Eddie O Status

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Apologies if there has been an update released already but here's hoping the injury to big Ed isn't too serious.

I hadn't seen it mentioned much but the drop-off when Ed got dinged up in the 3rd quarter was MASSIVE. Mark L did somewhat well run-blocking during a few of the 3rd quarter drives but it got ugly in the 4th quarter.

Lenkiewicz was absolutely ABUSED on the last two drives by the NU pass rusher, who was in Shortell's face on practically every play. It wasn't pretty. Looked like on some of the last few passing plays they had to keep Kirkwood in to help in pass protection just to help out on the left side, and on two plays it still didn't help.

Admittedly, I've been pretty harsh on Gray but he played the best game he's played that I can recall in a while Saturday, other than the INT he threw into triple coverage, at midfield when the Gophers REALLY could have used the field position to change the tide of the game. He played really well for the most part. They didn't ask him to do what he's not capable of, he mostly made good decisions, and threw the shorter balls fairly well. I was impressed.

Hard to judge Shortell very accurately on his performance as he played much of his time in the driving rain. On the last few drives, with the NU pass rush pinning their ears back and with the O-Line already shuffled, he looked uncomfortable in the pocket. Both QB's moved the ball almost PRECISELY the same amount of yards, played equal time; around 165 yards for each, give or take.

Two comments I've seen made, seemed worthy of responding to:

Several comments about Shortell being a backup, not a starter. I think it's safe to say that after 6 games, with how they are both playing now and with the health of the O-Line, the Gophers have TWO backup QB's, no real outstanding starter. Hopefully that changes as time goes on.

The comment in one thread about Gray not appearing to be a leader is ridiculous, BS, and bogus, except in one respect; a leader needs to be on the field, available, and be someone that can be counted upon. Call it bad luck, call it part of the game (injuries), whatever, but if you can't stay on the field, you're not being much of a leader.

Just my two cents...

 

[gopherdudepart2]

I have not heard anything about Eddie Olsen, someone actually called the call in show on Saturday and ripped the Olsen brothers because there dad played at the U and implied they were only on scholarship because there dad played here and they are not good enough football players to be playing in the Big10. We need more kids like these Olsens that grow up wanting to be Gophers not less. Olsen was having a fine game on Saturday he was doing a good job and there was a noticeable pressure increase once the back up went in. Mark L was just not used to the pace of the guy he was facing. Olsen, he got rolled up on that leg earlier in the game and you could see his ankle was really bothering him. The play he went of he got caught by one defender that stuck him low, and a defender rolled over his ankle again.
The Gophers play with more swagger, confidence and believe more with Gray on the field, because they have seen him make something from nothing on plays. Gray has just done it a little more. Your right on Ogee though, he Gray cannot stay healthy and cannot seem to catch a break in that regard, not sure we will see change in that this season. It is hard to be the QB be a runner and be a leader and be on the sidelines. Gray is tough you could tell he was gutting it out on that ankle but it was still bothering him as he was even walking funny.
Look, I don't count Max out yet, he is just a Sophmore and has been playing behind a beat up O-line and has only played in 6 games as a Sophmore. Max has to make more plays and think less. Has he left plays on the field yes, is he getting us beat by himself by his play absolutely NO. We have been losing as a team. We move the ball on offense but do not finish with scores. We stop them on defense and then let an explosive play happen. Everyone owns a piece of the last two losses, on this squad nobody played well enough to win.
Max will get his time as the starter while the young precosious pups in Nelson and Leidner bide there time. The coaches are doing it right and we need to protect there redshirts for the good of the program. The same could be said for Jonah Pirsig and Issac Hayes, could we probably play them now, yes, would it be the right thing to do for the program no.
Max has some fire to him and he can make plays, now he just needs to start doing it more, it is time for him to be more decisive, he has to be that way if he is going to be the QB of this team. Right or wrong, make a decision and stick with it.
As we start to see Juniors and Seniors play on the offensive line and at QB you will start to see less wheel spinning, and more headway by the Gophers. I like Roderick Williams Jr, he is young but he looks like he can deliver a blow like Kirkwood.
We are not going to always be throwing them the young kids to the wolves when they are Freshman and Sophmores, eventually were going to have enough guy's where were matching Seniors and Juniors against there Seniors and Juniors instead of just Freshman and Sophmores with a few Juniors and Seniors mixed in. Max Shortell is not at Gray's level because he just hasn't played as much football as Gray, that is why Gray is able to do more right now. I have bought the kool aide from the coaches because I see change in speed, physical play and light bulbs going on every time we play. To often it is by an individual or not enough change. Were not winning right now, but our approach will lead to wins and more winning. I have seen the Gophers try it differently for so many years, I'm going to have paitence this time and stick with it because
staying with it, is all I know left to do.

 

[BarnBurner]

Apologies if there has been an update released already but here's hoping the injury to big Ed isn't too serious.

I hadn't seen it mentioned much but the drop-off when Ed got dinged up in the 3rd quarter was MASSIVE. Mark L did somewhat well run-blocking during a few of the 3rd quarter drives but it got ugly in the 4th quarter.

Lenkiewicz was absolutely ABUSED on the last two drives by the NU pass rusher, who was in Shortell's face on practically every play. It wasn't pretty. Looked like on some of the last few passing plays they had to keep Kirkwood in to help in pass protection just to help out on the left side, and on two plays it still didn't help.

Admittedly, I've been pretty harsh on Gray but he played the best game he's played that I can recall in a while Saturday, other than the INT he threw into triple coverage, at midfield when the Gophers REALLY could have used the field position to change the tide of the game. He played really well for the most part. They didn't ask him to do what he's not capable of, he mostly made good decisions, and threw the shorter balls fairly well. I was impressed.

Hard to judge Shortell very accurately on his performance as he played much of his time in the driving rain. On the last few drives, with the NU pass rush pinning their ears back and with the O-Line already shuffled, he looked uncomfortable in the pocket. Both QB's moved the ball almost PRECISELY the same amount of yards, played equal time; around 165 yards for each, give or take.

Two comments I've seen made, seemed worthy of responding to:

Several comments about Shortell being a backup, not a starter. I think it's safe to say that after 6 games, with how they are both playing now and with the health of the O-Line, the Gophers have TWO backup QB's, no real outstanding starter. Hopefully that changes as time goes on.

The comment in one thread about Gray not appearing to be a leader is ridiculous, BS, and bogus, except in one respect; a leader needs to be on the field, available, and be someone that can be counted upon. Call it bad luck, call it part of the game (injuries), whatever, but if you can't stay on the field, you're not being much of a leader.

Just my two cents...

You commenting on leadership really takes the cake.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

You commenting on leadership really takes the cake.

LOVE the Burner!!