Gray

[Curseislifted33]

I have not really seen much on this and its bothering me. Why did he not play more against Syracuse? Any specific reasons? With the way the offense stalled during the 2nd and 3rd quarters, would have been a nice jolt to see him jump in for a series and maybe break a play with his size and speed? I loved the heart we showed, but the offense really lacked an identity during the middle of the game...Just has been going through my mind and i can't seem to find a legitimate reason to at least give him a small shot to change the game...

 

[Gopher Nation]

Because the coaches don't know what they're doing.

 

[GoAUpher]

I have not really seen much on this and its bothering me. Why did he not play more against Syracuse? Any specific reasons? With the way the offense stalled during the 2nd and 3rd quarters, would have been a nice jolt to see him jump in for a series and maybe break a play with his size and speed? I loved the heart we showed, but the offense really lacked an identity during the middle of the game...Just has been going through my mind and i can't seem to find a legitimate reason to at least give him a small shot to change the game...

Well, after the game they said they'd be working him in more as the games progressed. That doesn't explain this past weekend. Honestly, I can give you about 5 reasons but they're all conjecture. Personally, I'm not sure what kind of difference he would have made if the O-Line played the same.

 

[MaroonGold1]

I wouldn't have minded seeing Gray get a series as well, when the offense was stalled for most of the game, but the reason he didn't play more is simple. He is our backup QB, and Brew stuck with the starter throughout his shaky start, and it paid off in the end with a Win.

 

[Gopher Nation]

I wouldn't have minded seeing Gray get a series as well, when the offense was stalled for most of the game, but the reason he didn't play more is simple. He is our backup QB, and Brew stuck with the starter throughout his shaky start, and it paid off in the end with a Win.

But Brewster has been saying for months that they have "big plans" for Gray this year. Apparently that meant lining up as a decoy at WR for two plays. That is big.

 

[UptownMaroon&Gold]

I think maybe there was something to the fact that it was a road game, with a semi-hostile crowd. At least that is what I am hoping was the reason, I hope we see him do something this week. Especially if Weber has so many poor throws in the second quarter.

 

[monk10]

I hope we get a new thread about why Gray didn't play more or should play more every day.

 

[GoAUpher]

But Brewster has been saying for months that they have "big plans" for Gray this year. Apparently that meant lining up as a decoy at WR for two plays. That is big.

Ah...so if we don't use all of our big plans in the first game it means we don't have any. Got it.

 

[Monty519]

Perhaps Gray did some things in practice to give the team pause in using him extensively in his very first game of his career? Perhaps he wanted the offense to work out their issues, which were pretty predictable to occur in the very first game, and in the end of the game, saw the fruits of their patience. We don't know everything that was involved in the decision not to play him more. I think it is quite premature to criticize the coaches for not playing a freshman QB playing in a hostile environment more after just one game. One game doesn't determine an entire career, or even this season. Let's get the 1st team offense, led by Weber on track, because we're gonna need them to play in sync if we want success this year. I'm not in the least worried about Gray one game into his 4 year college career.

 

[MaxyJR1]

Maybe

it was because he is a freshman that hasn't played in a real game in more than two years. It was one game. It will evolve over the next two years.

 

[jovs]

Perhaps Gray did some things in practice to give the team pause in using him extensively in his very first game of his career? Perhaps he wanted the offense to work out their issues, which were pretty predictable to occur in the very first game, and in the end of the game, saw the fruits of their patience. We don't know everything that was involved in the decision not to play him more. I think it is quite premature to criticize the coaches for not playing a freshman QB playing in a hostile environment more after just one game. One game doesn't determine an entire career, or even this season. Let's get the 1st team offense, led by Weber on track, because we're gonna need them to play in sync if we want success this year. I'm not in the least worried about Gray one game into his 4 year college career.

The problem is that this is not the first case of a horrible offense. It is a carryover from the end of last season. They need to find a solution for it and if replacing Weber is it, so be it.

 

[WAGopher]

Gray didn't play because he wasn't ready. Sure, he did great in the Spring game, but didn't do anything in the Scrimmage a couple weeks ago. Brewster will ease him in, keep his confidence up, and we'll see some good things, but being the starting QB isn't one of them unless Weber gets injured or has a complete melt down (which won't happen).

The stalled offense had more to do with Fisch getting cute with plays like the Wildcat before the offense established anything.

 

[wait!what?]

tru dat. no need for 'cute' plays when almost every part of the O is struggling.

 

[MBAGuy]

The problem is that this is not the first case of a horrible offense. It is a carryover from the end of last season. They need to find a solution for it and if replacing Weber is it, so be it.

Jeebus. Can you imagine the bloodletting that would have taken place on this board had we actually lost the game?

I was screaming for Gray to get a series during the 3rd quarter. I was also uber wasted. Having now had a couple of days to sober up, keeping Weber in the game to find his rhythm was the right call. Gray is going to be an awesome change of pace guy. But we need a pace from which to change in our base offense before Gray can come in.

 

[gopher7]

I 100% support MarQueis not playing last Saturday. Many of my reasons have already been laid out here nicely.

- I don't think people appreciate how difficult of an environment that was on Saturday. With the exception of the brief period when we were up 14-3, the crowd was into it, and it was loud.

- Our offense was already extremely out of sync. The line did not block well, there were several false starts, the timing was off with the receivers. All sorts of stuff like that. IMO before we put Gray in, the offense as a whole has to be doing much better than they did on Saturday. Throwing a true freshman QB into that offense would have made things worse.

- There is no problem with Brew hyping up Gray, because frankly, he doesn't answer to the fans. Maybe his motivation was to throw Syracuse off? For all we know Brew may have caused Syracuse to spend several hours game-planning for a player that he darn well he was not going to use.

MarQueis will get his time, and he will be good. From a fans perspective it just may require some patience.

 

[highwayman]

I 100% support MarQueis not playing last Saturday. Many of my reasons have already been laid out here nicely.

- I don't think people appreciate how difficult of an environment that was on Saturday. With the exception of the brief period when we were up 14-3, the crowd was into it, and it was loud.

- Our offense was already extremely out of sync. The line did not block well, there were several false starts, the timing was off with the receivers. All sorts of stuff like that. IMO before we put Gray in, the offense as a whole has to be doing much better than they did on Saturday. Throwing a true freshman QB into that offense would have made things worse.

- There is no problem with Brew hyping up Gray, because frankly, he doesn't answer to the fans. Maybe his motivation was to throw Syracuse off? For all we know Brew may have caused Syracuse to spend several hours game-planning for a player that he darn well he was not going to use.

MarQueis will get his time, and he will be good. From a fans perspective it just may require some patience.

I concur. I was at 'Cuse and it was as loud, maybe louder than the Metrodome. "Tinny" loud. Pumped in noise and band playing loud until the Gophers broke huddle.

I heard from a very reliable source post-game that none of the players in the huddle could actually hear Weber call the plays--they basically read his lips. They used a "silent count" for most of the game, which explains the jumping linemen.

How would MarQuies have reacted to that???

 

[frozengopher]

Wow. Let's throw our entire playbook on the field at Syracuse so everyone else for the rest of the season knows exactly what role Gray will play. That just sounds brilliant.

We used him in the the Wildgopher, it failed miserably, and he watched the rest of the game because it was going to get him hurt if we kept on running it. We needed competent receivers on the field, which were few and far between Saturday, and putting in a freshman QB at wideout in a game we desperately needed to come back and win was not an option. As long as I see production from Weber (and I fully expect him to be back on par this coming week) I could care less if I see Gray on the field at all for the rest of the year. Give him time to eat the playbook and be our beast in two years. Weber will be fine.

 

[Monty519]

I concur. I was at 'Cuse and it was as loud, maybe louder than the Metrodome. "Tinny" loud. Pumped in noise and band playing loud until the Gophers broke huddle.

I heard from a very reliable source post-game that none of the players in the huddle could actually hear Weber call the plays--they basically read his lips. They used a "silent count" for most of the game, which explains the jumping linemen.

How would MarQuies have reacted to that???

Wow, I didn't think it was quite like that. Even more reason to go with vets, yeah. And if that's true, this also is great preparation for future visits to OSU, PSU, and Iowa.

 

[re3886]

would it be possible to jump to this conclusion any earlier?

But Brewster has been saying for months that they have "big plans" for Gray this year. Apparently that meant lining up as a decoy at WR for two plays. That is big.

If the end of N.C. comes around and things are the same come back and bitch then.

 

[Gopher Nation]

Wow. Let's throw our entire playbook on the field at Syracuse so everyone else for the rest of the season knows exactly what role Gray will play. That just sounds brilliant.

Oh, I see. It was all about protecting the playbook to keep future opponents off balance. Yeah, I'm sure that was it.

 

[MBAGuy]

Oh, I see. It was all about protecting the playbook to keep future opponents off balance. Yeah, I'm sure that was it.

Wow. 11 for 11 on negative, "sky is falling" posts. Nice work.

P.S. We have a brand new stadium opening in four days and we're 1-0. You have my permission to show a little enthusiasm about the program.

 

[GoAUpher]

Oh, I see. It was all about protecting the playbook to keep future opponents off balance. Yeah, I'm sure that was it.

Mmm hmmm...you just keep trolling along. I think there is a lot more supporting A) the thought that you don't toss an unproven frosh out there as the savior in the first game when your starter hasn't gotten untracked or B) that the gameplan had a small, set package for Gray which we ran with no results and tossing him back in wasn't planned for.

I don't think either means the coaches don't know what they're doing. In fact, Gray's PT is one of the last things I'd pick on the coaches for.

But as I said, you are off to a troll-rific start on the board and I wouldn't want you to stop you when you're in the zone.

 

[Gopher Nation]

Mmm hmmm...you just keep trolling along. I think there is a lot more supporting A) the thought that you don't toss an unproven frosh out there as the savior in the first game when your starter hasn't gotten untracked or B) that the gameplan had a small, set package for Gray which we ran with no results and tossing him back in wasn't planned for.

I don't think either means the coaches don't know what they're doing. In fact, Gray's PT is one of the last things I'd pick on the coaches for.

But as I said, you are off to a troll-rific start on the board and I wouldn't want you to stop you when you're in the zone.

Who said anything about him being the savior? He lined up for two plays as a decoy at WR. There's quite a bit of room between two plays at WR and savior. They could've worked him into the game more than two plays, thus advancing his development.

But go ahead, bash away at anyone with a different opinion than yours. Whatever gets you through the day.

 

[oleboy41]

He's a true frosh that hasn't played a game in over 2 years (remember he missed most of his senior year in HS. IF you remember last year many of our true frosh didn't play the first few games, either. What people don't realize is that this isn't Madden or NCAA 10. Rhythm is extremely important for an offense, especially an OL and even more so in a loud environment using a snap count. Its hard to just put an entirely new QB in there for just a play or two and just hope he can get something done, especially in a hostile environment with a true frosh that's never played before. Imagine if we put Gray in there and his first play was a 5 yd loss or he was pressured into a bad throw. The crowd would've went nuts and our O would've been in an even worse position. I think they would've used him if the O was getting some things going. Then you bring him in on a 2nd and short maybe or even the first play of a drive when we have good field position. What they did do was show a look which teams now have to prepare for. They have to at least prepare for the possibility of Gray running a route or a throwback screen or any number of things. They didn't want to put him in a bad situation but got him on the field none the less and teams have to take account for him now.

 

[Gopher Nation]

Wow. 11 for 11 on negative, "sky is falling" posts. Nice work.

P.S. We have a brand new stadium opening in four days and we're 1-0. You have my permission to show a little enthusiasm about the program.

Are you done stalking me now?

 

[wait!what?]

goAu as usual, is spot on. In addition, I'll continue to trust the coaches who spend every minute of their working day with the players anc coaches to determine who, what, when and why.

per Mike Tice "enjoy da season"

 

[1221]

there is a chance he could be like pittman.

 

[GoAUpher]

Who said anything about him being the savior? He lined up for two plays as a decoy at WR. There's quite a bit of room between two plays at WR and savior. They could've worked him into the game more than two plays, thus advancing his development.

But go ahead, bash away at anyone with a different opinion than yours. Whatever gets you through the day.

Advancing his development? In a game where our O-Line was playing like crap and our running game was making a sporadic appearance? That's not the time to develop a young player. That's when your young player makes a critical mistake or gets hurt.

 

[Gopher Nation]

I bet I know your response to people who are critical of the government on any topic: "If you don't like it, move to Canada."
I'm sorry if you can't handle someone questioning the coaching acumen of a guy who doesn't exactly have the greatest track record in the world.

 

[Gopher Nation]

Advancing his development? In a game where our O-Line was playing like crap and our running game was making a sporadic appearance? That's not the time to develop a young player. That's when your young player makes a critical mistake or gets hurt.

Oh, what? Playing like crap? I thought you weren't allowed to bring all those negative comments to this message board???