Do you think the program is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?

Do you think the program is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?

  • Wrong Direction

    Votes: 43 43.0%

  • Right Direction

    Votes: 57 57.0%
  • Total voters
    100
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IF we could find one dynamic QB, whether it be JUCO or a current one, things would change a lot. We need a QB like we have never seen before, an accurate passer that can make plays and elevate the program like Armstrong has done for Nebraska.
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
IF we could find one dynamic QB, whether it be JUCO or a current one, things would change a lot. We need a QB like we have never seen before, an accurate passer that can make plays and elevate the program like Armstrong has done for Nebraska.
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you just realized this now? but let's be clear, Jerry Kill and Company may have made many many offers to qbs who ignored their pleas to play football at the U. Here is what we know, Mitch showed up everyday, studied his school books and play books and got smushed at times on game day. Mitch doesn't owe us anything.
 

My comment wasn't directed at Mitch Leidner

Tackle4loss said:
you just realized this now? but let's be clear, Jerry Kill and Company may have made many many offers to qbs who ignored their pleas to play football at the U. Here is what we know, Mitch showed up everyday, studied his school books and play books and got smushed at times on game day. Mitch doesn't owe us anything.
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My second comment wasn't related to Mitch Leidner, it was more to the history of QB's playing for the Gophers, and Pistol style offense that Jay Johnson runs and will continue to implement. Will take wide receivers that can get separation and make people miss too.
You will need a dynamic athlete that can hit quick passes for that type of offense to work, that and one that can make people miss with his wheels like Armstrong can for Nebraska. In my opinion Leidner has actually elevated the offense this year at least it's competitiveness, but just to many mistakes to get them over the hump in the close games. We have to give the new coaches a chance to develop their style of players and system. Games are still won and lost along the lines, we still see the Gophers offensive line getting beat at the line of scrimmage. The only way to mitigate poor line play is mis-direction, and speed at the QB position in my opinion. The two red-shirt offensive lineman and next years top recruit Blaise A are the kind of strong lineman we need in the years to come, one's that can move people forward and drive them off the point of attack. We didn't get that under coach Kill and we need it.
 

We are not Ohio State because we are Minnesota, and now is our time! Naysayers might say otherwise. We are Minnesota.

As for the state of the program, my goodness, the difference is huge compared to years past. The team has been in every game it has played. We are maybe two players away from being able to compete with Ohio State. We need a gun slinger and somebody with a good glue stick. And T-racy needs to stay, stay, stay, stay because we are gonna play, play, play, play! Here me now.
 

There should be a third option for no idea. I have no idea if we are getting better or worse. We seem to have solved some problems like dumb penalties but many of the same issues have persisted like being one dimensional on offense and even worse our defense appears to have sprung a leak. We are playing hard and we physically match up or better anyone we play so that is a positive but you have to wonder how long that can last if we don't do better on the recruiting trail.
 


I think we're slightly better in week 10 than we were in the beginning of the season.

Win one more regular season game this year and the season is not a failure.
 

csom_1991 said:
The football program since the 60's has been like a French tank with only 2 gears: neutral and reverse.

Since Mason, we have been stuck in neutral with a spurt up and a spurt down. No long-term up trend can be detected.
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Actually French tanks were ok and had bigger guns than the majority of the German tanks. The French just didn't know how properly fight a tank battle.
 

Studwell55 said:
I think we're slightly better in week 10 than we were in the beginning of the season.

Win one more regular season game this year and the season is not a failure.
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I agree. I just worry that our two final opponents might be too good for us to beat.
 

gophmeister said:
I agree. I just worry that our two final opponents might be too good for us to beat.
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The title of this post should be are we just above mediocre or just below. We will not consistently beat the better teams until we control the LOS. Like the drunks do when they beat us year after year with average QB's. To me we are heading in the wrong direction because we have not beaten any high quality teams. I really hope they prove me wrong in the last 2 games.
 



We're very clearly in a holding pattern as a program. The 2013 and 2014 teams were good, not great...just like this one. They had some quality wins (Neb, Iowa come to mind), but they also had some squeakers (or straight up losses) against less-than opponents. You think our offense sucks now? Remember when we scored 13 every week a few years ago? If 2013 or 2014 matched up with this team, it'd be a nail biter.

Wish we were better, but we're not. Guess we'll have to "wait 'till next year" as usual. We're missing some ingredients, one or two of which could've really elevated this team. A couple dominant OL, a dynamic QB, one more DL, a lockdown CB.
 

hungan1 said:
Give Claeys a chance to build the program up. It all boils down to recruiting and coaching. The new facilities will help. If he can recruit a difference maker or two like Tommy Armstrong, he will have moved the program to another level. Success won't happen overnight.

It is not like you push a button, and out comes success immediately. It takes hard work and dedication by a lot of people to reverse decades of mediocrity. Jerry Kill built the foundation.

I think we have the infrastructure and administrative support (& hopefully cultural change) under Kaler & Coyle to give us the best chance of bringing Gopher Football to the next level.

There is not a single person in GH Land who do not wish to see the Gophers go to a Rose Bowl or win a B1G Title.
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I get what you are saying, most the Badgers playing this year came from classes ranked in the 45-55 range so the Gophs are not that far off in that respect. Recruiting the right guys for the system and coaching them up is the key.
 

gophmeister said:
Actually French tanks were ok and had bigger guns than the majority of the German tanks. The French just didn't know how properly fight a tank battle.
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My favorite post of this thread.:cool:
 

An argument to keep Claeys can be based on the young overall team and the chance to return a lot of talent next year. We only lose a handful of guys.

It can be argued that Claeys, a defensive coach, deserves a second year with his OC and OL coach and a new QB.

He can't afford another 8 or less win season and a low rated recruiting class, however.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 




gopherdudepart2 said:
IF we could find one dynamic QB, whether it be JUCO or a current one, things would change a lot.
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To be honest - with the D and RBs we have, we just need Bryan Cupito version 2.0 and we will challenge for the West title. All we need is a guy that does not make dumb decisions and can hit that quick slant to the WR on 3rd and 6 when running isn't an option. Mitch's biggest drawback is his lack of accuracy which severely limits the playbook. Anyone else remember that little slant we would throw to Ron Johnson on 3rd and 5-7 yards? Just put his big body in front of the DB but the pass had to accurate or you are looking at a pick 6. We can't use that type of quick hitter to move the chains but it be good for a guy with a big frame like Woli where it is hands and body position and not speed that matters. If we got another guy like Adam Weber -- we would challenge for the B1G title.
 

Face The Facts said:
The kids are giving 100% effort every night, and Claeys seems like he's becoming a bigger factor in each game.

If we just wait it out for 3-5 years, Claeys will like get his head around this and these kids will be successful.

Give him time to learn the ropes and he'll turn into a fine college coach.

He already has the team going to a good December bowl game even if we don't win another game this year.
I think we'll have a good chance against Boston College in a Detroit Bowl Game.

If you would have asked people before the season if we were going Bowling, the consensus would have been yes, and that's what we're doing.
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You are quite the subtle troll.
 

After last year's mess, I think it is leaning in the right direction.
 



I said overall in the Right Direction.
I know bowls are watered down, and last year's bowl will have an asterisk next to it, but we will be going to our 5th bowl in a row.

Boston College went to 14 bowls in a row from 1999 - 2014. The only great season they had in that stretch was 2013 (13-1), otherwise it was almost all 6-8 win seasons. Personally, I think that kind of success might be our ceiling with some of the recruiting juggernauts in our conference. Sadly, I fear that Wisconsin has truly become a "helmet school".

I am dissatisfied with never winning as an underdog and I think we will need to pull out an unexpected win or two every season for me to be satisfied going forward.

I would be fine with getting rid of Claeys only if we can bring in someone who would inspire confidence (ie a bigger name than Kill was when he was hired).
 

Hi Folks - do any of you have the email addresses for Mark Coyle and/or President Kahler?
 

Go Gophers Rah said:
Boston College went to 14 bowls in a row from 1999 - 2014. The only great season they had in that stretch was 2013 (13-1), otherwise it was almost all 6-8 win seasons. Personally, I think that kind of success might be our ceiling with some of the recruiting juggernauts in our conference.
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Wow, that's a really interesting stat. I never would've guessed that. Could be useful in a trivia setting. "This ACC/Big East football program went to 15 straight bowl games in the early 2000's".

Man, are we the BC of the B1G? I wonder if their fans accept mediocrity. Quick, somebody go check their message board!
 



I am frustrated we have not taken the next step but overall the program is headed in the right direction. I like Mitch's toughness, leadership and his ability to remain calm in front of 90,000 enemy fans. But a 3 year starting senior QB should have more than 5 TD passes in 10 games. I think the problem this year is OL and LB. We could have won the Nebraska game with just slightly better push up front on our 2nd half rushes. What I would like to know is if Seth Green will be that dynamic QB we need next year?
 

BPepper47 said:
I am frustrated we have not taken the next step but overall the program is headed in the right direction. I like Mitch's toughness, leadership and his ability to remain calm in front of 90,000 enemy fans. But a 3 year starting senior QB should have more than 5 TD passes in 10 games. I think the problem this year is OL and LB. We could have won the Nebraska game with just slightly better push up front on our 2nd half rushes. What I would like to know is if Seth Green will be that dynamic QB we need next year?
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Welcome Dr Peppah! the site consensus is the offense is poop.
 

I voted wrong direction because it seems we are stagnant. Anything but forward is the wrong direction.
 

I think something everyone seems to forget here (and how appropriate given the topic thread), is how many times we have ever won 8 games. Sure there are more opportunities now, but the fact that we've been in position to win at least 8 games or more 3 times in the past 4 seasons speaks to the general direction of the team.

Also, you can't tell me this is the easiest season in gopher history. Even when we had easy seasons in the past we never capitalized, so why is the potential for an 8 win this year such a disappointment compared to years past (yes, I understand number of games has changed)? Is it because our expectations are higher than they used to be? I tend to think so.
 

PMWinSTP said:
I get what you are saying, most the Badgers playing this year came from classes ranked in the 45-55 range so the Gophs are not that far off in that respect. Recruiting the right guys for the system and coaching them up is the key.
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Just a little Internet research would go a long way:
2013 38
2014 33
2015 40
2016 32

It's not as close as you think it is.
 

Face The Facts said:
The kids are giving 100% effort every night, and Claeys seems like he's becoming a bigger factor in each game.

If we just wait it out for 3-5 years, Claeys will like get his head around this and these kids will be successful.

Give him time to learn the ropes and he'll turn into a fine college coach.

He already has the team going to a good December bowl game even if we don't win another game this year.
I think we'll have a good chance against Boston College in a Detroit Bowl Game.

If you would have asked people before the season if we were going Bowling, the consensus would have been yes, and that's what we're doing.
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I would argue that you are not watching the games. This team has been in every game but they blow every opportunity to beat an above average team. That I would say is not moving in the right direction. The program will not take the next step with Tracy at the helm.
 

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