BuckeyePlanet Fan Site on Saturday's Game

[BilldGopher]

Came across BuckeyePlanet's football board to see what's the early buzz in Columbus for our first meeting since 2010.

For the dedicated Minnesota Game thread there's a pretty even balance between the "Gophers don't have a shot" to the "Gophers have an improbably small shot to score 7."

Really though, about what would be expected. There's recognition that if the Gophers against Iowa show up it could be a good game. I think we agree if the Gophers Illinois squad shows up it will lead to a long day for the Maroon and Gold.

Lot's of weather talk too, a little wrinkle on this week's game planning. Also how the game interacts with the tBuckeyes' national playoff hopes.

Here's the link:

http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/threads/tosu-minnesota-nov-15th-12p-et-abc-watchespn.632555/


Go Gophers! Beat the Buckeyes!

 

[IAGopherfan]

Anything can go, especially with the weather. Kill should have the guys ready to play in the cold. However, OSU hasn't lost a single regular season game under Urban Meyer, so its easy to see why they are so cocky. They have owned the Gophers (and the big ten) over the years. Unlike with Iowa, it is reasonable for them to expect a win.

 

[Sparlimb]

Anything can go, especially with the weather. Kill should have the guys ready to play in the cold. However, OSU hasn't lost a single regular season game under Urban Meyer, so its easy to see why they are so cocky. They have owned the Gophers (and the big ten) over the years. Unlike with Iowa, it is reasonable for them to expect a win.

So you are saying they are due...

 

[BarnBoy]

They have every right to be cocky. They have owned us for decades.
Here's hoping for the stars to align.

 

[IAGopherfan]

We can only hope. I would love for the Gophers to be the one that puts an end to that streak!

 

[jaymil]

The "one-dimensional" and "they can't pass" arguments are getting pretty old. Leidner has arguably been the 2nd best QB in the conference behind Barrett in big ten games. He's first in yards per pass attempt and 2nd in passer rating.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

There was some mention about "Ron Johnson is not going to walk through these doors for the Gophers..."

 

[IAGopherfan]

The "one-dimensional" and "they can't pass" arguments are getting pretty old. Leidner has arguably been the 2nd best QB in the conference behind Barrett in big ten games. He's first in yards per pass attempt and 2nd in passer rating.

I agree that we have gotten better at passing as the season has gone on. We are more efficient than most. Almost all of our throws are for 1st downs, TD's or big plays. We just don't throw very often. Leidner isn't going to go out and throw the ball 25-30 times a game if things are going our way. This gives everyone the perception that we CAN'T throw the ball, when in-fact we just don't throw the ball very often.

 

[golden boy]

They have every right to feel confident. Of our games to date, they are most on par with TCU who absolutely throttled us. Hard to me bad about them being really confident.

 

[upnorthkid]

We play this team 10 times and they beat us 9/10 times with 4 or 5 of them getting lopsided. All it takes is that one time for things to align. Get after Barrett early, maybe he throws a pick or fumbles and gets rattled with the weight of the playoff coming down on his shoulders. all it takes is that 1/10 to happen this week and we are absolutely in the driver's seat for the West division crown.

 

[matt]

Leidner has arguably been the 2nd best QB in the conference

Let's not get carried away now...

 

[Nort73]

They have every right to feel confident. Of our games to date, they are most on par with TCU who absolutely throttled us. Hard to me bad about them being really confident.

Their offense is on par or better than that of TCU, but I don't think their defense stacks up with TCUs. If Leidner doesn't turn the ball over and we have decent success on the ground, it could be closer than most expect. I'm not expecting a win, but I'll be at the game and would love to see it happen!!

 

[jaymil]

Let's not get carried away now...

First of all you took my quote out of context. I said "in big ten games". Second of all, you don't even think a case can be made? This conference is weak at the QB position to say the least.

Big ten games only:
He's 1st in yards per pass attempt
2nd in passer rating (behind Barrett)
2nd in TD:INT ratio (behind Barrett)
3rd in rush yards per game among QB's (behind Barrett and Armstrong)
5th in completion % despite a lot of downfield throws

If you're thinking Connor Cook, Leidner is ahead of Cook in all of the categories I listed.

 

[die hard gopher]

Came across BuckeyePlanet's football board to see what's the early buzz in Columbus for our first meeting since 2010.

For the dedicated Minnesota Game thread there's a pretty even balance between the "Gophers don't have a shot" to the "Gophers have an improbably small shot to score 7."

Really though, about what would be expected. There's recognition that if the Gophers against Iowa show up it could be a good game. I think we agree if the Gophers Illinois squad shows up it will lead to a long day for the Maroon and Gold.

Lot's of weather talk too, a little wrinkle on this week's game planning. Also how the game interacts with the tBuckeyes' national playoff hopes.

Here's the link:

http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/threads/tosu-minnesota-nov-15th-12p-et-abc-watchespn.632555/


Go Gophers! Beat the Buckeyes!

I would say on the OSU Scout and 247 forums 60-65% are taking us seriously and recognizing that this could be a trap game.

 

[mcal24]

First of all you took my quote out of context. I said "in big ten games". Second of all, you don't even think a case can be made? This conference is weak at the QB position to say the least.

Big ten games only:
He's 1st in yards per pass attempt
2nd in passer rating (behind Barrett)
2nd in TD:INT ratio (behind Barrett)
3rd in rush yards per game among QB's (behind Barrett and Armstrong)
5th in completion % despite a lot of downfield throws

If you're thinking Connor Cook, Leidner is ahead of Cook in all of the categories I listed.

Wow, never would've guessed he's been that good. Thanks.

 

[balds]

It's easier to forget that this is Leidner's first year as a full time starter. He has gotten better/healthier as the season has progressed. Not impossible to think he could put together a similar 4 game streak to Nelson's of a year ago. Not saying it would be enough to beat OSU, but if the Gophers can move the ball by land and by air in simply adequate fashion while limiting turnovers, we can be tough to beat.

 

[DougMN]

I don't think they have the latest weather report. Just saw 70% chance of snow and around 23 degrees. No way they put 50 on us as many there are predicting. I also don't think they are near as good as TCU- offensively or defensively. That being said- which Gopher team shows up? No slow starts by our offense and no big plays by their Offense early. I fully expect that Kill and Limegrover will put some wrinkle in a la Nebraska last year that will maybe catch them off guard. A victory would be beyond satisfying, but a close, well played game would also have some merit for the program.

 

[Golden_Sloth]

I would say on the OSU Scout and 247 forums 60-65% are taking us seriously and recognizing that this could be a trap game.

+1. Not much to be upset about imo. The general attitude seems to be that we'll give them a tough game, they need to bring their A game, and if they do they should come out on top. Can't argue with any of that.

I have a feeling that if we were a top 10 team coming off a road victory over MSU and fighting for a playoff spot, GH would be pretty cocky too.

 

[SelectionSunday]

With all the focus on having the Jug and the Pig. ...

When's the last time the Gophers beat Ohio State and Michigan in the same season?

 

[killme]

The "one-dimensional" and "they can't pass" arguments are getting pretty old. Leidner has arguably been the 2nd best QB in the conference behind Barrett in big ten games. He's first in yards per pass attempt and 2nd in passer rating.

Along with the list in your subsequent post, this seems a reasonable supposition. How many on here wanted to scrap ML7 earlier this year? With the progress I've seen over the season, he could get serious all-B1G consideration if we win out and he continues to trend upward, don't you think?

 

[Section2]

When's the last time the Gophers beat Ohio State and Michigan in the same season?

1940

Leidner is not the second best qb, you are cherry picking stats. His ypc is high because we mostly throw deep balls. Most other teams run a spread short pass offense. Cook is far superior and that's no knock on mitch. We don't need mitch to do anything other than be efficient and make good decisions.

 

[upnorthkid]

First of all you took my quote out of context. I said "in big ten games". Second of all, you don't even think a case can be made? This conference is weak at the QB position to say the least.

Big ten games only:
He's 1st in yards per pass attempt
2nd in passer rating (behind Barrett)
2nd in TD:INT ratio (behind Barrett)
3rd in rush yards per game among QB's (behind Barrett and Armstrong)
5th in completion % despite a lot of downfield throws

If you're thinking Connor Cook, Leidner is ahead of Cook in all of the categories I listed.

I'm not here to nit pick Mitch, but those stats are cherry picked towards what Mitch does well. Yards per pass attempt is always elevated on a team that runs a ton and hits you on PA (hence why teams like Navy, Air Force, Ga Tech are high). We set Mitch up to have potential to be the best in yards per pass attempt (because let's face it, we are the true ground and pound team in our conference that counts on completing just a few passes for huge yardage). This also plays into his high completion percentage on the boots and rolls he gets plus the quick dumps off PA. That being said, Mitch has done a really great job doing what's been asked of him and when he's made plays, we've demolished some good teams. Here's to hoping his growth continues and that he can lead us to more wins this regular season and get that first bowl win for Kill. His growth has been awesome this year. He'll never be a guy like Cook who's asked to win the game for us, but I view him as more of a McCarron who is asked to hit the throws when they're there, lead the team, and not make any mistakes. And I think he could accomplish that and for sure did last week and then some.

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

When's the last time the Gophers beat Ohio State and Michigan in the same season?

Section2 is correct, it was 1940. Beat Michigan 7-6 and OSU 13-7, both at home. It's also the only time it has ever happened according to the media guide.

 

[diefirma]

We play this team 10 times and they beat us 9/10 times with 4 or 5 of them getting lopsided. All it takes is that one time for things to align. Get after Barrett early, maybe he throws a pick or fumbles and gets rattled with the weight of the playoff coming down on his shoulders. all it takes is that 1/10 to happen this week and we are absolutely in the driver's seat for the West division crown.

As someone else pointed out this has no bearing on the West division title. We can lose Sat but if we beat Neb and Wisc we win the West

 

[EE_Gopher]

The "one-dimensional" and "they can't pass" arguments are getting pretty old. Leidner has arguably been the 2nd best QB in the conference behind Barrett in big ten games. He's first in yards per pass attempt and 2nd in passer rating.

My seats are near the visitors in the upper deck. There was an Iowa fan who kept screaming "Mitch Leidner is not going to pass!" pleading with his team to just stop the run. Then Leidner connected with Donovahn Jones and I never heard him again...

 

[killme]

He'll never be a guy like Cook who's asked to win the game for us, but I view him as more of a McCarron who is asked to hit the throws when they're there, lead the team, and not make any mistakes. And I think he could accomplish that and for sure did last week and then some.

MSU asked Cook to win the game for them, instead of feeding Langford. How'd that work out? Mitch has made some great throws in the last month or so. I'm good with jaymil's assessment and perhaps after Saturday we may have to move ML7 up! lol

 

[killme]

My seats are near the visitors in the upper deck. There was an Iowa fan who kept screaming "Mitch Leidner is not going to pass!" pleading with his team to just stop the run. Then Leidner connected with Donovahn Jones and I never heard him again...

Great anecdote. Thanks.

 

[Mulligan]

Wow, never would've guessed he's been that good. Thanks.

That's because that damn Limegrover is the OC and keeps forgetting to call the jet sweep.

I'm getting more hopeful the more it looks like winter ain't going away. Actually, I'm damn hopeful with building off the Iowa game, them looking past us, the staff coming up with some new stuff, our special teams play, the 11 o'clock start and a crowd that's going to bring it also.

 

[killme]

That's because that damn Limegrover is the OC and keeps forgetting to call the jet sweep.

I'm getting more hopeful the more it looks like winter ain't going away. Actually, I'm damn hopeful with building off the Iowa game, them looking past us, the staff coming up with some new stuff, our special teams play, the 11 o'clock start and a crowd that's going to bring it also.

Have you not read the explanations about other teams bringing their DEs upfield that negate the effectiveness of the jet sweep?

 

[GoldenUMNGopher]

I see what you are trying to get at but i think you are using the wrong QB to compare Mitch. McCarron was not a game manager and was in a totally different class than Mitch.

but I view him as more of a McCarron who is asked to hit the throws when they're there, lead the team, and not make any mistakes. And I think he could accomplish that and for sure did last week and then some.