The hallmark of the Gophers' defense this year has been missed tackles all over the field, followed closely by a very ineffective pass rush and inability to contain. Maybe we go all year without a pass rush or containment (miss you Winston!). But tackling technique is a fundamental that a team can work on. Some improvement there before would greatly aid our chances in the Nebraska game. Also, our D schemes seem often to leave one-man to make a tackle (as Robb Smith's did). If your individual tackling is as poor as the Gophers' seem to be, maybe it is time to go to a less nuanced, flow to the ball, gang tackling effort. That's what the Gophers did after firing Robb Smith. That form of defense leaves you vulnerable in new ways (to cutbacks, counters, etc.)--but perhaps no more vulnerable than our current scheme has rendered us. Purdue rushed for 258 yards against the Gophs. The current scheme just isn't working.
RS FR Drake and the receivers are actually doing OK when everybody in the stadium knows we will be passing on virtually every down. The Gophs need to find a way to resurrect some semblance of a complementary run game to keep the DBs and LBs honest, giving Drake and our receivers a better chance to succeed and produce the occasional explosive play. If this year's OL is incapable of supporting a "power" run game, maybe begin masking that weakness (and taking advantage of quick-to-commit DL) with counter plays, outside pitches ... something that doesn't require the OL to win a knife fight in a phone booth. The coaches now know a lot about what this OL can't execute. I assume or OC and run game coordinator are searching for the type of run scheme(s) that our group of behemoths can execute. Find that and the Gophs have a real chance to beat Nebraska.
Go Gophers!
