|
WR
Ernie Wheelwright |
|
|
2005
Statistics |
Coach:
Glen Mason
58-50,
9 years |
2005
Record: 7-5 |
|
at
Tulsa |
WON
41-10 |
COLORADO
STATE |
WON
56-24 |
FL.
ATLANTIC |
WON
46-7 |
PURDUE |
WON
42-35 (2OT) |
at
Penn State |
LOST
14-44 |
at
Michigan |
WON
23-20 |
WISCONSIN |
LOST
34-38 |
OHIO
STATE |
LOST
31-45 |
at
Indiana |
WON
42-21 |
MICHIGAN
STATE |
WON
41-18 |
at
Iowa |
LOST
28-52 |
MUSIC
CITY BOWL |
vs.
Virginia |
LOST
31-34 |
|
2004 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2006
Outlook |
Under
head coach Glen Mason, Minnesota has
slowly, methodically grown into a
consistently winning program. Funny,
for that is also the Golden Gopher’s
M.O. on offense – their steady
running game sets up sure-fire passing
that allows for ball-control and consistency
hard to stop. But this has also meant
that if you can get out ahead of Mason’s
troops, you can probably keep them
from catching up. Still, UM is the
only I-A school to post 2000 yards
each in both rushing and passing categories
over the past seven seasons. Mason
quietly ranks second in the conference
(behind only Joe Paterno) for career
(I-A) wins, but with only one 10-win
season in his nine campaigns here,
Mason has to take the next step so
Minnesota can jump into the ranks
of the nation’s elite.
Ostensibly,
the problems in Minneapolis have usually
been on the defensive side. Over the
past three consecutive winning seasons
prior to the last one (2002-04), Minnesota’s
D had not allowed any of their first
six foes to score more than 30 points,
collectively going 16-2 in the process.
Then the tables turn and these promising
campaigns just go south (6-11 in those
regular season games that follow).
It was worse in 2005, for UM won only
three games to start by being so stingy
on D before they finished 4-5 (includes
34-31 loss to Virginia in Motor City
Bowl). They look to change this profile
with two new unit coaches (LBs, secondary)
and many new faces (at new positions)
in the starting 11. We think that
if this occurs, it could equal at
least 10 wins, or at least much better
national rankings in many major defensive
categories. And in the ever-parable
Big Ten, Minnesota has to have this
happen to join the league’s
top programs (OSU, Michigan, Penn
State and Wisconsin). Otherwise, they
will continue to beat their fellow
wanna-be’s but fail against
these four.
Offensively,
the Gophers should rely more on the
pass. Senior hurler Cupito can be
relied upon to hit the mark anywhere,
and these WRs (and TE Spaeth) can
make the big pass play a new wrinkle
which will allow Minnesota to come
back in many games they usually would
be out of it once down 14 or more.
The offense showed this kind of explosive
profile in spring drills/scrimmages,
and it worked well (though it could
just as easily have been the defense
still adjusting). Special teams look
solid, so it is only a matter of the
D catching up to the O for that next
step to occur.
Their
slate has steadily become more formidable,
and with a game at California to go
with ventures into West Lafayette
(Purdue), Columbus, Madison and East
Lansing, their work is cut out for
what the Golden Gophers will have
to chew. Back-to-back home tilts with
the Wolverines and then Jo Pa’s
boys prove Minnesota may only again
win seven, but they will still show
up each week with a chance for the
W.
Projected
2006 record: 6-6
|
|
MINNESOTA
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 2.5 |
RB
- 3 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 3 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Bryan Cupito, 297-176-9, 2530 yds.,
19 TD
Rushing: Amir Pinnix, 78 att.,
467 yds., 1 TD
Receiving: Ernie Wheelwright,
37 rec., 568 yds., 5 TD
Scoring: Jason Giannini, 13-19
FG, 36-44 PAT, 75 pts.
Punting: Justin Kucek, 37 punts,
39.4 avg.
Kicking: Jason Giannini, 13-19
FG, 36-44 PAT, 75 pts.
Tackles: John Shevlin, 74 tot.,
57 solo
Sacks: Steve Davis, 6 sacks
Interceptions: Trumaine Banks,
Mike Sherels, John Shevlin - 1 each
Kickoff Returns: Dominic Jones,
1 ret., 28.0 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Dominic Jones,
12 ret., 10.0 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
DB
Trumaine Banks |
|
|
|
MINNESOTA |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Jakari Wallace-WR, Jared Ellerson-WR,
Jarod Posthumus-TE, Mark Setterstrom-OG,
Greg Eslinger-C, Mike Nicholson-OG,
Laurence Maroney-RB (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Mark
Losli-DT, Anthony Montgomery-DT, Keith
Lipka-DE, Kyle McKenzie-LB, John Pawielski-FS |
|
|
2006
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
Bryan
Cupito has brought polish and stature to
the passing game. The holder of Ohio’s
prep career TD record (92), he has brought
an aerial threat that compliments well the
Gopher’s heavily leaned upon ground
attack. His arm strength and accuracy have
adequately stretched the field and defenders
must respect this, or else. Coaches will
likely choose to throw it more than a third
of the time (34% last year) with the new-look
RB unit. Though his decent foot speed isn’t
very often the centerpiece for play-calls,
his savvy as an escape artist is unsurpassed
(lead the nation in avoiding sacks –
foes only rung up three all of ’05).
Cupito’s management of the offense
and its/his opportunities is excellent.
Two sophomores have his back. Tony Mortensen
changes the offensive possibilities with
his dual-threat ability, but hasn’t
shown much with his arm in his few chances.
Mike Maciejowski would keep the current
scheme in place, but has no real-game reps…yet.
Cupito’s health is vital for UM to
go far in 2006.
Running
Back
There
will be some new talent emerging onto the
national scene from Minnesota’s RB
unit, namely Amir Pinnix. The junior has
been waiting patiently and has shown flashes
of his strength and speed in his limited
chances. Most notable in his 2005 number
are how he gained 475 yards (at a clip of
six per carry), yet lost only nine yards
in 78 attempts. We only have to see him
get some throws in the flat to know that
he is everything first-round NFL draft choice
Laurence Maroney was. Classmate Brylee Callender
is a highly-touted JUCO-transfer who is
also expected to get the rock a lot. The
Lakeville-native brings the same size and
speed, and the Gopher’s new one-two
punch is in place after Callender proved
in spring ball he has adjusted well. Justin
Valentine at FB is a third dimension here.
The junior lost no yards on his 23 carries
while proving his soft hands are worthy
of a defender watching him at all times.
His strength as a lead blocker is good,
but his modest stature is suspect. There
are backs stacked in reserve, just waiting
for their chances, too. Again, Minnesota
should go well over 200 yards per game and
is likely to have the leagues most formidable
running attack.
Receiver
Junior
Ernest Wheelwright is an all-purpose player
– he runs great routes (for superior
position), wins jump balls (ex-DB and roundball
star), and blocks well downfield for all
of those ground attempts UM makes. His 6’5”
frame means his impact should expand even
more via his own stats climbing, that is
until he decides to get a job on Sundays.
Fellow junior Logan Payne is not as tall,
but is just as tough in all other ways.
His numbers will also grow with Cupito’s
expanded role. Sophomore Mike Kasten seems
to be the only backup close to having any
experience in the system (though he has
no catches), but this walk-on (ex-track
star) was all-state in prep and has proven
his way onto the depth chart. Otherwise,
the slate of freshman backups mean that
Wheelwright and Payne need to stay healthy,
or the offense may not be as dimensional.
Tight
End
Senior
Matt Spaeth is one of the offensive leaders.
His ability to both knock DEs/LBs into next
week and open up the deep middle due to
his soft hands makes him our site’s
second-team All-American choice. Spaeth’s
presence just makes everyone that much better
with his attitude and ability to persevere,
regardless of who is thrown at him. Sophomore
Jack Simmons, though not as heavy, is really
another excellent prospect, but he will
have to wait another year to truly shine.
Simmons could have a breakout year when
defenders needing to keep Spaeth in their
sights leave him alone in two-TE sets.
Offensive
Line
There
are only two starters returning, but two
other backups who have seen significant
reps will step into major roles. Left tackle
Steve Shidell has been stellar in protecting
Cupito’s blind side and is the primary
reason he was sacked only three times all
of last year. His footwork compliments his
strength for being less than 300lbs. Ex-DT
Tony Brinkhaus is another junior returning
starter who has been there for the last
two seasons as a major force in UM’s
superior running attack. The biggest challenge
has to be that of Brinkhaus as their new
center in replacing Greg Eslinger. Ostensibly,
this junior has his work cut out in calling
the schemes as well as Eslinger did. Tony
Swaggert, a former-DE who has the quickness
needed to pull while also possessing the
power to push, will slide into the left
guard slot with Brinkhaus’ strong
showing at center this spring. Senior John
Ainslie steps back into the right tackle
slot after injury displaced the former-starter
in last year’s first game (vs. Tulsa).
Ainslie is solid, whereas the right guard
slot is slated to have two unproven, yet
highly qualified RS freshmen battle for
the start. Otis Hudson is bigger and faster
than Ryan Ruckdashel, but neither showed
enough to displace the other in spring ball.
This group is the key to what has been a
prolific offensive movement over the past
three years (Big Ten record 3000+ yards
rushing each year from 2003-05), so the
new look from Brinkhaus on down will dictate
much of how far the UM offense can/will
go. There is little experienced depth, so,
again, injuries would likely decimate this
unit’s impact if a rash of them occur.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
With
new running backs – all capable –
and a quarterback who is proven and could
guarantee an increase in aerial production
if allowed to throw more than UM’s
usual average of about 25 times per game,
many wonder what head coach Glen Mason will
choose to do. The new-look line will tell
all, but we guess they will keep with what
they know and run it a majority of the time,
slowly opening up the playbook each game.
This formula worked to the tune of a 54%
third-down conversion rate (second in the
nation next to USC), but with their two
1000-yard backs gone, thinking that this
efficiency can continue with the backs they
now have and the revamped line is unrealistic.
Still, there should be no hesitation to
quickly lean on Cupito’s arm if the
ground game sputters. The three primary
receivers – Wheelwright, Payne and
(TE) Spaeth – are well-sized and all
can block capably, but they need to collectively
get the rock more for defenses to stay out
of the box. Spaeth cannot be contained wherever
he runs, and Wheelwright is the same way
and an all-conference star if given the
chance. Mason just has to not wait until
he is losing to throw it more. The pass
can be what sets up the run, and if the
pass works early this way, what is the harm?
As the line comes together and the backs
are properly assigned, then the run can
again become predictable and still work,
like it has in their last three seasons
(3000+ yards per campaign from 2003-05 set
new Big Ten record). They won’t likely
reach these vaunted numbers in ’06,
so the tweaks we recommend should keep UM
moving the ball.
|
|
TE Matt Spaeth
|
|
|
MINNESOTA
2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Bryan
Cupito-Sr (6-3, 205) |
Tony
Mortensen-So (6-3, 220) |
FB |
Justin
Valentine-Jr (6-2, 230) |
Jeremy
Faue-Jr (5-11, 225) |
TB |
Amir
Pinnix-Jr (6-0, 195) |
Brylee
Callender-Jr (6-0, 200) |
WR |
Logan
Payne-Sr (6-2, 200) |
Eric
Decker-Fr (6-2, 205) |
WR |
Ernie
Wheelwright-Jr (6-5, 215) |
Mike
Chambers-Fr (6-1, 195) |
TE |
Matt
Spaeth-Sr (6-6, 270) |
Jack
Simmons-So (6-4, 235) |
OT |
Steve
Shidell-Jr (6-5, 285) |
Jason
Meinke-Fr (6-5, 235) |
OG |
Tony
Brinkhaus-Jr (6-4, 300) |
John
Jakel-Jr (6-5, 280) |
C |
Tyson
Swaggert-Sr (6-4, 285) |
Brad
Bultman-Jr (6-2, 280) |
OG |
Otis
Hudson-Fr (6-4, 290) |
Ryan
Ruckdashel-Fr (6-6, 255) |
OT |
Joe
Ainslie-Sr (6-7, 310) |
Matt
DeGeest-So (6-5, 270) |
K |
Joel
Monroe-So (6-0, 180) |
Jason
Giannini-So (5-10, 180) |
|
|
2006
DEFENSE |
Defensive
Line
With
the nation’s 69th-ranked run stopping
unit and a 111th-ranking for sacks in ‘05,
addition by subtraction could be just what
is needed here. Luckily, DE Steve Davis
is the lone returning starter, for he led
the Gophers in sacks and tied for the lead
in TFLs. This sophomore ex-LB moves well
and should take up two hats if foes are
smart. Classmate and fellow-end William
Van DeSteeg proved much in his limited reps,
enough to now start. He has more mobility
than his predecessor (Lipka), and will really
break out with the attention Davis will
garner. Tackle Eric Clark has started as
an end, but the senior moves inside despite
his undersized stature. Proven backup Neel
Allen has the bulk to underscore run-stopping
effort and will rotate in quite often. Former
walk-on Todd Meisel is another quick tackle
who just doesn’t have much size, yet
overcomes this with smarts and passion to
produce results. In the Big Ten, the size
issues inside will hurt UM when they come
up against the leagues best OLs, but if
they work as a united crew, they can achieve
more.
Linebacker
Mario
Reese is the senior leader, and he will
continue to surge like he did when he took
over the starting “drop” LB
spot midway through 2005. Reese has good
mobility for an ex-DE, and the strength
to still be a fifth down-lineman, when called
upon for such. In the middle is Alex Daniels,
who saw limited time as a frosh last campaign,
and he has the speed (4.59 in the 40) to
really cover the territory needed. As the
Gopher’s only four-star recruit in
the past three classes, look for bigger
results since he now knows the system and
exactly what to do. Daniels displaced starter
Mike Sherels, but Rochester-native Sherels
will see plenty of reps due to his quality
production. WILL Deon Hightower is an undersized,
speedy RS sophomore who is enough of a sure
tackler to get the start ahead of a pair
of green classmates. This corps has the
quickness to cover underneath, but like
the inside of the line, they will suffer
in plugging gaps unless those same linemen
can hold their own.
Defensive
Back
There
needs to be drastic improvements here, and
hard-lessons learned should translate into
(at least) a marginally better showing.
Junior corner Jamal Harris is well-sized
and fast enough to cover even the best WRs.
Harris, a returning starter, also does well
in chasing down runners who escape into
the secondary, which hopefully won’t
be nearly the same problem it was in 2005.
Quality coverage coming from Keith Massey
on the other side will mean UM can leave
both CBs on islands. Massey should replace
Banks well, but is still young enough that
mistakes will be made. Dominique Barber
takes over at free safety, with Trumaine
Banks sliding in as his backup, a dubious
call by coaches after Banks led the Gophers
with 13 pass breakups. True soph Dominic
Jones really impressed his first year, starting
the last seven games at strong safety. Jones
4.4 speed means he will likely play deep
centerfield so that plays will stay in front
of him. There is just too much talent here
for Minnesota to again finish 97th in pass
defense, and new DB coach Craig Bray has
been hired to assure improvements occur.
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
What
happened on defense during the last campaign
was a huge disappointment, to say the least.
Like in other recent years, things progressively
worsened, but coordinator David Lockwood
was retained and two new unit/position coaches
will provide the changes soon to be seen
in 2006. There have also been a number of
position shuffles, namely Jones moving to
safety with the talent at CB allowing his
speed to now be a safety net. The DBs look
like they can make last year’s tough
lessons pay off. The LBs are a svelte group
that can work together to overcome matchup
issues in any run stopping efforts, but
the line has to (at least) occupy blockers
or those size issues will allow OLmen to
again dominate. Davis and Meisel are the
guts of that DL and should lead the way
for the improvements needed in all facets,
but with no DTs weighing in over 300lbs
in this league of huge linemen pushing tough
running schemes, question marks already
arise. UM’s total defensive ranking
was 90th, and allowing numbers like they
did in ’05 – namely 5.9 yards
per play as foes converted 45% of their
third-down tries – will not get the
Golden Gophers anywhere fast as a team.
|
|
DE Steve Davis
|
|
|
MINNESOTA
2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Steve
Davis-So (6-2, 230) |
William
Brody-So (6-5, 245) |
DT |
Todd
Meisel-Jr (6-4, 265) |
Jeff
Tow-Arnett-Fr (6-2, 270) |
DT |
Eric
Clark-Sr (6-4, 265) |
Neel
Allen-Jr (6-3, 295) |
DE |
Willie
VanDeSteeg-So (6-4, 250) |
Matt
Stommes-Fr (6-7, 245) |
WLB |
John
Shevlin-Jr (6-1, 225) |
Deon
Hightower-So (6-3, 200) |
MLB |
Alex
Daniels-So (6-3, 230) |
Mike
Sherels-Jr (6-0, 235) |
DLB |
Mario
Reese-Sr (6-3, 230) |
Patrick
Cheney-Jr (6-1, 225) |
CB |
Keith
Massey-Fr (6-1, 200) |
Desi
Steib-Jr (6-1, 185) |
CB |
Jamal
Harris-Jr (6-0, 185) |
Michael
McKelton-Fr (5-10, 170) |
SS |
Dominic
Jones-So (5-9, 180) |
John
Carlson-So (6-2, 220) |
FS |
Trumaine
Banks-Sr (5-11, 185) |
Dominique
Barber-Jr (6-0, 200) |
P |
Justin
Kucek-So (6-0, 200) |
Blake
Haudan-Fr (6-1, 190) |
|
|
|
2006
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Sophomore
Jason Giannini had an impressive showing in his
freshman campaign. Though he hit 68% of his three-point
tries, he went cold at year’s end, only
hitting two of his last six. He also has some
work to do after only securing nine touchbacks
on his 70 KOs. Do not be surprised if fellow sophomore
Joel Monroe pushes for starting duties. The underclassmen
looking for defensive reps will assure KO coverage
will remain strong.
Punter
Justin
Kucek also had enough of a showing as a RS frosh
to make all feel that field-position battles can
be won. Kucek has the leg to go long, but instead
controls his efforts well with placement. Net
results were decent, but should improve with the
quality of UM’s depth on defense.
Return
Game
With such quick first steps, Dominic Jones steps
into the return spotlight, now with KO duties
heaped onto his already established quality as
PR guy. Jones doesn’t wait for much, and
that is the sign that surely he should hit the
house on at least a few (of each?). Callender
as backup on KOs and Payne doing the same behind
Jones on PRs will mean no drop off when either
is used.
|
|