PiPress: Tracy Claeys willing to let offense get creative

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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The Gophers ran a halfback pass multiple times in practice last week, with meager success. But it worked when it counted.

Running back Shannon Brooks smoothly connected with wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky for a 42-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown as the Gophers tried to rally past No. 6 Iowa on Saturday,

The call was facilitated by new head coach Tracy Claeys.

"He's been the one to say, 'Hey, go ahead and take a chance here,' " offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. "He sits in our meetings now, and it's great because we'll talk about (it). He was all in favor of Shannon's halfback pass to Drew. He was the one that said, 'Don't bring it back on the plane with you.' "

Brooks' first collegiate pass cut the Hawkeyes' lead to 33-28 with five minutes left in Iowa City. It showed a new chemistry between Claeys, Limegrover and other offensive assistant coaches.

Before, coach Jerry Kill, who retired Oct. 28, was often concerned about the offense looking out for the defense and being "team players," Limegrover said.

"So that kind of permeated down: 'Let's make sure that we're not putting the other facets of the football team in jeopardy with what we do,' " Limegrover explained.

http://www.twincities.com/gophers/c...rce=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!
 

Quite frankly the team is playing better under Clayes. Kill was of the mindset pound the rock at all costs. I think the player noticed he was stressed out and they didn't play relaxed. I also don't think Kill trusted Mitch to do more than a 5 yard out to KJ, or the swing pass to FB Mike Thomas. He basically put the cuffs on Limegrover on imagitive play calling. Kill did the right thing by hanging it up. The red light was after the Nebraska game.
 


Would be interesting if Kill was behind most/all the decisions that made folks so frustrated with Limey.
 

In the last three games we've averaged 25 points per game.

Let's not get carried away here.
 


Spoofin said:
Would be interesting if Kill was behind most/all the decisions that made folks so frustrated with Limey.
Click to expand...

Kill and Company had an overwhelmingly positive record when being ahead at the Half. They also had an overwhelmingly awful record when they were behind at the Half. Can't blame them for waiting until they got behind to try and change things up in the 2nd Half.

Maybe Claeys and Limegrover aren't as attached to that track record as Jerry was?
 

Studwell55 said:
In the last three games we've averaged 25 points per game.

Let's not get carried away here.
Click to expand...

Michigan Avg PPG all other opponents: 13.6 Minnesota scored: 26

Ohio St. Avg PPG all other opponents: 13.7 Minnesota scored: 14

Iowa Avg PPG all other opponents: 16.6 Minnesota scored: 35

I'd say we did better than average the last three weeks!
 

Studwell55 said:
In the last three games we've averaged 25 points per game.

Let's not get carried away here.
Click to expand...

You have to admit the offense has looked a lot better the past few weeks, (especially when you factor in the opposition) then it did prior to Kill's departure. The two may or may not be related but the change certainly seemed to kick in right in line with Kill's retirement.
 

Nobody has been harder on Limegrover than me.

Let's see this play out.

Our offense really hurt our team this year. Who knows what might've been with a different attitude and more confidence early on.
 




Where are the scientists? If we are 1-0 when game-time temp is above 50 degrees, and 0-1 when it is below, the game-time temperature is the most important factor in wins and losses. Or maybe it has nothing to do with the outcome, just a coincidental fact.
 

killme said:
Where are the scientists? If we are 1-0 when game-time temp is above 50 degrees, and 0-1 when it is below, the game-time temperature is the most important factor in wins and losses. Or maybe it has nothing to do with the outcome, just a coincidental fact.
Click to expand...

Blame it on "climate change" I guess? Cause that just started recently.
 

Studwell55 said:
Nobody has been harder on Limegrover than me.

Let's see this play out.

Our offense really hurt our team this year. Who knows what might've been with a different attitude and more confidence early on.
Click to expand...

Or maybe 12-15 fewer injuries as well?
 



MN Daily: Offensive play calling seeing new levels of success

Offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said the play calling has changed a bit since former head coach Jerry Kill’s sudden retirement and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys stepping in as head coach, but Kill was always for trick plays like Brooks’ throw.

“[Kill] had a great knack for calling those at the right time, those types of plays,” Limegrover said. “With Tracy at the helm, I feel like I'm dealing directly with him as the head coach now. He has a great idea as a defensive coach of what we're trying to accomplish. He says, ‘Yep, go ahead.’ He's all for it.”

Claeys still isn’t handling the offensive play calling after his promotion, but he said he’s spending more time in offensive meetings.

Limegrover said there is an added dynamic with Claeys in the offensive meetings. Claeys, for his part, said he’s been able to add the perspective of how opposing defenses would approach the Gophers offense.

“I've been able to give them an idea how I think other teams will try to stop something,” Claeys said. “Eventually, you're going to take away what you're doing and what's going to be your next move. Allow those guys to think about what the adjustment will be once they take something away.”

http://www.mndaily.com/sports/football/2015/11/18/offensive-play-calling-seeing-new-levels-success

Go Gophers!!
 

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