Mitch Leidner: "I feel like I’m twice as good of a player as I was last year.”

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Maximus said:
1. Adam Weber, 2007 2,895
2. Bryan Cupito, 2006 2,819
3. Adam Weber, 2008 2,761
4. Adam Weber, 2010 2,679
5. Cory Sauter, 1995 2,600

i think shattering the school record with a largely unproven collection of receivers and new OC may be unrealistic.
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I think he meant when Mitch plays for the Browns
 

GophersInIowa said:
I get what you're saying but I think it would be a bad sign if he is averaging 250 yards a game. It would probably mean we are losing in a lot of games and/or the running game isn't working.
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I get it if you feel we have to stick to the ball control, time of possession style to protect our defense and keep the score close but I'm not sure we can get to the next level doing that (right now) without a more dominant defense. If teams are scheming to stop our rush game, we absolutely can and should go to the air. We can still be true to our running roots, but it sounds like Claeys wants more balance in the offense. We have to be able to score more points and we can't be one dimensional. I've said it before but if we are going to be a 80% run offense let's covert to the triple option.
 

Pompous Elitist said:
I get it if you feel we have to stick to the ball control, time of possession style to protect our defense and keep the score close but I'm not sure we can get to the next level doing that (right now) without a more dominant defense. If teams are scheming to stop our rush game, we absolutely can and should go to the air. We can still be true to our running roots, but it sounds like Claeys wants more balance in the offense. We have to be able to score more points and we can't be one dimensional. I've said it before but if we are going to be a 80% run offense let's covert to the triple option.
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I'm not saying we shouldn't be looking to pass it. I'm just saying that to average 250 yards a game would probably mean we are having to pass a lot and that isn't a good thing. Only 2 QBs in the Big Ten averaged 250+ passing yards last year (Sudfeld and Armstrong).
 

GophersInIowa said:
I'm not saying we shouldn't be looking to pass it. I'm just saying that to average 250 yards a game would probably mean we are having to pass a lot and that isn't a good thing. Only 2 QBs in the Big Ten averaged 250+ passing yards last year (Sudfeld and Armstrong).
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I disagree a bit with this in that the passing average could be padded by more explosive plays. A 200 yd a game average, at 25 passes a game or 8 yards an attempt, could become a 10yd per attempt 250 yards a game passing attack, with the addition of some explosive plays.
 

nsmike said:
I disagree a bit with this in that the passing average could be padded by more explosive plays. A 200 yd a game average, at 25 passes a game or 8 yards an attempt, could become a 10yd per attempt 250 yards a game passing attack, with the addition of some explosive plays.
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10 yards an attempt is pretty rare. Only 6 QBs in all of college football averaged even 9+ yards an attempt last season.
 


I agree Leidner probably won't average 250 yards a game, but if our running games struggles more than we think or hope, I certainly hope we can achieve that and salvage a respectable offensive output.
 

GopherJake said:
Jackass comment. If you don't want your starting QB to be confident, you are the tool. He's done nothing but represent the university well. He's tougher than most and never complains. Shut your pie hole.
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Spot on, well said.
 

bemidjigopher said:
I think for the most part those are realistic numbers, the yards might be a little high, in fact I would say that would be spectacular if he hit 3,250 and I say that because I think were still going to be more of running team, if he's throwing for that many yards I am fearful that will result in losses as were trying to come from behind. I think if he has a 2:1 TD/INT ratio and he throws for 2,500- 2,700 and has 8-10 rushing TD's and 500 plus rushing yards, I would say that's a really good year for Mitch and the offense as a whole.
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If he rushes for 500+ yards, and considering he's never done so, don't think that's a real good thing...tells me the passing game is not working.
 

Maximus said:
1. Adam Weber, 2007 2,895
2. Bryan Cupito, 2006 2,819
3. Adam Weber, 2008 2,761
4. Adam Weber, 2010 2,679
5. Cory Sauter, 1995 2,600

i think shattering the school record with a largely unproven collection of receivers and new OC may be unrealistic.
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Agreed. Not to nitpick, but ML should be 4th on the list.
 



nsmike said:
Let's be honest, 225 yards a game is not a big number and would get Leidner to fourth overall, 250 would get him to 3000 and first overall. I would b very comfortable with a 225 to 235 yards per game average at the end of the season.
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He is already 4th...
 


GophersInIowa said:
I get what you're saying but I think it would be a bad sign if he is averaging 250 yards a game. It would probably mean we are losing in a lot of games and/or the running game isn't working.
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Or it's working really well. I can see him putting up 2700 as a result of a good running game. To win 9-10 games, they're going to need to consistently put up 400 yards/game.
 

PMWinSTP said:
Or it's working really well. I can see him putting up 2700 as a result of a good running game. To win 9-10 games, they're going to need to consistently put up 400 yards/game.
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Iowa and Michigan St played in the conference championship game averaging 386 yards/game last year.
 



Michigan State could lean on their defense more. Iowa was lucky to be there (and lucky the MSU QB had a bum shoulder).

More often than not, the top teams will approach or exceed 400 yards in offense. Obviously there are many other factors that go into winning (look at Indiana) but it certainly helps to be able to move the ball and score points rather than always rely on walrus ball.
 

Pompous Elitist said:
Michigan State could lean on their defense more. Iowa was lucky to be there (and lucky the MSU QB had a bum shoulder).

More often than not, the top teams will approach or exceed 400 yards in offense. Obviously there are many other factors that go into winning (look at Indiana) but it certainly helps to be able to move the ball and score points rather than always rely on walrus ball.
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Iowa still lost so I'm not sure why that matters.

The team that has won the west 3 of the 5 years has gained less than 400 yds/game. Iowa was lucky based on their schedule, but the Gophers have a similar schedule this year. I don't think the Gophers need to make significant strides in their offense to win the west this year. It's the defense that worries me more, especially if the injury bug bites again.
 

PMWinSTP said:
Or it's working really well. I can see him putting up 2700 as a result of a good running game. To win 9-10 games, they're going to need to consistently put up 400 yards/game.
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Oh definitely. But averaging 210-215 a game is a lot different than 250.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Iowa and Michigan St played in the conference championship game averaging 386 yards/game last year.
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You picked the 2 teams who played 14 games. 5,200 yards in total offense (13 games) isn't even top 60 in performance. Don't think that is asking too much.
 

I don't think you "have" to hit 400yds/game to be effective. Stating the obvious: there are three parts to the game - offense, defense and special teams. All three have to do their part to have a successful team. If the offense is gaining 400+ yds/gm - but the defense is giving up 450, that's not going to work. conversely, if the defense is holding teams to 300 yds/gm or less, the offense doesn't have to break records to win games. And let's not leave special teams out of the conversation. Specials team play a big role in determining field position. They can put point on the board - or help keep points off the board.

Point being, there are different formulas that can be used to win a FB game. Sure - gaining over 400 yds/gm on offense would be great, but that's not the only way to win a game.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
I don't think you "have" to hit 400yds/game to be effective. Stating the obvious: there are three parts to the game - offense, defense and special teams. All three have to do their part to have a successful team. If the offense is gaining 400+ yds/gm - but the defense is giving up 450, that's not going to work. conversely, if the defense is holding teams to 300 yds/gm or less, the offense doesn't have to break records to win games. And let's not leave special teams out of the conversation. Specials team play a big role in determining field position. They can put point on the board - or help keep points off the board.

Point being, there are different formulas that can be used to win a FB game. Sure - gaining over 400 yds/gm on offense would be great, but that's not the only way to win a game.
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I think most agree defense is not an issue with the Gophs...it's a top 30 unit. Didn't think we were discussing hypothetical teams here. Holding teams to 300yds/game is a top 10 defense. The focus is on a more productive offense because that is what has been lacking. As I stated above, 400yds/gm is not even a top 60 offense.
 

PMWinSTP said:
I think most agree defense is not an issue with the Gophs...it's a top 30 unit. Didn't think we were discussing hypothetical teams here. Holding teams to 300yds/game is a top 10 defense. The focus is on a more productive offense because that is what has been lacking. As I stated above, 400yds/gm is not even a top 60 offense.
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It is? Overall, they ranked 59th in points allowed per game last year, and gave up 33 ppg over their final 6 BIG games. Injuries were definitely a part of that, but losing Murray, BBC, Campbell, Johnson, and Cockran are big. I'm more confident in the offense going into this season than I am the defense.

The Gophers also ranked 88th in 3rd down conversion % last year, which is horrible.

As I also mentioned above, 3 of the 5 BIG west winners didn't average 400 yds/gm.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
I don't think you "have" to hit 400yds/game to be effective. Stating the obvious: there are three parts to the game - offense, defense and special teams. All three have to do their part to have a successful team. If the offense is gaining 400+ yds/gm - but the defense is giving up 450, that's not going to work. conversely, if the defense is holding teams to 300 yds/gm or less, the offense doesn't have to break records to win games. And let's not leave special teams out of the conversation. Specials team play a big role in determining field position. They can put point on the board - or help keep points off the board.

Point being, there are different formulas that can be used to win a FB game. Sure - gaining over 400 yds/gm on offense would be great, but that's not the only way to win a game.
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Agree with everything you say above. Also worth mentioning the pace offenses play with. People mentioned on this thread earlier that top offenses are putting up 8000+ yards a season. Those teams are also running a play every 10-15 seconds. Minnesota was on the opposite side of the coin last year, averaging 68.6 plays per game, 103rd in the country (I realize that time of possession, turnovers, etc. also play into this number). Oregon ran 79 plays/game and Texas Tech ran 85 plays/game as a frame of reference.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
It is? Overall, they ranked 59th in points allowed per game last year, and gave up 33 ppg over their final 6 BIG games. Injuries were definitely a part of that, but losing Murray, BBC, Campbell, Johnson, and Cockran are big. I'm more confident in the offense going into this season than I am the defense.

The Gophers also ranked 88th in 3rd down conversion % last year, which is horrible.

As I also mentioned above, 3 of the 5 BIG west winners didn't average 400 yds/gm.
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Cherry-picked stats to make your argument. 24th in total defense.

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/2016/team/22
 



GopherWeatherGuy said:
What do you think contributes more losing football games? Yards given up, or points given up?

Playing Kent St. and only giving up 142 yds also helped that stat significantly.
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I don't know, maybe an offense ranked below 100?
 

PMWinSTP said:
I don't know, maybe an offense ranked below 100?
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Yeah but it doesn't have to be top 60, which has been my point all along.

Power conference teams that won 10+ games last year with an offense ranked lower than 60 in ypg: Michigan, Iowa, Michigan St, Wisconsin, Georgia, Utah, Florida, and Northwestern. The last three were ranked 97 and lower, with Florida and Northwestern lower than Minnesota.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Yeah but it doesn't have to be top 60, which has been my point all along.

Power conference teams that won 10+ games last year with an offense ranked lower than 60 in ypg: Michigan, Iowa, Michigan St, Wisconsin, Georgia, Utah, Florida, and Northwestern. The last three were ranked 97 and lower, with Florida and Northwestern lower than Minnesota.
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OK, I'll play along, where were they all ranked in total defense?
 

Looking at S&P+ defensive rankings, total defense, scoring defense all those teams were top 15 to top 20. As the old saying goes, they are the exception that proves the rule.

Look, there are multiple routes to a winning team. A team can be dominant defensively, or offensively, or balanced, or play clean, mistake free football; don't turn the ball over, don't commit stupid penalties; play good special teams; good coverages, good kickers.

Why hamstring ourselves? We need to have the ability to make explosive plays, to move in chunks. We need to be able to play with tempo (and JJ alluded to this) when necessary. We need a two minute offense. We need to be good in the red zone.
 

How many times in the past 3 years have you looked at the gopher passing yards at halftime and shaken yer head? past behavior predicts the future........in all things.
 

A good retrospective of the 2015 Buckeyes by the excellent Ross Fulton. He is a Buckeye writer,X's and O's analyst here and at Eleven Warriors. In a nutshell, take what they are giving you. How many times have we had to say this under Kill and Limey.

Side note, I'm in the belly of the beast this am; Madison. Tonight I will be in many of your favorite team's location, South Bend.

https://ohiostate.rivals.com/news/fulton-analysis-what-went-wrong-part-one-1
 

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