BTN: Big Ten Power Rankings Week of 8/31: (Minnesota #3, Top in BT West)

[BleedGopher]

per BTN:

3. Minnesota. No team is better coached than this one. (Yes, even Ohio State.) And, the talent level continues to rise in the Twin Cities. What’s it all mean? Jerry Kill’s Golden Gophers may be poised for a big-time season—a breakthrough, if you will. The defense will be among the Big Ten’s best, but size up front is a possible worry. And QB Mitch Leidner needs to throw more fastballs than curves. If it happens … you better fear Goldy.
Week 1: vs. No. 2 TCU (Thursday)

http://btn.com/2015/08/31/power-rankings-reigning-champ-ohio-state-tops-preseason-list/

Go Gophers!!

 

[GopherJack]

I just read that too! Wow---I didn't think we would rate THAT high!

Ski-U-Mah!

 

[gopher7]

Am I over simplifying it by saying it all comes down to Leidner? We have a lot of pieces in place but this season could go nowhere in a hurry if he doesn't improve a lot. I would expect we'll find out very quickly. If the stretch against Missouri was not a fluke and the praise he has been getting from the coaches recently is justified then I can't argue with the #3 ranking.

 

[killme]

Am I over simplifying it by saying it all comes down to Leidner? We have a lot of pieces in place but this season could go nowhere in a hurry if he doesn't improve a lot. I would expect we'll find out very quickly. If the stretch against Missouri was not a fluke and the praise he has been getting from the coaches recently is justified then I can't argue with the #3 ranking.

Very few QBs -- only the elite guys like Brady and Manning -- can do it without some weapons. I think Leidner improves and if the complimentary pieces are the upgrade we're led to believe, with out best OL under JK, this team does seem poised for a breakout year.

 

[Go Gophers Rah]

This season success might have a lot to do with other teams. Our 3 greatest "peers" on the schedule right now (Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska) all have new coaches. Will there be bumpy transition or will the existing players and new coaching schemes instantly gel? Wisconsin is really young right now. Word is that Bielema's last recruiting year and Anderson's recruiting weren't up to par of their more recent standards. Also, Iowa tends to play best when expectations are lowest. The Gophers have played 4 out of the last 5 games versus Iowa at home - Iowa City has typically been a tough place for the Gophers to play well.

Obviously, I think that our own team holds the biggest key to their own success, but we shouldn't understate the importance of "attrition."

 

[WanderingGopher]

Our 3 greatest "peers" on the schedule right now (Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska) all have new coaches. Will there be bumpy transition or will the existing players and new coaching schemes instantly gel?

To expand on that, 5 of our 12 opponents are on a new head coach this year. (WI, MI, NE, IL, CSU). Crazy coincidence, but something we should take advantage of. 4 of those 5 (everybody but IL) are running a new scheme on offense. Contrast that with our guys, who have been in the same system 5 years.

 

['13Gopher]

Am I over simplifying it by saying it all comes down to Leidner? We have a lot of pieces in place but this season could go nowhere in a hurry if he doesn't improve a lot. I would expect we'll find out very quickly. If the stretch against Missouri was not a fluke and the praise he has been getting from the coaches recently is justified then I can't argue with the #3 ranking.

Leidner is no doubt a huge factor but I don't put much weight on 1 game for Leidner since he was a game-by-game player the whole season (looked like lottery pick against Iowa and a D2 player against Wisconsin). I think the D-line is a huge factor. Our secondary is fantastic but even a great secondary can only do so much if the QB has 5 seconds to scan the field.

 

[IAGopherfan]

I don't think Wisconsin's coaching change is going to make them any more vulnerable. They will be tough as usual. Nebraska is wait and see, I don't know how they will do, but I do know that they always have plenty of talent.