Leidner - The Key to 2014

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ncgo4

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If you listen to Coach Kill and others the team has made great progress over the winter. The defense, the Offensive line, running backs, wide receivers and team leadership. The entire squad is faster, stronger and deeper. The critical area the experts all say is offensive success and specifically, passing.

The base question seems to be, therefore, how good can Mitch and his receiving corp be this coming year? And if he is really, really good how good are the Gophers? Can he become the second coming of Drew Brees or Payton Manning? What if he's only one of the top two most accurate passers in the B10 and one of the three top running QB's? What does he need to achieve for major Gopher improvement and then, what would we expect that success look like?
 

Interesting take. Surprised it's taken this long for someone to address this.
 

He needs to be better than Tim Salem and near Assad Abdul Kaliq's numbers.
 

No chance he's a top 2 rushing QB, he's just not fast enough. He's big, but we can't afford to get him hurt, so he won't be running all that much. We have a large stable of backs and if they are all healthy they get to take the pounding. We have two sophomore receivers who may be better this year (they showed promise last year, but they were not game changers) and a few promising recruits who might have their own 13 reception seasons. So it seems unlikely a top passer is going to be found wearing Leidner on his back either. We are a defense first team that needs to score enough to win and that is it. Our defense will need to carry us this year, because the offense is at least 1 if not 2 years away from scaring anyone.
 

I would like to see us in the top half of the B1G for passing yards, rush yards staying the same as last year. That would be a significant improvement, not sure it will happen but we need to jump at least a couple spots.
 


If Duke and Maxx are as fast as our DBs, they are going to account for a lot of yards. Backs are going to rack up some yards. Our WRs will certainly be better than last year. Considerably better. Limegrover said that Matt has the "it" factor. Our passing game will be in the top half of the conference. He isn't #2 and fighting to get reps. He has been throwing to his targets since last year. Our coaches do not hype, overstate, or overpromise.
 

Since I raised the question let me give you my expectations. I think there's a 75% chance for a real breakout year. Mitch is tall enough and experienced enough and the O Line is finally large enough and experienced enough to give him time to see the 2nd & 3rd options. We have two good tight ends, one of whom has the skill set to be all world. We've got one receiver (Wolitarsky) with great hands that should now be in sync with Mitch for V G routes. We have two more receivers in Jones & Holland with the size & speed to really help.

I think this is the first year in decades where we present a combination of excellent running and excellent passing. Minnesota to be in the top four in total offense in the Big Ten facing Wisconsin on the last day for the championship of the West.

I really believe the feedback from Kill, Mitch & others. Could someone pass another glass of Kool Aid?
 

ncgo4 said:
Since I raised the question let me give you my expectations. I think there's a 75% chance for a real breakout year. Mitch is tall enough and experienced enough and the O Line is finally large enough and experienced enough to give him time to see the 2nd & 3rd options. We have two good tight ends, one of whom has the skill set to be all world. We've got one receiver (Wolitarsky) with great hands that should now be in sync with Mitch for V G routes. We have two more receivers in Jones & Holland with the size & speed to really help.

I think this is the first year in decades where we present a combination of excellent running and excellent passing. Minnesota to be in the top four in total offense in the Big Ten facing Wisconsin on the last day for the championship of the West.

I really believe the feedback from Kill, Mitch & others. Could someone pass another glass of Kool Aid?
Click to expand...

I think this is possible, and it would be amazing to watch. The fact that we have not seen a passing game like that from this coaching staff yet is my only small concern. The weapons we have at TE, along with potential wide receivers and a QB who should now know the system better than any we have had in Kill's tenure bodes well for us. There really shouldn't be a reason we don't greatly improve in the pass game.
Pass the kool aid
 

ncgo4 said:
If you listen to Coach Kill and others the team has made great progress over the winter. The defense, the Offensive line, running backs, wide receivers and team leadership. The entire squad is faster, stronger and deeper. The critical area the experts all say is offensive success and specifically, passing.

The base question seems to be, therefore, how good can Mitch and his receiving corp be this coming year? And if he is really, really good how good are the Gophers? Can he become the second coming of Drew Brees or Payton Manning? What if he's only one of the top two most accurate passers in the B10 and one of the three top running QB's? What does he need to achieve for major Gopher improvement and then, what would we expect that success look like?
Click to expand...

Drew Brees comparison to Leidner is apt.
 






The part that concerns me most with Leidner is turnovers. He had a case of the fumbles at times last year and I hope that our receivers are able to get open to where he is not having to force passes.
 



Colin Klein is a good target for Mitch to aspire. A threat to run and an efficient passer. He isn't going to be Payton.
 


Year ▴ School Conf Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
*2005 Minnesota Big Ten QB 11 176 297 59.3 2530 8.5 8.4 19 9 145.9
*2006 Minnesota Big Ten QB 13 214 359 59.6 2819 7.9 7.9 22 9 140.8

He'll run more than Cupito, but I'll take his passing stats the last two years of Cupito. But starting this year.
 

GoldenBoy13 said:
The part that concerns me most with Leidner is turnovers. He had a case of the fumbles at times last year and I hope that our receivers are able to get open to where he is not having to force passes.
Click to expand...

Hopefully he learns to learn to throw the ball away if no one is open. A lot of his fumbles seemed to me from not getting rid of the ball. I am sure the coaches have worked on his reads a lot and should hopefully be good to go.
 

ncgo4 said:
If you listen to Coach Kill and others the team has made great progress over the winter. The defense, the Offensive line, running backs, wide receivers and team leadership. The entire squad is faster, stronger and deeper. The critical area the experts all say is offensive success and specifically, passing.

The base question seems to be, therefore, how good can Mitch and his receiving corp be this coming year? And if he is really, really good how good are the Gophers? Can he become the second coming of Drew Brees or Payton Manning? What if he's only one of the top two most accurate passers in the B10 and one of the three top running QB's? What does he need to achieve for major Gopher improvement and then, what would we expect that success look like?
Click to expand...

Mitch could be a very good QB for us and never come close to being anywhere in the same stratosphere as Brees and Manning. What did you see last year that would make you think he has any shot of being comparable to an elite, not just good but elite, NFL QB?

Clearly Mitch is the key to nearly everything offensively because if we still can't pass it doesn't matter how solid the running game or O-Line are since the good teams will just stack the box and make it really tough to move the ball on the ground. When he was recruited it was widely believed he would be a TE by this point of his Gopher career. I am all for Mitch leading this team and being a good solid QB for us but I don't think he has elite level upside, he just needs to take care of the ball and be a credible threat in the passing game. If he can do that the offense has a good chance to take a big step forward this year.

Tossing the NFL or top of the Big Ten fantasy land stuff out to address your question of what would be success it is pretty simple. Very few turnovers, and top half of the conference completion percentage. He doesn't have to be great as a passer but he has to be good enough to keep defenses honest.
 

Most of this thread is absurd.

I'd be thrilled--ecstatic, really--if we don't finish in the bottom half of the conference in passing.

I like Mitch. I don't think he's ever going to be great. I still stand by my prediction that his career record for running yards will remain his first game.
 

My expectations are that he stands in the pocket instead of tucking and running whenever the pressure comes, that he hits wide open receivers that are within 10 yards of him, and that he takes down the field shots occasionally to DJ and MHj. You know, the things our offense was missing last year. If he can do that, we will finish 10-2.

FTR, I believe he can. I also believe most other hopes on here are absurd considering what we saw last year. How quickly we forget...
 

I don't care if we finish 14th in passing as long as we win. For those that want us to finish in the "top half" are we talking yards, efficiency, completion percentage?

Make key throws at key times and if we average 120 yards passing and win, I will be thrilled.
 

Totally agree: if Leidner goes down from a running injury we are in big trouble. If he can pitch at 55 to 60%, we should be okay, given a good running game behind an improved O-line.
 


In terms of yardage, Leidner doesn't need to throw for 250 yards a game. If he can throw for a consistent 150-175 yds a game, that should compliment the running game. BUT - the big question - can he hit the pass at the right time? Ideally, if the running game clicks, they can avoid the 3rd-and-10 or 3rd-and-15 situations.

Early on, defenses will (or at least they should) pay a lot of attention to Maxx Williams - so someone else has to get open. They need Wolitarsky to emerge as a possession receiver, and for D. Jones to continue improving as a route-runner. I could also see KJ Maye becoming a key guy on 3rd-down situations.
 

Warning: this thread is still absurd.

If I could push a button that made Mitch an average B10 QB for the rest of his career, I would push that button.

Make me look like an idiot, Mitch!
 

MNVCGUY said:
Mitch could be a very good QB for us and never come close to being anywhere in the same stratosphere as Brees and Manning. What did you see last year that would make you think he has any shot of being comparable to an elite, not just good but elite, NFL QB?

Clearly Mitch is the key to nearly everything offensively because if we still can't pass it doesn't matter how solid the running game or O-Line are since the good teams will just stack the box and make it really tough to move the ball on the ground. When he was recruited it was widely believed he would be a TE by this point of his Gopher career. I am all for Mitch leading this team and being a good solid QB for us but I don't think he has elite level upside, he just needs to take care of the ball and be a credible threat in the passing game. If he can do that the offense has a good chance to take a big step forward this year.

Tossing the NFL or top of the Big Ten fantasy land stuff out to address your question of what would be success it is pretty simple. Very few turnovers, and top half of the conference completion percentage. He doesn't have to be great as a passer but he has to be good enough to keep defenses honest.
Click to expand...

"Widely believed" by who? You? He had a great camp and was very accurate. His coach reported he made nelson look bad at a QB camp. he was rated higher by 247 coming out of school. They offered him as a QB. As was reported (and obvious by their actions) the coaching staff was split on a starter last year.

After the incomprehensible and unconscionable passing accuracy and decisionmaking we saw from #9 and the general ineptitude we've had at QB over the years it's easy to understand the naysaying. Give the guy a chance! If he stinks it up like Phil this year then let the pitchforks out.

I don't think he's going to look like an All-American but I expect some solid progression from last year and and incrementally improved offense all-around.
 

He needs to stop being sack taking machine and protect the ball in the pocket.
Unfortunately, I think we will still see him running quite a bit, even in the nonconf. part of the schedule. Limegrover just can't help himself.
 

Let's just hope they work on the "read" part of the read option. I think Phil needed an optometrist at times last year.
 


Pompous Elitist said:
"Widely believed" by who? You? He had a great camp and was very accurate. His coach reported he made nelson look bad at a QB camp. he was rated higher by 247 coming out of school. They offered him as a QB. As was reported (and obvious by their actions) the coaching staff was split on a starter last year.

After the incomprehensible and unconscionable passing accuracy and decisionmaking we saw from #9 and the general ineptitude we've had at QB over the years it's easy to understand the naysaying. Give the guy a chance! If he stinks it up like Phil this year then let the pitchforks out.

I don't think he's going to look like an All-American but I expect some solid progression from last year and and incrementally improved offense all-around.
Click to expand...
Actually by Leidner himself. He was planning on walking on as a TE originally.
 

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