Gophers Football

[Badsmerf]

The injury to Brooks is going to hurt. He is going to be a good one. I cancelled my direct tv, so i won't pick up as many games as i used to. Should still get to enough though. This year will be telling about the state of the program.

[Vanimal46]

Luckily this team is avoiding all of the big boys in the conference. No Ohio State, Michigan, or Michigan State on the schedule. They have a real chance of finishing the year with a good record. 

[Badsmerf]

Sloppy game. Gophers have some talent this year, might make a run at it. The 3 defensive targeting were very dumb plays. Leidner with only 36 yards in the first half is an embarrassment. He is the reason they won though. This was a good game to get a real feel for what they have. The tune up games should really help.

 

They need to come out passing and find a groove against the smaller schools. The running game will be fine against anybody. Defense showed some flashes, need more consistency.

[Vanimal46]

Only saw the box score this morning. Must have been really sloppy to only muster a 7 point victory over a 2-11 team last season. 

Sounds like Leidner still has a long ways to go in order for the passing game to be taken seriously. On a positive note, Rodney Smith! If he stays healthy, he's in store for a monster season. 

Edited September 2, 2016 by Vanimal46

[Badsmerf]

Mitch played ok. The first half was terrible, the second was ok. He is noticeably quicker. He basically won the game himself the last drive, getting first downs on the ground and some nice throws.

 

The new targeting rule is terrible. Gophers lost 3 starters because of it. Regardless of osu record last year, they're not a terrible team. They're still in a major conference, and the qb is solid.

[Mike Sixel]

The WSJ called OSU an embarrassment, one of the worst FBS teams around. So, I don't know what you are thinking.....

 

But, unlike some years, they beat a team they should have beaten. 

[bluechipper]

Mitch Leidner wasn't awful, but he wasn't very good either. Rodney Smith and Taiyon Devers had great games and are basically the reason for the win. A win is a win.

[bluechipper]

With the Leiner draft stock being a topic, I have to include another player who the NFL seemed to like, but their own college fans thought was terrible: Christian Hackenberg. Here is his line from last night's preseason game for the Jets: 11-31, 54 yards, 1 interception.

 

31 attempts, 54 yards...

[Vanimal46]

With the Leiner draft stock being a topic, I have to include another player who the NFL seemed to like, but their own college fans thought was terrible: Christian Hackenberg. Here is his line from last night's preseason game for the Jets: 11-31, 54 yards, 1 interception.

 

31 attempts, 54 yards...

The way ESPN and others pumped up Hackenberg, I figured he had at least 1 good season. Doesn't appear to be the case. Take this as you want, Hackenberg's QB rating in college: 121. Leidner: 123. Similar completion percentage too.

 

The NFL has such a shortage of good QBs it's not out of the realm of possibility that a team drafts Leidner within the first 2-3 rounds. Whoever does draft him, good luck. They're going to need it.

[DaveW]

That game last night was hilarious, Minnesota will be lucky to win 6 games

[bluechipper]

 

That game last night was hilarious, Minnesota will be lucky to win 6 games

I'll be really surprised if they don't win 7 games. I think 8 is really likely.

[Badsmerf]

Lucky to win 6 games? This was the first game for many of these guys playing together. Both sides of the ball need to get better, but each showed flashes of being a pretty good team.

 

The ceiling of this team may be limited by the lack of a deadly passing game, but they will make bowl. A lot of the mistakes were made by young guys who will get better. They really need someone to emerge at receiver. Wolitarsky is ok, but he isn't an explosive game changer. To take the next step, thus team needs that guy. Better qb play wouldn't hurt either.

[twinsnorth49]

That game last night was hilarious, Minnesota will be lucky to win 6 games

No, no they won't.

[USAFChief]

Just watched the replay.

 

The targeting thing is the stupidest rule in a long time. Let the QB run until he decides to slide at the last instant, then expect defenders to be able to mind read and pull off before he goes into his slide.

I'd be teaching my QBs to fake the slide and get an extra 20 free yards in important situations.

[TheLeviathan]

Expanding that rule to sliding QBs was absolutely indefensible.  Unless college defensive players all have Jedi powers that I'm not aware of.  

 

You want to make football safer?  Mandate all teams teach Rugby tackling and expand the range that DBs can be in contact with receivers to 10 yards.  

[Vanimal46]

The cupcake portion of the schedule is over. The running game is on point. Really like the 3 headed rushing attack of Brooks, Smith, and Leidner. Still not sold on Leidner's ability to be a consistent passer... 

We'll see how they do in Big 10 play beginning this week. 

[biggentleben]

 

The cupcake portion of the schedule is over. The running game is on point. Really like the 3 headed rushing attack of Brooks, Smith, and Leidner. Still not sold on Leidner's ability to be a consistent passer... 

We'll see how they do in Big 10 play beginning this week. 

 

Solid line play, but last year's linebackers are sorely missing, and I'm definitely worried about the pass defense due to that. I think the corners will be better in the end, but the D-line has been much better vs. the run than the pass, but there's youth there that could improve along the way to provide some heat and protect the corners.

 

On offense, having the size at reciever that he does will allow Leidner to be accurate. I will say that he threw the best ball I've seen in a long time in the Colorado State game, but they simply didn't need his arm offensively because their line was carving up CSU's d-line so badly.

[Mr. Brooks]

Same old mediocre Gophers.

I still don't see what anyone sees in Leidner. He should have been moved to fullback 2 years ago. He's not a big 10 quarterback.

 

I think Dave is pretty close. I'll be shocked if they win more than 6 games.

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah, this team is "blah".

[Badsmerf]

Today was a joke. Gophers are a better team. Leidner was bad. Coaching was pretty bad. At least there is a little talent on this team. I was half waiting for leidner to get pulled. Between bad reads, bad throws, and inability to beat a stacked box.... hard to watch. I thought the freshman receivers were supposed to be something, disappointed so far. Plus, why the **** did Brooks not get more touches? I don't get it. Iowa next week better be a win, they are terrible. Ahhh, so frustrated with this game, so many frustrating things, not worth it.

[FattCrapps]

No Governor's Wood trophy?  What a shame....

[Vanimal46]

It's the circle of life for Gophers football. New coach comes in, and patience is preached because they're back to square 1. That coach gives the program some hope by winning 8-9 games by year 3. When they're supposed to take the next step to being a division contender, the team crumbles. Back to square 1.

 

The schedule couldn't have been set up more in the Gophers favor to take the next step as a program. It will be a damn shame if its another 6-8 win season.

[Badsmerf]

Is this the worst half the gophers have played since brewster? Maybe we see Croft today?

[TheLeviathan]

Leidner first round pick is as preposterous a take as anyone has had in years.

[FattCrapps]

This is hard to watch.

[FattCrapps]

When Leidner steps back to pass and his first option isn't available...

[FattCrapps]

LOLeidner.  22 pass attempts, less than 100 yards.

 

Fire the coaching staff. Or just join the FCS.

Edited October 8, 2016 by FattCrapps

[BeenHazy]

How in the world is that not DPI?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Honest question. What happened to Demry Croft? Why doesn't he play? 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Leidner first round pick is as preposterous a take as anyone has had in years.

It was a spit take moment when I first heard that.