Gophers Football

[Badsmerf]

I can't wait for a new qb next year. Biggest reason to rip Tracy this year is sticking with leidner. Problem is pulling green or Croft out of red shirt. Once you do, you pretty much have to sit Mitch the rest if the year. That is a big decision to sit your leader and 5th year senior.

 

Luckily, this team is young. The defense and offensive line has been solid. The running backs are a couple of the best in the country. I would be surprised if this team isn't better next year.

[Mr. Brooks]

I can't wait for a new qb next year. Biggest reason to rip Tracy this year is sticking with leidner. Problem is pulling green or Croft out of red shirt. Once you do, you pretty much have to sit Mitch the rest if the year. That is a big decision to sit your leader and 5th year senior.

 

Luckily, this team is young. The defense and offensive line has been solid. The running backs are a couple of the best in the country. I would be surprised if this team isn't better next year.

When your QB is one of the worst in the country, there shouldn't be any pressure to be loyal to him.

 

Luckily we only have to watch him one more time.

 

I feel worst for the rest of the Seniors who know they'd be undefeated, have possession of the axe finally, going to the Big 10 championship game, and possibly playoffs if they had an average or better QB.

 

They will be better next year, losing the burden of Leidner guarantees that. But, they could be better and still not win more games.

The schedule made this the year to take and they blew it.

Kill blew it by leaving us with Leidner, and Claeys blew it not even trying another option.

 

Gophers football doesn't deserve the axe.

[USAFChief]

Interesting to see if Clays is fired, or extended.

 

IMO, he should be gone by Monday. He is not D1 head coach material. Recruiting is abysmal, ticket sales off. Zero buzz around the program. 8 wins, but none that count, and it's tough to see any improvement on the horizon.

 

We learn about the new AD's goals this week.

[biggentleben]

So, I'm an O-lineman, and that's how I see things, no apologies to that.

 

I watched that first half, knowing the talent on the other side of the ball, and I was very impressed by the way the Gophers o-line was playing.

 

Then, the second half came. Help blocks were missed constant. While they couldn't get a 0-1-2 hole run going in the first half, they were having very good success with chipping and turning the interior guys to find success in the 3-4 gaps, but those chips were either missed or simply not done in the second half, and the run game went nowhere, which allowed the D-Ends to just pin their ears back and go nuts on the tackles.

 

I think the Gophers have an extremely talented offensive line. There's a reason they hadn't given up multiple sacks in something like 2 years before today, and it's not JUST a mobile QB. However, whether it was coaching, poor play, or a combination of both, the Gophers simply did not show up as an o-line in the second half, and it cost them the game.

[USAFChief]

So, I'm an O-lineman, and that's how I see things, no apologies to that.

 

I watched that first half, knowing the talent on the other side of the ball, and I was very impressed by the way the Gophers o-line was playing.

 

Then, the second half came. Help blocks were missed constant. While they couldn't get a 0-1-2 hole run going in the first half, they were having very good success with chipping and turning the interior guys to find success in the 3-4 gaps, but those chips were either missed or simply not done in the second half, and the run game went nowhere, which allowed the D-Ends to just pin their ears back and go nuts on the tackles.

 

I think the Gophers have an extremely talented offensive line. There's a reason they hadn't given up multiple sacks in something like 2 years before today, and it's not JUST a mobile QB. However, whether it was coaching, poor play, or a combination of both, the Gophers simply did not show up as an o-line in the second half, and it cost them the game.

SO...it wasn't the 14 int's?

[Vanimal46]

Interesting to see if Clays is fired, or extended.

 

IMO, he should be gone by Monday. He is not D1 head coach material. Recruiting is abysmal, ticket sales off. Zero buzz around the program. 8 wins, but none that count, and it's tough to see any improvement on the horizon.

 

We learn about the new AD's goals this week.

Concur. Claeys should be let go on Monday. Even though this is technically his 1st full season as HC, I view it as his 6th year running the program. There hasn't been enough improvement to prompt an extension.

 

As soon as he's out, I'm calling the NDSU head coach for an interview.

[biggentleben]

 

SO...it wasn't the 14 int's?

 

Leidner had clear throwing paths all first half long. Not saying he didn't on any of the INTs, but he was scrambling from pressure nearly every drop back in the second half. That leads to much worse passing, and we all know that Leidner cannot afford any downgrade in his passing quality.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Leidner had clear throwing paths all first half long. Not saying he didn't on any of the INTs, but he was scrambling from pressure nearly every drop back in the second half. That leads to much worse passing, and we all know that Leidner cannot afford any downgrade in his passing quality.

 

I agree that the line play suffered badly in the second half.  But good lord some of those interceptions were inexcusable.  Bad high school QB bad.

[USAFChief]

Concur. Claeys should be let go on Monday. Even though this is technically his 1st full season as HC, I view it as his 6th year running the program. There hasn't been enough improvement to prompt an extension.

As soon as he's out, I'm calling the NDSU head coach for an interview.

A real AD already has made those calls, and has the new head coach verbally committed.

 

And if not, an extension needs to be in place, very soon. Recruiting is tough enough, trying with a lame duck head coach is suicide.

[biggentleben]

 

I agree that the line play suffered badly in the second half.  But good lord some of those interceptions were inexcusable.  Bad high school QB bad.

 

Yeah, not disagreeing, but Brooks had the ability to get 8-10 yards a pop in the way he runs in the first half, which at least keeps the defensive second level honest. The line simply could do nothing in the run game, which meant the second and third level had to give no credence to a fake, and that allowed them to key in purely on their coverage.

 

Once again, that doesn't excuse the throw itself, but you can do a lot to set up a mediocre QB to have success.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Once again, that doesn't excuse the throw itself, but you can do a lot to set up a mediocre QB to have success.

 

I agree, but the problem is we have been sold for awhile that Leidner could be, or would be, more than that.  And he never even managed to be all that mediocre.

[Vanimal46]

U of M Regents Chair Dean Johnson voiced strong support for Tracy Claeys in the fish wrap west side. 

“But when you look at these matters, you have to look at the totality of the season, and 8-4 is very respectable,” Johnson said. “Tracy Claeys, in my opinion, has done a very good job. He’s assembled a great coaching staff with great values."

 

“When all is said and done, stability is a good thing. Stability in any program — and yes, with appropriate adjustments — but you start changing out personnel, you’ve got these players who have to get to know new coaches. So I err on the side of stability.”

So he's fine with mediocrity.... 

[Mike Sixel]

I remain not a believer in this coaching team.....the recruiting just isn't cutting it. 

 

When they play the big boys next year, I doubt they win 8 games.....but I could be wrong, haven't checked the schedule.

 

It is hard to believe that they could never find a QB better than Leidner. He just can't pass well.

[Mike Sixel]

 

U of M Regents Chair Dean Johnson voiced strong support for Tracy Claeys in the fish wrap west side. 

“But when you look at these matters, you have to look at the totality of the season, and 8-4 is very respectable,” Johnson said. “Tracy Claeys, in my opinion, has done a very good job. He’s assembled a great coaching staff with great values."

 

“When all is said and done, stability is a good thing. Stability in any program — and yes, with appropriate adjustments — but you start changing out personnel, you’ve got these players who have to get to know new coaches. So I err on the side of stability.”

So he's fine with mediocrity.... 

 

Ugh.....depressing  cross post!

 

8-4 is fine if you actually play Michigan, OSU, and Penn State......

[Mike Sixel]

Does anyone think Claeys has done a good job recruiting? Seriously?

[Badsmerf]

He did get green to come back. Winfield is a dann good get, Smith and Brooks are top notch, the center from Texas is pretty solid. So it could be worse.

 

I was hoping for a new coach, but that isn't always the best choice. See how next year plays out with a new qb. Kill really put him in a bad spot at the position. He isn't faultles.

 

Overall this team was solid. Say what you want about the losses, but beating the teams you're supposed to beat is easier said than done. The big ten is the top power 5 conference this year, and might be for a while. If Claus is smart he'll find a way to start exploiting the collapse of programs in Texas Oregon Kansas California ect. They need to start pulling better talent to seriously compete going forward.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Does anyone think Claeys has done a good job recruiting? Seriously?

 

Defensively.  And the o-line is pretty damn good.

 

So, yes and no?

[USAFChief]

 

Defensively.  And the o-line is pretty damn good.

 

So, yes and no?

The current players are mostly Kill recruits.

 

I will give him a partial pass on last season, but so far this year's class is abysmal.

 

And I don't see him changing that. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

The current players are mostly Kill recruits.

 

I will give him a partial pass on last season, but so far this year's class is abysmal.

 

And I don't see him changing that. 

 

I agree about this class, but i would give Claeys some credit for the defensive guys.

[Mr. Brooks]

At least they had the courage to just come right out and say what I've long believed- that they strive for "respectability" and not excellence.

[Vanimal46]

 

At least they had the courage to just come right out and say what I've long believed- that they strive for "respectability" and not excellence.

Sad, but true. 

Realistically, I don't expect this program to ever get up to Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan's level of excellence... I think Iowa is a good comp for what the Gophers could do. Have a couple of down years every now and again, but once every 4-5 years, produce an excellent team (10+ wins) that contends for a Big 10 championship. 

Edited November 28, 2016 by Vanimal46

[Vanimal46]

 

Interesting to see if Clays is fired, or extended.

IMO, he should be gone by Monday. He is not D1 head coach material. Recruiting is abysmal, ticket sales off. Zero buzz around the program. 8 wins, but none that count, and it's tough to see any improvement on the horizon.

We learn about the new AD's goals this week.

We got our answer this afternoon.... Claeys has the AD's "full support" and an extension should be announced soon. 

Ugh. 

[biggentleben]

 

Sad, but true. 

Realistically, I don't expect this program to ever get up to Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan's level of excellence... I think Iowa is a good comp for what the Gophers could do. Have a couple of down years every now and again, but once every 4-5 years, produce an excellent team (10+ wins) that contends for a Big 10 championship. 

 

But they first have to find their Ferentz

[Vanimal46]

 

But they first have to find their Ferentz

I guess it's going to be Claeys for the foreseeable future. 

[Mr. Brooks]

Sad, but true.

 

Realistically, I don't expect this program to ever get up to Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan's level of excellence... I think Iowa is a good comp for what the Gophers could do. Have a couple of down years every now and again, but once every 4-5 years, produce an excellent team (10+ wins) that contends for a Big 10 championship.

Wisconsin doesn't have any fundamental advantage over us. There is zero reason our goal shouldn't be to develop into the type of program they have.

 

And I'm fine if it takes 10 years to get where Wisconsin is now. I'm not impatient. My frustration is that that's not even the goal, as admitted by the booster above.

[DaveW]

Lol Gophers. What a terrinle program, don't understand how you can keep the coach. They had a cupcake schedule this year and had zero big wins

[USAFChief]

And now 10 players suspended.

 

It's like being a fan of any MN sports team is a curse or something.

[Vanimal46]

 

And now 10 players suspended.

It's like being a fan of any MN sports team is a curse or something.

Oh what are you talking about Chief? We have the Twi....... well, the Viki........ the Timbe....... Wil.......... 

How about those Lynx?!

[USAFChief]

Oh what are you talking about Chief? We have the Twi....... well, the Viki........ the Timbe....... Wil.......... 

How about those Lynx?!

And volleyball. Gopher Volleyball.

[twinsnorth49]

And volleyball. Gopher Volleyball.

Umm, I believe the dance team are two time defending National Champions. Let's not sell the U so short.