Some thoughts on a very discouraging performance
- On the first drive of the game, the Gophers forced Maryland in to a 3rd and 15 and then they allowed a pretty terrible passer to complete a pretty much uncontested pass for 13-14 yards to set up a 4th and short. Hold the Terps to a 10 yard gain there and they punt. The next play was the Winfield injury. The play after that was a touchdown. Now our Freshman QB sees the filed on the road for the first time trailing 7-0.
- Score is 14-3 and Autman-Bell appears to make a spectacular catch on 3rd down to set the Gophers up deep in Maryland territory. Only he didn't catch the football. I was disappointed in the staff that they didn't get to the line and get a play off before the catch was reviewed. It seemed like they certainly could have gotten a play off there, but there was clearly no urgency from Annexstad in getting the ball snapped. Even a FG on that possession may have changed the game.
- Maryland TD to make it 21-3. What a ridiculous failure by the Gophers to not come up with a sack here. Then the safety and Shenault combine to completely misplay the ball and can't track down the receiver. That was a 3rd down play. Get off the field here and it's just a 14-3 game.
-4th down to start the 4th quarter trailing 35-13. Zach has his slot (I am pretty sure it was Douglas) WIDE open on this play and it appears it is his first read. He doesn't throw the ball and ends up fumbling. Make that throw and it's a two score game with a ton of time left.
Bigger picture concerns:
I've stated numerous times this season that I've been very concerned with both lines. Today, the Oline was absolutely putrid in pass protection and played a large role in the terrible performance. This team or any team can't be expected to win often, much less consistently, if it gets outplayed in the trenches. The Gophers simply aren't strong enough or athletic enough on either side of the line. This is something that can't be blamed on PJ yet, you don't win with Freshman or Sophomore's playing on the OL. You've got to build these guys in the weight room. Oseland and Dovich being Redshirt Juniors and not being contributors is a big deal and appearing to miss on the JUCO addition from last year Ben Davis is too. It's not talked about much but Jason Dickson's inability to play (eligibility issues were suggested by Ryan Burns) also hurts. Defensively, the only guy on the line to apply any pressure is Carter Coughlin. The Gophers look like FBS team at best size wise when Devers or DeLattiboudere are playing the other end opposite Coughlin. To give up that much size and not get pressure off the edge is brutal. On the interior, there just isn't much talent though OJ Smith flashed nicely on one big run stop. The two JUCO DT's coming in next year combined with a year in the weight room for Jamaal Teague should provide a big boost next season. I still question where the help at DE will come from.
I think Robb Smith has some questions to answer after his squad got gashed for numerous big plays today. On a couple of the big td runs, there was no second level to the Gopher defense and once the back got past the line it was just him and a safety one on one. On the first of these plays, the safety (I believe Huff) ran up to try to meet him and missed the tackle and on the second the safety (Houden a walk on freshman) took one step down towards the back and then took a horrible angle and simply got out ran to the house. On many of the Terps big runs it seemed like the Gophers were playing with like 7 guys out there given all the open filed. I would assume this was because they were either mis-aligned or getting out schemed. Either way, Coach Smith has to get this group playing much better.
I was actually fairly impressed with the offense from Kirk Ciarrocca as I felt like we had receivers open all day long, but the combination of the line simply not pass protecting and Zack having a horrific day with both his accuracy and his decision making was too much to overcome. I kind of wish they saved the wrinkles with the passes to the TE and the Seth Green comes in motion to replace Zach at QB for another game, but hopefully Coach Ciarrocca has more in his bag. My biggest gripe with Ciarrocca was probably the decision to run on 3rd down in the red zone twice in the second half and on both possessions they ended up going for it on 4th down. I would have much preferred two shots through the air in both cases.
We need a back like McFarland on the roster and the Gophers haven't had someone that dynamic taking a hand-off since Maroney. Coach Fleck has upgraded the WR talent, but he needs to find a back that can outrun people too.
Tyler Johnson has to stop dropping the football. He's had at least one absolutely brutal drop in every game this season.
The true Freshman QB playing his first road game of his career played as you would expect most true Freshman QB's playing their first road game would play. Hopefully Zack learns from this but he was skittish in the pocket, sloppy with his footwork, inaccurate with his passes, and didn't make good decisions. I personally feel like the OL deserves more blame than the QB, but the QB still has to do so much better than he did today.
