Leidner

[killme]

Two significant things for me last night: if Woli catches that first-quarter deep ball for a TD to put us up 10-0, we might go on to a rout. I heard an interview from Leidner (can't remember where) and he talked about his banged-up shoulders healing up for the bowl game.

Playing on a foot that is going to have surgery, a bad knee, and who knows what else, he's a tough hombre. Yeah he misses some reads, some throws are not through the swinging tire, and he takes an occasional sack when I thought he could throw it away, but he's improving noticeably and his confidence is contagious.

 

[Iceland12]

One other note. Documented many times how inconsistent Mitch has been. He's been godawful many times. He had a very good game against Missouri and had 4-5 games last year where he had a great half or quarter but he couldn't put it together. The only consistently good play out of him came this year starting with the Nebraska game ending with Wisconsin. He was pretty healthy down that stretch too.

It's the Gopher coaching staff, Kill and Company, who deserve the blame here. They have provided zero Big Ten level quarterbacks to push Mitch or replace him when he was obviously hurt. Instead, many just blamed the receivers or Leidner himself.

Streveler by all accounts a great kid, couldn't complete a damn pass. Croft is just a kid but he didn't look much better. They never really gave Perra a chance. With their track record here maybe he couldn't play. Even the quarterbacks who've left haven't done a damn thing. Shortell didn't do much at Jacksonville State. Hopefully Parra or Nelson can get some "play" sometime in their future.

You would think that a new system will attract some more guys who can throw the ball or run with it and some other H.S. kids who dream about catching the ball while heading downfield to the end zone. Instead of seeing their future college career consisting mainly of downfield blocking.

 

[killme]

With Kill & Co's track record for producing, recruiting, and developing all-conference QBs at every previous stop, it could be just a run of bad luck that QB has been the most glaring weak position of this regime. How many All-B1G QBs have the Gophers had in the last 25 years?

 

[RickDornsby]

Long time reader, first time contributor.

My main concern is this. In general, his good games have either come against poor opponents or against a prevent defense when down by 2+ scores. Not that it's a bad thing to be a proficient passer on the comeback trail (maybe he excels in hurry-up) but do we have many examples of games where he's come out against a good team and played well most of the game, more often than not? He's had a few good games like against Iowa in 2014, but generally, most of his numbers are evened out by the 3-4 games against OSU, TCU, or Wisconsin where we're down 2 scores and he brings us back to feel like we were in it with a few minutes to go in the 4th.

 

[Maximus]

With Kill & Co's track record for producing, recruiting, and developing all-conference QBs at every previous stop, it could be just a run of bad luck that QB has been the most glaring weak position of this regime. How many All-B1G QBs have the Gophers had in the last 25 years?

The last 1st team QB was 1938. We really need to find this program's Wilbur Moore.

Weber was 2nd team in 2008. Foggie 2nd team in 1987. Dungy 2nd team in 1975-76. Craig Curry 2nd team in 1971.

 

[Iceland12]

With Kill & Co's track record for producing, recruiting, and developing all-conference QBs at every previous stop, it could be just a run of bad luck that QB has been the most glaring weak position of this regime. How many All-B1G QBs have the Gophers had in the last 25 years?

This was also their first stop where they were way down the pecking order in their conference. The B1G has Michigan State, Michigan, tOSU, NE, WI and maybe even IA getting first crack at any QB that was "in demand". Prior to coming to Minnesota they wouldn't go after 4 and 5 star guys and maybe even highly sought after 3 star guys because those kids, if their grades were decent, were going to a D-1/BCS school. So Kill and Company got use to getting that "diamond in the rough" that they could polish into a solid player.

That was enough for them because the schools they were playing were only going get those kids too. The playing field, unlike in the B1G was level. Heck by the time Kill and Company moved on, they were probably getting their choice of kids in their conferences.

Here, they were competing against many schools who had better talent at QB and receivers positions. Their record here shows what a great job they did when they had a lead at Halftime. They developed good Defenses, solid special teams and a "keep it close" Offense. What they've lacked is a great QB and passing attack that could get them back in front when they were behind at the Half.

Their record shows that too.

Kill, Claeys and Limegrover all said at various times they wish they could get more 4 and 5 star kids but since they couldn't, they wouldn't waste their recruiting time chasing kids they couldn't get. Their offense and the Gophers track record before and with Kill, wouldn't entice kids who wanted to be part of an air it out offense.

Claeys, maybe with Kill's help or not, has recognized this and is making some changes. Much like Mason, Tiller and Pat Fitzgerald before them did.

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

That and if you are always facing a talent deficient maybe you want to figure out a different way to compete.

 

[PMWinSTP]

One other note. Documented many times how inconsistent Mitch has been. He's been godawful many times. He had a very good game against Missouri and had 4-5 games last year where he had a great half or quarter but he couldn't put it together. The only consistently good play out of him came this year starting with the Nebraska game ending with Wisconsin. He was pretty healthy down that stretch too.

It's the Gopher coaching staff, Kill and Company, who deserve the blame here. They have provided zero Big Ten level quarterbacks to push Mitch or replace him when he was obviously hurt. Instead, many just blamed the receivers or Leidner himself.

Streveler by all accounts a great kid, couldn't complete a damn pass. Croft is just a kid but he didn't look much better. They never really gave Perra a chance. With their track record here maybe he couldn't play. Even the quarterbacks who've left haven't done a damn thing. Shortell didn't do much at Jacksonville State. Hopefully Parra or Nelson can get some "play" sometime in their future.

You would think that a new system will attract some more guys who can throw the ball or run with it and some other H.S. kids who dream about catching the ball while heading downfield to the end zone. Instead of seeing their future college career consisting mainly of downfield blocking.

Don't want to sound like a broken record here but Croft was hand's-down the best QB in Fall scrimmage. Hit all types of passes, had by far the best offensive series of all QBs. He will be good, just needs a few more lbs. Perfect as back up next year with some decent playing time.

 

[Iceland12]

Don't want to sound like a broken record here but Croft was hand's-down the best QB in Fall scrimmage. Hit all types of passes, had by far the best offensive series of all QBs. He will be good, just needs a few more lbs. Perfect as back up next year with some decent playing time.

Hope all that is true. Only referring to how he looked during his limited game action. Which was not vey good but then, as was mentioned, he's still a kid.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Don't want to sound like a broken record here but Croft was hand's-down the best QB in Fall scrimmage. Hit all types of passes, had by far the best offensive series of all QBs. He will be good, just needs a few more lbs. Perfect as back up next year with some decent playing time.

I really hope we have some big blowouts early next year so we can get him some time.

 

[GophersInIowa]

On a mid-third quarter drive, he completed a pass for four yards on 3rd and six.

On 4th down he completed a pass for no gain.

I think you are being very nit-picky. Try dropping back with guys all around you and having to make a decision within seconds on who to throw it to. You're expecting the QB to determine if the WR is 4 or 6 yards down field? It's up to the WR to get far enough for a first down.

The 4th down play was obviously a designed play. He did what he was supposed to do. Blame the play call for that.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Long time reader, first time contributor.

My main concern is this. In general, his good games have either come against poor opponents or against a prevent defense when down by 2+ scores. Not that it's a bad thing to be a proficient passer on the comeback trail (maybe he excels in hurry-up) but do we have many examples of games where he's come out against a good team and played well most of the game, more often than not? He's had a few good games like against Iowa in 2014, but generally, most of his numbers are evened out by the 3-4 games against OSU, TCU, or Wisconsin where we're down 2 scores and he brings us back to feel like we were in it with a few minutes to go in the 4th.

Glad to see you joined, welcome!

He's had some good games against good teams. His three best ADJ QBR this season was last night, against Michigan and against Iowa.

 

[OddStack]

The last 1st team QB was 1938. We really need to find this program's Wilbur Moore.

Weber was 2nd team in 2008. Foggie 2nd team in 1987. Dungy 2nd team in 1975-76. Craig Curry 2nd team in 1971.

So...carry the one....add the six.....subtract the niner.......ANSWER: ZERO

 

[matt]

Some people expect college athletes to play like pros. Can't help those people.

+1

 

[killme]

This was also their first stop where they were way down the pecking order in their conference.
...Heck by the time Kill and Company moved on, they were probably getting their choice of kids in their conferences.
... Their offense and the Gophers track record before and with Kill, wouldn't entice kids who wanted to be part of an air it out offense. Claeys, maybe with Kill's help or not, has recognized this and is making some changes.

I agree with much of the thought process in your post except the first part. SIU was somewhere below last in it's conference when they took over and they had stud QBs there. SVSU was a bottom feeder when they arrived, but had recently upgraded facilities and had a great location for recruiting. Rob Reeves was a DB when Kill arrived and turned him into an all-league QB, building around his leadership (much like Leidner) more than his skill set. At NIU, they also had superior facilities and a great location.

The talent base in Minnesota is overall weak, the facilities atrocious, and the weather in the northern portions of the B1G isn't conducive to an
air-it-out offense. So, they tried to build it around a power running style, which I felt made great sense. But, part of the whole process of turning the program around is getting the best players you can and coaching 'em up. I think there were underlying factors, including some bad luck, that made the early years of their tenure a struggle at the QB spot. And, JMHO, I think Mitch was capable of a much better year, but was dealing with more injuries than we were made a aware of.

Not sure what to make of the Limegrover firing, but TC spent half his time in offensive meetings once he took over and must have felt that unit needed a change. I hope there's a breakout in 2016.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Not knocking Croft, Perra or any other QB - but just wanted to say:

Every season, we get these posts from people talking about how backup QB "X", "Y"" or "Z" looked SO good in practice/the spring game/the fall scrimmage. They go on to proclaim that said backup QB is "clearly" the best QB on the roster, and will be the starter/deserves to be the starter.

And it never happens.

Shoot, I remember the spring game at St. Thomas a few years ago. Marqueis Gray came in and looked great. I don't think I ever saw him make those kinds of throws in a game that counted. Not knocking Q - loved him as a Gopher - just making the point that fans tend to put too much stock on 1 or two good outings that don't take place in actual game situations.