Some Positives

[Mulligan]

Amazing how much negativity. Not a perfect game by any means, but I thought there were a lot of positives today.

--The team came back from a painful loss last week and won a game they were expected to win. Yes it's Purdue, but they came close against Oregon and Notre Dame. Maybe some "pouting" about Wisconsin at the beginning, but then they played.
--Run defense was good. Only the QB's scrambling got them any yardage. Not sure about the stats but it seemed to me we had more stops for a loss or no gain than in any other game.
--Finally a running running game. The offensive line still needs work but there were actual holes for the backs today, and we also got to the edge. Great to see.
--Much more disciplined despite the start. After those first two penalties, I think I only remember one other.
--Younger guys contributing: obviously Stoudermire, but Whaley also on offense. Cooper had a great game on defense and I thought Jacobs played a solid game.
--We continue to be a team that makes and takes advantage of breaks when on defense and on special teams.
--We won handily despite 3 catches by Decker.

We're 4-2, and I'm already anxious to see where we really are as a team next week at Penn State. I certainly think we have a good chance to surprise them. Don't know why, but winning at Penn State doesn't seem as daunting as winning at Ohio State.

 

[gophergrad]

I think your point about being able to win without a big game from Decker is really important. It didn't happen last year and it shows progress that we do not have the rely on our superstar.

 

[thailleagle]

But we beat Purdue last year without Decker.......

 

[balds]

Wrong

Decker was fine and healthy for Purdue last year. He got hurt at the end of the Northwestern game the folling week.

 

[upchurch]

You take away all the gimmees from Purdue and we score 7 points. Horrible performance.

 

[frozengopher]

You take away all the gimmees from Purdue and we score 7 points. Horrible performance.

Good thing that isn't how football works. The turnovers weren't "gimmies," either. Even the shanked punt was a result of good pressure from the front. The defense played opportunistic for once. While some of the pursuit and tackling was suspect, they played well. Especially after that bomb of a first quarter.

Old Gopher teams would've self destructed today. Good effort, guys.

 

[RodentRampage]

And here I thought points still counted even if they were set up by mistakes the opponent made. Here I thought we scored 35 points.

We won by 15 points. Yes, Purdue made some mistakes, but we capitalized on them, and that's part of the game.

 

[chri1673]

Anyones thoughts about not punching the ball in quick at the end this is the BCS system afterall....haha im just saying look at all the big 12 teams who run up the score in the 4th quater by throwing the ball on first down with under 5 minutes to go.
not saying i would have done it just a thought

 

[Great Plains Gopher]

First quarter was alarming, but overall you are right - lots of positives. One thing is that this group plays like a team - contributions from defense, special teams, etc. It was great to see some longer runs, some interceptions, QB sacks, etc. - the whole picture. Younger players made contributions today, as earlier - a good sign. If the Gophers can win at home against Illinois and SD State, they have a bowl. Halloween night is a bonus, maybe. Anything beyond that is gravy.

 

[JackiO]

You take away all the gimmees from Purdue and we score 7 points. Horrible performance.

The game changes dramatically when you have turnovers for easy points. We don't know how well we would have done had those turnovers not occurred because we didn't need to have long drives to score. Therefore your point really is, well, pointless. Plus we could have easily scored at the end of the game had it not been for mercy on our part.

 

[GoAUpher]

You take away all the gimmees from Purdue and we score 7 points. Horrible performance.

So if we got the ball with a longer field we for sure would not have scored any of those points despite running the ball at will? Do you have a magic crystal ball that you'd like to share with the class?

 

[strokemonster]

The Pigeyes have been winning ugly all year long and their fans, disgusting as they may be, are NOT trashing them. Good teams find a way to win, offense, defense, special teams and turnovers, and they don't apologize for it. We my have finally turned the corner, let's see how it goes the rest of the way.

 

[gopherfaith]

The Pigeyes have been winning ugly all year long and their fans, disgusting as they may be, are NOT trashing them. Good teams find a way to win, offense, defense, special teams and turnovers, and they don't apologize for it. We my have finally turned the corner, let's see how it goes the rest of the way.

You Da Man! In the words of Tim Brewster on 10/10/09, "It's 2:12 and the Gophers are 4-2!" We won a game we needed to win.