Adam Rittenberg: Big Ten Q&A: Jeff Horton, Part I

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"It's like if you go into a restaurant and the restaurant has got a big menu, how many times are you flipping it back and forth, trying to figure out what you want? If you go to a place with a simple menu, it's a lot easier to order. To me, it's no different [with football]. Let's be good at some things. We can figure out what we want to do and then go do it."

One of the best explanations I've seen in regards to play calling from a layman's perspective. Build around a cheeseburger, then add ketchup, mustard, a pickle, then throw a fastball into the system with a side of fries. I like this guy.
 

Rittenberg: "It seemed like last year, things got too complex for the guys."

Horton: "I think so. Just being able to understand what you're doing allows you to play fast."
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Our offense would have been much better if all of our players had known what they were supposed to do more than half of the time.

I know that Fisch's complex offense has been dissected a lot around here, but I am glad to hear it from Rittenberg and Horton that they agree. Even better is that Horton seems to be making it a point to simplify the offense, judging from the interviews he has given so far.
 

frozengopher said:
"It's like if you go into a restaurant and the restaurant has got a big menu, how many times are you flipping it back and forth, trying to figure out what you want? If you go to a place with a simple menu, it's a lot easier to order. To me, it's no different [with football]. Let's be good at some things. We can figure out what we want to do and then go do it."

One of the best explanations I've seen in regards to play calling from a layman's perspective. Build around a cheeseburger, then add ketchup, mustard, a pickle, then throw a fastball into the system with a side of fries. I like this guy.
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Where's the bacon? Everything is better with bacon and I have to assume that would be true of our fast food offense. :)
 

Even bacon is better with bacon. But a burger may be simple, but is not necessarily fast food. A good burger can be a fine, fine thing indeed. Last year's offense was like trying to get the cooks at a diner to cook up the menu from a 5-star restaurant. A good burger place like Matt's, the 5-8 Club or Flameburger make some fine burgers. They don't try to do everything, but they make some fine burgers.

That's what I want out of a Gophers offense, some fine burgers. Maybe we don't need chilli, we need burgers.
 


RodentRampage said:
Even bacon is better with bacon. But a burger may be simple, but is not necessarily fast food. A good burger can be a fine, fine thing indeed. Last year's offense was like trying to get the cooks at a diner to cook up the menu from a 5-star restaurant. A good burger place like Matt's, the 5-8 Club or Flameburger make some fine burgers. They don't try to do everything, but they make some fine burgers.
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I'd rather be a Matt's than a 5-8. Jucy > Juicy.
 

Gopher07 said:
I'd rather be a Matt's than a 5-8. Jucy > Juicy.
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I concur. They both are good though. The 5-8 has varieties of cheeses, but I prefer Matt's. Plus, Matts is walking distance from my house. :D On the other hand, I'm more likely to get my wife to go to the 5-8, she's a vegetarian and Matt's menu is a little limited for her.
 

RodentRampage said:
I concur. They both are good though. The 5-8 has varieties of cheeses, but I prefer Matt's. Plus, Matts is walking distance from my house. :D On the other hand, I'm more likely to get my wife to go to the 5-8, she's a vegetarian and Matt's menu is a little limited for her.
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Limited? What are ya talking about? :D

menu.jpg
 

This discussion is perfect! Once you've mastered cooking 1/2 lb ground chuck the options off of that are easy to create and damn near limitless. Less professorial football coaches, more roadhouse cook football coaches, please.
 



Sorry, not to get back on topic, but your telling me that he wants an offense that stays on the field and helps out the D. Does the Defense know this? I hope they plan on returning the favor.
 

Gopher07 said:
Limited? What are ya talking about? :D


Well, we planned on going to Matt's on Sunday for Jucy Lucys, honestly, and those great thin-cut fries.

Now thanks to this discussion and the rather reckless:D, posting of the menu, we're going to probably be standing outside for awhile.

It's either another sign of to many haters around here or out-of town Gopher fans who are just jealous that they can't GET one, or two or...:)
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Ha! I miss them, what can I say. Try to make em at home but it's not even close to the same. Matt's is a destination every time I'm back in town.
 




Yes, Matt's has a bountiful selection of vegetarian options, my wife can order the grilled cheese or the french fries (both of which are good though) but for me, it's the Jucy Lucy. I think it would be fantastic if the Jucy Lucy was served at TCF Bank Stadium. It would be a real signature burger that would stand out. The Jucy (or Juicy if you prefer) Lucy is to the Twin Cities what the cheese steak is to Philadelphia. It would be something that really stood out, it would be good PR for the Twin Cities and for the Gophers.
 

Nice second part as well. I really like how he harps on about 'gaining this group of players trust'. And he talks about the whole team not just the QB's. I'm sure a lot of our players are fairly jaded about a new OC. It seems like Horton appreciates the situation he's come into. Hopefully he's around for awhile.

As a vegetarian I do miss Matt's Juicy Lucy, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't handle one anymore if I tried. Does this thread turning into a discussion about food remind anyone else of Schnood's excellent bit about cereal before the Iowa game?
 


dpodoll68 said:
Ugh.

He makes it plainly obvious in this portion that Weber is going to be his starting QB this fall.

I had been looking forward to actually enjoying watching our offense this fall.

So much for that pipe dream.:cry:
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Weber was good, once upon a time. Let's not write him off entirely...
 

Weber struggled last year. That in no way means that he will struggle this year. If he wins the job, he wins the job. Get over it.
 

RodentRampage said:
The Jucy (or Juicy if you prefer) Lucy is to the Twin Cities what the cheese steak is to Philadelphia.
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The Ju(i)cy Lucy was one of the features of "Man vs Food", along with the Meter wurst at the Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit in NE Mpls.

The schtick was as Adam Richman was about to announce his preference, the picture went out.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Ugh.

He makes it plainly obvious in this portion that Weber is going to be his starting QB this fall.

I had been looking forward to actually enjoying watching our offense this fall.

So much for that pipe dream.:cry:
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I didn't get that impression:

I'll tell our guys, 'Let's compete every day, let's earn our position every day, and then let's go from there.'
 

magpie said:
I didn't get that impression:

I'll tell our guys, 'Let's compete every day, let's earn our position every day, and then let's go from there.'
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Look at the Weber question. Look at how long and detailed his response is, and how excited he is to finally be working with Adam.

Then look at the Gray question. Look at the meaningless platitudes like "great" and "tremendous".

I think it's always a cop-out when somebody says "I hope I'm wrong", but I'll go ahead and say it: this is one of those instances where I really do.
 

magpie said:
I didn't get that impression:

I'll tell our guys, 'Let's compete every day, let's earn our position every day, and then let's go from there.'
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Yeah, but the fact that he obviously has a history with him from recruiting him, which means he liked him then, and the fact that he probably would like a senior to lead his offense, lends itself to Weber remaining the starter. If MarQueis shows out in spring practices, I really doubt he would hesitate to go with him at all and I don't think he's already committed to a guy at all, but I do also get the impression that he already might have a little lean towards Weber cause of the history there.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Ugh.

He makes it plainly obvious in this portion that Weber is going to be his starting QB this fall.

I had been looking forward to actually enjoying watching our offense this fall.

So much for that pipe dream.:cry:
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I didn't get that feeling at all. Did you miss the parts where he said everyone is fighting for their spot?
 

He's going to play the guy who will give them the best chance at winning. At least, that's what he'll do if he likes having a job.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Look at the Weber question. Look at how long and detailed his response is, and how excited he is to finally be working with Adam.

Then look at the Gray question. Look at the meaningless platitudes like "great" and "tremendous".

I think it's always a cop-out when somebody says "I hope I'm wrong", but I'll go ahead and say it: this is one of those instances where I really do.
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I don't get it. Why would we want to keep someone as dynamic as Gray off the field? Figure out a way to stop the fumbles and he'll be racing up and down the field.
 

He may know Weber more personally, but he is well aware of the talent of Gray. I'd be surprised if there was favoritism. If the offense fails this year, Brewster could be out of a job, thus Horton as well. I'm confident the best player will play. If not... I hope the coaches get the boot.
 

I read both parts of the interview, and still didn't get any sense of what our offense will look like. I hope it looks nothing like Wisconsin's (no offense meant to Wisconsin, they've been successful with it, but we need our own identity). The only thing I heard that I really disliked was the time of possession stuff. I am no fan of ball control, an offense should only have one goal: score td's. I hate the idea of running a conservative offense and having 10 plus play drives that end in fg's, turnovers, or punts. Scoring a lot of points does not equal a track meet, unless you have a terrible defense. If that is the case, then you are not going to be able to hide your defense anyway.
 

magpie said:
I didn't get that impression:

I'll tell our guys, 'Let's compete every day, let's earn our position every day, and then let's go from there.'
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+1 Horton talked about Weber more because he knows him better from recruiting and talking to him last year. I'm sure once he gets to know MarQueis better he will discuss him in more detail as well.


Bottom line is this is up to MQ Gray. If he improves steadily, understands the offense, and limits the TOs he will start. When a superior athlete competes with another athlete for a starting spot it is his job to win or lose.
 

AhliBobwa;187616 Bottom line is this is up to MQ Gray. [B said:
If he improves steadily, understands the offense, and limits the TOs he will start.[/B] When a superior athlete competes with another athlete for a starting spot it is his job to win or lose.
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Seems to be a lot of ifs, no different from the rest of the team.
 

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