BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 63,013
- Reaction score
- 20,674
- Points
- 113
per Bennett:
Minnesota earned a lot of respect in defeat, as it hung around with the Horned Frogs until the end on the back of its outstanding defense. Yet the Golden Gophers had the same problem that held them back from winning the West title a year ago: a lack of offensive options.
Though TCU had a rebuilt defense missing a couple of key players because of injuries and suspension, Minnesota averaged only 3.7 yards per carry and once again couldn't do much in the passing game. Redshirt freshman running back Rodney Smith (16 carries for 88 yards) showed a lot of promise, but playmakers are hard to find.
"If we clean up some things," quarterback Mitch Leidner said after the game, "we're going to be great offensively."
That sounds more optimistic than realistic. Things weren't much better for Wisconsin, which dealt with injuries on its offensive line during training camp and then couldn't deal with Alabama's defensive front. In a very un-Badgers-like performance, Paul Chryst's team ran for just 40 yards on 21 carries. Sure, quarterback Joel Stave made noticeable improvement, but this program is built on the running game first and foremost.
"I think everyone in the run game -- quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, fullbacks, the line -- we've got to be on target more," Chryst said. "The footwork, the pad level. It's a group that takes pride in what they do, so I feel good about that. But we've got areas where we've got to get better and they need to do that this week."
Nebraska would feel a lot better today if not for the Tanner Magnum-to-Mitch Matthews miracle. That was far from the only factor in the loss, however. The Cornhuskers are a beat-up team right now, and they struggled to run the ball effectively vs. BYU. They averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, as the usual Nebraska physicality on offense was missing.
"I'm not putting that onus just on the runners," Nebraska head coach Mike Riley said. "I don't think we were very clean up front blocking for the tailback."
Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota will all get better as the season creeps ahead. But they might be bunched closer to the rest of the division than expected. As we figured all along, this is a group of flawed teams. The one that can best cover those flaws from here on out will likely be the last one left standing.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/123142/planning-for-success-how-will-the-west-be-won
Go Gophers!!
Minnesota earned a lot of respect in defeat, as it hung around with the Horned Frogs until the end on the back of its outstanding defense. Yet the Golden Gophers had the same problem that held them back from winning the West title a year ago: a lack of offensive options.
Though TCU had a rebuilt defense missing a couple of key players because of injuries and suspension, Minnesota averaged only 3.7 yards per carry and once again couldn't do much in the passing game. Redshirt freshman running back Rodney Smith (16 carries for 88 yards) showed a lot of promise, but playmakers are hard to find.
"If we clean up some things," quarterback Mitch Leidner said after the game, "we're going to be great offensively."
That sounds more optimistic than realistic. Things weren't much better for Wisconsin, which dealt with injuries on its offensive line during training camp and then couldn't deal with Alabama's defensive front. In a very un-Badgers-like performance, Paul Chryst's team ran for just 40 yards on 21 carries. Sure, quarterback Joel Stave made noticeable improvement, but this program is built on the running game first and foremost.
"I think everyone in the run game -- quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, fullbacks, the line -- we've got to be on target more," Chryst said. "The footwork, the pad level. It's a group that takes pride in what they do, so I feel good about that. But we've got areas where we've got to get better and they need to do that this week."
Nebraska would feel a lot better today if not for the Tanner Magnum-to-Mitch Matthews miracle. That was far from the only factor in the loss, however. The Cornhuskers are a beat-up team right now, and they struggled to run the ball effectively vs. BYU. They averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, as the usual Nebraska physicality on offense was missing.
"I'm not putting that onus just on the runners," Nebraska head coach Mike Riley said. "I don't think we were very clean up front blocking for the tailback."
Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota will all get better as the season creeps ahead. But they might be bunched closer to the rest of the division than expected. As we figured all along, this is a group of flawed teams. The one that can best cover those flaws from here on out will likely be the last one left standing.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/123142/planning-for-success-how-will-the-west-be-won
Go Gophers!!