In honor of John Galt's thread: What could go RIGHT this year?

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I guess I'll start if off since I'm pretty excited about this season. My other thread wasn't meant to be negative, just thinking about what GHer's might be missing with our unbridled enthusiasm. Many on here thought we were going to surprise in years 3 and 4 under Brewster, and we know how that turned out.

1. The D-line could be special. We get back 7 guys that played a lot last year. Hageman is the monster we expect and becomes a consistent run stuffer as well. The DE's take a leap forward and not only consistently pressure the QB, but play the run better as well.

2. Laster and Campbell come in and "wow" the coaches and get immediate playing and are starting midway through the season.

3. Derrick Wells has a seamless transition to corner. Other guys emerge at the 2nd corner spot, Vereen/Thompson improve and we are better at DB than last year.

4. The O-line plows through B1G defensive lines like they were Texas Tech.

5. Nelson puts it all together and becomes the QB we've been waiting for forever.
 

By year 3 I think we'll see the biggest improvement in the O-line. It has had to be rebuilt from the time the staff arrived.

I also am hoping that we'll win a game or two by Nelson's arm. A 4th quarter drive with some big 3rd down conversions.

Go Gophers!!
 

Other than #2, those aren't very far fetched. If our DL and secondary make a leap, our lbs will look better regardless of how much they improved.
 



"...What could go RIGHT this year?"

Rashede turns into a complete animal on the turf, which through his leadership, will make everyone else on defense ornery and mean, and helps bring some respectability back to Minnesota.

And Jerry Kill gets carried off the field by his "boys" when we win the trip to the Rose Bowl.
 

We don't have a thread regarding the "RAH" at the end of the Rouser.
 

dpodoll68 said:
We could be bowl eligible after 6 games.
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This entirely possible we could catch Michigan having to start a freshman QB. They have too replace both starting guards and the starting center. With only one experienced QB on the roster there's no guarantee he'll be healthy by the sixth game. If our DL is playing well we'll have a chance.
 



the Rah discussion was a low point...kinda meant the season was poor again.
 

What could go right?

Team Health. Period.

Barring any significant injuries (granted, significant is a subjective term), this team wins 7-8 games. I absolutely see that happening. Mostly worried about the health of the DT position. Pretty thin margin for error there.

If everyone stays relatively healthy, I think everything else take care of itself.
 

The passing game clicks. Few dropped balls, and nice accurate throws to open receivers. Teams then have to take the pass seriously, which opens the running game, which in turn means the defense is on the field less.
 

Kill makes it to every practice and coaches every game this year, which would be his first at the U.
 



#1: Hageman continues to develop into the beast that he is.
#2: Nelson has a good year and is a solid Big 10 QB for us.
#3: Harbison comes back healthy and is dynamic.
#4: Our OL and RBs look like they did against Texas Tech.
 

#1. More yards for by 10%
#2. Fewer yards against by 10%
#3. More points for by 10%
#4. Fewer points against by 10%
And a second team All-American
I can dream!
 

Hoping for a real running game and 60% passing game and hoping (praying) for one big upset.
 


We win the pig, the jug, the axe and the Stagg trophy.
 



While watching the BTN replay of the spring game, I realized just how soft our schedule is. If we had a Northwestern like special season we could win 8 or 9 games. And that's only beating the average or horrible teams. Granted, we are the cursed, so I'll stick with 6-7 wins and be happy to make another bowl game. This could be a break out year though. I am certainly intrigued going in...
 



The mental side of the game catches up with the talent. The four C's, Composure, Concentration, Confidence, Commitment. And for a player like Rasheed, he will never, ever outperform his self belief system. The team individually has to embrace the idea talent chases self belief. Meaining if you a a 10 on talent and your self belief is a 7 you will perform as a 7. The other part, is playing within your hype number. Some players chill out, some need heavy metal or rap, some need to be left alone. Each player has to know how he plays best on the hype scale. Some players need to bang helments, other need a deep breath. If your number is say 4 on the hype scale, you must account for the crowd, the band, the oppsosing team. All that can take you to a 6 on the hype scale. The idea everyone must play with their hair on fire, is cliche. This is a whole different side of the game. And while mental toughness cannot win a game, its almost impossible to win with out it. I think the biggest gain this year will be in self belief.
 

wait!what? said:
I looked at the same sched and thought it looked tough.
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Only Michigan and Nebraska will be big favorites, we miss Ohio State, we have Iowa and Wisconsin at home, and we have 2 pretty well placed bye weeks. It's still tough because its the Big Ten, and it would be nice to play Purdue and Illinois, but it is RELATIVELY weak.
 

FreakyDeke said:
Only Michigan and Nebraska will be big favorites, we miss Ohio State, we have Iowa and Wisconsin at home, and we have 2 pretty well placed bye weeks. It's still tough because its the Big Ten, and it would be nice to play Purdue and Illinois, but it is RELATIVELY weak.
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Should win
Could win

Aug. 29 vs. UNLV

Sept. 7 at New Mexico State

Sept. 14 vs. Western Illinois

Sept. 21 vs. San Jose State

Sept. 28 vs. Iowa

Oct. 5 at Michigan

Oct. 19 at Northwestern

Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska

Nov. 2 at Indiana

Nov. 9 vs. Penn State

Nov. 23 vs. Wisconsin

Nov. 30 at Michigan State
 

Sparlimb said:
Should win
Could win

Aug. 29 vs. UNLV

Sept. 7 at New Mexico State

Sept. 14 vs. Western Illinois

Sept. 21 vs. San Jose State

Sept. 28 vs. Iowa

Oct. 5 at Michigan

Oct. 19 at Northwestern

Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska

Nov. 2 at Indiana

Nov. 9 vs. Penn State

Nov. 23 vs. Wisconsin

Nov. 30 at Michigan State
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If this years team is anything like teams in the past, we probably beat NW and lose to Indiana. I still think we go 6-6, but I'm hoping for 7-5.
 

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