*** Gophers vs. Badgers - 11/23 Pre-Game Thread!!!! ***

[killme]

The other 10 are funny, too. I think we should check their scores. Perhaps they photoshopped in a few TDs?

 

[Gold Vision]

Does anyone know how the blackout restrictions work for WatchESPN? We're trying to get a tailgate feed going of the game this weekend.

 

[Gopher07]

Does anyone know how the blackout restrictions work for WatchESPN? We're trying to get a tailgate feed going of the game this weekend.

I think any games that are regionally/locally sold - like those on ABC - are blacked out in the "local" area. Nationally broadcast games, however, are available to everyone (we are a national broadcast so blackouts won't apply).

 

[Gold Vision]

I think any games that are regionally/locally sold - like those on ABC - are blacked out in the "local" area. Nationally broadcast games, however, are available to everyone (we are a national broadcast so blackouts won't apply).

That makes sense, thanks!

 

[gopherdudepart2]

No offense taken.

I took the liberty of correcting a couple of your typos. No offense intended. Your post is what makes this so fun. What if the coaches actually do some of the things you suggest? Some of it sounds reasonable. I want wait to find out what Limegrover and Claeys have cooked up after 2 weeks.

There is no chance the coaches would do what I suggest. The gophers staff knows how best to attack Wisconsin, they see the coaches film. All I'm saying is I would be a little more conservative. We need to have people on the backside that can shut things down so Wisconsin is not burning off 40 to 50 yard runs. Our defensive lineman should be able to string to the sidelines or beat them off the edge.
I do sense a weakness in the left side of the offensive line for that team that can be exploited. I don't think there left tackle(you can get him off balance) and left guard are as talented a players as they have had in the past at least not as physically strong. There center is also undersized compared to there usual top shelf guys.
They like to run that way because those are a couple of there quicker lineman and they like to pull the center outside of the tackle. I sense a different look or a 3-4 even though they, Wisconsin play that defense would confuse their quarterback at times. It's not something I would do every series but to change things up that would be a look I would use. Gophers have had some success with 3 man fronts in the past. Shede is going to have to be disciplined and not let them just stand him up and get under his pads, he is going to have to be able to get lower and push them back and create a mess in the 4 gaps.
Gophers have some quickness on the defensive side of the ball they can use and should be able to isolate some match ups that we can see them win on the edge. The keys to this game for me are the two defensive tackles Botticelli and Roland Johnson being able to bottle up and stiffle there center(keep him from getting outside) and the right guard from pulling and keeping Damien Wilson and James Manual or Cambell free to make tackles. In my opinion we have to beat there center and left guard and left tackle to have success on Saturday. There right side of there line is a little nasty and probably has an edge. I would not bring my safety's up to the line like a lot of teams do, you need them to be able to stop the running back from turning smaller gains in to explosive runs. We have to try to man up and be physical up front, there is no other way to beat this team then to try to play them heads up, get under there pads and see the Gophers quickness play a role in attacking them in the backfield. To many guy's show up scared and imtimidated. You let them lean on you and it is game over, but if you can beat them forward before they get that motion moving or get up the field and you at least have a chance. IF there going to pull the center like those guys are want to do, we need to bust through and shut if off.
This teams offensive line is not as strong as last years or even the year before, it may not look like it up front(or to the casual eye) but they can be beat up there.

 

[mcal24]

I think the biggest thing will be special teams. If we can make Wisconsin go 80+ yards each time I think our defense can hold. I saw a start somewhere that said the gophers were 5th in the country in special teams.

Sent from my XT912 using Tapatalk

 

[It's a Pig Man!]

Anyone know when games are available for replay on ESPN3 without having to login? We (Utah State) have a game at 2:30 as well so I won't be able to watch it live (I'm going to do everything I can to not find out the score, didn't work for the UNLV game but did for Indiana). I can get login info if need be but it would be easier if I didn't have to.

 

[mcal24]

Anyone know when games are available for replay on ESPN3 without having to login? We (Utah State) have a game at 2:30 as well so I won't be able to watch it live (I'm going to do everything I can to not find out the score, didn't work for the UNLV game but did for Indiana). I can get login info if need be but it would be easier if I didn't have to.

Do they let you watch any games without logging in? I always thought you had to

 

[It's a Pig Man!]

Do they let you watch any games without logging in? I always thought you had to

Nope, you can watch yesterday's replays already. I'm just not sure if they are available immediately after the game ends or if it's not until some hours later or the next day or something.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Can we expect to see R. Williams? I think he could be effective with David Cobb in wearing down the Badgers defense.

 

[GVBadger]

It's not like either team will be throwing it all over the place, or has an explosive offense...on paper. This should be a relatively low scoring game. Giving that many points is just amazing to me.

They are second in the country in number of plays over 50 yards with 15. Number 1 is Baylor with 18. I guess relative to Baylor they are not explosive.

 

[mplsbadger]

An interesting angle in this one will be who uses the "Jet Sweep/Option" better. Wisconsin used the jet sweep to great effect in the Big Ten title game last year and has since turned it into a play where they either run the sweep, dive, or play action. I'm not sure if it is appropriate to call it an option, but I'll bet the QB is counting guys at the line of scrimmage and changing into the most favorable choice on at least some occasions.

Limegrover admitted drafting it from the UW film for Nebraska and now it's becoming a regular part of the Gopher offense. Both staffs are doing cool stuff with this play. With Nelson, the Gophers could probably run an effective bootleg opposite the direction of the sweep. This will be an interesting side note to keep an eye on.

Oddly enough, what's old is new again. I don't know if anyone else will remember this but in the 2003 game at the dome I believe, Mase's team gained a ton of yards on 3 or 4 jet sweeps before halftime. Does anyone else remember this and remember who the wideout was that was running the ball?

 

[CentralGopher]

I'd bet the fadgers are going to do all they can to take away the pass to Max Williams down the middle away from us. We've seen that be pretty effective against unprepared teams but I think we may have seen the last of it this season. Going to need a new wrinkle for the last two games.

 

[jaymil]

Can we expect to see R. Williams? I think he could be effective with David Cobb in wearing down the Badgers defense.

I think so. No offense to Kirkwood but I'd rather see Williams give Cobb a break. He has been more effective this year than Donnell and should have fresh legs.

 

[AEmerson40]

I'm going to Vegas tomorrow through Friday and then flying in to Minneapolis Friday night for the game. Thinking about taking Wisconsin on the moneyline so that I'll have a consolation if we come up short. If the Gophers win I could truly careless about the bet. Seems like a win-win.

Would suck if the Gophers lost by two touchdowns and didn't cover though.

 

[mplsbadger]

Would suck if the Gophers lost by two touchdowns and didn't cover though.

I think money line means an odds based line where you win if your team wins (like with a pony at Canterbury) as opposed to a points line.

 

[AEmerson40]

I think money line means an odds based line where you win if your team wins (like with a pony at Canterbury) as opposed to a points line.

Ah. Didn't notice that detail - thanks for the correction.

 

[killme]

They are second in the country in number of plays over 50 yards with 15. Number 1 is Baylor with 18. I guess relative to Baylor they are not explosive.

Yikes! I stand corrected. Am I still right that neither team will be throwing it all over the place?

 

[cmart102]

Yikes! I stand corrected. Am I still right that neither team will be throwing it all over the place?

Unless the gophers run the same game plan that Ohio State used against Wisconsin (8/9 in the box every play) , I doubt Stave will throw it much.

 

[AEmerson40]

If this was the video of the award for longest week ever (related to sports), Taylor Swift = week leading up to 2009 NFC Championship game, Kanye West = me, and Beyonce = this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhL2LoYaZ90

 

[AuEGO4]

 

[jaymil]

An interesting angle in this one will be who uses the "Jet Sweep/Option" better. Wisconsin used the jet sweep to great effect in the Big Ten title game last year and has since turned it into a play where they either run the sweep, dive, or play action. I'm not sure if it is appropriate to call it an option, but I'll bet the QB is counting guys at the line of scrimmage and changing into the most favorable choice on at least some occasions.

Limegrover admitted drafting it from the UW film for Nebraska and now it's becoming a regular part of the Gopher offense. Both staffs are doing cool stuff with this play. With Nelson, the Gophers could probably run an effective bootleg opposite the direction of the sweep. This will be an interesting side note to keep an eye on.

Oddly enough, what's old is new again. I don't know if anyone else will remember this but in the 2003 game at the dome I believe, Mase's team gained a ton of yards on 3 or 4 jet sweeps before halftime. Does anyone else remember this and remember who the wideout was that was running the ball?

Didn't Maroney run the jet sweep (or some version of it) quite a bit when him and Barber were both on the team?

 

[ToddisGahd]

It's not like either team will be throwing it all over the place, or has an explosive offense...on paper. This should be a relatively low scoring game. Giving that many points is just amazing to me.

FWIW, Wisconsin has been very explosive this year. Wisconsin gains 20+ yards on 7.9% of rush attempts, best in the country. They are second in plays of 50 yards or more, behind only Baylor. Wisconsin has 14 rushing TD's of 20 yards or more, tied with Oregon for best in the country. Wisconsin also averages 9.4 yards per rush outside the tackles, best of any AQ team.

Wisconsin backs average 4.3 yards per carry before first contact, best of any AQ team, and 1.8 yard above average. Jared Abbrederis also has 6 catches of 50 yards or more, and 12 over 25, so it's not just the running game.

 

[golfinggopher]

FWIW, Wisconsin has been very explosive this year. Wisconsin gains 20+ yards on 7.9% of rush attempts, best in the country. They are second in plays of 50 yards or more, behind only Baylor. Wisconsin has 14 rushing TD's of 20 yards or more, tied with Oregon for best in the country. Wisconsin also averages 9.4 yards per rush outside the tackles, best of any AQ team.

Wisconsin backs average 4.3 yards per carry before first contact, best of any AQ team, and 1.8 yard above average. Jared Abbrederis also has 6 catches of 50 yards or more, and 12 over 25, so it's not just the running game.

Wow, we better now show up. Todd or "Gahd", whatever your name is, could you explain what kind of "Gahd" that you are? Obviously you have enlightened us on how "Gahdly" the Badgers are.

 

[ToddisGahd]

Wow, we better now show up. Todd or "Gahd", whatever your name is, could you explain what kind of "Gahd" that you are? Obviously you have enlightened us on how "Gahdly" the Badgers are.

Yes, the Gopher's better show up.

My name isn't Todd. I have an irrational love for the exceedingly mediocre Todd Bertuzzi due to playing NHL 2009 in college.

Oh, and try not to be so sensitive; it's very unbecoming.

 

[maroonedinCA]

Wow, we better now show up. Todd or "Gahd", whatever your name is, could you explain what kind of "Gahd" that you are? Obviously you have enlightened us on how "Gahdly" the Badgers are.

Are you sitting around just looking to be offended about something? That's not even remotely close to what he said. He responded to someone that claimed UW didn't have an explosis offense and countered with stats that prove otherwise. Nowhere did Todd write 'yeah our offense is so great you guys should just pack it up and head home'.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Win this for Mad Dog Vachon - RIP

 

[Curseislifted33]

Gawd I effin hate Wisconsin.

 

[killme]

FWIW, Wisconsin has been very explosive this year.

I already took my lumps for this: post #78. I was suggesting the game might be a bit of a lower scoring contest, equating passing offenses tend to have more possessions and plays. But, I certainly appreciate all the information about how explosive Wisc is. A friend who lives in Vegas and bets successfully on sports a fair amount thinks Wisc will cover. If I was a betting man...

 

[golfinggopher]

Are you sitting around just looking to be offended about something? That's not even remotely close to what he said. He responded to someone that claimed UW didn't have an explosis offense and countered with stats that prove otherwise. Nowhere did Todd write 'yeah our offense is so great you guys should just pack it up and head home'.

Nope, not at all, just get tired of the Wisconsin arrogance. However, not surprising that you come to the defense of your Wisconsin brethren. I know, I know, "I graduated from the U" blah blah blah. It's easy to see who your allegiance is to.