Spring Football 2010

After reading a couple of Brew statements and Q&A's I'm officially out of basketball mode and getting ready for the 9 month grind that is Gopher Football Season!!

Spring practice starts today and there's lots of info out there about what Brew and company are thinking and looking for this year...here's some highlights:

QB
This is the big one - Brew claims it's an open competition between AWEB, #5, and Moses Alipate. He said that they hope it will work itself out in the Spring and they will have their starter before opening fall practice. Which way is he leaning, well, here's my thoughts based on what I've seen and read. Brew is allowing the QB's to take hits this year in Spring practice because it provides a better look at how they will actually be able to play and react in a game setting...advantage #5. The offense has been simplified and should be fairly basic to master vs. the insanity of last year's playbook...advantage #5. You have a 3 year starter returning for year 4 and for the first time ever he has to earn his job in Spring ball...advantage #5. Yeah, I think you see where we're heading on this one. I would love to see Marqueis under center at MID TEN on 9/2, and I think Brew realizes he needs to create a buzz and give some kind of optimism going into 2010...a change at the most important position is the best way to do it.

OL
Early indications are that Gjere will get a look at start at RT/LT. He's 6'8" 315, so he looks the part already and he'll be at the U all Summer to build some college level strength. He's got a shot, but we also have 2 RFR that will likely see lots of time...Brooks Michael and Ed Olson. Bottom line, the talent and experience should be better on the OL, the system should be simpler and we should be able to develop some kind of an attitude up front. With the depth that is there, the Spring competition should be intense. Biggest thing to watch this Spring, we need to come away with 5 we can trust and 5 that can run block to fit our new system...watch the young guys.

DL
Brew can't stop talking about Hageman. The former TE turned into a 6'6" 292 lb DE and still can "run like a deer" according to Brew. If this is the case, we might have a monster on our hands. There's a reason that Ohio State was recruiting him as a DE...I like it. Our DT's should be solid with Edwards, Kirksey, and Jacobs all in the rotation in the middle. Wilhite will likely be the other DE and I think we'll find a couple of other guys to throw in the mix there as well. Biggest thing this Spring is to watch Hagemann and see if he can be the beast we expect.

LB
This is probably the spot I'm most excited about for 2010. Even though the unit will be 100% new for 2010, I think it's got the potential to be a real strength. Let's start in the middle, Gary Tinsley and Sam Maresh will be competing for the starting spot in our 4-3. Both should play plenty, but I give the edge to Tinsley in this one. We simply couldn't keep him off the field by the end of last year and as long he doesn't go and get hammered and start swinging around 2x4's anymore then he should rarely leave the field. Keanon Cooper is locked in on one outside spot - he showed flashes of brilliance last year and should be that much better this season. On the other side we have guys like Spencer Reeves, Aaron Hill, Ryan Grant, Brent Singleton, and all the new freshman. If Maresh and Tinsley both rock this Spring I think they find a way to work both into the mix, but I wouldn't count out Reeves and Singleton either. Bottom line - tons of depth, mostly unknown young guys...but this is their time to shine. Biggest thing to watch this Spring, definitely Sam Maresh. An elite talent coming in, it will be interesting to see if he still can play at that level.

DB
Both safeties are back, so those spots should not be an issue. The 2 CB spots and Nickel spot are up for grabs. Michael Carter will take one of those spots and be our best CB, I have no doubts about that. The other will come down to Collado, who I like in the nickel or as a S because he's a hitter and a blitzer; Lewis and Tillman, our 2 JUCO signees; Kerry Lewis, nice recruit who redshirted last season; or one of the 2 freshman which is unlikely. Lots of options, but I'd give the early edge to Lewis because Brew mentioned him by name and obviously he wasn't brought in to ride pine as a JUCO CB. Mike Rallis, who was a S last season, has converted to OLB for Spring, so he might be in the mix as well at LB but not at S. Kenny Watkins appears to be our main depth at S with freshman James Manuel likely not to redshirt so he can get some experience before likely being thrust into the starting gig next year...but he's supposed to be real deal, so I like it!

Not much to discuss with the skill positions in the Spring outside of QB. RB will likely be a snoozer this Spring but competition will heat up in the Fall when the 3 incom,ing freshman start competing. I've said it before, but I fully expect LaMonte Edwards to win this job and run with it...literally. WR is loaded with experience since everyone had to step up a bit after EDECK went down last year. McKnight is the clear cut #1, Green will be a factor, Stoudermire will hopefully improve his pass catching, HAYO! will hopefully contribute something in his senior year as well. Bryant Allen is interesting, I think he could provide something this year depending on how well Troy performs. Brandon and Keise provide some young depth, but likely won't be a factor this year barring something crazy happening. TE seems to be already given to JUCO Tiree Eure, who according to Brew, should have a HUGE year catching passes while some of the other TE's are there to block. Eure is huge and hopefully he will be that big threat over the middle that this team leaned on so much last year with Tow-Arnett.

I guess that's all you need to know. Well, I forgot that Ellestad is back at K for his senior season and Orseske has recovered from last season's mono to start banging 60 yard punts again come Fall. Obviously, this isn't the last you'll hear about my beloved Maroon and Gold this Spring, but if you'd like to come and see them yourself the Spring game is at 1:30 on APRIL 24th @TCF...I'll be there, will you?