Passing game is looking up...

[Great Plains Gopher]

Mitch above 59% for the year - and will have to pass a lot more in the next few weeks against tough run defenses. He's approaching the best stats in completions for a single year of Cory Sauter (60%), Adam Weber (62%) and Abdul-Khaliq (63%). Ak also led the nation in pass efficiency that year - 2003, his senior year, when the Gophers went 10-3.

 

[cjbfbp]

Mitch above 59% for the year - and will have to pass a lot more in the next few weeks against tough run defenses. He's approaching the best stats in completions for a single year of Cory Sauter (60%), Adam Weber (62%) and Abdul-Khaliq (63%). Ak also led the nation in pass efficiency that year - 2003, his senior year, when the Gophers went 10-3.

Agreed. I just hope the coaches let him do it. He might have thrown for 400 yards last weekend if the coaches had let him try.

 

[gopher7]

Mitch above 59% for the year - and will have to pass a lot more in the next few weeks against tough run defenses. He's approaching the best stats in completions for a single year of Cory Sauter (60%), Adam Weber (62%) and Abdul-Khaliq (63%). Ak also led the nation in pass efficiency that year - 2003, his senior year, when the Gophers went 10-3.

I don't think the numbers reflect any kind of improvement in our passing game. What they show is that the coaches know our limitations and are trying to run plays which can succeed. Against Purdue Leidner was 8 of 12, but 5 of those completions were caught behind the line of scrimmage. I mean who wouldn't have a great completion percentage in that situation? Two of his other completions were throws under 10 yards, and just one was over 10. The Nebraska game was better, but their pass defense is the worst in the nation. I think they have allowed every QB but one to throw for 300+ against them this year. Hopefully that game will give everyone on our team some confidence, but I think we are going to see a step backwards the next three games.

 

[wait!what?]

I don't think the numbers reflect any kind of improvement in our passing game. What they show is that the coaches know our limitations and are trying to run plays which can succeed. Against Purdue Leidner was 8 of 12, but 5 of those completions were caught behind the line of scrimmage. I mean who wouldn't have a great completion percentage in that situation? Two of his other completions were throws under 10 yards, and just one was over 10. The Nebraska game was better, but their pass defense is the worst in the nation. I think they have allowed every QB but one to throw for 300+ against them this year. Hopefully that game will give everyone on our team some confidence, but I think we are going to see a step backwards the next three games.

correct.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Mitch above 59% for the year - and will have to pass a lot more in the next few weeks against tough run defenses. He's approaching the best stats in completions for a single year of Cory Sauter (60%), Adam Weber (62%) and Abdul-Khaliq (63%). Ak also led the nation in pass efficiency that year - 2003, his senior year, when the Gophers went 10-3.

I'll give that the passing game looks slightly better then last year overall but there is far more to it then just completion percentage. I certainly wouldn't read much into the success passing against Nebraska because everyone is putting up huge passing numbers against them this season (dead last in the conference and averaging 341 yards per game against).

The WR position is still a massive disappointment overall. Maye, Carter, and Wolitarsky are all OK but none are what I would consider a real threat in the passing game. The crop of young guys we were all hoping would break out this year has been a major bust to this point in the season.

Bottom line is the passing game still isn't close to the point where we can count on it to carry us in a conference game when the run offense isn't working.

 

[tikited]

correct.

I'm shocked at your reply.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

The passing game will improve once Leidner stops dumping the ball to FBs and TEs and throws it to the open WR down the middle of the field. They have been there this year, although still not as much as they should be. I'm just not sure Leidner can get it to them, and this is when the offensive line gave Leidner time to throw.

 

[FireDaveLee]

What is concerning to me about the passing game is some of the missed opportunities. Two that come to mind in the Nebraska game were in the 1st quarter when ML rolled out & completed on 3rd down, but was short of the 1st down. There was an open guy down the field, but ML went short right away. The other one was in the 3rd quarter when they did that goofy shift with the O-Lineman wide right. Leidner was looking for the TE on the left, but once he saw he was covered, he tucked it. There was a WR (Woli I think) streaking down the middle of the field.

There seems to be too many times that Leidner has his guy he's going to throw to even before the snap. I know some plays are designed that way, so there's other blame to go around. But it just seems like there are opportunities in the passing game to take advantage of, and the offense just isn't doing it right now.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Agreed. I just hope the coaches let him do it. He might have thrown for 400 yards last weekend if the coaches had let him try.

Just curious, why do you say the coaches didn't let him try last week?

 

[scher215]

Just curious, why do you say the coaches didn't let him try last week?

Not to speak for him. But at times it felt like the coaches wanted to use the pass to open up the run. So as soon as the pass would work, they'd try and run up the middle for no gain and punt. The alternative would have been to say these guys can't stop the pass, let's just keep doing that.

 

[Vandy]

Receivers other than Mayes need to get open more "consistently", and on the same plays, so that Mitch has the "opportunity" to spread the ball around....and, it's a given that Mitch will need time to be able to look off covered receivers as well.

I've noticed several times recently that DBs are waiting to jump the route on Mayes since he is so often the targeted receiver.

 

[Governor Sibley]

Mitch has always been serviceable so long as the following conditions hold:

(1) He does not have to make quick decisions;

(2) He does not have to throw the ball over the middle;

(3) He is allowed to move his feet when he throws;

(4) He does not throw interceptions.

Lengthy list, but true.

 

[Spoofin]

Agreed. I just hope the coaches let him do it. He might have thrown for 400 yards last weekend if the coaches had let him try.

Just another "Let Mitch Pass More" thread.

 

[cjbfbp]

Just curious, why do you say the coaches didn't let him try last week?

Because of the amount of times the offense went with senseless runs through the line and the number of very short passes attempted that went nowhere. Undoubtedly some of those passes were due to receivers elsewhere not being open (or Mitch missing them) but some of them probably were by design.

 

[cjbfbp]

Not to speak for him. But at times it felt like the coaches wanted to use the pass to open up the run. So as soon as the pass would work, they'd try and run up the middle for no gain and punt. The alternative would have been to say these guys can't stop the pass, let's just keep doing that.

Actually, you spoke for me rather well. I formed the same impression as you.

 

[cjbfbp]

Receivers other than Mayes need to get open more "consistently", and on the same plays, so that Mitch has the "opportunity" to spread the ball around....and, it's a given that Mitch will need time to be able to look off covered receivers as well.

I've noticed several times recently that DBs are waiting to jump the route on Mayes since he is so often the targeted receiver.

Very true.

 

[cjbfbp]

Just another "Let Mitch Pass More" thread.

Pretty logical view in a game where that's the only part of the offense that's working, don't you think?

Do you also complain about people wanting to take public transportation when their car is in the shop?