Your New Gophers: Keanon Cooper

PJS Note: In an effort to prepare you for the myriad new faces on Tim Brewster's 2008Golden Gophers, we're going to methodically brief you on each newcomer. To Brewster's credit the Gophers compiled their best recruiting class in recent memory (17th best in the country by Rivals' rankings).

Your New Gophers: Keanon Cooper

There is no question that one of Minnesota's two primary weaknesses last season was in the secondary. This is nothing new for Minnesota, as the Gophers have traditionally struggled to stop high-flying, spread offense teams. But with Tim Brewster installing the spread offense himself, moving away from the ball control offense under Glen Mason, the secondary needs to be that much better. The quicker the Gophers score, the more possessions the opponent is going to have to exploit a beleaguered secondary. Brewster knew this and addressed it with his 2008 recruiting class.

One newcomer who could have an immediate impact is Dallas Skyline safety Keanon Cooper, a 6' 190 pound athlete who could have went to a number of programs including Michigan, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Miami or Kansas.

But the biggest obstacle in Minnesota's way for Cooper was Texas Tech, where he originally committed. But Cooper decided to drop that commitment and join three of his high school friends who had also committed to the University. We'll get to Cooper's classmates at a later date, but this should indicate one reason why Cooper picked the Gophers.

Cooper is ranked as Rivals' 24th best safety in the country (though he also could be played at outside linebacker, where a lack of quickness was another weakness for the Gophers), and was one of two Gophers to make the site's Big Ten Signing Day Dream Team, the other being quarterback Marqueis Gray.

Academically, Cooper seems to be anything but a problem child, having finished in the top quarter of his senior class. He's described by his coach as an "outstanding student" and "a relentless player."

ESPN.Com's Football Recruiting Blog called Cooper perhaps "the most versatile defensive prospect in this class." By versatile, ESPN means exactly that. They go on to praise him for wreaking havoc at safety, linebacker and even defensive end. That to me sounds versatile! So, while Cooper is listed as a safety, don't be surprised if he is used in all sorts of places. It's up to new defensive coordinator Ted Roof to put him in position to succeed. Let's hope Roof gets creative.

Grading Minnesota's Defense

Much like the Minnesota offense last week, the defense started out in such a way that enabled BGSU to jump out to an almost insurmountable lead.

Like the offense, Tim Brewster promised a different defense. He brought in Everett Withers to coordinate and both suggested the defense would attack instead of play on its collective heels. So, during BGSU's first two possessions, Withers came after Falcons quarterback Tyler Sheehan. The result? The Falcons scored quicker than anyone ever did on Glen Mason.

So, on to a numerical grade on the Gophers' defense. Later tonight I'll take a look at what to expect from Miami (Ohio) tomorrow.

Coaches: 4 out of 10
Blitzing doesn't solve everything and it certainly doesn't make up for a lack of talent or team speed. The Falcons could very easily have put the Gophers away in the first half or early in the third if it wasn't for a slew of dropped passes and offensive penalities. Withers' defense deserves some credit for closing the floodgates in the second half, but the first three minutes were quite discouraging for the Minnesota fans in attendance on Saturday. The defense was able to capitalize on the Falcons miscues in the second half, but when the game was on the line, Withers and Brewster coached themselves out of a win. In the fourth quarter, the Gophers were putting sufficient presure on Sheehan. But as the Falcons drove for a tying field goal, the Gophers decided to sit back in a prevent. Withers didn't go to this defense until it was third-and-long with less than two minutes to play. The Falcons were on the ropes and Brewster and Withers decided to let up. They get graded down because of that.

Secondary: 2 out of 10
I'm feeling generous today because that grade should probably be a one. Other than decent play by Dominque Barber, the Gophers' secondary looked completely incompetent in the first half, struggling to keep BGSU's spread at bay. Brewster's big plan to have former wide receiver Mike Chambers play corner didn't pan out. Now Chambers is heading back to the receiver position. Senior Desi Steib is losing his starting job to true freshman Ryan Collado this week. Gopher fans shouldn't expect much from this group as the season goes on. Collado will join two other true freshman--Kyle Theret and Curtis Thomas--in the secondary. The Gophers against BGSU gave up 512 yards--412 through the air. It's going to be a long, learning year for this group.

Linebackers: 5 out of 10
If there was one member of the Gophers' defense who stood out to me in a positive way it was linebacker Mike Sherels. The Gophers are hurt by what I see as a lack of team speed at the position, but Sherels was everywhere, especially in the second half. While I have no doubt the former walk-on busts his butt on every play, it's also clear that when Withers sends an extra attacker from his linebacking corps, they can't reach the quarterback fast enough to make it worth while. Sherels is too slow. So is John Shelvin.

Defensive Line: 3 out of 10
When Withers didn't blitz, the defensive line didn't put any pressure of its own on Sheehan. Willie VanDeSteeg, described by many as a bonafide star, wasn't heard from agaisnt BGSU. If he's really a bonafide star, he needs to make his prescense felt against a MAC team. I'll be honest that I was paying far more attention to the linebacking corps and secondary then I was the D line. I was waiting and waiting for VanDeSteeg to emerge and it never happened. To mask our secondary weakness against pass-first teams, the D-Line needs to do its part and it starts with Willie V.

Special Teams: 5 of 10
Just throwing this in here quickly. Coverage on kicks was great. But punt returner Harold Howell scares the living shit out of me. He didn't communicate with his teammates when he let a punt hit the ground and fumbled another punt before recovering it. Howell has reportedly replaced Eric Decker as the #2 receiver behind Ernie Wheelright. That should be interesting and perhaps eventful. Though I'll say this about Howell: He does look shifty and quick.

It's Weber's Team

Tim Brewster named redshirt freshman Adam Weber his starting quarterback today, which isn't a surprise if you've been following camp. But Weber came into camp as the #2 behind junior Tony Mortensen.

Weber gives the Gophers an added dimension with the athleticism to run the option. The Pioneer Press has a story up here. An AP version is here, and in that report Brewster says he won't have a "quick hook" on Weber. To me that means Weber is the guy until he proves incapable of running the team.

The Star Tribune's Chip Scoggins, on his blog, reports a few other camp battle results. Freshmen wideout Tray Herndon will start as the slot receiver alongside Ernie Wheelright and Eric Decker. Decker will join freshmen Harold Howell on punt returns. And Scoggins reports the second-team secondary looks a little weak. That group includes wideout-turned-corner Mike Chambers and three true freshman.