I was hoping that Drew's performance against Buffalo would help take Fleck's boot off of Harbaugh and the offense, but I believe you're right - we'll go with the Fleck-special game plan - you know the one that helped us lose to bang up opponsents like Bowling Green, Purdue several times, and Rutger's over the past few years. (not saying we'll lose, but this is the mentality that has held Fleck back in what his teams COULD do).Will time of possession and Special Teams be the keys to the game? I am guessing that we will want to squeeze the life out of the clock and play solid conservative special teams flipping the field and cleanly fielding returns.
My guess is that the goal is to make this a grind it out slugfest.
Thoughts?
Coming up with fake scenarios to get mad about days before the game even occurs. Keep it coming gopher fans!I was hoping that Drew's performance against Buffalo would help take Fleck's boot off of Harbaugh and the offense, but I believe you're right - we'll go with the Fleck-special game plan - you know the one that helped us lose to bang up opponsents like Bowling Green, Purdue several times, and Rutger's over the past few years. (not saying we'll lose, but this is the mentality that has held Fleck back in what his teams COULD do).
Why not come in with a game plan to actually win vs. playing not to lose, and hoping we'll prevail?
I expect this game to be the boring kind of "let's put them to sleep, and hope it works" that doesn't leverage the talent on the field, and hurts us when bowls are selecting. It's not like we need to protect our defense. I believe they can handle more than Fleck wants them to, but our stats might not be quite as attention-grabbing.
I was hoping that Drew's performance against Buffalo would help take Fleck's boot off of Harbaugh and the offense, but I believe you're right.
If and it's a big if we can score first, this approach can and does work. You are basically forcing the opponent to press/ make mistakes. It's a form of Tressel ball. I think this is a wish because I think the team wants to keep things under wraps till BigTen play.I was hoping that Drew's performance against Buffalo would help take Fleck's boot off of Harbaugh and the offense, but I believe you're right - we'll go with the Fleck-special game plan - you know the one that helped us lose to bang up opponsents like Bowling Green, Purdue several times, and Rutger's over the past few years. (not saying we'll lose, but this is the mentality that has held Fleck back in what his teams COULD do).
Why not come in with a game plan to actually win vs. playing not to lose, and hoping we'll prevail?
I expect this game to be the boring kind of "let's put them to sleep, and hope it works" that doesn't leverage the talent on the field, and hurts us when bowls are selecting. It's not like we need to protect our defense. I believe they can handle more than Fleck wants them to, but our stats might not be quite as attention-grabbing.
I was hoping that Drew's performance against Buffalo would help take Fleck's boot off of Harbaugh and the offense, but I believe you're right.
Fake scenarios? outside of 2019 and last season this has been the approach under Fleck.Coming up with fake scenarios to get mad about days before the game even occurs. Keep it coming gopher fans!
I understand the approach, and it can make sense in certain situations, I agree.If and it's a big if we can score first, this approach can and does work. You are basically forcing the opponent to press/ make mistakes. It's a form of Tressel ball. I think this is a wish because I think the team wants to keep things under wraps till BigTen play.
Good points. I think we mostly agree. I think that the team has matured to the point where we can open it up sometimes. Just guessing that the coach would prefer not to have to just yet.I understand the approach, and it can make sense in certain situations, I agree.
It's also the leading cause of bad losses.
James Franklin uses the same approach that helped us beat them in 2019 and almost beat them last year. Lloyd Carr got fired for refusing to go away from it and losing games they shouldn't have based on his refusal to adapt when things weren't going their way, although the talent Michigan had was significantly greater than most of their opponents.
Not saying this is just a Fleck thing. With the talent we have, I would love to see us go away from the approach as the default.