Gopher Tendency: Play to the Level of the Opponent

MennoSota

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PJ continues to preach the mantra of making your new best, but it seems his teams play to the level of its competition rather than rise to new levels.

What is your perspective on this?
 



I think his clock management game he plays makes this more likely.

Who would have guessed the defense is looking like our strength.
 



The whole team totally underestimated their opponent. That was apparent on the dumbass call to go for it on 4th down on their own ~25 yard line.
Right call, poor play and execution. You always go for it on 4th and 1, unless time enters the equation.
 

While I agree a ton with the OP at the same time it’s kind of hard to win and be a consistent top 10-20 program when we only get mainly 3* prospects. Making a living as a program finding only diamonds in the rough, you will only be so good.
 


It looks like the Gophers didn’t even prepare for this game. Making stupid inexcusable penalties, Tanner was terrible and the offense game plan did nothing to prevent BG from stopping them. The lose was from poor coaching and execution.
 



Defense played great. There were a few penalty and miscues on special teams that need to be cleaned up. The coaching on offense decided to skip this game, apparently.
 

Playing to the level of opponents is very arrogant coaching. It should not be taken as a good thing. I am not sure PJ knows this. It simply states we will win without doing any efforts. BG was playing with nothing to lose attitude and we were playing like we can kick start the playing machine anytime and still win the game. Limited play calling is the reflection of that. If senior laden team can't play no more than f$%%^^ing 5 plays, it is hopeless. It is the year for offense to show the ability.
 

45 rushes, 13 passes. Do the math. BG schemed for a vanilla ass gameplan and it worked out. The Gophers did a run, run, pass, punt all first half and let the Falcons stay in the game. No imagination. Lazy play by the offensive line. A perfect storm of ineptness in all facets of the offensive play. They shit themselves right off the bat....and didn't realize that they stunk until it was too late. I realize that Fleck has a hand in the gameplan......but Sanford needs to be on immediate notice. He better have something good devised for next week.
 

45 rushes, 13 passes. Do the math. BG schemed for a vanilla ass gameplan and it worked out. The Gophers did a run, run, pass, punt all first half and let the Falcons stay in the game. No imagination. Lazy play by the offensive line. A perfect storm of ineptness in all facets of the offensive play. They shit themselves right off the bat....and didn't realize that they stunk until it was too late. I realize that Fleck has a hand in the gameplan......but Sanford needs to be on immediate notice. He better have something good devised for next week.
How bout holding PJ accountable for hiring him and continuing to enable him when it's obviously not working?
 



Can I ask refund for the tickets?:cautious: Food was ok. Homewracking. Weather was nice though. Got to see old stomping ground again. Campus has changed a lot.
 

While I agree a ton with the OP at the same time it’s kind of hard to win and be a consistent top 10-20 program when we only get mainly 3* prospects. Making a living as a program finding only diamonds in the rough, you will only be so good.
It's been hard to recruit blue chippers to Mpls since the pros took over the town. Now with the growing reputation of crazy politics, it's even harder. The occasional year of nine or ten wins is pretty damn good given the recruiting handicap.
 

Playing to the level of your opponent is a Minnesota mindset. It is the idea of pushing egalitarianism into a competitive situation. Don't make the opponent feel bad or outclassed. Make the opponent feel worthy to be on the field with you. It's a way to stifle killer instinct and embrace mediocrity. It has no place in sports.
 

To easy to say we play to level of competition; we don’t win enough to say that. Coaches blew it today.
 

Coaching wasn't great today, but shouldn't we be able to tell Bowling Green what's coming, and they can't stop it.

How the hell are our mammoth offensive lineman being pushed back all game?

It's just disgusting. We were beaten up front by Bowling Greens defensive line. Friggin, Bowling Green.

The offensive coordinator could have called the worst game of his life, and we should still physically put up 28 on them.

We are in deep shit, people. DEEP!
 

Coaching wasn't great today, but shouldn't we be able to tell Bowling Green what's coming, and they can't stop it.

How the hell are our mammoth offensive lineman being pushed back all game?

It's just disgusting. We were beaten up front by Bowling Greens defensive line. Friggin, Bowling Green.

The offensive coordinator could have called the worst game of his life, and we should still physically put up 28 on them.

We are in deep shit, people. DEEP!
I'll bet you we beat Purdue next week. Which is shameful considering the performance today.
 

45 rushes, 13 passes. Do the math. BG schemed for a vanilla ass gameplan and it worked out. The Gophers did a run, run, pass, punt all first half and let the Falcons stay in the game. No imagination. Lazy play by the offensive line. A perfect storm of ineptness in all facets of the offensive play. They shit themselves right off the bat....and didn't realize that they stunk until it was too late. I realize that Fleck has a hand in the gameplan......but Sanford needs to be on immediate notice. He better have something good devised for next week.
Sanford didn't make the two decisions that led to BG's two scores.
 


Sanford didn't make the two decisions that led to BG's two scores.

He made the decisions that led to the Gophers putting up 10 points. After scoring at least 30 in three straight weeks.
 

It's a problem when the head coach is known for being a motivator and a culture guy and then the team plays down to opposition frequently.

Out-hustled, out-prepared, out-coached.
 

He made the decisions that led to the Gophers putting up 10 points. After scoring at least 30 in three straight weeks.
Well, the Gophs would have won 10-0 at minimum without those two decisions, and wouldn't have been scrambling at the end to pull out a win against a team they should have beaten by 20.
 

Defense is responsible for the loss as they couldn't hold BG to big fat zero. /s
 

PJ continues to preach the mantra of making your new best, but it seems his teams play to the level of its competition rather than rise to new levels.

What is your perspective on this?
Amen.

Did the Gophers celebrate homecoming week too much?

PJ Fleck gave the game away on that bonehead 4th and 1 call to go for it.
 

Well, the Gophs would have won 10-0 at minimum without those two decisions, and wouldn't have been scrambling at the end to pull out a win against a team they should have beaten by 20.

Doesn't matter. When you put up 30+ points three straight weeks.....and then play a vanilla gameplan against a team that is ready for it and end up with 10 points.....that's a problem. Anytime you put up 10 points.....you risk losing to a far inferior team.
 

Doesn't matter. When you put up 30+ points three straight weeks.....and then play a vanilla gameplan against a team that is ready for it and end up with 10 points.....that's a problem. Anytime you put up 10 points.....you risk losing to a far inferior team.
It completely matters because those two decisions led to the only points scored by BG. Changed the momentum of the game.
 

It completely matters because those two decisions led to the only points scored by BG. Changed the momentum of the game.

Momentum? What momentum? Going run, run, pass for the majority of the first half was the reason why there was no momentum on the Gophers side. Ten points against a far inferior opponent was the difference between a win and a loss.
 

Momentum? What momentum? Going run, run, pass for the majority of the first half was the reason why there was no momentum on the Gophers side. Ten points against a far inferior opponent was the difference between a win and a loss.
BG scored after both so I think that's a change in momentum.
 




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