I still think they end with 2 losses between Purdue, wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska
That is the elephant in the room with all the injuries. I hate to say it. They may need a slow grinding game to keep Martinez the Husker Offense off the field as much as possible and keep the Defense fresh.
Clifford played very well, especialy scrambling for first downs.
They are not mutually exclusive. Good teams strive for both.
To be fair, it's not just "Holers" saying Colorado is bad.
This is correct.
I get what you are saying and it does happen but there is also always a constant reevaluation of teams that takes place over the course of the season as they play more games.
Yeah, some wins are more impressive than others based on who you beat but all wins should be celebrated.
No, you didn't say that. But the question implies to me that a team with some unexpected wrinkles thrown in might not be able to execute them properly. With two weeks of prep I think a good game plan will include some new looks and, at times, quicker pace, and still all be well executed.
Nobody is saying that Nebraska is a power house or a Goliath. Some folks, including myself, are simply saying that Nebraska, this year, has a functional defense and an offense that produces lots of yards. Lots. When you play a team with lots of offensive fire power, you must either neutralize it with your defense or outrun it with your own offense. I hope our defense neutralizes Nebraska and we hold them to 10 points. But if our defense allows Nebraska to score at its season average (30+), and we come with an offensive game plan that is predictable and 80% run oriented (even though Mo and Potts are out), we might be the team that losses over a self-inflicted wound. I hope we thrash Nebraska, and I believe we can if we use our full offensive arsenal. But I don’t want to assume that Nebraska is an easy, sure win—a midget or Lilliputian. Not with this OC and with Mo and Potts on the sideline.
People are hyping Nebraska because that's our next opponent.
Also have an OT loss against also overhyped Mich St (#10??? silly).
I will be honest, I really struggled with the middle of the West. The top and bottom were easy. Nobody will have any issue with Iowa at #1 or Illinois and Northwestern at #6 and #7. But the other spots are much trickier.
Solid post.
I fully agree and this is yet another good post from you. This is a very key game for the Gophers this season and I think a win unlocks the chance to go to a decent bowl game this year and play in bigger, meaningful games later on. Nebraska got banged up pretty good in the Michigan game but they should come into this game playing with more confidence and they are in bad need of a win vs. the Gophers. I think that extra week off for us was huge as was playing the game at home. We have beaten Nebraska 3 of the last 4 years and each time the Gophers defense really hit them hard and we played very well. We will need our best effort of the season to win.
That seems highly unlikely at this point.
I mean, how exactly are you ever supposed to simulate that moment? Some guys react and ball out, others do not
Honestly with the 4 teams in the middle of the West the positioning 2-5 probably really doesn't matter and is pretty much impossible to sort out right now. Our game against Nebraska will provide a lot of clarity as to how the teams stack up against each other.
Meh, they’re a good not great team that plays a bunch of competent teams still. A&M just beat Bama. I’m not going to call Iowa @ Madison automatic