CSN Chicago: Can Gophers Leidner Live Up to Surprising NFL Buzz?

[BleedGopher]

per CSN Chicago:

Leidner is by no means a bad quarterback or one of the league’s worst. But for him to be saddled with NFL expectations for not doing much to impress so far at the college level doesn’t seem to make much sense. And Leidner knows he hasn’t earned those expectations yet.

“You’ve just got to be consistent on film week in and week out. You can’t have highs and lows, which I think a lot of the games in my career, you have a good game, next week not have a good game.”

Still, that doesn’t mean Leidner isn’t dreaming big. He has sights on a conference championship, another thing that sounds a little farfetched to those who watched the Gophers win just five regular-season games last season. But the confidence is undoubtedly there, practically spilling out of Leidner as he spoke during Big Ten Media Days.

“I think I’m extremely confident, and I have a huge chip on my shoulder being a senior here,” Leidner said. “I want in the worst way to come out of here with a Big Ten championship this season and leave a legacy at Minnesota.”

If the Gophers can turn confidence into real results, then Leidner will have had a big season. And that means more exposure. And that means that NFL Draft buzz might prove a bit more justified.

http://www.csnchicago.com/big-ten/b...-mitch-leidner-live-surprising-nfl-draft-buzz

Go Gophers!!

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I feel like the NFL buzz was one silly dude and then every other story that followed it was buzz about the buzz justifying more buzz.

 

[Governor Sibley]

I'm sure we'll have a "Should Mitch be benched?" conversation at least once this year. We did last year.

 

[jaymil]

I feel like the NFL buzz was one silly dude and then every other story that followed it was buzz about the buzz justifying more buzz.

He's on multiple lists for 2017 QB prospects so it's not just 1 person.

 

[wait!what?]

Mitch Fraudner will be benched this year...tho it may go under the guise of an 'injury' it's over cuz claeys ain't a knucklelhead like jerry.

 

[minibeaver]

I'm sure we'll have a "Should Mitch be benched?" conversation at least once this year. We did last year.

It's happened in the recent past that's for sure. But even with the new offense and the adjustment to it the first few games, I really hope (think) that Mitch will play solid enough to keep realistic fans from screaming for Croft.

 

[Sparlimb]

Mitch Fraudner will be benched this year...tho it may go under the guise of an 'injury' it's over cuz claeys ain't a knucklelhead like jerry.

I doubt that. Not because he's anywhere close to a nfl qb, but because there isn't anyone else on the roster anywhere ready for prime time.

 

[olddoc]

Every QB from high school FB and on up to the NFL bears the expectations of the fans.
A hero one week and a bum the next, it goes with the job.
Very few accept that a poor QB performance might lie in the OL, WR, or even the OC and HC.
Leidner will get a look by the NFL but how well or poorly he does there will not make any fan's life better or worse.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Every QB from high school FB and on up to the NFL bears the expectations of the fans.
A hero one week and a bum the next, it goes with the job.
Very few accept that a poor QB performance might lie in the OL, WR, or even the OC and HC.
Leidner will get a look by the NFL but how well or poorly he does there will not make any fan's life better or worse.

I disagree with that. There is one person here who's head will probably explode if Leidner does well in the NFL.

 

[stocker08]

I feel like the NFL buzz was one silly dude and then every other story that followed it was buzz about the buzz justifying more buzz.

It is a stretch. On the field production doesn't justify a practice squad spot. But potential and measurables are appealing. Every draft "expert" wants to predict the next Wentz.

Mitch Fraudner will be benched this year...tho it may go under the guise of an 'injury' it's over cuz claeys ain't a knucklelhead like jerry.

What happened when your prediction proves false?

 

[Some guy]

I was as anti ML as anyone, but after the bye week he was really solid. If he plays like that all next year he will be a late round draft pick. If he gets better sky is the limit. If he regresses back to what he was playing like the first half of the year people will call for his job (And rightfully so if he plays like that).

 

[nsmike]

The one thing that's not known is exactly how much Mitch's foot affected him in games. I saw an analysis that said that Mitch was better when pressured than when he was not. The only way that makes sense to me, is that when he was pressured, he wasn't thinking about his foot. Let's see what he does in a game with a healthy foot.