Weekend Recap - Spring Game, NFL Draft 2009

Well, the biggest and only football weekend of the Spring is coming to a close so in case you missed it - here are some thoughts.

GOPHERS Spring Game 2009
Ellie and I ended up heading over to UST for this year's version of the game, and it actually ended up being really nice outside. I'm sure a lot of you have already read the recaps so you know the gist of what happened, so I'm not going to give you a play by play.

THE GOOD:
1) Marquies Gray
This guy looks incredible - very fluid throwing motion, big arm, mobility, calm, everything is there for this guy to be a #1...maybe sooner than most think.

2) New Offenseive scheme
Love it. It's the kind of offense I would run if I was in charge of this whole thing. Run the ball - out of regular formations! Throw it deep on occasion, use the shotgun, lots of interesting and unpredictable plays...basically, getting it to your playmakers and getting them some space - I think this is what the spread was trying to do, but this offense looks light years ahead of the garbage we were putting out throughout most of last season. It looks like we might have a chance to actually be explosive after 2 years of the snooze fest where only 3 yard passes were successful. Big plays win games.

3) Young Talent on Defense
Holy crap do we have some speed on D. The young LB trio of Maresh, Reeves, and Cooper might be the fastest group of Gopher LB's I've ever seen. These guys all had multiple big hits and got all over the field. They might make us forget the glory days of John Shevlin and Mike Sherals...maybe. Best part is that all 3 have 4 years of eligibility left...yikes.

4) O-line looks the part
I really believe this group will be vastly improved in 2009. Why...#1 we ran the ball on Saturday and we ran effectively. The new guys look good - Wills is the largest person I've ever seen that close (6'7" 375) and Carufel will be money at G. I think Davis is a great coach, so I have no doubt that this unit will go from a major liability to a strength this season.

5) Cedric McKinley
The one bad part about the OL yesterday was that they gave up 3 sacks to McKinley. Coming off his breakout bowl game, I think this guy gets it. He'll be a Sr. this year, and I think he can step in to fill the spot of Willie and keep our D going.

6) Special Teams!!
Stoudamire looked incredible on returns. Almost housing 2 or 3 different chances. Ellestad was flawless...still crossing my fingers for a year with no missed XP's! I think we have a ton of options for return men, but Stoudamire will house at least one this year. He's going to be a difference maker. I also like him on offense as he ran with the 1st team quite a bit in the slot. He is so fast - no one could catch him on the end around he took for a score.

7) RB Depth
Kevin Whaley is the real deal. Eskridge looked okay, but I think he'll be a 4th option this year after Whaley, Bennett, and Lipscomb in some order. Bottom line - lots of depth at a major injury prone position is a great thing.

8) WR Depth
Our speed has increased so much since Timmy B took over I can't even remember the days of the brutal WR depth we used to have. Without our likely 2 starters on Saturday (Decker/Hayo) we still looked good. Green, McKnight, Smith all played really well and caught some nice balls. Stoudamire also made a couple of nice catches - I feel like we really want this guy to have the ball as much as possible.

I could probably go on forever...but here are a couple of negatives. Even thought it's Spring and optimism is at an all-time high for Gopher Nation I gotta point out a couple of things.

BAD/QUESTIONABLE

1) Power running game
We had a series with 3 shots to score inside the 5 and couldn't do it. Granted, it was against the first team D, but that looked too familiar (last year) so hopefully that is something we can figure out by fall. Also, Whaley is a tough runner, as is Bennett and Lipscomb so they might change this...but it all start up front.

2) D-Line
This is one spot where I don't think the depth is as good. Lots of decent front line guys, but after that I think it gets a little thin.

3) Coverage Units?
This is always the question when you play against yourself...great job Stoudamire on the returns, WTF with our coverage? Obviously, this is something that should be fixed - especially with all of the athletes coming into the program. But they looked brutal on Saturday.

4) John Nance
I know this guy is only a #3 or #4 QB, but wow...I could have looked better. He honestly looked like a 9th grade QB trying to throw...might be time for a position change.

That's about it. I feel like we have answers everywhere else, especially with the new freshman crop coming in for the fall. My 6-6 prediction might be changing...I'm drinking a little of the Andre Ware cocktail (he picked the Gophers #2 in the B10 this week!).


NFL DRAFT 2009

I've been against the Harvin idea from the start, but it happened. So I've been thinking about it, and here's my take on why it was really the only option.

First, they need another playmaker, so it makes sense in that way. My major concern was the injuries and character issues...I also don't necessarily think he's a great WR. But it was the only choice Chilly had because of where this team is at right now. Obviously, we think we're good since we've made almost zero moves in the off-season. So the whole braintrust has us in the position that they think we're only a player or two away from greatness. So we are looking for guys to put us over the top - Harvin could be the guy.

Best Case - Randy Moss Effect
Harvin is a huge playmaker/difference maker who gets in the endzone and teams with Berrian to be enough of an option for defenses to back off AD. Make it a pick your poison type thing for the D to compensate for our mediocrity at QB (which will be Sage in my opinion).

Worst Case - Smoke it up
Harvin gets busted for weed or litterally busted in half as he's done in college the last couple of years and the Purple continues to be average. Then the risk isn't worth it and we remain in the 8-10 win pool and never go anywhere...and Chilly probably goes away for good.

Either way, have to give them credit for taking a chance and going for a make or break type of pick.

Loadholt was a must - put his name in ink on your depth chart at RT...see-ya Mr. Cook.

All the pieces appear to be in place...except QB of course, but if Sage can make it work this could be a fun year.

We shall see.

What do you think? Let's discuss this week.

Later.