The Good, Bad, and Ugly - NW Style

[Blackhammer]

There is a reason Edwards was moved to linebacker. Sounds like on the big plays we were lined up wrong on defense. No excuse for that.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

He was clearly back there to be a lead blocker for Troy. NW though had no intention of kicking it to Troy. I really do not understand all the outrage over having Edwards back there. Next time, tell him not to jump when catching the kickoff.

The fact that he had to leap into the air to catch a kick off doesn't tell you anything about his competence at returning kicks?

And if he was in there as a lead blocker then I'm even more frustrated with Kill. Everyone in the stadium knew that Stoudermire was not getting the ball. You know the kicker saw him back there and kicked a duck to the 20 yard line hoping for a mistake. It was no accident.

I'm not blaming Edwards. I'm blaming Kill.

 

[John Galt]

That was an all-timer. Jerry tried to rival it with the stupid fake field goal last week, but Mase takes the cake with that decision at Camp Randall.

The fake field goal was poorly designed, but I think the staff was ok with the result. They probably figured their chance of success was 20-30%, so they decided to go with it and gain some field position vs. punting or kicking it. The real indictment is that it shows how low their confidence is in the passing game.

 

[John Galt]

He was clearly back there to be a lead blocker for Troy. NW though had no intention of kicking it to Troy. I really do not understand all the outrage over having Edwards back there. Next time, tell him not to jump when catching the kickoff.

Completely disagree, he was standing at the goal line with Troy.

 

[50PoundHead]

That was an all-timer. Jerry tried to rival it with the stupid fake field goal last week, but Mase takes the cake with that decision at Camp Randall.

This can't be laid directly on Mason as head coach, but play-calling in the Gophers' last possession before halftime in the 2005 Music City bowl really sticks out to me. Gophers were on the edge of field goal range and took a couple of shots deep down the field to end the half. Of course, Virginia came back to win by 3. Don't know why that series has always stuck in my mind.

 

[tikited]

This can't be laid directly on Mason as head coach, but play-calling in the Gophers' last possession before halftime in the 2005 Music City bowl really sticks out to me. Gophers were on the edge of field goal range and took a couple of shots deep down the field to end the half. Of course, Virginia came back to win by 3. Don't know why that series has always stuck in my mind.

We were almost in FG range at the end of that game when Cupito launched a prayer that was picked. Plenty of time to move the ball 15 more yards and get off a solid kick and then take a shot into the end zone. After the game Mason's reaction to that play was, "I thought what the heck, take a chance..." His attitude after that game summed-up his whole career here imo (oh well, whatever..).

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

With Spring practice and all the time getting to the 6th game of the season, the coaching staff should have settled in with two kickoff returners and one punt returner by now (barring injury). What about Stoudemire and McDonald back there? Both the Iowa game and the NW game have shown extremely shakey receiving on the special teams side.

 

[50PoundHead]

We were almost in FG range at the end of that game when Cupito launched a prayer that was picked. Plenty of time to move the ball 15 more yards and get off a solid kick and then take a shot into the end zone. After the game Mason's reaction to that play was, "I thought what the heck, take a chance..." His attitude after that game summed-up his whole career here imo (oh well, whatever..).

I seem to remember that Mason reaction as well. If he had shown half the passion he did as head coach that he does now on the Barreiro show, he'd have a street named after him next to the new stadium. I'll give him somewhat of a pass on that reaction as he'd come within an hour or two of not coaching the team because of the contract dispute, but Mason's PR ability when in the big chair always puzzled me. Great football guy though.

 

[tikited]

With Spring practice and all the time getting to the 6th game of the season, the coaching staff should have settled in with two kickoff returners and one punt returner by now (barring injury). What about Stoudemire and McDonald back there? Both the Iowa game and the NW game have shown extremely shakey receiving on the special teams side.

I think McDonald would get killed back there.

We went from being really good at kick returns the last few years to abysmal. The rule change killed us in that department.

 

[50PoundHead]

Why isn't Marcus Jones returning kicks?

 

[Stan The Caddy]

Completely disagree, he was standing at the goal line with Troy.

Right, however, oftentimes on kick returns players and teams are able to get their designated returner in position to catch the kick while the ball is in the air. It happens all the time where the two return men cross, etc... The design of that return team was clearly to get Troy to catch it and Edwards in front of him to blow somebody up. It did not work.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

I think McDonald would get killed back there.

We went from being really good at kick returns the last few years to abysmal. The rule change killed us in that department.

At the beginning of the year, it seemed as if Troy breaking that record was a sure thing. Now? Not so much. We have been abysmal in all aspects of the return game, kick and punt, and that has been really frustrating because Coach Kill has constantly preached the importance of special teams. How many times this year have the Gophers let a punt drop to the ground and have it hit or nearly hit one of their players cause a turnover or mass confusion like on Saturday? Just catch the darn ball!

 

[GopherInPittsburgh]

I agree that special teams are killing us. Our kickoff return has been abysmal and gives us horrible field position. Combine that with a stagnant offense and a so-so punting game, we have been playing with bad field position way too often.