Passing Game Contribution - 2013

[Iceland12]

There's been a lot of threads that contain allusions to the Passing Game disappearing against "Good Defenses". With all due respect, the Passing Offense, didn't make much of a dent for the entire season. Go take a look. It was nonexistent against UNLV, NMSU, Western Illinois, San Jose State, Iowa, 2nd Half against Michigan, 2nd Half against Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State and finally against Syracuse.

It was very strong against Indy, but nearly every Offense had a good day against that team. It was great in the 1st Half against Penn State. It was good in the 1st Half against Michigan. It was relevant in the wins against NW and NE too. Though they only had 9 & 8 completions respectively in those games. The got a rather pedestrian 123 against the Wildcats and a decent 159 against the Huskers.

Heck, Friday Night, Leidner and Nelson looked awful for three Quarters but Leidner in the 4th Q came out of it with the 2nd Best Performance of the year.

They didn't need to Pass to win some of those games to be sure. What's pretty obvious though is that when they got a "non-gimme" win it was because the Passing Offense helped them get it. When it didn't they lost.

Kill and Company have done a very good job. When they got a Half Time lead, it's got them a win. The problem is when they're behind at the Half with the Gophers, they've never won a game either.

It's not going change unless they get someone to be able to complete a throw, and more than 8-9 times a game.

 

[Rog]

Inreply

There is no question that you are correct. But some fault has to go to our "young" receivers.... When Engel went our it really hurt. When we did complete a pass our receivers were wide open ie our tight end. I have the feeling that our receivers and QB did not work together to anticipate the route. I also think that sometimes Nelson thru the ball short because our receivers were so tightly covered that he did not want to risk an interception. Whether more time working together will help, maybe but we will see. Nelson was a Sophmore and I have always noticed that for many, Sophmore years are a low spot. We'll see as next year is going to tell just how good our young team this year will be next year when we will not be able to call them young anymore.

Another thing, where was Jones (#4) at the game. It seemed that they forgot about him.

 

[Mulligan]

It's not going change unless they get someone to be able to complete a throw, and more than 8-9 times a game.

Agree with what you said, but the offensive line also has to play better. They could look pretty good against weaker defenses, but against tougher defensive lines and linebackers, they left a lot to be desired. Very lethargic the first half against Syracuse and overall the pass protection was pretty porous. It's not just the QBs' faults. People harp on the play-calling, and it was frustrating at times, but I can see wanting an identity where your offensive line simply imposes their will. I'm optimistic though because our offensive linemen are relatively young and that's a position where most players don't come into their own until they're seniors or red-shirt juniors.

 

[ruppertflywheel]

If you watched Nelson on the sideline he looked like a gerbil on a treadmill. He didn't look comfortable on the sidelines
or in the game itself.

 

[drinks at Northpoint]

If you watched Nelson on the sideline he looked like a gerbil on a treadmill. He didn't look comfortable on the sidelines or in the game itself.

Somebody tweeted that since halftime of the Penn St game, Nelson was 14-50 for 140 yards, 2 int's, and no td's.
Ouch.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

There is no question that you are correct. But some fault has to go to our "young" receivers....

Go back and watch the game again. Nelson missed 4 receivers badly on ONE SERIES in the third quarter. High, in the dirt, to the side, High. Out came the hook for the last time and maybe forever.

I hate to pick on the guy but really, the problem this year by and large has not been the receivers. Guys ARE getting open and consistently. Yes, a few bad drops but far more bad throws. Our receivers aren't dominant but with our running threat our guys are getting open with many one on one opportunities. A Big Ten QB has to be able to hit short to medium throws consistently! During the 4 game streak we hit enough throws to win but I would argue any average QB should be able to thrive in our system and a lot of things went right for us teamwise to get those wins. We are NOT good enough yet to survive poor QB play as we saw during the last 3 games. We struggle on offense *mainly*because our QB struggles. Period.

I was a big Boise State fan during the Fiesta/Kellen Moore run (I guess I love underdogs). His accuracy and decision-making were masterful from day one. It didn't take him three years.

 

[Iceland12]

Kill didn't clarify his position on the QB situation on the Sunday radio show. Couldn't expect anything else. From Christensen's column in today's strib.

The Texas Bowl appeared to throw the quarterback competition wide open for next season between Philip Nelson, Mitch Leidner and, perhaps, Chris Streveler, who redshirted this season. Kill tiptoed around that question on Sunday, however.

"It’s one of those things that I’m not really going to say a whole lot about," Kill said. "All that will work out. … I think time will take care of all that, and we’ve got a lot of things that we need to work on. We went through those things [at Northern Illinois] with Chandler [Harnish] and Jordan [Lynch]. And Chandler, a kid that played for me at Northern had been through some times, and we had to do different things his first year as a sophomore and so forth ... so it all works out."

 

[Spoofin]

Go back and watch the game again. Nelson missed 4 receivers badly on ONE SERIES in the third quarter. High, in the dirt, to the side, High. Out came the hook for the last time and maybe forever.

I hate to pick on the guy

Wow - do you always do things you hate this much. Your agenda with Nelson is well documented. Give it a break. The problem with this and previous posts of yours is you pick out single plays or ONE SERIES. I suspect you were on the Cassel train after certain games too.

No one is going to tell you Nelson played well in the bowl game. However, not everyone is ready to give up on him when we factor in some of the good things he did this year, his age, a sub-par WR group, etc. The whole body of work wasn't great, but not nearly as dire as you continue to spew either.

I hate to call you out.....

 

[GopherInPittsburgh]

Somebody tweeted that since halftime of the Penn St game, Nelson was 14-50 for 140 yards, 2 int's, and no td's.
Ouch.

Cringeworthy.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

I harp on it because the narrative seems to be if nelson JUST had some receivers he'd be good. Well, I think that's rubbish. It's not just one series, don't put words in my mouth. I've posted his statistics. He has a lot of work to do.

I'll make it simple, has anyone ever said that Nelson elevates the game of those he plays with? Is he giving them opportunities to succeed?

Kill has given him every opportunity to succeed including the Iowa game.

His comments on the radio show implicitly state that unlike yours, his patience is not infinite. Nelson needs to perform or it's next man up. He understands that his staffs salaries depend on wins and losses. That's a big responsibility I don't think he would entrust in large part to Nelson next year unless he is truly our best option. We will see!

The fact they are hesitant to hand the reins to Leidner is more worrisome than anything else.

 

[e.bigelow]

Wow - do you always do things you hate this much. Your agenda with Nelson is well documented. Give it a break. The problem with this and previous posts of yours is you pick out single plays or ONE SERIES. I suspect you were on the Cassel train after certain games too. No one is going to tell you Nelson played well in the bowl game. However, not everyone is ready to give up on him when we factor in some of the good things he did this year, his age, a sub-par WR group, etc. The whole body of work wasn't great, but not nearly as dire as you continue to spew either. I hate to call you out.....

+1 Spoofin. Well said.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Like I said, kill and co will have the final judgement on this.

We had a great opportunity this year to notch 9 or 10 wins with an above average defense. An opportunity lost. Personally I feel like we're really going to miss shede on the d line.

While its impossible to say what will happen I think the defense is going to be in a bit of a rebuilding mode losing some of the guys including another "love him or hate him" in #57. I'm confident the offense will be better which should hopefully balance the scales.

I'm optimistic overall, and if Nelson's the guy I've got to believe that's our best option then. Kill wants to win. Should be interesting offseason.

 

[Iceland12]

There is no question that you are correct. But some fault has to go to our "young" receivers.... When Engel went our it really hurt. When we did complete a pass our receivers were wide open ie our tight end. I have the feeling that our receivers and QB did not work together to anticipate the route. I also think that sometimes Nelson thru the ball short because our receivers were so tightly covered that he did not want to risk an interception. Whether more time working together will help, maybe but we will see. Nelson was a Sophmore and I have always noticed that for many, Sophmore years are a low spot. We'll see as next year is going to tell just how good our young team this year will be next year when we will not be able to call them young anymore.

Another thing, where was Jones (#4) at the game. It seemed that they forgot about him.

You're right about the catchers of course, and so was Mulligan with his point on the O-Line. The O-Line should be very good next year and have some depth too. "Depth" is something that hasn't existed around here for years. Now it looks like both the O-Line and the D-Backs will have some competition in camp.

The Receivers are what trouble me. W&J can get better, but the problem is they still need a "burner", hopefully with some size, who can get open once and awhile just by taking-off.

The question is if you were a talented Wideout, why would you come here? Running Back? For sure, but if you want someone to get the ball to you when you're open this, for a few years now, is not the place to be.