Is Rutgers a Possible Trap Game?

[Pompous Elitist]

Heart says na

Head says yes, we’ve seen this movie before. This team has a different flavor though.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

A 50/50 game can’t be a trap game

IMHO, the way we are playing now versus the way Rutgers is playing now removes it from the 50/50 category (at least for me). It was a 50/50 game before the season. It was 50/50 (maybe worse for us) after the Iowa game. But it isn't 50/50 now, again in IMHO. It is a game we should win if we keep doing what we've been doing the past 4 weeks: win the turnover battle and play a reasonably complete game. And we have a huge game on the horizon, just past Rutgers. So, I think it can be a trap game situation. Our disagreement might be more definitional than anything.

 

[Some guy]

IMHO, the way we are playing now versus the way Rutgers is playing now removes it from the 50/50 category (at least for me). It was a 50/50 game before the season. It was 50/50 (maybe worse for us) after the Iowa game. But it isn't 50/50 now, again in IMHO. It is a game we should win if we keep doing what we've been doing the past 4 weeks: win the turnover battle and play a reasonably complete game. And we have a huge game on the horizon, just past Rutgers. So, I think it can be a trap game situation. Our disagreement might be more definitional than anything.

if both teams play their best game it’s a close game.

Thats what a 50/50 game means to me

 

[Dave H]

Agree: Rutgers will be tough - good defensive team, rested up, they can run the ball and they will be motivated to "upset" the Gophers. Don't know if it's a night game, which would also help with crowd participation, excitement, etc.

In what universe are they a good defensive team? What stat comes close to saying any of that? They rank low in almost every category.

Is this like when you tell us how good Nebraska is going to be every year?

 

[Dave H]

if both teams play their best game it’s a close game.

Thats what a 50/50 game means to me

So then this is not a 50/50 game...If both teams play to max ability the Gophers are the better team.

 

[Some guy]

So then this is not a 50/50 game...If both teams play to max ability the Gophers are the better team.

Disagree
Rutgers just hasn’t played well recently so it’s out of your mind

Rutgers has two wins as good as the gophers best win. (Virginia tech and Washington)

 

[Gophergrandpa]

if both teams play their best game it’s a close game.

Thats what a 50/50 game means to me

You may well be right in thinking this is still a 50/50 game. Vegas just set the betting line at Gophers by 5.5 points. Heck, we were favored against a ranked and heathy Illinois team by 3.0 points. So, based primarily, I assume, on the prowess of Rutgers running game, and the possibility that it is capable of playing good defense, Vegas does see the game closer to toss-up than a "should" win. Interesting to see where the bettors (I am not one of them) move the point spread, if at all. To me, it just seems that the Gophers are on an upswing at the moment--having found their identity as a team--and that Rutgers is struggling in that regard. Both teams will be motivated, for multiple reasons. Gophs on the road, which can always make things more difficult. Should be a very interesting game. Go Gophers!

 

[johnnybb]

Who mentioned playoffs?

Playoffs? You kiddin' me?

 

[akgo4]

Shouldnt be called a Trap Game. We need to beat anybody regardless of any of the media/history generated "stuff" there. The AK thing is part of that. Max is better and AK is where he is now. Play the damn game, win, go home, and then focus on the next game.

 

[99Gopher]

This should not be a 50/50 game if you look at all the facts based on the first 9 games. First, at the most important position QB, Max is considerably better than AK. Just watch Max work and you can actually see him get through 4-5 reads in the course of a play. I don't think AK has gotten to a 5th read in his career. He panics way too quickly by the third read and off he goes trying to run. Not to mention, Harbaugh has watched a ton of tape on AK and understands all his flaws, which he can then lay out to Hetherman.

In terms of the RUT Def, other than the first 3 games (barely decent FCS level opponents), they have looked terrible in B1G play. They currently sit 94th in Total DEF and 94th Rush Def. If we struggle against RUT in this game then we will have played down to their level. If we play like the last 3-4 weeks this game shouldn't be close at the end of the 3rd Qtr.

 

[Tech Machine]

This should not be a 50/50 game if you look at all the facts based on the first 9 games. First, at the most important position QB, Max is considerably better than AK. Just watch Max work and you can actually see him get through 4-5 reads in the course of a play. I don't think AK has gotten to a 5th read in his career. He panics way too quickly by the third read and off he goes trying to run. Not to mention, Harbaugh has watched a ton of tape on AK and understands all his flaws, which he can then lay out to Hetherman.

In terms of the RUT Def, other than the first 3 games (barely decent FCS level opponents), they have looked terrible in B1G play. They currently sit 94th in Total DEF and 94th Rush Def. If we struggle against RUT in this game then we will have played down to their level. If we play like the last 3-4 weeks this game shouldn't be close at the end of the 3rd Qtr.

Solid analysis, I believe. Mn favored by 3 over the Ilini was very strange, especially when they are opening at 4 to 6 vs Rutgers.

I wonder how much the close game tendencies for MN affect the line?

 

[Gopherchase]

Rutgers running backs are good. Our run defense will have to be sharp. If it is, we win by three touchdowns. I think Lindenberg has played really well the last couple of games seems to have kicked the rust off which has really helped.

 

[Word]

Rutgers running backs are good. Our run defense will have to be sharp. If it is, we win by three touchdowns. I think Lindenberg has played really well the last couple of games seems to have kicked the rust off which has really helped.

Stack the box and make AK beat us?

 

[RogueGopher]

The Gophers don't do trap games. Every week is its own championship game, only thing everyone is thinking about is beating Rutgers.

 

[PMWinSTP]

So then this is not a 50/50 game...If both teams play to max ability the Gophers are the better team.

??

 

[Spaulding!No!]

There are a lot of reasons for PJ, and our OC and DC to be fully ready for Rutgers. Same is true for Schiano and his Gopher alums at OC and DC. And there is the AK thing.

Rutgers will be coming off the bye, with two weeks to prepare and get healthy. And the Gophs, on a roll, might be looking past Butgers to highly-ranked Penn State in our following game. Potential trap game? Or do we focus on and maul Rutgers?

All the negativity in this town sucks.

 

[Yah-E]

If we lose to Rot-gets, then it’ll look real bad for us. PJ et al will be too proud to lose to his mentor and his pupil.

 

[howeda7]

No. Road game. We're favored by less than a TD. The week after is a bye. Zero excuses.

 

[highwayman]

There are a lot of reasons for PJ, and our OC and DC to be fully ready for Rutgers. Same is true for Schiano and his Gopher alums at OC and DC. And there is the AK thing.

Rutgers will be coming off the bye, with two weeks to prepare and get healthy. And the Gophs, on a roll, might be looking past Butgers to highly-ranked Penn State in our following game. Potential trap game? Or do we focus on and maul Rutgers?

No

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

There are a lot of reasons for PJ, and our OC and DC to be fully ready for Rutgers. Same is true for Schiano and his Gopher alums at OC and DC. And there is the AK thing.

Rutgers will be coming off the bye, with two weeks to prepare and get healthy. And the Gophs, on a roll, might be looking past Butgers to highly-ranked Penn State in our following game. Potential trap game? Or do we focus on and maul Rutgers?

No, because of PJ’s culture. The one game season approach matters in a situation like this, as it helps the team from fixating to much on the Illini W or the PSU game and to simply focus on Rutgers.

As corny as it may sound to us, it’s his approach and those players have heard it for ever, it’s not something novel he just cooked up.

I expect a double digit azz whopping, 31-14 - in that neighborhood.

 

[btowngopher]

Disagree
Rutgers just hasn’t played well recently so it’s out of your mind

Rutgers has two wins as good as the gophers best win. (Virginia tech and Washington)

What positions are they more talented at?

 

[Some guy]

What positions are they more talented at?

Their OL is better in run game for sure. Their RB is close, IMO
Would have to watch them more to compare them positionally on defense. M
I hope you’re right and the gophers are much more talented

 

[btowngopher]

Their OL is better in run game for sure. Their RB is close, IMO
Would have to watch them more to compare them positionally on defense. M
I hope you’re right and the gophers are much more talented

Sounds like they’ve had to replace multiple starters since the beginning of the year due to injuries.

 

[BigGopher69]

They will have the best gameplan possible knowing what their QB can and cannot do

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Playoffs? You kiddin' me?

I was responding to another poster who mentioned playoffs, presumably to make the point, I guess, that you can’t have a trap game—aren’t good enough—unless you are in the hunt for a playoff spot.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Stack the box and make AK beat us?

-Koi and Walley begin to drool-

Seriously though, does anyone feel like our defense generally has committed to a "stack the box all day long" or "pass D all day long" this year?

Feels like our defense has played well, AND not had to make massive run D or pass D type shifts. Very impressive.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

No

Succinctness is a virtue.

 

[btowngopher]

If we play poorly we can easily lose to any B1G team. We don’t need to call every game against the bottom third of the conference a trap game.

 

[50PoundHead]

Gophers are a team that still has to play well to win, which I think eliminates the whole concept of "trap" game for them. I think we're more talented than Rutgers physically, but not to the extent that the Gophers can just show up and expect Rutgers to lie down.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

I would have said maybe, if the Penn State game was 11/16. But it's not, so not a trap game.