Athlons: Big Ten coaches talk anonymously about Gophers, and all B1G teams

BleedGopher

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per Athlons:

It's not easy getting college football coaches to honestly comment on another coach, player or team. Most coaches don't want to give opposing teams billboard material, which is why there is a lot of coach speak or overused cliches used during the year.

In order to get an accurate assessment of teams heading into 2015, Athlon asked coaches in the Big Ten to talk anonymously about their opponents.

Minnesota

“They’re a very workmanlike, very efficient team.”

“They’re going to beat you with defense and ball control, and they can. They have just enough talent now to beat you.”

“They won eight games last year and they didn’t have a wideout with more than 18 catches. Except for maybe the service academies, that’s unheard of in this day and age.”

“You’d think they’d throw it more just by accident looking for some screens, open it up a little bit when they’re behind. But they’re going to do what they do and they’re very committed to how they play.”

“The tight end (Maxx Williams), I don’t know how they’ll replace him.”

“They may have to adjust their passing game a bit and get the ball out to the perimeter a little bit more, maybe add some tempo to just to give people a different look. I don’t think they’re going to change what they do dramatically, but they have some guys who are capable of catching it if the quarterback can get it there.”

“That tailback (David Cobb) was a hell of a player, but I know they like a couple of the guys they brought in.”

“The quarterback is kind of a reflection of their team. He’s a big, tough dude, but they need him to be more accurate.”

“They’ve been a great team defensively, probably one of the top two or three in the conference the last couple years. It’s a tough group.”

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-coaches-talk-anonymously-about-conference-foes-2015

Go Gophers!!
 

Those quotes pretty much sum up the last two seasons.
 


It was interesting seeing one coaches take on Wisconsin's secondary “They don’t have a bunch of great cover guys in the secondary, but it didn’t matter as much because of how much pressure they put on the quarterback. They need the front seven to help them out.” - See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-foo...out-conference-foes-2015#sthash.vMbM8Wbg.dpuf. Translated give your QB time and you can pick them apart. It's not exactly what you expect to hear about one publications best secondary in the Big 10.
 

Coach Kill was emphatic on improved O-Line protection for Mitch Leidner in his preview of the 2015 season.

Hopefully the pocket will not collapse with more 300+ beefcakes for Mitch to have that extra half second. The passing attack has to bust out a little more to keep the opposing Ds on their toes by widening the field of play.

I think we're still primarily a run first team, but we will have a new wrinkle with hopefully explosive passing attack every so often.
 





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