ESPN: Why Minnesota will -- or won't -- win the West Division

[BleedGopher]

per ESPN:

Why Minnesota will win the West in 2015

Shutdown secondary: The individual pieces might sometimes get overlooked nationally for reasons that are difficult to comprehend, but that’s really nothing new for the underdog Gophers. Either way, Kill and his defensive staff wouldn’t trade the collective talent in the defensive backfield for anybody, and that unit will go into the season as one of the stoutest anywhere to anchor a defense that can make life miserable even for the highest-scoring attacks. Both TCU and Ohio State found out last season how opportunistic and hard-nosed the Gophers can be, and if Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun can continue to shut down the airways this fall, the program could find itself with some new hardware in the trophy case.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/121223/why-minnesota-will-or-wont-win-the-west-division

Go Gophers!!

 

[SDGopherFan]

if only we had kept UNC on the schedule all of the media bobo's in this town would still be happy and we would have an easier schedule.

 

[dpodoll68]

if only we had kept UNC on the schedule all of the media bobo's in this town would still be happy and we would have an easier schedule.

How would playing the UNC games in 2013 and 2014 affect anyone's opinion of the 2015 schedule? How would it have affected the strength of the 2015 schedule?

 

[Some guy]

How would playing the UNC games in 2013 and 2014 affect anyone's opinion of the 2015 schedule? How would it have affected the strength of the 2015 schedule?

It would be interesting to see who the gophers would have opened with this year.

In my mind, the smart money would have been on New Mexico State...

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

How would playing the UNC games in 2013 and 2014 affect anyone's opinion of the 2015 schedule? How would it have affected the strength of the 2015 schedule?

Clearly he was mistaken and thought that 2015 would have been the 2nd year of the UNC home and home. Nice snarky reply though, well played.

 

[SDGopherFan]

Wasn't UNC replaced with TCU, which agreed to do a home and home with the gophers? Wasn't the media the one that pointed out that the Gophers were dodging UNC for a weaker team in TCU?

 

[Sparlimb]

What's crazy to me is how much respect we get for the Ohio St. We got destroyed in that game, but Ohio St had some god awful turnovers that took points away from them and led to short fields for us. That game could have easily been 45-7. I know final score is how we judge a game, but I remember thinking we'd be in much bigger trouble had we faced them in the Big Ten Title game (as Wisconsin got the joy of finding out instead). Our defense has a long way to go if we want to give teams like TCU and Ohio St tougher games.

 

[SDGopherFan]

Below is a quote from the Startribune from Joe Christensen on May 8, 2013 at 6:42 am

After paying $800,000 to get out of a two-year football series with North Carolina last fall, the Gophers on Tuesday announced a new home-and-home series with Texas Christian that will strengthen their 2014 and 2015 schedules, while providing financial relief, too.

 

[Ole]

What's crazy to me is how much respect we get for the Ohio St. We got destroyed in that game, but Ohio St had some god awful turnovers that took points away from them and led to short fields for us. That game could have easily been 45-7. I know final score is how we judge a game, but I remember thinking we'd be in much bigger trouble had we faced them in the Big Ten Title game (as Wisconsin got the joy of finding out instead). Our defense has a long way to go if we want to give teams like TCU and Ohio St tougher games.

Give your team credit. Geezus.

OSU started fast, but we beat them back by FORCING turnovers in key spots, and TAKING ADVANTAGE of short fields.

Also we USED THE ELEMENTS to our advantage, whereas OSU wanted no part of that game and was begging for the time to tick off the clock.

Our pass defense also held up just fine against their deep passing game, which the supposed ESPN top ranked secondary and their cute little LB of a safety couldn't handle at all to a 59-0 tune.
That easily could have been a trap game that took apart their championship season, it's to their credit they didn't fall into it. It's to our credit that we gave them a hell of a game in bad weather.

 

[beatles]

Clearly he was mistaken and thought that 2015 would have been the 2nd year of the UNC home and home. Nice snarky reply though, well played.

No kidding right? dpodoll's not dumb, he knew EXACTLY what Someguy meant but he simply can not refuse a chance to correct somebody.

 

[Hates Monikers]

Below is a quote from the Startribune from Joe Christensen on May 8, 2013 at 6:42 am

After paying $800,000 to get out of a two-year football series with North Carolina last fall, the Gophers on Tuesday announced a new home-and-home series with Texas Christian that will strengthen their 2014 and 2015 schedules, while providing financial relief, too.

I keep hearing this from people about the Ohio State game. We had a few turnovers of our own in that game to hurt ourselves. I never understand why we're lucky when the other team turns it over and just plain bad when we do it ourselves.

Edit: Somehow I quoted the wrong post. I meant to reply to the post about the OSU game.

 

[KGF]

What's crazy to me is how much respect we get for the Ohio St. We got destroyed in that game, but Ohio St had some god awful turnovers that took points away from them and led to short fields for us. That game could have easily been 45-7. I know final score is how we judge a game, but I remember thinking we'd be in much bigger trouble had we faced them in the Big Ten Title game (as Wisconsin got the joy of finding out instead). Our defense has a long way to go if we want to give teams like TCU and Ohio St tougher games.

Sorry, but that's BS. Ohio St did outplay the Gophers, but their turnovers were forced by the Gopher D. That's no different than defending the Gophers by saying they gave up 3 big plays (or so), and otherwise played them even up. If Barrett throws an errant pass and it's picked off, that's a risk they take and lose. If the Gophers strip the ball before their guy goes into the endzone and they lose a TD, that's a forced turnover.
That game came down to a several plays, the turnovers cost them and the big play mistakes cost the Gophers.
Again, they outplayed the Gophers, but forced turnovers are as big a part of a game as an 80 TD. Many games are decided by turnovers and that is why they are critical. Players that turn the ball over wont play on the next level regardless of their other skills.

 

[Oregon Gopher]

Give your team credit. Geezus.

OSU started fast, but we beat them back by FORCING turnovers in key spots, and TAKING ADVANTAGE of short fields.

Also we USED THE ELEMENTS to our advantage, whereas OSU wanted no part of that game and was begging for the time to tick off the clock.

Our pass defense also held up just fine against their deep passing game, which the supposed ESPN top ranked secondary and their cute little LB of a safety couldn't handle at all to a 59-0 tune.
That easily could have been a trap game that took apart their championship season, it's to their credit they didn't fall into it. It's to our credit that we gave them a hell of a game in bad weather.

I agree Ole- but you're bringing back the ghost of Wren with all the capitalization.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sparlimb]

Give your team credit. Geezus.

OSU started fast, but we beat them back by FORCING turnovers in key spots, and TAKING ADVANTAGE of short fields.

Also we USED THE ELEMENTS to our advantage, whereas OSU wanted no part of that game and was begging for the time to tick off the clock.

Our pass defense also held up just fine against their deep passing game, which the supposed ESPN top ranked secondary and their cute little LB of a safety couldn't handle at all to a 59-0 tune.
That easily could have been a trap game that took apart their championship season, it's to their credit they didn't fall into it. It's to our credit that we gave them a hell of a game in bad weather.

I had a great time watching the game and we weren't all that far from winning it. I just watched it again today, which is why I made the comments (the whole game is on youtube at the moment). Our defense was not good. We stopped them a few times but were gashed over and over. The yards were like 220-19 right before the BBC interception that led to our first td. As I said, I was glad for the snow. That helped us a ton. That's why I think we would have looked like Wisconsin did in Indianapolis (but now we can all pretend we might have won).

 

[nc2mn]

Wasn't Urban Myer quoted as saying the Gophers were the toughest B1G defense they faced last year?

 

[GophersInIowa]

I had a great time watching the game and we weren't all that far from winning it. I just watched it again today, which is why I made the comments (the whole game is on youtube at the moment). Our defense was not good. We stopped them a few times but were gashed over and over. The yards were like 220-19 right before the BBC interception that led to our first td. As I said, I was glad for the snow. That helped us a ton. That's why I think we would have looked like Wisconsin did in Indianapolis (but now we can all pretend we might have won).

As bad as it seemed, 31 points was the lowest they scored in their last 8 games last year. And that included games against Michigan St, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Alabama. Elliot had his second lowest per carry average as the starting RB.

I'm not saying the weather wasn't a factor and I'm not saying the defense played great. But you also have to consider how good that offense was for OSU.

The biggest positive I took from that game was that it was another example of the team not giving up. For awhile it looked like it could be 35-0 at the half. Definitely something we've seen that's been different with Kill's teams.

 

[scools12]

What's crazy to me is how much respect we get for the Ohio St. We got destroyed in that game, but Ohio St had some god awful turnovers that took points away from them and led to short fields for us. That game could have easily been 45-7. I know final score is how we judge a game, but I remember thinking we'd be in much bigger trouble had we faced them in the Big Ten Title game (as Wisconsin got the joy of finding out instead). Our defense has a long way to go if we want to give teams like TCU and Ohio St tougher games.

What's more crazy is why some feel the need to cling to a moral victory from last season.

 

[GophersInIowa]

What's more crazy is why some feel the need to cling to a moral victory from last season.

Who's "clinging" to a moral victory? It's the off-season, what else do we really have to talk about?

 

[vagopher]

What's crazy to me is how much respect we get for the Ohio St. We got destroyed in that game, but Ohio St had some god awful turnovers that took points away from them and led to short fields for us. That game could have easily been 45-7. I know final score is how we judge a game, but I remember thinking we'd be in much bigger trouble had we faced them in the Big Ten Title game (as Wisconsin got the joy of finding out instead). Our defense has a long way to go if we want to give teams like TCU and Ohio St tougher games.

I'm sorry, but I think we do deserve a lot of respect for the way that we played in that game. I recall Urban Meyer complaining that he was unpleasantly surprised when he reviewed Gopher game films in preparation for that game as he concluded that the Gophers were a good team. Nor did he disparage the Gophers after the game. In fact he was very complementary. Turnovers are a part of an effective defense. I find it disappointing that a Gopher fan would conclude that we were "destroyed" suggesting that the turnovers were simply a matter of luck rather than good defense.

 

[KGF]

Who's "clinging" to a moral victory? It's the off-season, what else do we really have to talk about?

Agree. Saying the Gophers played a respectable game vs the eventual national champ isn't claiming a "moral victory". I don't think the team, coaches, or fans were happy about losing a one score game. Just pleased with the effort.

 

[dpodoll68]

What's more crazy is why some feel the need to cling to a moral victory from last season.

The craziest is why a person would take the time to post 1,779 times about the Gophers, each of them negative, when he clearly can't stand the team or its fans.

 

[dpodoll68]

Also, I have yet to hear a good explanation as to how or why weather makes games "closer than they should've been" (or some other similar ridiculous logic). Was it only Ohio State playing in the snow, while we were playing in sunny, 65-degree weather? Can somebody help me out here?

 

[GopherHomer]

Also, I have yet to hear a good explanation as to how or why weather makes games "closer than they should've been" (or some other similar ridiculous logic). Was it only Ohio State playing in the snow, while we were playing in sunny, 65-degree weather? Can somebody help me out here?

I basically agree with your assertion here (it would always drive me nuts when certain teams in the NFL were considered to have a huge advantage on turf - when theoretically both teams should benefit the same amount by the increased speed potential). But it could be argued that snow, or bad weather of any kind, would force OSU to play a slower paced style of game that relied more on ball control and field position (Gophers play that way in any weather) - this being the style of game that would give the Gophers the best chance to keep it close or even pull off the upset. Not saying I agree with that theory, but I wouldn't automatically dismiss it either.

 

[Sparlimb]

Also, I have yet to hear a good explanation as to how or why weather makes games "closer than they should've been" (or some other similar ridiculous logic). Was it only Ohio State playing in the snow, while we were playing in sunny, 65-degree weather? Can somebody help me out here?

Come on dpo, we all know some teams are more accustomed to playing in certain elements. It was the coldest game OSU had played in 50 years (and it was 15 degrees, which isn't that cold by NFL standards). There is some, albeit small, advantage to practicing in that weather all week long. Yes, you are right that in the end both teams had to deal with the cold and the snow. We seemed better prepared for the weather on a re-watch.

 

[scools12]

The craziest is why a person would take the time to post 1,779 times about the Gophers, each of them negative, when he clearly can't stand the team or its fans.

Even more crazy is you took the time to read every single 1,779 of my posts. Thanks I appreciate the loyal following.

 

[GopherPD]

Perhaps some perspective is in order. Ohio State's last trip to TCF prior to last year was 2010. Brewster gone, Horton just taking over. Buckeyes just edged the Gophers, 52-10. Only highlight of the day was the appearance of the Ohio State Band and watching them do Script Ohio. At least now we can run with the big dogs

 

[ruppertflywheel]

Elements are part of the game. Why it should affect the Buckeyes more then the Gophers is ridiculous. That being said, if we played the Buckeyes 10 times we might get away with one win.

 

[LakerFan]

What's more crazy is why some feel the need to cling to a moral victory from last season.

Wisconsin fans would have gladly traded their 59-0 not a moral victory beatdown for our 7 point not a moral victory loss.

I think realistic fans realize that when you play a true top 5 team in the country and your maybe in the 20's-30's at best that the specter of a demoralizing beat down is always a possibility. Our game was contested to the end, if Kill was content with moral victories he would have tried to score a touchdown to lose by less at the end of the game instead of playing the odds and kicking a field goal to preserve time and trying one more onside punt to see if you could squeak out a comeback. As a fan that was a fun game to watch all the way through the 4th quarter. Wisconsin fans probably spent the 4th quarter of their beat down passed out drunk or trying to text Barry Alvarez to tell him to fire the coach.

 

[Sparlimb]

Wisconsin fans probably spent the 4th quarter of their beat down passed out drunk or trying to text Barry Alvarez to tell him to fire the coach.

As it turns out, Alvarez didn't have to...

 

[short ornery norwegian]

RE: the weather. There certainly are times when the weather impacts a game plan. If you have a team that likes to throw the ball 30-40 times a game, snow or rain will impact that team far more than a team that runs the ball 80% of the time. Or, on a cold, miserable, snowy windy day, a team with a big, physical OL will have an advantage over a smaller, quicker type of defense.

yes - the conditions are the same for each team - but the two teams may very well have very different types of personnel, game plans and offensive or defensive styles. I've covered my share of games where the Weather impacted one team more than the other.