Division champs, conference champs, or best team in CFB history?*


*it's fall camp, and that means I'm blackout drunk on maroon and gold kool-aid. I reserve the right to do that every year to offset the anxiety of the actual season.

Lovie Smith's OC, Garrick McGhee might be asking a bit much of OLinemen in year 1 of a rebuild. The short version is that Lovie is planning to have his guards and tackles flip sides of the field to cause confusion on D.

So all of Illinois's guards and tackles will be switching back and forth between 2 different stances and sides of the field.

I hope Lovie fails miserably. Illinois and Minnesota are the Big 10 West's legit sleeping giants, IMO. The longer the Illini struggle, the better.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/co...cle_5462e277-6891-51b6-a15a-aca2f27c4560.html

Johnson has to replace quite a few clutch grabs from KJ Maye

I'm sheet rocking my basement. It sucks. The positive is when I'm done my shoulders should be ripped

Link: Fall Practice: Photo Gallery #4

A Beavers secondary in flux got a new addition with junior college transfer Kyle White moving from running back to cornerback, joining a back end in need of depth after Gabe Ovgard medically retired and Cyril Noland-Lewis left the team earlier this week. Coach Gary Andersen said that White, who got a handful or reps with the second and third teams Thursday, was receptive to the idea worked extra with cornerbacks coach Cory Hall Wednesday night on technique like footwork.

"You know those aren't just experiments for us," Andersen said. "We make those decisions in staff meetings. They're not just fly-by-night decisions. They're educated decisions. We put the best of our coaching knowledge together to see if we think he has the skillset and the ability to be able to do it.

"It's worked out very well for us many times in our career as a staff and I hope it goes that way in this one."

The move also creates some clarity at running back, as Tim Cook and Artavis Pierce look like the prime options behind starter Ryan Nall. Cook (eight carries for 40 yards) shed multiple tackles throughout the scrimmage, while Pierce (six carries, 46 yards, one touchdown) continued to show the burst and shiftiness to break into the secondary.



Oregon State Beavers coach Gary Andersen likes RB depth behind Ryan Nall


Highlight

On a Hail Mary pass by Marcus McMaryion, linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu jumped in the air and got both hands on the ball...but tipped it right into the arms of Hunter Jarmon. The offensive sideline, as expected, erupted into cheers.

Seven observations

1. White's move was not the only shuffle in the secondary, as starting cornerback Dwayne Williams, starting safety Brandon Arnold and expected contributor Jay Irvine were all held out due to minor injuries. That paved the way for newcomers Landry Payne, Xavier Crawford and Shawn Wilson to all "start" the scrimmage alongside staples Treston Decoud and Devin Chappell.

Decoud in particular had a mixed day, as he was called for pass interference twice but also picked off McMaryion.

2. The passing game, frankly, did not show much at all, as Darell Garretson "officially" went 3 of 5 for six yards, McMaryion went 5 of 8 for 67 yards and Mason Moran went 1 of 3 for nine yards with a touchdown thrown to fellow freshman Trevon Bradford and an interception corralled by Kendall Hill.

However, Andersen said McMaryion had separated himself a bit from Moran for the backup job, a competition co-offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven said Saturday would likely continue throughout the rest of camp.

"If we go into a game, (McMaryion is) definitely the second quarterback," Andersen said. " ... Marcus has, in my opinion, put together his best week overall ... he's more athletic. He's more comfortable. He's getting rid of the ball faster. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with him studying and working very hard in the offseason to improve his body and understand what he's putting in his body from a nutrition standpoint and feeling comfortable with the offense."



Oregon State Beavers practice report from scrimmage No. 2


3. The offensive line has also continued to shuffle, with Trent Moore lining up at first-team right tackle in place of an injured Dustin Stanton and Kammy Delp taking the second-team reps at center. Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach T.J. Woods said Delp is actually the fourth-team center, but Gavin Andrews is only working at guard as he continues to come back from injury and Moore would be the third option. But Woods said he's been pleased with Delp's work there, and reiterated that snaps have improved from the whole group since a bumpy start to camp.

"I don't want to grind (Andrews) down to a bloody stump right now," Woods said. "So he's getting the work in the walk-thrus and pre-practice and is just getting the guard reps during practice."K

4. The defense showed some interesting looks with multiple players crowding the line of scrimmage in a two-point stance (standing up). It's designed to confuse the quarterback on who will blitz and who will drop back into coverage.

5. The scrimmage also featured a fair amount of special teams work, with Garrett Owens going 4 of 6 on field goals with makes from 40, 43, 43 and 48 yards away. Pierce, Seth Collins and Xavier Hawkins also got some work on returns behind usual suspects Victor Bolden and Bradford.

6. Scouts from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears attended the scrimmage.

7. Add Woods to the fall camp injury report, as he ruptured his left biceps while trying to move his dorm bunk bed in Bend. As he reached up to hold onto the mattress, the weight of the bed fell on his arm. He's back at practice following surgery but is currently in a sling.

"I tell people that there was a small child underneath the bed and I was saving the child," Woods said. "But it's really kind of an uneventful story. My biceps ripped off and it was up here (by my shoulder), so they had to fix it up."




Oregon State Beavers practice report from scrimmage No. 2
Quotable


McGiven on the potential of tight end Noah Togiai:"He can obviously be a big-time mismatch problem for defenses, depending on how they want to handle him if it's with a linebacker or if it's with a safety. You've got a big, athletic body and, to me, he's a guy that defenses are gonna have to focus on. But the other thing that Noah gives us is really the versatility in our run game."

Coming up

Danny has a story about linebacker Jonathan Willis in the works, while I will have more on Bradford's quest to play as a true freshman.

-- Gina Mizell | @ginamizell

Link: JUCO lineman talks Gopher interest

Jerry Kill chronicles Gophers years with soft edge in upcoming book

By Joe Christensen

AUGUST 17, 2016 — 12:34PM


Jerry Kill’s new autobiography slings no sharp arrows at the University of Minnesota over its decision not to keep him within the athletics department after he resigned as Gophers football coach for health reasons.
Kill takes the high road in “Chasing Dreams: Living my life one yard at a time,” a book co-authored by Jim Brouton. The book will be released next month; a review copy arrived this week.

Written in Kill’s folksy tone, filled with humor and some harrowing memories, the book chronicles Kill’s journey from small-town Kansas through his 32-year coaching career, with lessons learned along the way.

Kill details challenges he faced at Minnesota and his other coaching stops. Beyond outdated facilities with the Gophers, and the program’s dire academic standing when he arrived, there were other nuisances. He had no designated parking spot at TCF Bank Stadium, for example, and wound up getting a parking ticket there during a team practice.

“I mean, it was unbelievable,” Kill writes. “We weren’t allowed to park anywhere, so I remember at times we parked on the sidewalk with recruits in the car.”

He goes in-depth about his epilepsy, explaining how his health deteriorated because of stress and fatigue in 2013, and again last fall.

Kill describes the burden he felt to take on more speaking and fundraising duty after Athletics Director Norwood Teague resigned amid sexual harassment allegations last August.

“I don’t want to take anything away from [Teague],” Kill writes. “… But I think I would still be coaching if I hadn’t had to do a lot of things besides coaching football. I believe because of what I was asked to do, I had to do much more than most other coaches.

“This put tremendous pressure on me and took away from the things I needed to do to stay healthy, such as required sleep, taking care of my body physically and eating correctly.”

Kill writes how a Grand Rapids, Mich., doctor helped him change his medication and his habits to become seizure free for nearly two years before the downward spiral last season.

“I want to make one thing perfectly clear: the University of Minnesota gave me some of the best five years of my life,” Kill writes. “They provided me with an income status that is unbelievable for a farm kid from Cheney, Kansas.

“… Each job has its challenges, and I chose to do what I was doing. I could have stepped back and said, ‘I’m not going to do this.’ But I didn’t. It was my choice, and I’m not blaming anybody for what eventually occurred.”

Kill had hoped to stay at Minnesota, but he and school president Eric Kaler couldn’t agree on a new position. Kansas State wound up hiring Kill as an associate AD, where he is working closely with the football team.

“I might consider [being] a position coach someday,” Kill writes. “Do I ever want to be a head coach again? The answer is no. … I know for sure I will be part of football again someday. I just don’t know what part it will be.”

Link: Claeys talks to the media

Link: Pirsig likes first impression of Donnell Greene, compares McCrary to Cobb

This is ridiculous but not surprising...we have our own people in this country to worry about and at some point this invasion will affect all of or families , if it hasn't already. Lobbied Obama To Accept 100,000 Refugees Per Year -- And Succeeded...

Jericho added a Kansas offer just now. Normally, I don't post about individual offers, but this is a blue blood offering.

In case you missed it, I profiled him yesterday and will do an interview with him the next time I see him in person (he doesn't do interviews over the phone).

Media was only allowed at the first 20 minutes of practice for stretching and walk-throughs.

There was a Browns scout at practice. I didn't see nay recruits.

Brandon Lingen was in green, meaning he could participate in practice but couldn't be hit. He should be full-go very soon.

Cody Poock and Chad Fahning have both returned from their ankle injuries.

Carter Coughlin was in orange wearing a small compression brace. He was working out with Klein in the fieldhouse, so the injury can't be too serious. Coney Durr was still in orange as well, and I imagine he'll be back very soon, as he hyperextended his knee a week ago. Orange jerseys mean you're held out of practice with an injury.

Damarius Travis, Eric Carter, Gaelin Elmore, Melvin Holland, Duke Anyanwu, Julien Kafo, Nick Connelly, Colton Beebe, James Johannesson, Thomas Barber, Danny Pietruszewski, and Isaiah Gentry were all in orange, as well.

Shannon Brooks was watching from the sidelines in a knee scooter.

Donnell Greene has a pretty big base and wide shoulders. I think he could add a little more weight. Either Bart Miller or Lee Grimes talked to him after every rep I saw. They're trying to get him ready.

Emmit Carpenter was drilling field goals. He has a strong leg. Not as strong as Santoso's, but strong.

Men's, Women', Beach....

It's the best spectator sport in the Olympics. This Serbia/US women's match is unbelievable.

Press release:

University of Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys announced today that linebacker coach Mike Sherels will be away from the team as he recovers from recent surgeries. There is no timetable for Sherels return.

“We want to thank everyone for respecting Mike’s privacy and that of his family,” said Claeys. “We ask that you continue to do so as he recovers. Mike is a resilient man who represents the best of college football. He will be in our daily thoughts as we continue to prepare for the season, and we look forward to Mike’s return to the staff when he is ready.”

Claeys announced that Keith Jordan will serve as acting linebackers coach as Sherels recovers. Jordan, who is in his 35th year of working in football, previously handled Minnesota’ special teams quality control. Prior to coming to Minnesota, he was the defensive coordinator at Fort Scott Community College. He has also coached at Northern Michigan, Northeast Missouri State, Southwest Baptist and spent 17 seasons coaching in the high school ranks.

Link: Bede talks big summer, final five

Link: Coffeyville coach thinks Autry has a bright future

I spoke briefly with Coffeyville's coach this morning about BJ Autry. I posted an update on Autry here.

I keep coming back to the board to see if there are any updates on the health condition of Mike Sherels and any injury update of Carter Coughlin.
Lots of silence........

Link: Leidner on Manning Passing Camp, health, OL, more

talking with a couple of car salesman and they are saying over 50% of their new vehicles are coming from Canada. It isn't cars off the line, but off the dealership. With the strong dollar, they are buying at over a 20% discount and just have to change out the speedometer to MPH and do some minor computer changes. They said it is about $600-800 in changes once the vehicle arrives.

So, I'm wondering what laws and taxes would be incurred if I were to have Slab buy me a vehicle and drive it to MSP? Why couldn't a person skip our dealerships and just go direct to Canadia?

Time for a little fun.

Highway55 and opie22 are both tell the board they are "right" so often that I have wondered if they are the same poster, using two different accounts. But while they share a narcissistic approach, they express it on different topics in different styles.

With all these claims of being "right," or "right again" (lest we imagine it's a first for them,) I couldn't help but wonder which of them is the poster who is most often right. After all, only one poster can be the "best" at being "right."

Is it opie22 or Highway55?

it's eerily quiet around here. Those fall practice reports really filled August and kept us up on things during camp. The opener is gonna feel like a big surprise, somehow.



*****I'm not complaining. I'm glad the coaches are doing what they feel is best******

Link: Academics important to Terry

The Gophers have done a good job recruiting Terry, and I think if he had to commit today, he'd be a Gopher. Cal's interest is a bit newer, and Louisville is full at corner.

How do I go about canceling my subscription?

I still think the clock is ticking on this time bomb. We'll see if I'm right in 5 years. In the meantime, fun to watch.

http://thebiglead.com/2016/08/15/vi...nds-press-conference-after-scolding-reporter/