Things You're Looking Forward To This Season?

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thailleagle

thailleagle

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Personally, I can't wait to see our Offense on the field again. I've always hated the Spread, hated Dunbar for bringing it to Minnesota because to me what was unique about Mason's Offense is that most Defenses were conditioned to defend a Spread since most team run it which would throw them off for our ground attack. It's almost like how Cal-Poly (should've beat Wiscy) was able to rack up yards against Wisconsin because they weren't used to defending that type of Offense. I remember telling someone that the Option Offense was going to comeback and cause problems ang Georgia Tech proved that it's still very effective.

I know we don't run either of those but I'm just glad we're out of that gimmick Spread and are back to pounding the ball. Last year we had a very stale Offense because it was nearly 80% Pass & only 20% Run and seeing us in Shotgun on 3rd & 1's used to make me sick to my stomach. Now this year I think we'll be a balanced team and will be able to run a lot of successful Play-Action which didn't fool anybody last year. I think our Offense will be very exciting this season. :clap:

Now while I'm excited about the Offense, I'm scared about Cosgrove's Defense, looks like we'll be back to where we were in the Mason era, high scoring Offense, prevent baby tissue Defense, let's hope I'm wrong! :(
 

Actually we ran the ball 51% of the plays last year and 47% of the time in BT games. However, the results were horrible, especially in BT play. I agree with you as I did not like Dunbars version of the spread and we looked bad trying to execute it for many reasons. I would like to see us with a 60:40 run to pass ratio which is the pattern most successful BT teams and top 10 ranked teams follow.

I think Brewster is learning more about himself as a HC and is forming his schemes around his philosophy which is basically is hard-nosed and agressive football. I hope we see that on both sides of the ball this Fall.
 

$6.50 bottles of Bud Light, hardback blue chairs and drunken Iowa hayseeds porking in the latrines.
 

Bayfieldgopher said:
I would like to see us with a 60:40 run to pass ratio which is the pattern most successful BT teams and top 10 ranked teams follow.
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Every top ten offense also ran the spread. Hell, only a handful of top 25 offenses ran something other than the spread.

There aren't too many conservative run-heavy pro-style offenses in college football anymore. The ones that are left -- Wisconsin, MSU, etc. -- look so sluggish and antiquated.
 

Good question.
I am also most looking forward to seeing how our offense operates.
We had the #104 rushing offense in the country and #11 in the Big Ten. It is obvious that this was no way to run a team (no pun intended) and I think Brewster wisely concluded that we need more production out of our running game than Mike Dunbar's playbook would permit.
I think (hope) that Tim Davis will get the running game headed in the right direction.
Add the depth at WR/TE into the mix and I think it will be much harder for the opposing team's game plan to simply be limiting Decker's catches.
In science there is a term called positive feedback - and I think we'll see that happening in Minnesota this year. The improved running game will make the passing game more successful which will make the runing game even more successful....

Also, I am most looking forward to playing Wisconsin at home with nearly 95% of thos in attendence cheering on our boys in Maroon & Gold.
 


I would fully support a re-commitment to the spread running game like we had under Browning and Mason. It was fun to watch, and hell to prepare for--especially for non- conference opponents. The only thing holding back the effectiveness of those offenses was a poorly designed and predictable passing game. It seemed like every pass play was either a TE draw across the middle or a fade to our tallest receiver. Couple the zone rushing scheme with more varied aerial attack and you have a dynamic offensive system that both interior and perimeter skill players want to be apart of.

Watching Cal Poly tear up Wisky made me nostalgic for those zone running days....
 

Just two things. Can the defense get of the field in 3 downs. Stop an opponent on third down when it really means the game?

Second, can the offense play the game. With a lead and the clock, run the ball. Keep the clock moving. Get that critical 3rd and 3 that wins the game.
 

I will be interested to see if the defense can build on last year despite the change at the top. On paper we have a better defense as far as personnel in a long time. The only apparent weakness is at defensive end. If we can get decent pressure on opposing QBs, I think our DBs are good enough to contain most of our opponents aerial attacks.

On offense, I just want to see Eric Decker have a great senior season, and a consistent running game.
 

Little things

I want to see how the OL rebounds from last year. There's plenty of potential there, but they need to start realizing that potential and moving opponents backwards.

I also want to see how the DL progresses. In particular, I want to see Edwards make another step forward into a dominant player. The kids got the frame and quickness to be something special.
 



Maybe as much hoping for... as looking forward to in this season?!

Winning the games we should.

Taking control of games from start to finish... dominating on both sides of the ball.

Improving as the season progresses.

On my wish list...

One come from behind victory in the Big Ten and/or winning a game we are not expected to win!
 

I'm looking forward to seeing our QB under center in short yardage situations. I hated seeing Weber in the shotgun turning a 3rd and 1 into a 3rd and 5 before the ball was ever snapped.
 

2 players:
Troy Stoudemire
Simoni Lawrence

They are both set to have break out years IMO and both are flying under the radar compared to Weber, Decker, etc...
 

Spoiling another Homecoming (either Penn State or Ohio State)!!!
 



Stopping somebody.... anybody on third down would greatly ease some frustrations.

Not a single missed or blocked extra point all season.

Returning a kick or punt for a touchdown once in a while.
 

I almost forgot.......being Spryless, lol........

I promise that's the last time I do that.......
 

Agree with everything you say - I hated the spread, too. I'm looking forward to seeing if we can win some games we're not expected to - Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan State. And I'm looking forward to the run game with backs alternating and a fullback blocking and running, too. Hope we pass to our tight ends a bit more, too - in addition to pitch and catch from Weber and Decker.
 

We can't go to far the other way!

I do not mind the change in our offense, I think it makes sense, but I think we have to be careful about not getting to caught up in the running game.

Some people are saying we must run 60 percent of the time. Then the question becomes does that play to our strengths? Our strength this year should be our recievers. Decker is an All American canidate and some pre season Magazines have Hayo as an All Big Ten player. I think Ben, Green and McKnight will be strong contributors also. Plus Allen coming in might be the fastest guy on the team. If Hayo is the real deal, we might have the best recievers in the Big Ten.

We have decent running backs but are recievers seem to be better. I do not mind getting rid of the spread, but I think the split needs to be 50/50 in passing and running. If we only pass 40 percent of the time I think we are not using our recievers enough. That's just my opinion.
 

gold04 said:
I do not mind the change in our offense, I think it makes sense, but I think we have to be careful about not getting to caught up in the running game.

Some people are saying we must run 60 percent of the time. Then the question becomes does that play to our strengths? Our strength this year should be our recievers. Decker is an All American canidate and some pre season Magazines have Hayo as an All Big Ten player. I think Ben, Green and McKnight will be strong contributors also. Plus Allen coming in might be the fastest guy on the team. If Hayo is the real deal, we might have the best recievers in the Big Ten.

We have decent running backs but are recievers seem to be better. I do not mind getting rid of the spread, but I think the split needs to be 50/50 in passing and running. If we only pass 40 percent of the time I think we are not using our recievers enough. That's just my opinion.
Click to expand...

This is why I'm pumped for this season. Last year we lost Bennet early and Eskridge & Soloman were both just average behind an inconsistent O-Line. Our Offense was 90% about Decker and our plays revolved around where he is on the field at the time. Our 2nd best receiver was our Tight End & Spry was on the field for...??? We didn't have a 2nd "REAL" reciever. When the Freshman were put in during the Purdue & Wiscy games they showed sparks especially Green.

I think with Weber, Decker, Green, Carpenter & Stoudamire out there at the same time we could be *VERY DANGEROUS* on Offense. I'm not sure who's gonna start in the Backfield but we'll be so balanced it probably won't matter. Last year I'm surprised how good we were with essentially 1 Go-To Option on Offense, this year we'll have more then 1 "Sure Shot" weapon.......
 

With so many weapons at reciever I think we need to us them. This offense has the potential to attack defenses in so many ways.
 

Going to the Rose Bowl!

I'd look forward in going to the Rose Bowl this season. This year that feat is even more unlikey. The Rose Bowl is for the National championship.
 

I'm just looking forward to seeing a complete football team for the first time in a long time. I don't even care about the record this year, just good solid football all year long would be victory enough for me.
 

gold04 said:
I'd look forward in going to the Rose Bowl this season. This year that feat is even more unlikey. The Rose Bowl is for the National championship.
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Not true. The national championship game is in Pasadena on January 7th, but there is still a Rose Bowl on January 1. So we have twice the chance to be playing a bowl game in Pasadena this year. :D:clap:
 

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