Explaining Mitch Leidner's improvement and how Minnesota's offense has changed

[BleedGopher]

per the Wisconsin State Journal:

Minnesota was a heavy quarterback run team towards the end of last season, using Leidner’s legs and future NFL running back David Cobb to control the game on the ground. You saw plenty of read option and not a ton of straight dropbacks.

Leidner didn’t pass nearly as often, and many times when he did it was due to the Gophers being in more down-and-distance situations that lent itself to passing the ball.

The Gophers began this year with the same offensive identity but quickly changed gears.

Now, they’re riding freshmen running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith while giving Leidner a number of play-action looks in the passing game.

“They kind of found the quarterback run (last year) and went almost exclusively quarterback run, and that helped us with your throwing stats there because they were just going to run it, run it, run it,” UW defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said.

“There’s a few quarterback runs here and there but not nearly as much as when they started (the season). They found the running back and they found play-action pass, and that’s their identity now. So they’re a different team. They’ve taken kind of a year to find it.”

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/...cle_2f39666f-a3d5-5f4f-8306-10a1e3825d51.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

I'll go with attending the Manning camp showed Mitch that he doesn't have to throw perfect spirals to be an effective pocket passer.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

He is healthier now than at the start of the season and offensive line is a little better.

 

[bottlebass]

He is healthier now than at the start of the season and offensive line is a little better.

That is the key. Our Offensive Line is playing 100x better than they were earlier in the season.

 

[e.bigelow]

That is the key. Our Offensive Line is playing 100x better than they were earlier in the season.

Yes. When you can't stop 4-man pressure against Kent State, you know your OLine is playing awful.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Yes the Oline has been the biggest reason for the offense waking up. I hope the folks that were calling for Mitch to be replaced earlier in the season can see this now. He has a good season and also KJ Maye is going out as one of my favorite players. What a tough and clutch player he has been.

 

[wait!what?]

i hope to never see ML play qb for the gophs ever again.

Yes the Oline has been the biggest reason for the offense waking up. I hope the folks that were calling for Mitch to be replaced earlier in the season can see this now. He has a good season and also KJ Maye is going out as one of my favorite players. What a tough and clutch player he has been.

Can someone at the U see if we can graduate Leidner this year and ends this crap.

 

[beavergopher]

Can someone at the U see if we can graduate Leidner this year and ends this crap.

Hopefully.

 

[Governor Sibley]

Last I checked he was 10th in the conference in passer rating.

Mitch is the least of our worries right now.

 

[Iceland12]

Last I checked he was 10th in the conference in passer rating.

Mitch is the least of our worries right now.

Not the least, but those blaming him for the loss might mean that they didn't watch the game.

 

[wait!what?]

3rd yr starter who doesn't have the tangibles or intangibles. 3INOUT.

 

[beavergopher]

He is an exceptional fumbler.

 

[1997vacatedfinalfour]

16-37 with three picks and a costly fumble, how is there no one better? Epic Fail by Kill and staff.....Should have just played Croft the last few games because his redshirt was already burned.....Better be open competition next year.

 

[Spoofin]

16-37 with three picks and a costly fumble, how is there no one better? Epic Fail by Kill and staff.....Should have just played Croft the last few games because his redshirt was already burned.....Better be open competition next year.

Since your taking stats from just one game - why not choose MI, tOSU, or Iowa?

 

[Iceland12]

Since your taking stats from just one game - why not choose MI, tOSU, or Iowa?

Or Nebraska. Why does everybody leave off Nebraska..

 

[Goldy Gopher]

16-37 with three picks and a costly fumble, how is there no one better? Epic Fail by Kill and staff.....Should have just played Croft the last few games because his redshirt was already burned.....Better be open competition next year.

Its been easy to see the last 4-5 games that Mitch is a very capable QB when the OL does a decent job protecting him. When the OL struggles and gives up pressure Mitch struggles. I fully expect Mitch to be the starting QB come spring ball, fall camp, and game 1 next season and I'm fine with that. There probably will he open competition but it will probably be for the backup QB spot. I hope that Mitch focuses on some areas where he has struggled like ball security and passing under pressure this offseason and hopefully he can make some improvements in those areas.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Since your taking stats from just one game - why not choose MI, tOSU, or Iowa?

I can only imagine how ugly that three game stretch would have been with a true freshman QB.
Today was awful, and Leidner did not play well. However, if you are going to hang all the ugliness on one position, you are being too simple. Wisconsin could have won by more without even attempting a forward pass.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Croft would have been broken into two in today's game. Leidner was getting crushed on just about every pass.

 

[46Gophers]

Its been easy to see the last 4-5 games that Mitch is a very capable QB when the OL does a decent job protecting him. When the OL struggles and gives up pressure Mitch struggles. I fully expect Mitch to be the starting QB come spring ball, fall camp, and game 1 next season and I'm fine with that. There probably will he open competition but it will probably be for the backup QB spot. I hope that Mitch focuses on some areas where he has struggled like ball security and passing under pressure this offseason and hopefully he can make some improvements in those areas.

This was exactly what people were saying last year at the end of the season. I know that the O Line struggled this year but Mitch's mechanics early on this year were absolutely terrible. To his credit they improved and the O started doing much better. However, he still appears to really struggle reading defenses (saw way too many throws into double & triple coverage this year) and is slow to progress through his routes. With pressure, Mitch struggles and is not quick in hitting his check down routes. Because of this you see teams blitzing and challenging him to beat them with his arm. I was truly hoping that this would be the year that he would improve his passing and ball security but his performance this year was way too erratic for the team to thrive.