Some comparative team stats from OSU game

[cjbfbp]

According to Sports Reference, OSU had 376 yards total offense against Minnesota. That is the fewest yards of their five Big Ten games. The previous low was 429 against Penn State. The third fewest was 499 against Maryland. Yards per play were also the lowest of the Big Ten season (5.7). The previous low was also PSU (6.2).

On the reverse side, Minnesota had only 314 yards total offense. Only Rutgers at 293 had fewer. Penn State had 1 yard more than the Gophers. The odd thing about the Gophers' offensive performance is that the passing yards earned against OSU (281) were by far the most against OSU in their Big Ten games (previous high was 226 by Indiana) whereas the rushing yards (33) were by far the fewest given up by OSU (previous low was 104 by Indiana). The Gophers averaged only 1.3 yards per rush (previous low was 3.2 per rush by Indiana).

The announcers said before the game that the Gophers coaches felt they could run against OSU. Obviously, they couldn't have been more wrong. I wonder if the Gophers' coaches are finally adjusting mentally to the fact that they are a pretty poor rushing team against better competition while they are developing into a pretty competent passing team. They had a fair rushing performance against Michigan (144 yards) but they were held below 100 yards by Northwestern, Nebraska, and OSU. Meanwhile, they've averaged 300 yards passing in the last three games. Leidner and the receivers may not be most fans' idea of an explosive passing attack, but right now they're the best thing Minnesota has going for it on that side of the ball. Also, although Leidner took some nasty hits against OSU, he was protected fair enough for most of the game as the offensive line appears far more capable of protecting the QB this year than opening up paths for runners.

 

[Spoofin]

Tough to run with our current OL situation. I think the coaches have 'adjusted' to that quite well

 

[mkAz]

The OL playing without 3 starters has wreaked havoc on their rushing game.

 

[Gopher028]

They've adjusted so well that they keep running the same run plays between the tackles for 0-1 yds

 

[mkAz]

They've adjusted so well that they keep running the same run plays between the tackles for 0-1 yds

Perhaps those between the tackle runs set up play action and free up the passing game?

 

[Iceland12]

Perhaps those between the tackle runs set up play action and free up the passing game?

Yeah, after they were down 21-0 it helped make the score closer.

 

[mkAz]

Yeah, after they were down 21-0 it helped make the score closer.

It kept them close and gave them a chance late against a far superior team didn't it?

 

[mkAz]

According to Sports Reference, OSU had 376 yards total offense against Minnesota. That is the fewest yards of their five Big Ten games. The previous low was 429 against Penn State. The third fewest was 499 against Maryland. Yards per play were also the lowest of the Big Ten season (5.7). The previous low was also PSU (6.2).

On the reverse side, Minnesota had only 314 yards total offense. Only Rutgers at 293 had fewer. Penn State had 1 yard more than the Gophers. The odd thing about the Gophers' offensive performance is that the passing yards earned against OSU (281) were by far the most against OSU in their Big Ten games (previous high was 226 by Indiana) whereas the rushing yards (33) were by far the fewest given up by OSU (previous low was 104 by Indiana). The Gophers averaged only 1.3 yards per rush (previous low was 3.2 per rush by Indiana).

The announcers said before the game that the Gophers coaches felt they could run against OSU. Obviously, they couldn't have been more wrong. I wonder if the Gophers' coaches are finally adjusting mentally to the fact that they are a pretty poor rushing team against better competition while they are developing into a pretty competent passing team. They had a fair rushing performance against Michigan (144 yards) but they were held below 100 yards by Northwestern, Nebraska, and OSU. Meanwhile, they've averaged 300 yards passing in the last three games. Leidner and the receivers may not be most fans' idea of an explosive passing attack, but right now they're the best thing Minnesota has going for it on that side of the ball. Also, although Leidner took some nasty hits against OSU, he was protected fair enough for most of the game as the offensive line appears far more capable of protecting the QB this year than opening up paths for runners.

I believe that Ohio State had been averaging close to 40 points a game too.

 

[Iceland12]

It kept them close and gave them a chance late against a far superior team didn't it?

No it didn't. It gave tOSU all the margin they needed to win the game and wasted a fine effort by Minnesota's Defense.

 

[minibeaver]

I wonder if the Gophers' coaches are finally adjusting mentally to the fact that they are a pretty poor rushing team against better competition while they are developing into a pretty competent passing team.

I heard the announcers mention that, and wondered if the coaches actually believed that or if it was trickeration. I think they did realize they won't be able to run it like last year, and the success in the passing game is a result of spending more time on it in practice and changing the gameplan.

If I would criticize the staff at all (not sure if Jerry was the deciding factor in this) it would be that they should have realized and adjusted sooner.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

I still don't like the targeting call for this reason. Although the player blitzing Perry didn't launch or leap from his feet, his initial hit that started with the chest area you could see progressed upwards, live when he finished the hit that he hit Mitch on the underside of the chin and face mask, that may not be targeting but it is unnecessary roughness, or an illegal hit, a blow to the head and neck area on a defenseless player. You could see Mitch Leinder's head and neck whiplash and snap back on that replay. The head referee should issue an apology to the coaching staff, he may have reversed the call to not let the targeting stand but they still got the call wrong because in my opinion the replay and review clearly shows a hit to the chin and the whiplash effect it caused. Heads don't snap back on there own from a hit to the chest, it only did that because he hit #7 under the chin. It was a dirty shot. I'm not saying anything about a fix but the referee's need to call that a penalty for the safety of the players in the game.

 

[mkAz]

I still don't like the targeting call for this reason. Although the player blitzing Perry didn't launch or leap from his feet, his initial hit that started with the chest area you could see progressed upwards, live when he finished the hit that he hit Mitch on the underside of the chin and face mask, that may not be targeting but it is unnecessary roughness, or an illegal hit, a blow to the head and neck area on a defenseless player. You could see Mitch Leinder's head and neck whiplash and snap back on that replay. The head referee should issue an apology to the coaching staff, he may have reversed the call to not let the targeting stand but they still got the call wrong because in my opinion the replay and review clearly shows a hit to the chin and the whiplash effect it caused. Heads don't snap back on there own from a hit to the chest, it only did that because he hit #7 under the chin. It was a dirty shot. I'm not saying anything about a fix but the referee's need to call that a penalty for the safety of the players in the game.

You could make a strong case that had that call been made they could have gone into halftime tied 0-0. It changed the whole complexion of the game.

 

[Spoofin]

Everyone saw the precious jet sweep twice and how well it works when the D has superior speed. We can't go 100% pass, remember our QB is the worst ever, so what to do. They have to keep trying to run to keep the defense somewhat honest. Our pas game DID benefit from that yesterday. It isn't XBOX - you can't just keep running the QB Waggle.

 

[cncmin]

They've adjusted so well that they keep running the same run plays between the tackles for 0-1 yds

haha this.

 

[cjbfbp]

Everyone saw the precious jet sweep twice and how well it works when the D has superior speed. We can't go 100% pass, remember our QB is the worst ever, so what to do. They have to keep trying to run to keep the defense somewhat honest. Our pas game DID benefit from that yesterday. It isn't XBOX - you can't just keep running the QB Waggle.

Our QB is far from the worst ever. He has weaknesses but he is developing into a pretty decent QB. As far as trying to keep running to keep the defense honest, I guess that theory is fair enough in the abstract, but the best thing is to do what is working until it isn't working so well anymore. Leidner hit his first 10 passes against Nebraska but then the coaches started wasting possessions by running into a wall. I really believe Leidner could have thrown for 400 yards against Nebraska if he would have been allowed.

Opposing teams keep betting that 1) Minnesota coaches won't be comfortable passing as much as they need to despite their lousy running game and 2) Leidner and the Minnesota receivers can't have good enough passing/receiving games to beat them. They are still right to some degree on the first presumption but the second presumption is less accurate than it was before.

 

[Iceland12]

Everyone saw the precious jet sweep twice and how well it works when the D has superior speed. We can't go 100% pass, remember our QB is the worst ever, so what to do. They have to keep trying to run to keep the defense somewhat honest. Our pas game DID benefit from that yesterday. It isn't XBOX - you can't just keep running the QB Waggle.

Or only throw for 40 yards plus huh?

 

[cjbfbp]

Perhaps those between the tackle runs set up play action and free up the passing game?

Well, that appears to have been the conventional wisdom of this coaching staff, but I would say that the opposite is closer to the mark. If they're going to have success at all running the ball in the remainder of the schedule, they are going to have to achieve significant success passing the ball first.

 

[Spoofin]

Our QB is far from the worst ever. He has weaknesses but he is developing into a pretty decent QB. As far as trying to keep running to keep the defense honest, I guess that theory is fair enough in the abstract, but the best thing is to do what is working until it isn't working so well anymore. Leidner hit his first 10 passes against Nebraska but then the coaches started wasting possessions by running into a wall. I really believe Leidner could have thrown for 400 yards against Nebraska if he would have been allowed.

Opposing teams keep betting that 1) Minnesota coaches won't be comfortable passing as much as they need to despite their lousy running game and 2) Leidner and the Minnesota receivers can't have good enough passing/receiving games to beat them. They are still right to some degree on the first presumption but the second presumption is less accurate than it was before.

You are absolutely right on ML7. You missed the sarcasm font. My mission today has been going after the folks that say a)ML7 is the worst ever & b)We need to pass more & c)we need to air it out. They tend to be the same folks, different weeks. They base all opinions on the most recent game if not just a few plays from it and ignore any and all factors that influence they way a game is played/turns out. I just threw in the jet sweep comment for good measure.

 

[cjbfbp]

You are absolutely right on ML7. You missed the sarcasm font. My mission today has been going after the folks that say a)ML7 is the worst ever & b)We need to pass more & c)we need to air it out. They tend to be the same folks, different weeks. They base all opinions on the most recent game if not just a few plays from it and ignore any and all factors that influence they way a game is played/turns out. I just threw in the jet sweep comment for good measure.[/QUOTE]

Only considering evidence from the last game? Really? 2.2 yards per rush against NW; 2.5 yards per rush against Nebraska; 1.3 yards per rush againts OSU; only 2.4 yards per rush against Kent State too. The team averaged 4.1 yards per rush against Michigan but they were also putting up 317 yards passing in that game.

 

[Spoofin]

I've been convinced. Spread them 4-wide and chuck the ball. Hurry up offense and air-raid style.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

Those are some good rush defenses the Gophers have faced.

You are absolutely right on ML7. You missed the sarcasm font. My mission today has been going after the folks that say a)ML7 is the worst ever & b)We need to pass more & c)we need to air it out. They tend to be the same folks, different weeks. They base all opinions on the most recent game if not just a few plays from it and ignore any and all factors that influence they way a game is played/turns out. I just threw in the jet sweep comment for good measure.[/QUOTE]

Only considering evidence from the last game? Really? 2.2 yards per rush against NW; 2.5 yards per rush against Nebraska; 1.3 yards per rush againts OSU; only 2.4 yards per rush against Kent State too. The team averaged 4.1 yards per rush against Michigan but they were also putting up 317 yards passing in that game.

For obvious reasons with the injury's to the offensive line the Gophers have been limited in executing the rushing plays they like to call. Those stats are part of the reason I hope that #35 Williams starts getting more carry's. He has fresh legs, he may not produce a higher average, but mixing him in and having him punish tacklers might open things up for the faster Brooks or a shiftier Smith. I'm hoping Nugget starts to get more touches because he can help us these last three games in my opinion. One last thing I think if Mitch were a paper tiger or a china doll whiner like Johnny Manziel or some other notorious whiner QB's he might get more calls. This ML#7 guy has balls made of brass to take the hit's and punishment he does behind that line, this is two consecutive weeks he has taken unnecessary roughness calls had the flag picked up and in both instances you could say both calls changed momentum and how the game was being played. For all of the crap he has taken and abuse, I'm hoping the Offensive line heals up and they have a magical run next year with Leidner at the helm. He has taken far to much punishment this season.