Can Minnesota slow UW's ground game? Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

[Iceland12]

Madison — Wisconsin entered its 2015 regular-season finale at Minnesota averaging a paltry 138.2 rushing yards per game.

Offensive line coach Joe Rudolph juggled his starting lineup by moving Beau Benzschawel to right guard from right tackle and inserting Jacob Maxwell at right tackle.

Minnesota limped into the game without starting defensive tackles Steven Richardson and Scott Ekpe as well as two backups.

The result: UW ran all over the Gophers in a 31-21 victory....

“We were out our first three or four tackles,” Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys said. “And when you get to No. 5 and No. 6 nobody is really good, but those kids played hard.”...

UW (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) is averaging 233.3 yards rushing in the last six games, but Minnesota (8-3, 5-3) features a deep defensive line and has the No. 3 rushing defense in the Big Ten. The Gophers allow 116.6 yards per game, behind only UW (98.3) and Michigan (108.6).

Ogunbowale anticipates a stiffer test when the teams meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

“I’ve watched a couple of their games,” Ogunbowale said. “I’d say it is a different defense than last year for sure.

“We have to make sure we are coming out hot, and the O-line and tight ends are blocking guys up and the backs are running with pads out to make sure we get those yards early.”

Richardson (11 tackles for loss, 29 total tackles) and Scott Ekpe (3½ tackles for loss, 14 total tackles) start at tackle for the Gophers. Hendrick Ekpe (seven tackles for loss, 23 total tackles) and Gaelin Elmore (three tackles for loss, 14 total tackles) are the starting ends.

Elmore, from Somerset, Wis., and Hendrick Ekpe played against UW last season. Elmore had three tackles. Hendrick Ekpe did not record a tackle.

“That is the biggest difference in the game this year for us,” Claeys said. “We’re healthy up front, or as healthy as you’re going to be this late in the season."


http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2016/11/22/uwgrid23/94241012/

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Thank you for sharing Ice. Claeys and staff have done a nice job of keeping the team healthy this year. I talked to someone recently that said Claeys' practices are much lighter in terms of hitting compared to Kill's. It seems that TC's strategy has worked up to this point.

 

[MGGopher]

Coach Claeys sure tells it like it is, don't he, lol?

“We were out our first three or four tackles,” Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys said. “And when you get to No. 5 and No. 6 nobody is really good, but those kids played hard.”...

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Coach Claeys sure tells it like it is, don't he, lol?

Ha! I had to read that twice. Pretty funny.

 

[Iceland12]

Gophers’ golden pass rush could be key versus Wisconsin - Twincities.com

Ha! I had to read that twice. Pretty funny.

Same story, different writer.

"The 2-4 look brings two faster outside linebackers near the line of scrimmage like standup defensive ends, while two middle linebackers sometimes inch closer to the offense’s center. It can disguise where pressure will come from and is tailored for passing situations, particularly third-and-long...

Sawvel said the Gophers had 15 hits on Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson last week. While they had a season low four QB hits against Nebraska, they’ve have more than 100 total QB hits this season, “which is up drastically,” Sawvel said...

Minnesota was decimated at defensive tackle a year ago. Starters Steven Richardson and Scott Ekpe were out with injuries, so backups Andrew Stelter and Yoshoub Timms started; little-used backup Justin Carr and temporarily converted defensive end Gaelin Elmore were forced to play bigger roles inside against the Badgers.

“We were playing walk-on D-tackle (Carr) in there some snaps,” Claeys said. “We were so beat up.”

Now Richardson and Ekpe are healthy. Stelter, Timms and Merrick Jackson, a junior-college transfer, provide depth. Richardson has been a force in the middle with seven sacks this season, two against Northwestern.

“I do think (depth) helps us, but at the end, those guys still have to play one of their best games,” Claeys said. “They had a lot of young offensive (linemen), and now they’ve got that year of experience and they’re playing awfully well up front.”

http://www.twincities.com/2016/11/22/gophers-golden-pass-rush-could-be-key-versus-wisconsin/

 

[DoubleB]

watch the text book example of how to hold by the OL (Becky's) as they will no doubt hold all day long like they have in the past

 

[Pompous Elitist]

watch the text book example of how to hold by the OL (Becky's) as they will no doubt hold all day long like they have in the past

I have no idea why they just don't change the damn rule. We're going to see so much tugging and jerking by the Wisky O line it'll make a sailor stammer and blush.

For the unwashed that actually believe there is a rule (Ha ha ha!) the rule actually states that there can be no grabbing, even within the frame of the body. This has been overlooked and abused and laughed at by officials for so long that some players are literally dragged down and tackled and still cannot draw a flag.

They will, amazingly, spot like a harrier from a mile away some chicken-**** offensive penalty on Tommy O (what was that again?) that castrated a potentially game-sealing MN drive vs the drunks in 2014 but their vision deteriorates to centenarian levels when yet another Wisky lineman holds the end man to spring another gift run.

Here is the actual rule, and no I'm not making this up.



Holding and Use of Hands or Arms: Offense
ARTICLE 3. a. Use of Hands. A teammate of a ball carrier or a passer legally may block with his shoulders, his hands, the outer surface of his arms or any other part of his body under the following provisions.
1. The hand(s) shall be:
(a) In advance of the elbow.
(b) Inside the frame of the opponent’s body (Exception: When the
opponent turns his back to the blocker) (A.R. 9-3-3-VI and
VII).
(c) At or below the shoulder(s) of the blocker and the opponent
(Exception: When the opponent squats, ducks or submarines).
(d) Apart and never in a locked position.
2. The hand(s) shall be open with the palm(s) facing the frame of the opponent or closed or cupped with the palms not facing the opponent (A.R. 9-3-3-I-IV and VI-VIII).
b. Holding. The hand(s) and arm(s) shall not be used to grasp, pull, hook, clamp or encircle in any way that illegally impedes or illegally obstructs an opponent.
PENALTY—10 yards Penalties for Team A fouls behind the neutral zone are enforced from the previous spot. Safety if the foul occurs behind Team A’s goal line [S42].