Spring Ball

[Blue42]

Time to get a thread going on spring ball. A few interesting things I've heard to date...

Jacob Appleman has foregone his senior year to enter nursing school.

Applegate is being worked out at OL. Presumably because we have a lot of DL and need a little more depth on OL.

Vanderslice has been moved from TE to OT.

Farley is experimenting with Trevor Allen and C Jegen at safety. (I'm not too happy about that...TA needs to be at slot receiver. Where he should have been all along.)

Hartford is leading candidate for a MLB spot. No surprise...that kid looks like a talent.

Other things others have picked up?...

[SteinPizza]

Who will be the starting five O Lineman?

[Blue42]

My guess...and totally a guess...would be
..

Twait and Spencer Brown at LT and RT.

Jackson Scott-Brown and Szczyrbak at guards.

Sounds like they're working Mason Neisen at Center right now. He's a large human. Maybe Ellis in there as well.

We'll see what happens with Applegate on the OL. Hopefully they only move him if he's likely to start as he's a pretty productive DL.

Also will be interesting to watch Vanderslice. 6'7" and they've added 30 lbs and trying to add 30 more. Similar to what they did with Spencer Brown.

[SteinPizza]

My guess...and totally a guess...would be
..

Twait and Spencer Brown at LT and RT.

Jackson Scott-Brown and Szczyrbak at guards.

Sounds like they're working Mason Neisen at Center right now. He's a large human. Maybe Ellis in there as well.

We'll see what happens with Applegate on the OL. Hopefully they only move him if he's likely to start as he's a pretty productive DL.

Also will be interesting to watch Vanderslice. 6'7" and they've added 30 lbs and trying to add 30 more. Similar to what they did with Spencer Brown.

Interesting. I didn’t know they’d moved Applegate. I’d assume he’s a guard or center, given his height. He’s started a fair amount of games as a D Lineman, so I’m not sure what to read in to the move, if anything.

[Big Cats]

Interesting. I didn’t know they’d moved Applegate. I’d assume he’s a guard or center, given his height. He’s started a fair amount of games as a D Lineman, so I’m not sure what to read in to the move, if anything.

I wouldn't read too much into this move. Farley has always been known to move the best athletes to the defensive side of the ball.

[clenz]

He does.


Then we continue to wonder why our offense lags.

[ronfitch]

A short read, but something ...

CR Gazette: "New UNI offensive line coach likes what he sees"

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sp...-sees-20180402

[stolz67]

A short read, but something ...

CR Gazette: "New UNI offensive line coach likes what he sees"

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sp...-sees-20180402

Sounds like a disaster

[UNIdad]

Time to get a thread going on spring ball. A few interesting things I've heard to date...

Applegate is being worked out at OL. Presumably because we have a lot of DL and need a little more depth on OL.

...

Seems like a desperation move. I prefer to leave Applegate on the DL. Wonder what he thinks about the possibility? That sort of move may not send a good message to the recruits.

[clenz]

Seems like a desperation move. I prefer to leave Applegate on the DL. Wonder what he thinks about the possibility? That sort of move may not send a good message to the recruits.

Takes me back to what Farley said after losing at EWU in 16. OL play was horrid (shocking) and I think there was some injury issues. Farley was asked about it during his Monday lunch presser. He said he’d decimate DL depth to build OL depth. I vividly remember that exact moment and quote because I was driving for a work trip and listening to a podcast playback of it. I was just by Mesquaki Casino on hwy 30 outside of Tama when that was said. I damn near went into the ditch as I heard that and my brain tried to comprehend it. I vividly remember speaking with BC about it heougb twitter that same day.

It was that that exact moment I “turned” on my thoughts of the program from where I had been to where I was. It told me we can’t receuit quality OL depth and or develop it if we are moving DL to OL. Remember Preston Woods lost a season and a half on the DL because of a switch early in his career. it appears that’s still an issue.

[Blue42]

Seems like a desperation move. I prefer to leave Applegate on the DL. Wonder what he thinks about the possibility? That sort of move may not send a good message to the recruits.

Experimenting with guys at different positions has been a part of UNI football since Farley arrived. Not sure the word desperation fits in the conversation.

His philosophy is to get his best 20 players on the field. I don't fully agree with all his tactics here...but it has always been his approach.

DJ went from WR to LB to RB when he was first on campus.

[vbfan19]

I yearn for the days when the O-line was the cornerstone of UNI football. That was when the program had its greatest successes.

[BDPanther]

Experimenting with guys at different positions has been a part of UNI football since Farley arrived. Not sure the word desperation fits in the conversation.

His philosophy is to get his best 20 players on the field. I don't fully agree with all his tactics here...but it has always been his approach.

DJ went from WR to LB to RB when he was first on campus.

Lets not forget this is spring ball. There are some big shoes to fill and Farley and his coaches are trying to figure out who can best fill those shoes. We have a lot of young talent that needs to get playing time. As far as Applegate being worked out @ OL Farley said it could be a two day, two week, or permanent transition. There will be a lot of shuffling done before we kickoff in Missoula!

[panthergirl123]

I yearn for the days when the O-line was the cornerstone of UNI football. That was when the program had its greatest successes.

The OLine was only part of that success. In terms of this point of the season, I have no problem with experimentation of people in different positions. I think you need the best athletes that you have out there. It is not uncommon to move people around in college football programs or even in professional football programs.

Also, I think Farley needs to find a combination that has good chemistry together. If this means that he needs to move people around then he should. Chemistry in a team can equal alot of success. A prime example of that is what we just saw with Loyola Chicago men's basketball team.

[SteinPizza]

Takes me back to what Farley said after losing at EWU in 16. OL play was horrid (shocking) and I think there was some injury issues. Farley was asked about it during his Monday lunch presser. He said he’d decimate DL depth to build OL depth. I vividly remember that exact moment and quote because I was driving for a work trip and listening to a podcast playback of it. I was just by Mesquaki Casino on hwy 30 outside of Tama when that was said. I damn near went into the ditch as I heard that and my brain tried to comprehend it. I vividly remember speaking with BC about it heougb twitter that same day.

It was that that exact moment I “turned” on my thoughts of the program from where I had been to where I was. It told me we can’t receuit quality OL depth and or develop it if we are moving DL to OL. Remember Preston Woods lost a season and a half on the DL because of a switch early in his career. it appears that’s still an issue.

Completely agree. Every year you hear about an Iowa kid or two signing with one of the Dakota schools. Some that I’ve read about in the DMR didn’t seem to have UNI on the radar. That’s BS. I doubt they’re felons or have some other off field issue that scares away Farley. UNI has just been supplanted as a top tier choice in the minds of many recruits in central and western Iowa. Almost all the guys I refer to are lineman. If one of the Dakota schools wants to sign some small school skill player whose actual ceiling is DII at best, let them (they don’t seem to be that stupid). These are typically lineman, and I’m sure at least a few could’ve helped us.