hungan1
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From where I stand, the Offensive Line may be in critical condition at the start of Big Ten play. More importantly, the Gophers ability to block effectively on offense as a team may be on life support. I hope I am wrong and they snap out of it.
They could barely get five healthy serviceable linemen last season. Now, there are problems with all the blockers NOT clicking together. I mean not just the linemen. We have TEs, RBs, and FB that can't hold blocks at times. IMHO, Job No. 1 for everyone not running, catching, or throwing/handing the ball is to block. More importantly, to protect the quarterback. Without adequate blocking, there is no credible offense.
The only positive take on the Maryland game is that they exposed a lot of vulnerabilities early in the season. There is a lot of film study.
We cannot lose Zack Annexstad for the rest of the season. He is getting killed.
Is it a coaching problem, or is it personnel, or both? Just asking.
I sure hate to see more red shirts burned. That may not necessarily be the answer. They need to emphasize and teach fundamentals of blocking. Something needs to be done quickly. Instead of fighting for a bowl game, they may be fighting to get out of last place unless something is done soon.
Watch any NDSU or Wisconsin games. You can see that they got blocking fundamentals down to a science. It is no accident that NDSU are five-time National Champs. They may have one NFL caliber blocker. It appears that the rest of the players are coached up with good sound fundamentals. If NDSU can achieve it it with zero to mostly two stars and beat teams like Iowa proves that it can be done with great coaching and conditioning.
It won't be pretty if they are in last place overall in the Big Ten from the standpoint of recruiting.
What are your thoughts?
2018 Gophers Offensive Line
Donnell Greene--------6-7 320 R-Sr., Marietta, Ga. / Kell Coffeyville CC
Jared Weyler-----------6-4 300 R-Sr., Dayton, Oh / Centerville
Bronson Dovich--------6-5 300 R-Jr., Chaska, Mn. / Chaska
Quinn Oseland---------6-6 305 R-Jr., Springfield, Il. / Sacred Heart Griffin
Sam Schlueter---------6-6 305 R-So., Victoria, Mn. / Mayer Lutheran
Ben Davis--------------6-4 280 R-So., Elk Grove, Ca. / American River C
Conner Olson----------6-5 300 R-So, .Monticello, Mn. / Monticello
Blaise Andries---------6-5 315 R-Fr., Marshall, Mn. / Marshall
John Michael Schmitz-6-4 300 R-Fr., Flossmoor, Il. / Homewood-Flossmoor
Axel Ruschmeyer------6-4 285 R-Fr., Hutchinson, Mn. / Holy Family
Kyle Sassack-----------6-7 290 R-Fr., Pontiac, Mich. / Notre Dame Prep
Austin Beier-----------6-4 285 Fr., Toledo, Ohio / St. John's
Nathan Boe-----------6-4 285 Fr., Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North
Curtis Dunlap Jr.------6-5 370 Fr., Jacksonville, Fla. / IMG Academy
Daniel Faalele---------6-9 400 Fr., Melbourne, Australia / IMG Academy
Grant Norton----------6-8 260 Fr., Camdenton, Mo. / Camdenton
Jack York--------------6-6 300 Fr., Dallas, Texas / First Baptist Academy
They could barely get five healthy serviceable linemen last season. Now, there are problems with all the blockers NOT clicking together. I mean not just the linemen. We have TEs, RBs, and FB that can't hold blocks at times. IMHO, Job No. 1 for everyone not running, catching, or throwing/handing the ball is to block. More importantly, to protect the quarterback. Without adequate blocking, there is no credible offense.
The only positive take on the Maryland game is that they exposed a lot of vulnerabilities early in the season. There is a lot of film study.
We cannot lose Zack Annexstad for the rest of the season. He is getting killed.
Is it a coaching problem, or is it personnel, or both? Just asking.
I sure hate to see more red shirts burned. That may not necessarily be the answer. They need to emphasize and teach fundamentals of blocking. Something needs to be done quickly. Instead of fighting for a bowl game, they may be fighting to get out of last place unless something is done soon.
Watch any NDSU or Wisconsin games. You can see that they got blocking fundamentals down to a science. It is no accident that NDSU are five-time National Champs. They may have one NFL caliber blocker. It appears that the rest of the players are coached up with good sound fundamentals. If NDSU can achieve it it with zero to mostly two stars and beat teams like Iowa proves that it can be done with great coaching and conditioning.
It won't be pretty if they are in last place overall in the Big Ten from the standpoint of recruiting.
What are your thoughts?
2018 Gophers Offensive Line
Donnell Greene--------6-7 320 R-Sr., Marietta, Ga. / Kell Coffeyville CC
Jared Weyler-----------6-4 300 R-Sr., Dayton, Oh / Centerville
Bronson Dovich--------6-5 300 R-Jr., Chaska, Mn. / Chaska
Quinn Oseland---------6-6 305 R-Jr., Springfield, Il. / Sacred Heart Griffin
Sam Schlueter---------6-6 305 R-So., Victoria, Mn. / Mayer Lutheran
Ben Davis--------------6-4 280 R-So., Elk Grove, Ca. / American River C
Conner Olson----------6-5 300 R-So, .Monticello, Mn. / Monticello
Blaise Andries---------6-5 315 R-Fr., Marshall, Mn. / Marshall
John Michael Schmitz-6-4 300 R-Fr., Flossmoor, Il. / Homewood-Flossmoor
Axel Ruschmeyer------6-4 285 R-Fr., Hutchinson, Mn. / Holy Family
Kyle Sassack-----------6-7 290 R-Fr., Pontiac, Mich. / Notre Dame Prep
Austin Beier-----------6-4 285 Fr., Toledo, Ohio / St. John's
Nathan Boe-----------6-4 285 Fr., Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North
Curtis Dunlap Jr.------6-5 370 Fr., Jacksonville, Fla. / IMG Academy
Daniel Faalele---------6-9 400 Fr., Melbourne, Australia / IMG Academy
Grant Norton----------6-8 260 Fr., Camdenton, Mo. / Camdenton
Jack York--------------6-6 300 Fr., Dallas, Texas / First Baptist Academy
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