Ashton Beers

Plus, you got T.J. Thomas still there for his elusive East-West abilities as well.

But, I mean, this thing comes down to can – Minnesota's MASH unit up front because you're going to be without Ashton Beers.

You're going to be without Brett Carroll.

I don't even remember if we talked about Jaden Ball in the availability report section because he's not listed.

He's able to run enough.

And that is the thing for this offense, though, is if Drake Lindsey's not going to be going, and your offensive line is already a mass unit where Ashton Beers is already out, Brett Carroll is already out, Jaden Ball is not close to playing, even though they listed him as probable, because if you looked at him down on the field, Derek, let me ask you this.

You played offensive line in the Big Ten.

If you have a club the size of Saskatoon on your left hand, how well is that going to go with you trying to block an Iowa defensive lineman?

And opposing power four quarterbacks against Phil Parker this year, 65% completion rate, 260 yards to the air, nine passing touchdowns, in only one interception.

Now, if they're going to do that, the MASH unit up front, not the moving company, the MASH unit, because you're without Ashton Beers, probably I'm going to guess Jaden Ball and Brett Carroll, which means you're still starting Bennett Warren, and this needs to be Bennett Warren's best game of the year at left guard.

I say that because among all Big Ten guards – With more than 100 snaps, Bennett Warren ranks dead last in pro football focuses overall grade, run blocking grade, and pass blocking grade.

You need some bounce back performances, but it starts and ends with Drake Lindsey there.

And both of these quarterbacks are doing it at a high level.

Now, with your squad, what has impressed you with Greg Johnson, the center, after Ashton Beers was lost for the season and he had to change spots?

Yeah, I think Greg's the best offensive lineman in college football.

I've said that for a long time because I don't think there's many people who have started all five positions in the Big Ten who could be all-conference at all five positions in the Big Ten.

Played left guard pretty much all of last year, aside from kicking out to tackle a couple games that they needed him.

This year, Ashton Beers, their starting center, goes down with a season-ending injury.

He slides into center and plays just as well, if not better.

His first start, there were two bad snaps, and then aside from that, it's been very clean.

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Ashton Beers-

Yeah

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And of course it's a position he's played before, and as PJ Fleck will say at the dais, um, Greg Johnson has played all five positions on the offensive line, and he could.

We would be comfortable starting him at any one that we needed him at.

And the fact that Ashton Beers, the- the, um, uh, also an NFL draft prospect, obviously knocked out for the season on the interior, uh, for the Gophers, he goes out and then Greg Johnson just shifts there right away.

I- the NFL is gonna be so impressed with that.

After week two, Hayden Moore's knee died.

After week three, Ashton Beers' toe is just, it's no longer with us.

Okay, his toe is...

He still has all of his digits.

You're too young, you young whippersnapper, you.

You're too young to know what the show MASH was.

But we- we're talking about you're without Ashton Beers, Jaden Ball, Brett Carroll, Brett, uh, Bennett Warren starting for the first time at left guard.

You've got Nathan Roy at left tackle, who has been even better in year two, looks pretty good in terms of his chances potentially of being on an all Big 10 team.

Like Greg Johnson is also going to be a first round draft pick, and that really helps that he's healthy.

But he's your third center 'cause Ashton Beers is now out for the year Uh, I've heard he ruptured something in his toe, for those of you wondering, so like a very, very severe case of turf toe, as severe as you can get, which is why he was on a scooter.

You saw Brett Carroll, who is gonna be the backup, if not the starter, at right guard potentially, tear his knee in fall camp, so he's out for the year.

Jaden Ball missed the game, and I saw him [laughs] for those of you on Gopher Gazette, I took a photo of him.