This offense sucks, plain and simple

[ncgo4]

We do not have receivers that can create separation. Neither do we have a QB that can deliver an accurate or easily catchable ball. Given this, we have created an offensive scheme that pounds the ball and keeps us in games. Let's face it, if someone comes in and throws 21 points up in a hurry, it's going to be a very long game. Claeys is doing what he must.

My understanding is that Kill and Limegrover decided on all scholarship offers for the offense. If this is true, then Claeys and his new offensive team are almost starting over. It sounds like Mr. Green is showing some real skills while running the scout team. It remains to be seen if some of his highly touted receivers can produce. If we can get through this year with 8 or 9 wins and win a bowl game we can begin over next year with a more dynamic and rounded offense.

In the meantime, let's take care of business against Purdue and Northwestern and do something special at either or both of Lincoln and Madison. This could still be a good, real good or damned good year. A very special year is not yet out of the question.

GO GOPHERS!

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Let's examine this notion that the roster is "more talented" this year. I look at the roster, and I don't see a TE as talented as Maxx Williams. I see good DB's, but I don't see a Murray or a Boddy-Calhoun. The RB's are good - but given a choice, I would take David Cobb over Smith or Brooks right now, based on his consistency and track record. O-Line - I'd take Zak Epping back in a heartbeat. LB - I'll take Wilson over any of this year's LB's. WR - shoot, I'd take Fruechte or Barker over any of the WR's on this year's team.

I would say from top to bottom, the overall level of talent may be better, but the top players at each position are not as good as some of the recent years. My opinion - feel free to disagree.

 

[Oregon Gopher]

Good points. We just can't seem to get WRs to the next level. Is that a misjudgment of the talent of the guys we recruit, the overall design of the offense, or the inability to coach guys up. Given everything Kill and company said when they took the helm is that they could find those hidden gems no one else wanted and turn them into All-B1G players. I'm not seeing that on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively has been a different story.

I don't think it's a misjudgment of the talent- more a reality of the talent level we can acquire at this time due to the lack of a passing friendly offense. I do think there's a component of lack of inventiveness in the passing scheme though. If we don't have the thoroughbreds to get open on their own we need combination routes and rubs to help them open a window. Also we could use more of the bunch formation combos like the one that enabled Woli to get wide open on Saturday.


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[PMWinSTP]

Ok let me try this. If we exclude the drives we had because of turnovers we had 239 yards of offense. We had 10 "typical drives" and 4 drives on a short field and 1 victory formation drive at the end. Looking just at the 10 typical drives we had 23.9 yards per drive and scored 14 points. If we extrapolate that to a typical game under Claeys of 12.7 drives we have a total offensive output of 303.3 yards. That's ok but not stellar. We converted in the red zone and we should be very happy about that, but we had some trouble making sustained drives vs IL.

Let me try this...the short fields impacted the total yardage output and time length of those drives..not the offense's fault. The none scoring drives averaged 3 minutes each. Three of their scoring drives took less than one minute total, and covered 39 yards.

Don't think we are disagreeing, just but looking at the opportunities from differing viewpoints.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Let me try this...the short fields impacted the total yardage output and time length of those drives..not the offense's fault. The none scoring drives averaged 3 minutes each. Three of their scoring drives took less than one minute total, and covered 39 yards.

Don't think we are disagreeing, just but looking at the opportunities from differing viewpoints.

I'm aware those were short drives and they were the result of aborted IL drives. We are + 10 on turnover ratio this season. Phenomenal and good for 4th in the country. It absolutely helps scoring with short fields. The Devers fumble sacks come to mind, and the fumbles from thes inexperienced qbs. It's been huge.

 

[MGGopher]

Let's examine this notion that the roster is "more talented" this year. I look at the roster, and I don't see a TE as talented as Maxx Williams. I see good DB's, but I don't see a Murray or a Boddy-Calhoun. The RB's are good - but given a choice, I would take David Cobb over Smith or Brooks right now, based on his consistency and track record. O-Line - I'd take Zak Epping back in a heartbeat. LB - I'll take Wilson over any of this year's LB's. WR - shoot, I'd take Fruechte or Barker over any of the WR's on this year's team.

I would say from top to bottom, the overall level of talent may be better, but the top players at each position are not as good as some of the recent years. My opinion - feel free to disagree.

I agree with you 100%. I got to see the team in person the past two weeks for the first time this season. One of my biggest thoughts was that we just don't have outstanding players at many positions. We have OK, good, and very players at a lot of positions (none "horrible" in my opinion), but not very many next-level athletes who have NFL potential. I think a few guys on the team will make an NFL roster, but there aren't a lot of no-brainers in there. Some will say that's coaching...others will say it's recruiting...I say I don't care, it's just a reality right now.

 

[PMWinSTP]

I'm aware those were short drives and they were the result of aborted IL drives. We are + 10 on turnover ratio this season. Phenomenal and good for 4th in the country. It absolutely helps scoring with short fields. The Devers fumble sacks come to mind, and the fumbles from thes inexperienced qbs. It's been huge.

No doubt. We were a good 100 yards below our total offense average against Illinois...result of what a good, opportunistic defense gives you. The counter to this game was Penn St, where we put up close to 100 above our average. Nearly all the offensive stats in that game screamed WIN.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

It is very difficult to see on tv, but at home games this year I have seen a few plays where Gophers receivers are open on semi deep routes but either the protection isn't there or the QB is not getting to that progression.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

There is no time

It is very difficult to see on tv, but at home games this year I have seen a few plays where Gophers receivers are open on semi deep routes but either the protection isn't there or the QB is not getting to that progression.

There really hasn't been a lot of time to throw the deep progression routes. Heck a lot of teams are not leaving a safety over the top because the Gophers cannot give the QB time enough to hit those throws. Until the Gophers can prove they can hit the deep ball nobody is going to respect any of those routes, they might as well be decoy to nothing routes at this point in time.He doesn't have time to hit any deep routes, crossing, go, post, you name it the timing has been absent. Leidner get's less time to throw then Adam Weber had and that is saying something because those were way less talented O-lines.

 

[Iceland12]

It is very difficult to see on tv, but at home games this year I have seen a few plays where Gophers receivers are open on semi deep routes but either the protection isn't there or the QB is not getting to that progression.

Yep.

 

[Jack jones]

Some are disappointed in Leidner but the truth off the matter is we don't pass block. I once heard Bear Bryant say" since we only throw 4 -6 per game, we will only practice pass blocking 2% of practice time." Maybe that's our problem. Can't practice run blocking and also practice pass blocking. One reguires driving out while the other is static and then give ground.
.Hard to do both - but good teams do. Disappointed in Coach Miller teaching toughness and discipline.

 

[Hates Monikers]

Let's examine this notion that the roster is "more talented" this year. I look at the roster, and I don't see a TE as talented as Maxx Williams. I see good DB's, but I don't see a Murray or a Boddy-Calhoun. The RB's are good - but given a choice, I would take David Cobb over Smith or Brooks right now, based on his consistency and track record. O-Line - I'd take Zak Epping back in a heartbeat. LB - I'll take Wilson over any of this year's LB's. WR - shoot, I'd take Fruechte or Barker over any of the WR's on this year's team.

I would say from top to bottom, the overall level of talent may be better, but the top players at each position are not as good as some of the recent years. My opinion - feel free to disagree.

You're basically comparing this team to 2014. Keep in mind that in 2014 we lost to Illinois and barely escaped Purdue before beating Nebraska and Michigan. The 2016 team can still match that. At this point in 2014, we didn't know that season would end so well.

Peesonnel-wise, some of the players are still here, including the QB. The secondary may not have a Murray, but it's very good when Hardin and Buford are available. The LBs don't have Wilson, but they're very good, with youth and experience. Two very good RBs. I'm guessing Claeys expected more out of the OL and the passing game. But then, the offense wasn't dominant in 2014, either.

Its close. This year's team still has time to prove Claeys right.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I thought the offense actually looked alright last game.

 

[Oregon Gopher]

It could be worse- we could have the Vikes o-line


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[Deckergopher]

It could be worse- we could have the Vikes o-line


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Yes they suck

 

[Pompous Elitist]

There really hasn't been a lot of time to throw the deep progression routes. Heck a lot of teams are not leaving a safety over the top because the Gophers cannot give the QB time enough to hit those throws. Until the Gophers can prove they can hit the deep ball nobody is going to respect any of those routes, they might as well be decoy to nothing routes at this point in time.He doesn't have time to hit any deep routes, crossing, go, post, you name it the timing has been absent. Leidner get's less time to throw then Adam Weber had and that is saying something because those were way less talented O-lines.

Well, there is this. Apparently he - can- pass? Almost 10 yards per attempt. Over 100 yards rushing. If we can't pass efficiently with our limitations in protection and at the receiver position, can you imagine our zone read, option (if we have it in the play book), draw play with a quick twitch, fast, athletic QB. Just daydreaming.

QB Chris Streveler, South Dakota
6-2, 220, Jr., Crystal Lake (Ill.) Marian Central Catholic / Minnesota
Streveler accounted for 475 yards of total offense and three touchdowns against No. 15 Western Illinois Saturday inside the DakotaDome. He completed 29 of 40 passes for a career-high 373 yards, becoming the program’s first 300-yard passer since 2013, and ran 21 times for 102 yards for his fourth 100-yard effort this season. Streveler threw touchdowns of 20 yards to Trystn Ducker and seven yards to Dakarai Allen. His 1-yard touchdown run gave USD its largest lead at 31-14 just before halftime.