibson at DE?
 

Interesting to have probably two of the most critical pieces on both offense & defense listed as returners (Smith & Winfield). We will find out Thursday how much action they will really get and if this is just coaches being coaches. I understand you want the best playmakers in situations to make plays but also risking injury in plays where athletes can sub in easier vs DB or RB

The 2 most critical...
 

At the Fair, Fleck said plan is for Shannon Brooks to play in four games and be back to lead running backs next year...so at some point, he is in the two deep mix.

Fleck also made it sound like he has decided to redshirt Faalele and Dunlap; saying he values more what they could do in 2022 than 2018...so unless there is an injury or circumstances change, I wouldn't expect to see them in more than four games.

Is there a short yardage/fullback package? Is Beebe in that package?

In practice, it seemed like Schoenfelder was getting more reps than some of the frosh listed here.
 

Interesting to have probably two of the most critical pieces on both offense & defense listed as returners (Smith & Winfield). We will find out Thursday how much action they will really get and if this is just coaches being coaches. I understand you want the best playmakers in situations to make plays but also risking injury in plays where athletes can sub in easier vs DB or RB

Please.

Please.

The risk of injury on kicking plays is never been statistically confirmed. Best players on every play.
 

Please.

Please.

The risk of injury on kicking plays is never been statistically confirmed. Best players on every play.

I worry more about punt returners than kickoff returners. The coaches see them all the time so clearly they think Winfield is the best option but personally I would rather see someone else returning punts because Winfield is so valuable to the defense.
 

From Kyle Goblirsch, Gopher Illustrated, August 28. 2018:
P.J. Fleck and the Minnesota Golden Gophers announced their first depth chart of the season heading into game one against the New Mexico State Aggies this Thursday night from TCF Bank Stadium.

Below is the breakdown from Fleck and his staff:

Offense
Left Tackle - 73 Donnell Greene - 58 Quinn Oseland OR 75 Kyle Sassack

Left Guard - 64 Conner Olson - 61 Bronson Dovich OR 63 Austin Beier

Center - 62 Jared Weyler - 60 John Michael Schmitz OR 66 Nathan Boe

Right Guard - 77 Blaise Andries - 51 Curtis Dunlap Jr.

Right Tackle - 70 Sam Schlueter - 78 Daniel Faalele OR 76 Jack York

Quarterback - 5 Zack Annexstad - 2 Tanner Morgan

Tailback - 1 Rodney Smith - 24 Mohamed Ibrahim OR 21 Bryce Williams

Tight End - 42 Ko Kieft - 80 Jake Paulson OR 85 Bryce Witham

Wide Receiver - 13 Rashod Bateman - 17 Seth Green OR 89 Matt Morse

Wide Receiver - 82 Demetrius Douglas - 25 Phillip Howard OR 18 Clay Geary

Wide Receiver - 6 Tyler Johnson - 3 Chris Autman-Bell OR 27 Paul Gossage

Defense
D-End - 46 Winston DeLattiboudere - 9 Esezi Otomewo

Tackle - 19 Gary Moore - 90 Sam Renner

Tackle - 99 O.J. Smith - 97 Royal Silver OR 52 Jamaal Teague

R-End - 45 Carter Coughlin - 12 Tai'yon Devers OR 69 Boye Mafe

Linebacker - 21 Kamal Martin - 55 Mariano Sori-Marin

Linebacker - 41 Thomas Barber - 8 Thomas Rush OR 14 Braelen Oliver

Linebacker - 36 Blake Cashman - 20 Julian Huff

Defensive Back - 31 Kiondre Thomas - 16 Coney Durr OR 7 Rey Estes

Defensive Back - 11 Antoine Winfield Jr. - 23 Jordan Howden OR 22 Benny Sapp III OR 49 Josh Aune

Defensive Back - 2 Jacob Huff - 27 Calvin Swenson OR 6 Chris Williamson

Defensive Back - 4 Terell Smith - 15 C.J. Smith - 34 Antonio Shenault - 26 Justus Harris

Special Teams
Kicker - 38 Emmit Carpenter - 37 John Mack

Punter - 47 Jacob Herbers - 46 Alex Melvin

Long Snapper - 25 Payton Jordahl - 39 Michael Vojvodich

Kick Return - 1 Rodney Smith - 24 Mohamed Ibrahim

Punt Return - 11 Antoine Winfield Jr.- 34 Antonio Shenault - 82 Demetrius Douglas

Holder - 47 Jacob Herbers - 46 Alex Melvin - 14 Casey O’Brien
 

I'm kinda surprised to see Shenault so far down on the chart. I thought he'd be a starter
 


I'm kinda surprised to see Shenault so far down on the chart. I thought he'd be a starter

Very interesting point. Shenault is listed as a starter-but at what looks to be a Nickel package back. From the official Gophersports depth chart https://gophersports.com/documents/2018/8/28/08_30_18_Depth_Chart.pdf

(DefenSive bacK)
34 Antonio Shenault
26 Justus Harris

As there are 4 other DB positions on the Depth Chart, "(DefenSive bacK)" is almost certainly a Nickel back position. As the starting Nickel back, Shenault may well get as much or more playing time than the projected #2's at the other DB positions.

Another GH regular observed that the Gophers will have a clear advantage at Defense with 12 players on the field! Although this would be nice the Nickel (5 DB) package is the more probable explanation.
 
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I worry more about punt returners than kickoff returners. The coaches see them all the time so clearly they think Winfield is the best option but personally I would rather see someone else returning punts because Winfield is so valuable to the defense.

Mr. Fleck and I vehemently disagree with you.
 

Mr. Fleck and I vehemently disagree with you.

You don't have a clue what Fleck thinks.

And your comment about "statistics" was cute. Last I checked, you can't get hurt on a punt return if you're not on the punt return team.
 




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