ESPN pick em for Week 4

Donate To GopherHole
U

upnorthkid

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
9,799
Reaction score
5,151
Points
113
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/84285/big-ten-predictions-week-4-2

Brian Bennett: Mitch Leidner could start at quarterback for the Gophers as Philip Nelson is questionable with a hamstring injury. That's not good news against a San Jose State team led by a future NFL draft pick in David Fales. The Spartans are the best team Minnesota has played, and I say they pull off the road upset. … San Jose State 24, Minnesota 20


Adam Rittenberg: A tough one here as the Gophers haven't been tested and San Jose State's Fales could stress a secondary already down one starter (Briean Boddy-Calhoun). There's some uncertainty on offense at quarterback, but I like the fact the Gophers have a full stable of running backs. Minnesota racks up 200 rush yards and three touchdowns to survive with a win. … Minnesota 27, San Jose State 24

can't say i really disagree with the reasoning for the picks. i tend to agree more with how Adam sees the game. we should be able to run the ball. however what scares me is that stanford had 200 yards but only averaged about 5 per carry and they're a very strong running team. hopefully we can replicate that and dominate the ball. to me that's the key to victory more so than getting Fales off his game. not being on the field will take care of that
 

College Football News has the Gophers winning be a Field Goal, 27-24

Why San Jose State Might Win: Despite playing one of the easiest three-game slates so far of any BCS team, Minnesota, isn’t exactly smooth on offense. Defense and special teams played a big role in the first two wins, and last week the Gophers were down to Western Illinois until late in the third quarter. The passing game wasn’t bad, with the quarterbacks hitting 10-of-12 passes for 213 yards, but it was a fight until late. This isn’t an explosive offensive team, so if David Fales and the Spartan offense can get hot early and make the Gophers press and get out of their comfort zone, they should be fine in the second half.

Why Minnesota Might Win: Grind, grind, grind. Minnesota isn’t equipped to get involved in a high-powered shootout, but San Jose State isn’t built to get slugged in the mouth for a full four quarter. The Spartans actually did a good job of holding up against Stanford’s power and didn’t give up much of anything big, but over the long haul, the defense started to wear down in the second half. The Gophers are starting to get their ground game into a lather because it found its running backs in David Cobb and Rodrick Williams, who have taken over for banged up Donnell Kirkwood. They need to be impressive because …

Who To Watch Out For: The quarterback situation is a bit of a problem. Philip Nelson is nursing a sore hamstring and is nowhere near 100%. Enter Mitch Leidner, a 6-4, 233-pound local recruit with excellent passing skills to go along with great size and arm. Able to move, he’s more than just a huge pro-style passer with the toughness to pound away for yards if needed, running for 64 yards last week in the win over WIU.

What Will Happen: Minnesota is one of those teams that finds a way. Fales will have his moments, and he needs to be under pressure or else he’ll be deadly, but the Golden Gopher defense will rise up in the second half when needed on a few key drives, and the offense will get just enough out of the ground game to control the clock and keep Fales of the field


http://cfn.scout.com/2/1327892.html
 

Iceland12 said:
College Football News has the Gophers winning be a Field Goal, 27-24

Why San Jose State Might Win: Despite playing one of the easiest three-game slates so far of any BCS team, Minnesota, isn’t exactly smooth on offense. Defense and special teams played a big role in the first two wins, and last week the Gophers were down to Western Illinois until late in the third quarter. The passing game wasn’t bad, with the quarterbacks hitting 10-of-12 passes for 213 yards, but it was a fight until late. This isn’t an explosive offensive team, so if David Fales and the Spartan offense can get hot early and make the Gophers press and get out of their comfort zone, they should be fine in the second half.

Why Minnesota Might Win: Grind, grind, grind. Minnesota isn’t equipped to get involved in a high-powered shootout, but San Jose State isn’t built to get slugged in the mouth for a full four quarter. The Spartans actually did a good job of holding up against Stanford’s power and didn’t give up much of anything big, but over the long haul, the defense started to wear down in the second half. The Gophers are starting to get their ground game into a lather because it found its running backs in David Cobb and Rodrick Williams, who have taken over for banged up Donnell Kirkwood. They need to be impressive because …

Who To Watch Out For: The quarterback situation is a bit of a problem. Philip Nelson is nursing a sore hamstring and is nowhere near 100%. Enter Mitch Leidner, a 6-4, 233-pound local recruit with excellent passing skills to go along with great size and arm. Able to move, he’s more than just a huge pro-style passer with the toughness to pound away for yards if needed, running for 64 yards last week in the win over WIU.

What Will Happen: Minnesota is one of those teams that finds a way. Fales will have his moments, and he needs to be under pressure or else he’ll be deadly, but the Golden Gopher defense will rise up in the second half when needed on a few key drives, and the offense will get just enough out of the ground game to control the clock and keep Fales of the field


http://cfn.scout.com/2/1327892.html
Click to expand...

The bold is what I am hoping we are still known for come December.
 


that sentence jumped out at me big time. Minnesota has long been known for finding a way... but finding a way to "what?" has been more defined by games like Texas Tech (pick your year), Wisconsin '05, Michigan '03, etc. etc. etc.

If this team could somehow become known as a team that finds a way to WIN... that would be a pretty good culture turn around to hang our hat on this year.
 


That finding a way is something I sense with our current coaching staff. I often felt with Wacker, Mason, and Brewster that every lead we had was in jeopardy and even if we got up early that I would not feel comfortable with a lead. I might be sensing something that is not there, but I don't feel like the team gets out coached the way we did in the past.

I like the praise that they gave Leidner also. I wasn't aware of him having a strong arm, but if he has it to go along with his size and relative quickness that is indeed a good combo.
 

One thing is certain, when this game is over we should have a very good idea of how our secondary stacks up against last years unit. San Jose State will try to throw a lot and they will do it from many different formations. Shede and the D-Line are going to need to have a good game in order to make the job in the back half easier by keeping constant pressure on Fales.
 

my personal keys to the game:

Offense: O line- they've gotta dominate them up front so we can roll 8+ play drives all day. it'll wear them down and keep Fales off the field. every 3 and out we have will be rough
Defense: pass rush- I have confidence in our secondary. feel like we'll finally not just sit back and give them 7 yards a pass (and if we do, we're going to get ripped. just being honest). if hageman and co can get some heat, balls will be up for grabs.
I say we get a big TO early in the game (similar to Cuse) that spurs us early. then our ground game and D grind out a win down the stretch. just finding a way to win ;)
 

The defensive game plan will be very interesting. In the UNLV game Claeys was willing to play off the receivers giving them the short quick passes and not give up the big play. In doing so you make it very difficult for the d-line to get to the qb. Now with a better qb who doesn't need a big play to beat you, will he have the dbs playing tighter?

I am hoping for the corners to playing up and letting our d-line get after them and some more blitzing. Make Fales uncomfortable.
 



against WIU the gophs played more man to man. i have no idea what to expect on D.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom