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John Galt

John Galt

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The d-line play has been the biggest disappointment of this year’s team. Somehow, after 8 games, we have 1 sack by a player not named Carter Coughlin. Indiana’s QB didn’t feel pressure all night. We’ve struggled to stop the run, and guys like Silver, Moore, and Winston D have been invisible.

Mafe and Otomewo seem to be playing more as the season goes along and are both freshmen. We’re redshirting a boatload of players, and we have 6 new d-linemen coming in next year, including a few JUCOs.

IMO d-line has been the worst position group on the entire team this season. It will need to take a big step forward next year if we’re going to make it to 8+ wins.
 


No the brand new coach, the former head coach of the JUCO in Oklahoma is the new D line coach.some transition this year. Otmemwo and Mafe are redshirt freshman that needs to gain some mass. Both need to add girth but I am glad to see them gaining experience.

Sent from my SM-J327P using Tapatalk
 
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Great point. While I wouldn't disagree with your premise (DL is disappointing), I feel like it's specifically the DEs that have stunk it up this year. Most teams attack us off the edges in the run game and use 3 to block the 2 interior guys in passing situations, leaving our DEs on an island. I truly don't know if we have any talent at the position besides Coughlin, and we all know he's woefully undersized albeit very skilled. Otomewo and Mafe are so inexperienced, and I constantly see them making mistakes. The 35+ yard QB run against IU was because Mafe took an inside rush in man coverage -- a huge no no. The two long TD runs at Nebraska were because they baited the DEs inside with plays that started inside to allow the T to hook our DE, then they spilled it oustide...they obviously saw something on tape from previous games and went after it. It was different guys, too -- once Otomewo and once Delattiboure I believe. So I'm VERY worried about that position, but also hopeful these young guys will improve. Fleck talks up Otomewo a lot. Reigelsberger was a nice recruit I believe. So fingers crossed.
 

One theory for the lack of pressure, is they have 5 offensive lineman blocking 4 defensive lineman.

Meaning, and correct me if i'm wrong, but I do not see a lot of DB or even LBer blitzes...keeping the
OL off balance giving our DL 1 on 1s or even free space.....

THAT, would be a Robb Smith thing.
 


MGGopher said:
Great point. While I wouldn't disagree with your premise (DL is disappointing), I feel like it's specifically the DEs that have stunk it up this year. Most teams attack us off the edges in the run game and use 3 to block the 2 interior guys in passing situations, leaving our DEs on an island. I truly don't know if we have any talent at the position besides Coughlin, and we all know he's woefully undersized albeit very skilled. Otomewo and Mafe are so inexperienced, and I constantly see them making mistakes. The 35+ yard QB run against IU was because Mafe took an inside rush in man coverage -- a huge no no. The two long TD runs at Nebraska were because they baited the DEs inside with plays that started inside to allow the T to hook our DE, then they spilled it oustide...they obviously saw something on tape from previous games and went after it. It was different guys, too -- once Otomewo and once Delattiboure I believe. So I'm VERY worried about that position, but also hopeful these young guys will improve. Fleck talks up Otomewo a lot. Reigelsberger was a nice recruit I believe. So fingers crossed.
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Similar to WR, DE has been a massive black hole for quite a while around here. You know the position is a problem when the best player at the spot is someone playing out of position (albeit doing an amazing job at it). Just have to hope the young guys will grow and develop into legit Big Ten level DEs.
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
No the brand new coach, the former head coach of the JUCO in Oklahoma is the new D line coach.some transition this year. Otmemwo and Mafe are redshirt freshman that needs to gain some mass. Both need to add girth but I am glad to see them gaining experience.

Sent from my SM-J327P using Tapatalk
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The Juco HC is Clay Patterson whos the te coach. Joe Rossi is the dline coach and Marcus West is the pass rush specialist.
 


MNVCGUY said:
Similar to WR, DE has been a massive black hole for quite a while around here. You know the position is a problem when the best player at the spot is someone playing out of position (albeit doing an amazing job at it). Just have to hope the young guys will grow and develop into legit Big Ten level DEs.
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I went back and looked, the last time we had a DE drafted was Stylez White in 2002. Outside of Coughlin this year, I can't think of a legitimate pass rushing threat in quite a while.
 




Since we are down to four regular season games left might we see some new players on the DL like Umlor or Reigelsberger?
Heck give Jerry Gibson some more playing time. He has some old guy size and had a nice sack vs OSU.
 

Since this discussion seems to be focused on sacks, and that everyone agrees Coughlin is an exception .... I wonder what each Big Ten team’s DL has for sacks this year *minus* their sack leader?

Are Gophers at the bottom?
 

John Galt said:
I went back and looked, the last time we had a DE drafted was Stylez White in 2002. Outside of Coughlin this year, I can't think of a legitimate pass rushing threat in quite a while.
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Willie VanDeSteeg was probably the last true DE we had that was a legit threat to get to the QB but that was back in 2008. D.L. Wilhite was ok as well in 2012 but outside of those two there has not been much at DE since the Karon Riley years.

What Coughlin has been able to do is nothing short of amazing at his size. It is a shame though that we are not getting to see what he could do from the LB position because I bet he would be a beast back there as well. Maybe these young guys will develop enough that he can slide back to LB next year to help replace Cashman.
 



Gophers_4life said:
Since this discussion seems to be focused on sacks, and that everyone agrees Coughlin is an exception .... I wonder what each Big Ten team’s DL has for sacks this year *minus* their sack leader?

Are Gophers at the bottom?
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We're at 1, so I would imagine no team is worse.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Willie VanDeSteeg was probably the last true DE we had that was a legit threat to get to the QB but that was back in 2008. D.L. Wilhite was ok as well in 2012 but outside of those two there has not been much at DE since the Karon Riley years.

What Coughlin has been able to do is nothing short of amazing at his size. It is a shame though that we are not getting to see what he could do from the LB position because I bet he would be a beast back there as well. Maybe these young guys will develop enough that he can slide back to LB next year to help replace Cashman.
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This dude wasn't bad either - Couldn't find video of his sack that sent the QB's helmet flying.

 

Hoop33 said:
This dude wasn't bad either - Couldn't find video of his sack that sent the QB's helmet flying.

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He seemed like he was ready to bust out after 2013 but after that he was pretty disappointing overall. One of those players that felt like he should be a lot better than he was.
 

WorkingMyTailOff said:
Since we are down to four regular season games left might we see some new players on the DL like Umlor or Reigelsberger?
Heck give Jerry Gibson some more playing time. He has some old guy size and had a nice sack vs OSU.
Click to expand...

It is going to be really interesting to see how coaches employ the new redshirt rule here at the end of the year because there may be a lot of players seeing action that typically would have had to wait until he following season to see the field. Definite potential for some breakout performances.
 

MNVCGUY said:
It is going to be really interesting to see how coaches employ the new redshirt rule here at the end of the year because there may be a lot of players seeing action that typically would have had to wait until he following season to see the field. Definite potential for some breakout performances.
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I think it's possible, maybe even likely, that we have 4 new starters on the d-line next year.
 


MNVCGUY said:
Similar to WR, DE has been a massive black hole for quite a while around here. You know the position is a problem when the best player at the spot is someone playing out of position (albeit doing an amazing job at it). Just have to hope the young guys will grow and develop into legit Big Ten level DEs.
Click to expand...

WR and DL have been very poor for years, with an exception now and then like Steven Richardson. I hope that the DL is only 1 season behind the WR's trajectory. Next year, with the continued development of Johnson, Bateman, Autman-Bell and Douglas, plus the addition of
the 2 2019 commits and the 2 2018's being redshirted, the WR position should be solid. I'm hoping that the emergence of Reigelsperger and ,Ahanatou next year, plus the addition of what looks like the most promising group of DL's in my lifetime, will make next years' DL comparable in effectiveness to this year's WR's. While Teague, Reigelsperger and/or Ahanatou may be able to be bright spots in limited action this season, I'm not counting on it.
 

Hoop33 said:
This dude wasn't bad either - Couldn't find video of his sack that sent the QB's helmet flying.

Click to expand...

Not that it counts for anything, but he still has one of the best all time recruiting photos IMO
 

pharmacygopher said:
Not that it counts for anything, but he still has one of the best all time recruiting photos IMO
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Funny that one of those clips has him getting pressure on David Blough, the Purdue QB. It feels like Cockran hasn't been here for 5 years and Blough is still at Purdue..
 

John Galt said:
I think it's possible, maybe even likely, that we have 4 new starters on the d-line next year.
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I think OJ Smith will still start next year, but I'd agree that 3 new starters are likely.

You're right that the DL is huge weakness this year. Being undersized is a big issue and I also believe the reason for a regression in the LB play. Stove was regularly double teamed and ate up blockers last year. They don't have a player like that this year.

I am excited by what is being brought in at this position. They have 7 DL commits with 2 of them being JUCOs. I also think Bargy will have a good chance to play right away as a true freshman. If you look at these commits, and this year's freshman, nearly all of them have great size, which is really needed.
 

I swear I remember articles about how this D line was going to be better or something...

Lots of plays where right after contact they were on the grass :(
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
I think OJ Smith will still start next year, but I'd agree that 3 new starters are likely.

You're right that the DL is huge weakness this year. Being undersized is a big issue and I also believe the reason for a regression in the LB play. Stove was regularly double teamed and ate up blockers last year. They don't have a player like that this year.

I am excited by what is being brought in at this position. They have 7 DL commits with 2 of them being JUCOs. I also think Bargy will have a good chance to play right away as a true freshman. If you look at these commits, and this year's freshman, nearly all of them have great size, which is really needed.
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Agree that Smith is a starter if healthy. Given that he's now missed 3 or 4 games due to concussions, it's possible his football career is over.
 

MNVCGUY said:
He seemed like he was ready to bust out after 2013 but after that he was pretty disappointing overall. One of those players that felt like he should be a lot better than he was.
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Agreed. But I'd take him playing opposite of Coughlin right now.
 

Can we put some more beef on this guy... He was a terror as a freshman.
 

John Galt said:
Agree that Smith is a starter if healthy. Given that he's now missed 3 or 4 games due to concussions, it's possible his football career is over.
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Been confused on Smith all season; he's listed as a Senior in some places and a Junior in others. I take it he has another year left after this year? That would be a good thing for sure, even if it's just for additional depth.
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
Been confused on Smith all season; he's listed as a Senior in some places and a Junior in others. I take it he has another year left after this year? That would be a good thing for sure, even if it's just for additional depth.
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He was granted a 6th year of eligibility. I assume he'll be listed as GS next year.
 


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