24+ hours after another heart-ripper, I'm torn on Claeys Future

[Scoops5]

As the Axe game was finishing up, I exclaimed to the other viewers in the room that a new coaching staff will be brought in for 2017.

But after 24 hours of truly collecting my thoughts, I'm torn if we should truly move on from the Kill/Claeys Era, expect some down years and see a completely different program.

So my thoughts:

OFFENSE: it was obvious this was always a run-first team, and I'm fine with that as most B1G programs are. We've had some talented backs play in the Maroon and Gold for the last 5 years, but had really only one QB to analyze. Many of us had our hopes up on Mitch this season and it was a massive regression. I think it was a bigger blow given that after Kill walked away, this was Mitch's stats for the last six games of 2015 (MICH, OSU, IOWA, ILL, WISC, Central Michigan):

COMP ATT PCT YDS TD INT
117 196 59.6 1391 7 5

Everything but the INT were pretty good numbers, and 3 were in the 2015 Wisconsin game, ironically. But Mitch seemed like he was maybe turning a corner, and the ESPN Mock Draft story increased the expectations in the fandom. Unfortunately, the OC change this year didn't help Leidner out of the INT monster he carried or actually increased the likelihood. As we all know, Mitch developed a knack for throwing INT in the Red Zone, which I think Red Zone scoring showed as an overall issue with the offense this year. A major red flag to me was the numerous times when the Gophs couldn't score 6 from within the 5-yard line. Good programs score in the Red Zone.

But overall, Leidner's senior regression is a major con against the Claeys staff. While the coaches coach and the players play, seeing such a step backwards in Leidner does not rest strictly on the QB's shoulders. B1G QBs are not known for being Heisman candidates, but the best programs in the conference usually possess QBs who are consistently competent; making throws when necessary and not making the big mistakes that lose games. I think Mitch could have been one of them despite knowing he didn't throw the best ball and his best receiving option through 3 years was a TE (Maxx Williams) who left for the NFL early.

DEFENSE: I'm 31 years old and have followed Gopher Football (some years more avidly than others) since Mason took over in 1997. That said, the Kill/Claeys program has produced three of the best Maroon and Gold defenses I have seen in almost 20 years. Mason had good offenses, but his defenses sucked (I vividly remember losing late comeback games to rival teams repeatedly). And defense makes you competitive in the B1G.

So as indicated, I'm torn. I'm not encouraged that the Claeys offensive program will get any better but I'm not ready to part with his defensive scheme and ability to improve defensive players if it means watching crap defensive play again.

All I know is I'm glad I'm not AD Mark Coyle because he has a tough decision. Right now, I couldn't get myself to make it after looking at the program rationally.

 

[Tackle4loss]

you are aware that this season wasn't that big of a drop off for Mitch Leidner. He was never very good at throwing the ball and you just saw a continued progression of defenses that had a lot of tape of Mitch's hitches.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

you are aware that this season wasn't that big of a drop off for Mitch Leidner. He was never very good at throwing the ball and you just saw a continued progression of defenses that had a lot of tape of Mitch's hitches.

How have you not been banned from this sight....again??

 

[Goldmember]

There is no decision for the AD to make. If he was going to replace the football HC he would have already have had to been working on it for months and already had his guy.

As it is, Tracy easily gives this program the best chance to compete against IA, NE and WI over the next few years.

This program cannot afford another directionless downturn. The last one was damage enough for at least 30-years.

The one thing that is worse than losing to IA, NE and WI is to be so bad that you may as well not play against them. All three of these were close games, and WI was just lucky as hell that they were gifted a timely 4-interception half.

 

[Vandy]

If we could know in advance that Seth Green is what the star gazers thought he was two years ago, I can settle in and ride this thing out....

 

[Lakeville Goldy]

Am I the only one who thought the defense looked much worse this year? I understand statistically they ended up pretty good, but watching the games it seemed like they were not nearly as good as the last couple years, especially late in games. It just seemed like a lot of bad play on the other side of the ball at times more than what they were doing. An example is a couple of the drops Saturday - wide open guys just didn't catch the ball. Makes the defense look better statistically, even though they had little to do with it.

The other major concern I have is I always felt like Coach Kill made good adjustments at half and I haven't seen that this year. It seems like they get out adjusted quite often.

I really think the program is better off canning him, but only if they're willing to pay what it takes to get a top tier replacement. If they want a bargain basement coach, stick with Claeys. He has a much better chance at winning than other lower tier guys. But if you are willing to spend what it takes to get a Les Miles, P. J. Fleck, etc., then go for it.

FYI - I've been told by someone in the Athletic Department that he's not overly popular there (with admin - I'm assuming the majority of the players really like him). I don't know why that is or how bad it is (don't know if he's not liked or disliked, if you catch my drift). Not sure that that would mean he's more likely to be fired, don't know that Coyle cares if the assistant rowing admin doesn't like him (completely made up job title).

 

[2727Gopher]

I'm only OK with Claeys returning if he is forced to take some lessons on basic football game management with an emphasis on time management. There were a minimum of 3 decisions this year (pass at end of half vs. Purdue, not taking a knee at the end of the game vs. Purdue and punting at the end of the game vs. Wisconsin) that were so bad, I would consider any ONE of them to be a fireable offense. I still can't believe that anyone who makes a living coaching football could make those mistakes.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Am I the only one who thought the defense looked much worse this year? I understand statistically they ended up pretty good, but watching the games it seemed like they were not nearly as good as the last couple years, especially late in games. It just seemed like a lot of bad play on the other side of the ball at times more than what they were doing. An example is a couple of the drops Saturday - wide open guys just didn't catch the ball. Makes the defense look better statistically, even though they had little to do with it.

The other major concern I have is I always felt like Coach Kill made good adjustments at half and I haven't seen that this year. It seems like they get out adjusted quite often.

I really think the program is better off canning him, but only if they're willing to pay what it takes to get a top tier replacement. If they want a bargain basement coach, stick with Claeys. He has a much better chance at winning than other lower tier guys. But if you are willing to spend what it takes to get a Les Miles, P. J. Fleck, etc., then go for it.

FYI - I've been told by someone in the Athletic Department that he's not overly popular there (with admin - I'm assuming the majority of the players really like him). I don't know why that is or how bad it is (don't know if he's not liked or disliked, if you catch my drift). Not sure that that would mean he's more likely to be fired, don't know that Coyle cares if the assistant rowing admin doesn't like him (completely made up job title).

Early on Sawvel was dialing up a lot of blitzes on 3rd and longs and we were getting gashed on screen plays. This continued for several games. Versus PSU we allowed a scrambling QB to break contain several times w/o adjustment and had nobody spying him. The guys didn't even look like they were trying to contain; they were rushing themselves upfield and out of the play time and again.

So Sawvel had a rough start, and he seems to have dialed back the totally needless blitzes, and we've benefitted from playing less mobile QBs the last few games.