414GopherFan
Banned
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- Oct 23, 2014
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- 111
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- 16
To me so much of this game comes back to the decisions made to end the first half. Multiple times during this streak of Wisconsin wins over Minnesota, the Gophers have had a lead and gotten too conservative. Today was an extreme example of a team just trying not to screw up, when the focus should have been on scoring 7 before the half and pushing the lead to 14. The fumble was bad enough, but to see the defense completely collapse to give up a fg was ridiculous. With as strong as the Gophers started, they gave up all that momentum going in to the half.
The CB's really let us down today. I know that some are pointing to the pass rush, but Boddy-Calhoun and especially Eric Murray got beat way too often. We absolutely needed Murray/Calhoun to win one on ones outside and Erickson beat both of them. Myrick and or the safety killed us on the 70 yarder in the first half as well. That seemed like a blown coverage and there's been too many of those in recent games.
The call on Tommy Olson really hurt. No replay that was shown showed anything close to a penalty. The Gophers get a TD there instead of a FG and maybe things play out differently.
The passing game has to improve by leaps and bounds. The pass to Williams for 53 yards was about as easy as it gets. I am pretty confident that the vast majority of GopherHole posters could make that throw. Aside from that one play, Leidner was 4/17 for 42 yards. It's not all on Leidner, we need to have a more diverse passing game and better threats. The fumbled punt really made our offense look better than it was on the scoreboard. At times it felt hopeless in the second half, and that wasn't because of Wisconsin's D...it was our offense that just looked anemic.
I felt like the defense wore down under the pressure of the Gophers being unable to score, but they did enough to win. The stop to start the second half was huge, as was the stop when Wisconsin had the ball up 20-17. The offense absolutely had to take the ball and drive for a TD after one of those stops...and it did nothing.
Hats off to Cobb and Botticelli who both played great today. I am sure I speak for most fans when I say I'll miss the hell out of those guys.
Do you know anything about football? or maybe you should stick to hockey!! The Badger passing game works because there run game is so good. The db's had to stop the run today the FRONT 7 wasnt getting it done! Top 3 tacklers Thompson 12 tackles 9 solo...Travis 10...Muuray 8tackles 7 solo. what are yiour LB's on scholarship to do?