Portal player impacts?

[Reditus]

I am guessing we have 7 transfers win starter roles and an additional 4 that are regulars in rotation roles. I think 4 out of the remaining 5 make the travel roster. I am not counting Jucos. What say you? Do I need to rethink anyone?

Starters?
Thomas
Palmer
Bushini
Bleekrode
Mathis
Drew
Hill

Rotational
Wynn - I think Wynn would be a starter in the 3-4 front, but in the 4-3 he will be a regular rotational player subbing in. Could call him a PT starter.
Castenada Could challenge as a starter but missing spring due to injury puts him behind the curve.
Washington Could challenge as a starter but having to learn a new playbook puts him behind the curve, should be a regular though.
Brown - Brown might challenge Hill for that open starter corner spot but his injury bumps him down to top backup until he verifies he can do it at this level. Should see the field I would think.

Travel -
Purdy - I am thinking his 3rd string pushing for 2nd.
Kevin Williams Jr - Figuring out where the lineman stand was very tough for me. The OL is kind of a mystery given Teddy and Turner were out this spring. I am guessing he will be 2nd string LG behind Nouili. I think he is solid for the travel roster.
Anthony - The OT's struggled in the spring game on passing downs. Very unsure how the right side OT ends up. Turner is a wildcard. I think Anthony is among the top 12 lineman though so feel safe in predicting he will travel. Could be anywhere from starter to 3rd string. Probably will end up 2nd string RT?

I think Kaine Williams will be a good player for us but I think he will get his shot next year. I think attrition and special teams would help him in his endeavor to make the travel roster. It's a possibility but not being here for spring puts him behind the curve to play at safety. Safety has a lot of mental demands I believe. Really tough call here since we are losing 2 starting safeties. I could see people predicting that he makes the travel roster and I wouldn't have a problem with that.

 

[BleedRed78]

I agree with almost 100% of all you just theorized. I think Purdy totally takes the backup QB job though, and maybe even occasionally push for starter (but not so long as Casey doesn't tank).

Everything else is spot on, and the oline is indeed three biggest mystery due to the couple of injured projected starters. Williams or Anthony could very well see themselves starting instead.

 

[HUSKERFAN66]

I agree with almost 100% of all you just theorized. I think Purdy totally takes the backup QB job though, and maybe even occasionally push for starter (but not so long as Casey doesn't tank).

Everything else is spot on, and the oline is indeed three biggest mystery due to the couple of injured projected starters. Williams or Anthony could very well see themselves starting instead.

I tend to agree on Purdy. I expect him to be solid #2

 

[konaki]

I'm most curious how well the OL responds to our new OL coach. I was very critical of Austin and the way he taught the offensive linemen or lack of. If we can get just a little more snarl out of linemen we have we can and most likely will have a good year.

Frost made his biggest mistake bringing all his buddies with him from UCF and thinking Nebraska would roll through the BIG. Frost second mistake was not correcting course soon enough, I think Trev has gotten Frost's attention during their meeting.

If these transfers are good enough to start I have no problem seeing them start. The new coaches I believe will not play favorites and will put the players in who will do the job or they will be out of a job themselves.

Best thing is we are going to find out in a hurry who can play and who can't. We are going to see who is weak and who is strong. We are going to find out who gets it and who doesn't. We are going to find out who's dedicated and who's not. Fall camp can't come soon enough.

 

[Cornicator]

Starters:

QB Thompson
WR- Palmer
Slot- Garcia - Castaneda (part time)

RG- Kevin Williams - been a substantial surprise for the staff. Dude on TOS said he would've definitely started over Sichterman a year ago.

DE- Ochaun Mathis
DT- Devin Drew vs. Spread teams. Wynn vs run heavy teams. Both will play a lot.

CB - Tommi Hill / Omar Brown will make an impact by mid season. He needs to get further away from injury.

 

[Dean Pope]

Starters:
WR- Palmer
RG- Kevin Williams - been a substantial surprise for the staff. Dude on TOS said he would've definitely started over Sichterman a year ago.
DE- Ochaun Mathis

I'm interested to see how they use Mathis. Garrett Nelson had more sacks and tackles than Mathis last season, and Nelson had a great spring. I don't think Mathis plays ahead of Nelson. On the other side, Mathis should be an upgrade over Tanner if we're in the 4-3, but I assume Tanner would be better playing in space as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. I don't think Nelson or Mathis would be very effective as 3-4 defensive ends.

As for the list overall, a few of these guys are never going to play. I'm not a fan of bringing in injured recruits. Going back to Tre Bryant, very few of those guys work out. I'm glad they took Purdy though.

 

[Cornicator]

I'm interested to see how they use Mathis. Garrett Nelson had more sacks and tackles than Mathis last season, and Nelson had a great spring. I don't think Mathis plays ahead of Nelson. On the other side, Mathis should be an upgrade over Tanner if we're in the 4-3, but I assume Tanner would be better playing in space as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. I don't think Nelson or Mathis would be very effective as 3-4 defensive ends.

Mathis didn't have a lot of sacks last season because TCU was a sieve stopping the run. SMU, a Spread team that threw the ball 40+ times per game ran for 350 yards on TCU. Oklahoma State ran for 447 yards on the Horned Frogs.

Teams didn't need to throw the football vs. TCU in 2021. Baylor and K-State's starting QB's combined for 38 total passes vs. TCU, in TWO GAMES.

Breece Hall from Iowa State, ran for 13 yards per carry vs. TCU.. Ha.

I do think Nelson will have a great season though because of Mathis. Ochaun will often line up opposite the opponent's top offensive tackle, usually the LT. This means Nelson will have a nice opportunity to clean up vs. substandard dudes on the Right side.

I believe Caleb Tannor will play a lot of SAM LB in 2022 and not be used as a true pass rusher.

 

[inWV]

Mathis didn't have a lot of sacks last season because TCU was a sieve stopping the run. SMU, a Spread team that threw the ball 40+ times per game ran for 350 yards on TCU. Oklahoma State ran for 447 yards on the Horned Frogs.

Teams didn't need to throw the football vs. TCU in 2021. Baylor and K-State's starting QB's combined for 38 total passes vs. TCU, in TWO GAMES.

Breece Hall from Iowa State, ran for 13 yards per carry vs. TCU.. Ha.

I do think Nelson will have a great season though because of Mathis. Ochaun will often line up opposite the opponent's top offensive tackle, usually the LT. This means Nelson will have a nice opportunity to clean up vs. substandard dudes on the Right side.

I believe Caleb Tannor will play a lot of SAM LB in 2022 and not be used as a true pass rusher.

So you see NU running a more traditional 4-3? Tannor and Kolarevic playing SAM, with Gifford playing on passing downs.
Can a lineup of Nelson Wynn Ty Mathis Heinrich Reimer and Tannor get it done against the Gophers run offense in the second half?

 

[Cornicator]

So you see NU running a more traditional 4-3? Tannor and Kolarevic playing SAM, with Gifford playing on passing downs.
Can a lineup of Nelson Wynn Ty Mathis Heinrich Reimer and Tannor get it done against the Gophers run offense in the second half?

Can the Gophers still run the ball without 4 NFL offensive linemen who combined for more than 200 career starts?

And this is a kind of related/ kind of unrelated. I bristle a bit when people refer to that game and call out Nebraska's run defense. The Gophers totaled 2 first downs and 43 total yards between the start of the 2nd half and the 2:55 mark of the 4th quarter vs. Nebraska. That was nearly 30 total plays for UM.

During that time, Nebraska forced 2 turnovers, accumulated nearly 250 yards, had the football inside the Minnesota 25 yard line 4 times, and only outscored the Gophers 6 - 2 during that timeframe.

 

[JabroniBlvd]

We will have more speed and ability to get after the QB this year. Also on some stretch run plays will do a better job. We do lose some veteran beef in the middle but I don't see a concern. You need less 'size' in a 4-3 than a 3-4 upfront.

Mathis will be the X factor.

Damion Daniels - Stephon Wynn
Deontre Thomas - Devin Drew
Ben Stille - Nash Hutmacher

Casey Rogers/Jordon Riley

 

[Cornicator]

We will have more speed and ability to get after the QB this year. Also on some stretch run plays will do a better job. We do lose some veteran beef in the middle but I don't see a concern. You need less 'size' in a 4-3 than a 3-4 upfront.

Mathis will be the X factor.

Damion Daniels - Stephon Wynn
Deontre Thomas - Devin Drew
Ben Stille - Nash Hutmacher

Casey Rogers/Jordon Riley

I can buy a lot of that, but there is no way Nash is comparable to the last two season's of Stille in 2022.

 

[JabroniBlvd]

I can buy a lot of that, but there is no way Nash is comparable to the last two season's of Stille in 2022.

Stille was also in his 6th year last year. Had his best year and was honorable mention B10, didn't get drafted.

 

[konaki]

So are we better off on the DL than we were a year ago? I think we are, and I couldn't say that a few months ago. The big question, are we better off coaching wise with the DL position? I'm not so sure about this but we better be just as good or we should see another shake up and it should happen sooner rather than later. Remember Trev Alberts is patient only to a point and SF knows it.

 

[phoenix4nu]

Can the Gophers still run the ball without 4 NFL offensive linemen who combined for more than 200 career starts?

And this is a kind of related/ kind of unrelated. I bristle a bit when people refer to that game and call out Nebraska's run defense. The Gophers totaled 2 first downs and 43 total yards between the start of the 2nd half and the 2:55 mark of the 4th quarter vs. Nebraska. That was nearly 30 total plays for UM.

During that time, Nebraska forced 2 turnovers, accumulated nearly 250 yards, had the football inside the Minnesota 25 yard line 4 times, and only outscored the Gophers 6 - 2 during that timeframe.

The same defense played like crap the first half.

 

[inWV]

Can the Gophers still run the ball without 4 NFL offensive linemen who combined for more than 200 career starts?

And this is a kind of related/ kind of unrelated. I bristle a bit when people refer to that game and call out Nebraska's run defense. The Gophers totaled 2 first downs and 43 total yards between the start of the 2nd half and the 2:55 mark of the 4th quarter vs. Nebraska. That was nearly 30 total plays for UM.

During that time, Nebraska forced 2 turnovers, accumulated nearly 250 yards, had the football inside the Minnesota 25 yard line 4 times, and only outscored the Gophers 6 - 2 during that timeframe.

Bad choice on my part.

 

[phoenix4nu]

Bad choice on my part.

Try Wisconsin.

 

[Rhule Szn]

So you see NU running a more traditional 4-3? Tannor and Kolarevic playing SAM, with Gifford playing on passing downs.
Can a lineup of Nelson Wynn Ty Mathis Heinrich Reimer and Tannor get it done against the Gophers run offense in the second half?

It's scary how alike we think. I was about to post the same thing as far as switching to the 4-3 to take advantage of personnel groupings.

 

[TruHusker]

Can everyone who is asking for the 4-3 this year, please go back and watch films from last year and then come back and tell us what they ran last year?

 

[Reditus]

Can everyone who is asking for the 4-3 this year, please go back and watch films from last year and then come back and tell us what they ran last year?

The link is a Sports Nightly episode with Frost. Go to 44:34. Someone asks Frost if they intend to run more 4-3. He replied that they were predominately 4-3 last year but they will try to put the best 11 on the field. My opinion is a 4-3 will fit best.

 

[TruHusker]

The link is a Sports Nightly episode with Frost. Go to 44:34. Someone asks Frost if they intend to run more 4-3. He replied that they were predominately 4-3 last year but they will try to put the best 11 on the field. My opinion is a 4-3 will fit best.

That is what I was trying to get people to see. All this talk about going to a 4-3 when that is what we ran predominately last year. The four man front will not be something new and different for crying out loud.