Brian Bennett says Gophs would be real threat to win BT West if passing game improved

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per ESPN's Q&A:

@EricLBigelow

@ESPN_BigTen @BennettESPN if the Gophers could figure out a passing attack, how scary could they be in the B1G Ten Western Division?

Bennett: I think Minnesota would be a real threat to win it. I really like the Gophers' back seven on defense, though the injuries on the D-line concern me (and Jerry Kill). The offensive line is strong, and Minnesota has a stout running game (233 yards per game so far). But I've been disappointed that the passing game, to this point, has yet to improve very much. I think it's very hard in football these days to win without the ability to rip off explosive plays in the pass game. And the last thing you want to be against a Gary Patterson-coached TCU defense is one-dimensional, so Saturday's game is a bit scary.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/107231/big-ten-mailbag-46

Go Gophers!!
 

I think we'd be a real threat to win the West if we could beat Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Northwestern.
 

He's right though. We have a solid defense, solid running game, solid special teams... we're one fase short of being Wisconsin-Michigan State dominant. We could be REAL scary with a passing game...
 

The passing game was going to be built around Nelson, McDonald, and Harbison. All three would have been upperclassmen this year, and we're now in a position where none are on the team. It didn't pan out as the staff expected, hence the struggles with the passing game.
 

thailleagle said:
He's right though. We have a solid defense, solid running game, solid special teams... we're one fase short of being Wisconsin-Michigan State dominant. We could be REAL scary with a passing game...
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I don't agree with most of what you say however I agree with this. The Gophers are a very solid team aside from the passing game. Just think if we had a decent passing game.
 


The TCU game will be a huge barometer in my mind on where we finish in the Big Ten West. If we win today and Leidner starts clicking, I'd give us just as good odds as NE, WI or IA to win the division. I'm writing this sitting in a Fort Worth hotel, soon to head over for tailgating!
 

Sparlimb said:
I think we'd be a real threat to win the West if we could beat Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Northwestern.
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With the league schedule that Alvarez leveraged for wisky, we could win all those games and still not win the division.
 

MrGopher said:
With the league schedule that Alvarez leveraged for wisky, we could win all those games and still not win the division.
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If we beat all these teams, we beat Michigan unless we implode in that game. Whatever Becky does in their crossover games wouldn't matter because of head-to-head.
 

You are all welcome for the wonderful twitter question. :cool:
 



look i appreciate the publicity from espn, but thanks mr. bennett for telling 99.9% of Gopher fans what we already know damn well. some real top notch work here bud. :rolleyes:
 


supadupafly said:
look i appreciate the publicity from espn, but thanks mr. bennett for telling 99.9% of Gopher fans what we already know damn well. some real top notch work here bud. :rolleyes:
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To be fair, he was just answering the question he was asked.
 

I probably know the answer to this and have seen it before...but, can't remember. Where did Harbison end up?
 





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