Time Of Reflection

[jonnyganas]

I'm not sure you understand what the word "pattern" means because I surely hope this "pattern" continues:

Scoring
2011: 18.4
2012: 22.1
2013: 25.7
2014: 28.4

Total Offense
2011: 310.3
2012: 321.4
2013: 343.3
2014: 357.3

Facts. They speak louder than knee-jerk feelings.

 

[Gopher Warrior]

We were top 75 last year in terms of yards per play, but ranked 90+ in all previous years. When you play a slow pace like we do total yards per game doesn't tell the whole story. In terms of offensive efficiency, yes, there is a pattern of improvement. Has the improvement been slower on offense than defense? Yes. The coaching staff has essentially said from day 1 that is how they are going to build the program though. Pretty soon Mason territory will be in the rear view mirror.

What is the pattern of improvement in offensive efficiency?

Some models say we've seen: 2012 being worse than 2011; 2013 being the best; 2014 being similar, but slightly down from 2013.... in terms of offensive efficiency.

 

[dpodoll68]

This goes the same for both sides. There will be plenty jumping up and down shouting "I told you so" if Leidner has a good game Saturday.

Oh no! Gophers fans will be happy that the starting QB performed well! Not that! Anything but that!!!

 

[GophersInIowa]

LMAO!!! We have yet to break the Top 100 in Total Offense or Top 90 in Scoring in any of the years they've been here. I guess I lump all those sh!tty stats into one group: terrible. Sure we may be moving up in the rankings relative to other terrible teams, but who cares, when you're terrible I guess I don't care to sub-categorize terrible any further. Break the Top 100 in yards per game in the FBS just one year, just one! When they get into the top 75 or top 50 then we can talk about a "pattern" of improvement.

You're being ridiculous. He showed you statistics that show improvement. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean there hasn't been improvement.

By the way, you're wrong about the bolded. We were 66th in scoring per game last year: http://stats.ncaa.org/rankings/change_sport_year_div

Also, we were 68th in yards per play: https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/yards-per-play/?date=2015-01-12

And we were 48th in points per play: https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/points-per-play?date=2015-01-12

Overall yardage doesn't tell the whole story. Teams that run hurry up and pass a lot are going to have more total yards.

 

[scools12]

Oh no! Gophers fans will be happy that the starting QB performed well! Not that! Anything but that!!!

What if the QB doesn't perform well? Are Gopher fans allowed to be unhappy about that? Guess not.

 

[dpodoll68]

What if the QB doesn't perform well? Are Gopher fans allowed to be unhappy about that? Guess not.

Certainly, but can you really call someone a fan if they revel in the mediocrity of the team's QB? Where are your priorities if you'd rather be right than see the QB succeed?

 

[scools12]

Certainly, but can you really call someone a fan if they revel in the mediocrity of the team's QB? Where are your priorities if you'd rather be right than see the QB succeed?

I am sure there are some fans that want this particular QB to play bad so they can say they're right. If that makes them less of a fan that is a matter of opinion.

 

[killme]

I am sure there are some fans that want this particular QB to play bad so they can say they're right. If that makes them less of a fan that is a matter of opinion.

Actually, someone wanting my team to fail so they can be right makes them the enemy (in a sports sense, of course).

 

[scools12]

Actually, someone wanting my team to fail so they can be right makes them the enemy (in a sports sense, of course).

Can a fan be critical of a player's performance or think there might be a better option at a given position and still want the team to succeed? I would think a fan could do both.

 

[killme]

Can a fan be critical of a player's performance or think there might be a better option at a given position and still want the team to succeed? I would think a fan could do both.

Opinions, observations, and even unfounded praise or criticism that fuel discussions and debates are part of the fabric of sport. Your previous scenario had the fictitious fan wanting a player on his or her own team to play bad so he or she can be right. Is that person still a fan? Of course. Are they a fan of my team? Of course not. They are fans of themselves.

 

[wait!what?]

gopher fans lost their minds this week.

 

[kisarazu]

Oh no! Gophers fans will be happy that the starting QB performed well! Not that! Anything but that!!!

LMAO

 

[Great Plains Gopher]

If you think this offense will get any better than what you've seen thus far you are sipping too much whisky. They are anemic now, and with a terrible QB and an average-to-bad Limegrover line, will be anemic the rest of the year. So yes, I think it's very reasonable to take a pattern established over 5 years and deduce what I expect the offense to be like over a 10 year period. Really not far fetched at all.

What worries me about this year is that all eight conference foes are possible losses, even Purdue (which we beat only 39-38 at home last year). Illinois is much improved, as are Northwestern and Iowa, whom we have to play on the road. Michigan and Nebraska seem better and Ohio State and Wisconsin about as good, which was very good. If we go 3-5 in the conference, we'll finish 6-6. We need a better offense to go 4-4 or better.

 

[Old Goph]

If you think this offense will get any better than what you've seen thus far you are sipping too much whisky. They are anemic now, and with a terrible QB and an average-to-bad Limegrover line, will be anemic the rest of the year. So yes, I think it's very reasonable to take a pattern established over 5 years and deduce what I expect the offense to be like over a 10 year period. Really not far fetched at all.

OK, if you know that the next 5-6 years will be awful, anemic, terrible, horrible on offense you'd have to be some sort of idiot or masochistic to watch any more games while Kill and Limegrover are still coaching, correct? Can I assume you'll be tuning out until a change is made? Or are you some sort of idiot or masochistic?

 

[Old Goph]

What worries me about this year is that all eight conference foes are possible losses, even Purdue (which we beat only 39-38 at home last year). Illinois is much improved, as are Northwestern and Iowa, whom we have to play on the road. Michigan and Nebraska seem better and Ohio State and Wisconsin about as good, which was very good. If we go 3-5 in the conference, we'll finish 6-6. We need a better offense to go 4-4 or better.

That seems similar to last year when all 8 conference games were potential loses, and all 8 were potential wins.