If you had to choose your offense's weakness...

[HopHead]

It looks like we are in a similar situation as Iowa in that only part of our offense is really clicking so far this season. So if you had to choose between a good running game and weak passing game or vice versa, which would you pick.

 

[MNVCGUY]

It looks like we are in a similar situation as Iowa in that only part of our offense is really clicking so far this season. So if you had to choose between a good running game and weak passing game or vice versa, which would you pick.

Run game is safer, can control clock and less chance of something bad happening (sack, interception...). That being said you need both to be competent to be successful overall.

 

[HopHead]

Maybe a followup to this would be "which is easier to fix".

 

[upnorthkid]

Personally I'd rather have the strong passing game as in today's football, it's far easier to load the box and stop the run than to throw the dime out there and stop somebody who can really throw the ball well. All of this is said speaking that we still have our defense which is solid.

 

[Deleted_User]

I voted the stronger is the run game. Goes without saying that it is a core and basic play that is reliable. The pass game broadens the whole strategy.

 

[GopherHomer]

Personally I'd rather have the strong passing game as in today's football, it's far easier to load the box and stop the run than to throw the dime out there and stop somebody who can really throw the ball well. All of this is said speaking that we still have our defense which is solid.

I would agree with this for the professional game, but I still think the running game is more important in college. I watched the replay of the PSU game, and they seem to be a good 'opposite comparison' for us. They threw almost every down, and I like our chances to have the better season. Hackenburg is great, but there is just so much that can go wrong in the college passing game.

 

[upnorthkid]

I would agree with this for the professional game, but I still think the running game is more important in college. I watched the replay of the PSU game, and they seem to be a good 'opposite comparison' for us. They threw almost every down, and I like our chances to have the better season. Hackenburg is great, but there is just so much that can go wrong in the college passing game.

Only issue I have with that comparison is their line is BRUTAL (or has been so far) and I'd put that as a contingent when you have a good passing attack. I know that's not always the case but in looking at the teams who have been consistently at the top the last few years (since implementation of the new passing rule), there are far more pass dominant teams in there. Just my opinion

 

[Great Plains Gopher]

I would like to see the Gophers develop a short-passing game (like Bud Grant's, which was close in some respects to a ball control running game). Throw to backs, tight ends, receivers, and only occasionally the long bomb. Pair this with a good running attack and you have some variability and lots of running after the catch.

 

[Dr.Don]

Bud Grant and OC Jerry Burns actually introduced the "West Coast Offense".

Sprint outs by Tarkenton, tight ends like Joe Sensor, and don't forget Boom Boom Brown.

 

[DoubleB]

This is tricky as there is more to it
I voted strong passing game but only if the defense can play. the case like Indiana last year..they could score a bunch and fast with their passing game but the defense sucked.

the short passing game can also be used similar to a running attack but the long running game is tough to compare to the passing game.