BleedGopher
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FSN"s Tyler Mason: I think MN needs to get Edwards and Maye more involved in passing
per Mason's Q&A:
Q: This might be the week we see guys like Berkley Edwards and KJ Maye break out a little more, don't you think? Assuming Streveler's the guy, I could see more of that bubble action getting it into those two guys' hands quickly to keep Streveler comfortable. -- Nathan, Moorhead, Minn.
A: As of now, it looks as if Leidner will be the starter, but you raise an intriguing point if Streveler is handed the reins to start the game. He's thrown just one pass -- a 12-yard completion to backup tight end Brandon Lingen -- in two career games with the Gophers, so he's certainly not battle tested. We really don't know what kind of an arm Streveler has. His accuracy in fall camp was iffy at times, but I was only able to see him throw in a handful of practices and scrimmages, so it was a bit of a small sample size. He doesn't possess a huge arm, so establishing the short passing game certainly could play to his strength.
In general, regardless of which quarterback is under center, I think Minnesota needs to get Edwards and Maye more involved in the passing game. Edwards caught just one pass in the season opener against Eastern Illinois, while Maye didn't have a catch -- let alone a target -- all game. We saw what Edwards can do when he gets the ball in space, as was evident by his long touchdown run in the opener. Maye possesses a similar skill, though he's not quite as fast as the redshirt freshman Edwards. But if Minnesota continues to struggle to pass the ball downfield like it has the first two games, getting its speedy receivers in space in the short passing game could be a recipe for success.
Q: Are the coaches trying to "hide" Leidner and his arm by not asking him to throw much? He only attempted 11 passes and they basically rode David Cobb all day against Middle Tennessee. It seems like teams will figure out that Minnesota doesn't want to pass and then will load the box and force them to throw. -- Michael, Duluth, Minn.
A: I don't think they were necessarily trying to hide Leidner this past Saturday, but the stat line of five completions and just 11 attempts is certainly concerning. I asked offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover about this on Tuesday. Was it a byproduct of the game that Cobb was having?
"I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that you have a lot of confidence in a guy and your turnaround and giving him the ball and he's churning out what he was," Limegrover said. "But . . . we don't want to just be relying on the run. We want to be able to throw the football."
That will be especially true against TCU, a defense that will surely be looking to stop the run first and force Leidner -- or Streveler, if he gets the nod -- to make plays through the air. Through two games, that's been an area of concern for the Gophers. Minnesota will need to get tight end Maxx Williams involved early and often, and perhaps get the passing game going with a few running back screens (like I talked about in my answer to the previous question).
http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/tyler-mason-s-sept-10-gophers-mailbag-091014
Go Gophers!!
per Mason's Q&A:
Q: This might be the week we see guys like Berkley Edwards and KJ Maye break out a little more, don't you think? Assuming Streveler's the guy, I could see more of that bubble action getting it into those two guys' hands quickly to keep Streveler comfortable. -- Nathan, Moorhead, Minn.
A: As of now, it looks as if Leidner will be the starter, but you raise an intriguing point if Streveler is handed the reins to start the game. He's thrown just one pass -- a 12-yard completion to backup tight end Brandon Lingen -- in two career games with the Gophers, so he's certainly not battle tested. We really don't know what kind of an arm Streveler has. His accuracy in fall camp was iffy at times, but I was only able to see him throw in a handful of practices and scrimmages, so it was a bit of a small sample size. He doesn't possess a huge arm, so establishing the short passing game certainly could play to his strength.
In general, regardless of which quarterback is under center, I think Minnesota needs to get Edwards and Maye more involved in the passing game. Edwards caught just one pass in the season opener against Eastern Illinois, while Maye didn't have a catch -- let alone a target -- all game. We saw what Edwards can do when he gets the ball in space, as was evident by his long touchdown run in the opener. Maye possesses a similar skill, though he's not quite as fast as the redshirt freshman Edwards. But if Minnesota continues to struggle to pass the ball downfield like it has the first two games, getting its speedy receivers in space in the short passing game could be a recipe for success.
Q: Are the coaches trying to "hide" Leidner and his arm by not asking him to throw much? He only attempted 11 passes and they basically rode David Cobb all day against Middle Tennessee. It seems like teams will figure out that Minnesota doesn't want to pass and then will load the box and force them to throw. -- Michael, Duluth, Minn.
A: I don't think they were necessarily trying to hide Leidner this past Saturday, but the stat line of five completions and just 11 attempts is certainly concerning. I asked offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover about this on Tuesday. Was it a byproduct of the game that Cobb was having?
"I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that you have a lot of confidence in a guy and your turnaround and giving him the ball and he's churning out what he was," Limegrover said. "But . . . we don't want to just be relying on the run. We want to be able to throw the football."
That will be especially true against TCU, a defense that will surely be looking to stop the run first and force Leidner -- or Streveler, if he gets the nod -- to make plays through the air. Through two games, that's been an area of concern for the Gophers. Minnesota will need to get tight end Maxx Williams involved early and often, and perhaps get the passing game going with a few running back screens (like I talked about in my answer to the previous question).
http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/tyler-mason-s-sept-10-gophers-mailbag-091014
Go Gophers!!
