BleedGopher
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per the Wapehton Daily News:
Finally we reach the Gophers. Last season ended in a bowl win over Washington State (now ranked 24th in the preseason poll), but the team’s success was overshadowed by off-field controversy. That led to Tracy Claeys being fired and P.J. Fleck being brought in as the new head coach. Fleck certainly rivals Harbaugh in terms of wild personality and demeanor. His Western Michigan teams can back up his behavior, too. They headed into the 2017 Cotton Bowl against Wisconsin with a 13-0 record, and lost in a nail-biter. Fleck also proved he can develop talent. WR Corey Davis set the NCAA career record in receiving yards with 5,200 and was selected fifth overall by the Titans in the 2017 draft.
The WMU Broncos won with an explosive offense carrying their less-than-stellar defense. The Golden Gophers are the exact opposite. Of the nine former Minnesota football players drafted in the past three years, seven of them have been on the defensive side of the ball compared to just two on offense. They’ve ranked in the top 25 nationally on defense for the past two seasons, but outside the top 50 on offense. CB Jalen Myrick was the only Gopher drafted in April, but they return just four of their 10 other starters on defense. DT Steven Richardson is expected to be one of the top non-Ohio State D-Lineman in the conference after a 2016 campaign where he posted 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He and LB Jonathan Celestin will have to stabilize the unit while the rest of the new starters adjust to the learning curve.
Offensively, Fleck will have to inject his trademark energy into an anemic unit that ranked 84th in 2016. Juniors Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks combined for 1,800 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2016. They were the lone bright spots for an offensive scheme that was half throwback-style power, half Auburn-style spread. Connor Rhoda is expected to be the new QB. His bar for performance is low considering his predecessor (somehow recently signed by the Vikings!) threw just eight touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Fleck’s offense last year threw for 3,500 yards and an amazing TD/INT ratio of 33 to four. They’ll be greatly helped out by a projected offensive line that will be on average: 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds.
Looking at their schedule, they received tough luck in terms of their match-ups. Three of their four most important games will be on the road. Going to Oregon State will be a challenge in Week 2, and being the away team in games they have to win against Northwestern and Iowa is a real damper on the team’s odds. Thankfully, they host Wisconsin. Although the Badgers are clearly the better team, a rivalry game at home in college football means there is a great shot at victory. The team does still have a favorable start, with a high chance to start 7-0. If they can beat Iowa or Northwestern, then a 9-3 campaign with a good bowl game to close the season is a lock.
Even the most optimistic outlooks though, still couldn’t put them as Big 10 Champions come December. The OSU/PSU game in October will certainly determine which team will win the title game in Indianapolis and likely receiver a berth in the CFP. The Buckeyes are a deeper team, more experienced, and that game will be in Columbus, Ohio. Plus, it’s hard to see them not playing to avenge last year’s upset the Lions had.
http://www.wahpetondailynews.com/sp...cle_0f6cc0da-8818-11e7-90ba-c381d498d936.html
Go Gophers!!
Finally we reach the Gophers. Last season ended in a bowl win over Washington State (now ranked 24th in the preseason poll), but the team’s success was overshadowed by off-field controversy. That led to Tracy Claeys being fired and P.J. Fleck being brought in as the new head coach. Fleck certainly rivals Harbaugh in terms of wild personality and demeanor. His Western Michigan teams can back up his behavior, too. They headed into the 2017 Cotton Bowl against Wisconsin with a 13-0 record, and lost in a nail-biter. Fleck also proved he can develop talent. WR Corey Davis set the NCAA career record in receiving yards with 5,200 and was selected fifth overall by the Titans in the 2017 draft.
The WMU Broncos won with an explosive offense carrying their less-than-stellar defense. The Golden Gophers are the exact opposite. Of the nine former Minnesota football players drafted in the past three years, seven of them have been on the defensive side of the ball compared to just two on offense. They’ve ranked in the top 25 nationally on defense for the past two seasons, but outside the top 50 on offense. CB Jalen Myrick was the only Gopher drafted in April, but they return just four of their 10 other starters on defense. DT Steven Richardson is expected to be one of the top non-Ohio State D-Lineman in the conference after a 2016 campaign where he posted 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He and LB Jonathan Celestin will have to stabilize the unit while the rest of the new starters adjust to the learning curve.
Offensively, Fleck will have to inject his trademark energy into an anemic unit that ranked 84th in 2016. Juniors Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks combined for 1,800 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2016. They were the lone bright spots for an offensive scheme that was half throwback-style power, half Auburn-style spread. Connor Rhoda is expected to be the new QB. His bar for performance is low considering his predecessor (somehow recently signed by the Vikings!) threw just eight touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Fleck’s offense last year threw for 3,500 yards and an amazing TD/INT ratio of 33 to four. They’ll be greatly helped out by a projected offensive line that will be on average: 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds.
Looking at their schedule, they received tough luck in terms of their match-ups. Three of their four most important games will be on the road. Going to Oregon State will be a challenge in Week 2, and being the away team in games they have to win against Northwestern and Iowa is a real damper on the team’s odds. Thankfully, they host Wisconsin. Although the Badgers are clearly the better team, a rivalry game at home in college football means there is a great shot at victory. The team does still have a favorable start, with a high chance to start 7-0. If they can beat Iowa or Northwestern, then a 9-3 campaign with a good bowl game to close the season is a lock.
Even the most optimistic outlooks though, still couldn’t put them as Big 10 Champions come December. The OSU/PSU game in October will certainly determine which team will win the title game in Indianapolis and likely receiver a berth in the CFP. The Buckeyes are a deeper team, more experienced, and that game will be in Columbus, Ohio. Plus, it’s hard to see them not playing to avenge last year’s upset the Lions had.
http://www.wahpetondailynews.com/sp...cle_0f6cc0da-8818-11e7-90ba-c381d498d936.html
Go Gophers!!