Know your 2017 Northwestern football opponent, Week 12: Minnesota

[BleedGopher]

per Inside NU:

Players to Know
RB Shannon Brooks

Rodney Smith is probably a top 5 running back in the conference, so you’ve most likely heard of him by now. Don’t sleep on Brooks. The junior has piled up 14 touchdowns in two seasons despite only receiving limited touches and is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

DT Steven Richardson

Richardson is one of the most underrated players in the Big Ten, much of which simply has to do with the position he plays. Guys in the trenches don’t get much publicity (unless they’re Ndamukong Suh), but Richardson’s presence in the interior makes a huge difference. Brad North, J.B. Butler, and Tommy Doles will have their hands full when the Gophers come to Evanston.

WR Rashad Still

Whoever ends up winning the QB job will have a pretty nice go-to target in the 6-foot-5 Still. The junior caught just 18 balls last season but averaged 19.4 yards per catch and has reportedly made major strides this offseason.

https://www.insidenu.com/2017/8/1/1...ek-12-minnesota-pj-fleck-rodney-smith-gophers

Go Gophers!!

 

[short ornery norwegian]

RE: Still and WR's in general.

For the last 3 years (otherwise known as the Mitch Leidner era), we have been contemplating this question:

Do the WR's struggle with production because of inconsistent QB play, or are the QB's inconsistent because of a lack of viable options at WR?

From that perspective, it will be very interesting to see Still, Johnson, Carter, even Lingen in a different offense with a different QB, and see what happens. If one of the returning WR's goes nuts, that may indicate the QB play, or the system, was the issue. If none of the returning WR's show a gain in production, then maybe Leidner and/or the system weren't as bad as some people thought.

 

[Word]

RE: Still and WR's in general.

For the last 3 years (otherwise known as the Mitch Leidner era), we have been contemplating this question:

Do the WR's struggle with production because of inconsistent QB play, or are the QB's inconsistent because of a lack of viable options at WR?

From that perspective, it will be very interesting to see Still, Johnson, Carter, even Lingen in a different offense with a different QB, and see what happens. If one of the returning WR's goes nuts, that may indicate the QB play, or the system, was the issue. If none of the returning WR's show a gain in production, then maybe Leidner and/or the system weren't as bad as some people thought.

Our receivers have been bad. Rarely do they get 50/50 balls or create separation. Hopefully that changes. I am optimistic about Johnson.

Sent from my Commodore 64 using Tapatalk

 

[Some guy]

Our receivers have been bad. Rarely do they get 50/50 balls or create separation. Hopefully that changes. I am optimistic about Johnson.

Sent from my Commodore 64 using Tapatalk

Never having guys open is as much on scheme as wideouts. You have to run plays that take advantage of defenses weaknesses...something rarely done in the past 4 years. We did what we did, love it or hate it.

There Is a reason KJ Maye is getting an NFL tryout. Isaac Fruechte played in an NFL game as did Max Williams.
Wolitarsky in CFL.


Not exactly the best wideouts in the world but 4 guys playing some sort of professional ball in 3.5 years as a starter for mitch. Mitch getting a look in Baltimore I think? So I actually agree with Rich Gannon more than anyone.