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EARLY
BIRD 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2008 |
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OFFENSE
- 10 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Jack Simmons-TE, Joel Monroe-K |
DEFENSE:
Willie
VanDesteeg-DE, Steve Davis-DE,
Kevin Mannion-SLB, Deon Hightower-WLB,
Justin Kucek-P |
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Quarterback
/ Receiver |
The
QB-WR combo of Adam
Weber and Eric Decker
was good enough
to earn both All-Big
Ten honors. Despite
being sidelines
with an ankle injury
late in the season,
Decker hauled in
a conference-best
76 receptions. |
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Running
Back |
What
has to improve is
getting more out
backs Eskridge and
Salamon. The 104th-ranked
running game’s
struggles forced
a coaching change,
so ground production
will ostensibly
be a pivotal factor
for the upcoming
campaign. |
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WR
Eric Decker |
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CB
Traye Simmons |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed
as a simplistic gauge for listing
players that departed and players
that received the most playing
experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes
the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming
recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with
our full 2009 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
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MINNESOTA
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Adam
Weber-Jr |
.. |
RB |
DeLeon
Eskridge-So |
Shady
Salamon-So / Duane Bennett-Jr |
WR |
Eric
Decker-Sr |
.. |
WR |
Ralph
Spry-Jr |
Brandon
Green-So |
WR |
Ben
Kuznia-Sr |
Brodrick
Smith-So |
TE |
Nick
Tow-Arnett-Sr |
Troy
Stoudermire-So |
OT |
Dom
Alford-Jr |
Jason
Meinke-Sr |
OG |
D.J.
Burris-Jr |
Ryan
Orton-So |
C |
Jeff
Tow-Arnett-Sr |
Trey
Davis-So |
OG |
Ned
Tavale-Sr |
Chris
Bunders-So |
OT |
Ryan
Wynn-So |
.. |
K |
.. |
.. |
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MINNESOTA
2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
.. |
.. |
DT |
Garrett
Brown-Sr |
Brandon
Kirksey-So |
DT |
Eric
Small-Sr |
Barrett
Moen-Sr |
DE |
Derrick
Onwuachi-Sr |
Anthony
Jacobs-So |
SLB |
Simoni
Lawrence-Sr |
.. |
MLB |
Lee
Campbell-Sr |
Nate
Triplett-Sr |
WLB |
.. |
.. |
CB |
Traye
Simmons-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Marcus
Sherels-Sr |
Ryan
Collado-Jr |
S |
Kyle
Theret-Jr |
.. |
S |
Tramaine
Brock-Sr |
Mike
Rallis-So |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
12/9/08
Second-year head coach Tim Brewster
took his Gopher squad from an
1-11 record in 2007 to an 7-1
start the following season.
With Brewster's name then popping
up as a candidate to take over
at other higher profile football
programs, the bottom dropped
out as the team finished the
regular season with a disappointing
four losses. Brewster would
be well advised to stick around
in Minneapolis for this third
season, especially with 19 starters
back in the fold. He will have
a rather nice pass-and-catch
option returning with QB Adam
Weber and receiver Eric Decker.
Both were worthy of All-Big
Ten post-season status. Not
only are most of the starters
back for next season, but so
are plenty of their back ups.
This offensive line has upwards
of eight different guys that
have earned plenty of starts.
What has to improve is getting
more out of backs Eskridge and
Salamon (will be sophomores).
The rushing attack was dealt
a severe blow when Decker went
down during that horrific season-ending
stretch. Enough talent still
exists up front, and with another
year under their collective
belts, the running attack should
be somewhat improved and that
could spell improvements. The
same is true on the defensive
side, where eight of the returning
starters will be seniors (behind
them, same thing). Lacking in
terms of star playmakers, this
side of the ball has plenty
of room for improvement, as
well. No one expects improvements
that would make the Gophers
into the Big Ten champs, but
expect some minor improvements
with so many veterans back.
Closing the season the way Minnesota
did should not put a major damper
on things to come. They are
still taking small steps, and
the next ones may be good enough
for a possible nine-win season.
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MINNESOTA
2009 SCHEDULE
Sep.
5 at Syracuse
Sep. 12 Air Force
Sep. 19 California
Sep. 26 at Northwestern
Oct. 3 Wisconsin
Oct. 10 Purdue
Oct. 17 at Penn State
Oct. 24 at Ohio State
Oct. 31 Michigan State
Nov. 7 Illinois
Nov. 14 South Dakota State
Nov. 21 at Iowa |
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