Weber not a runner anymore

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monk10

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(stealing the blog title).

http://blogs.twincities.com/gophers/2009/10/weber-not-a-runner-anymore.html

Gophers quarterback Adam Weber did his best Tim Tebow impression when he led the Gophers in passing and rushing as a freshman in 2007.

Weber was the first Minnesota quarterback to lead the team in rushing (617 yards) since Rickey Foggie had 647 yards in 1984. But Weber is glad those days are gone.

He said there are times for it, but Weber's aware of the risks.

"In the Wisconsin game, there was a time when the opportunity presented itself," he said. "But the body can take so many hits, especially as a quarterback. You look at Tim Tebow. If you take a bad enough hit, then you're out for a couple weeks and your team is hurting."

Weber has 19 carries for minus-53 yards this season, because he's been sacked 10 times. His longest run is nine yards.

Asked if he would like to do more audible runs, Weber said, "I would just like to get more first downs. I want to score more points. Whatever works. We're still trying to find out what that is. If it's quarterback runs, then so be it. I'm tired of the three and outs."

-- Weber said it was his call to throw a fade pass to his go-to receiver, Eric Decker, on first and goal from the 1-yard line in the first half against Wisconsin. The play called was actually a screen pass to tight end Nick Tow-Arnett, but Weber thought the one-on-one matchup with Decker was too good to pass up.

The play ended up being negated anyway when left guard Chris Bunders was penalized for a chop block.

-- Gophers offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch won't blame some of Weber's errant throws this season on offseason changes to the quarterback's throwing motion, quickening his release.

Weber agreed with Fisch saying: "I worked on it hard enough during the summer. At times when I miss a couple throws, I'm just rushing it a little bit. That's what it comes down to. Sometimes it takes time to feel completely comfortable."

-- Sophomore receiver Troy Stoudermire ranks third in the Big Ten in kick-return average (28.2), but he's pretty surprised he hasn't returned one for a touchdown this season. The two players ranked ahead of him (Indiana's Ray Fisher and Michigan's Darryl Stonum) have touchdowns this year.

Stoudermire said he's definitely getting the blocking he needs from his teammates to break one. Players such as tailback Shady Salamon, fullback Jon Hoese and linebacker Spencer Reeves made key blocks against Wisconsin to allow him to go untouched through the first level of defenders.

"I talk to them every time before we got out there while we're standing on the pad," Stoudermire said. "I tell them, 'Let's take this one to the house.' You never know, because that play could be a game-changer. They make their blocks, and I just have to hit the hole full speed. I'm definitely going to get one this year, but I have to stop saying it and just do it."
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Glad to see Weber is sick enough of this stunted offense to consider taking off once in a while.
 

Gophers offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch won't blame some of Weber's errant throws this season on offseason changes to the quarterback's throwing motion
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That may be true but it also doesn't shock me that he's not willing to pin the blame on his pet project.
 

Khaliq said:
That may be true but it also doesn't shock me that he's not willing to pin the blame on his pet project.
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Weber missed his share of open guys last year also.
 

Weber's a smart guy...he clearly knows what his problems are relative to his strengths and he seems to be working to fix them pretty damn hard.
 


He's been "fixing" these problems for 3 seasons, they're no longer problems, they're just how he plays.......
 

Should be

a Qb draw play here or there would do wonders to slow down other teams pass rush. Im betting weber is pretty frustrated that he is being told to never run.
 

I know it's gotta be irritating for him because it's been a few times the pocket has collapsed around him and he'll have a good 5-6 yards of green in front of him but instead he forces a pass.......

Weber breaking that 40 something yard run against Purdue last year *AFTER* the surgery shows he still has it.......
 

Yeah, a body can only take so many hits, but only has a season and one half of football left. And with the uninspired running game this team has, he could probably still lead the team in rushing if he'll sacrifice his body for a "W."
 



thailleagle said:
I know it's gotta be irritating for him because it's been a few times the pocket has collapsed around him and he'll have a good 5-6 yards of green in front of him but instead he forces a pass.......

Weber breaking that 40 something yard run against Purdue last year *AFTER* the surgery shows he still has it.......
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There is no way that surgery did anything major to his ability to run the ball. It is either a fear of getting reinjured or else explicit directions from Fisch that are stopping him from running.
 

centerofmn said:
There is no way that surgery did anything major to his ability to run the ball. It is either a fear of getting reinjured or else explicit directions from Fisch that are stopping him from running.
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I would guess Fisch, because even QB's who are nowhere near as tough as Weber will still scramble if they see a little daylight so I doubt it's fear.......

The question is where did the scrambling stop?

2008 Stats (After Surgery)

PU = 13 Car, 60 Yds, LNG 39
NW = 16 Car, 53 Yds, LNG 19
UM = 13 Car, -3 Yds, LNG 9
UW = 11 Car, 43 Yds, LNG 21
UI = 5 Car, 2 Yds, LNG 7
KU = 12 Car, 31 Yds, LNG 23

TOTAL = 70 Car, 186 Yds

2009 (Thru 5 Games)

SU = 3 Car, -8 Yds, LNG 0
AF = 2 Car, 2 Yds, LNG 9
CAL = 4 Car, -19 Yds, LNG 1
NW = 5 Car, -1 Yds, LNG 3
UW = 5 Car, -27, LNG 6

TOTAL = 19 Car, -53 Yds


It's gotta be the system because he was still getting carries (minus the catastrophic iowa loss) every game & now he's not even getting carries.......
 

first weber td run of the year!i think we are gonna need him to run a fair bit more against penn st. and ohio st. im not too convinced our running game is back on track with the game against purdue today. running game is going to have to be more dynamic agaisnt the stout Defenses coming up this includes a few QB runs, andwhat happened to getting stoudemeire int he run game like in the first few weeks.
 

I know the numbers don't show it well, but we ran well against Wisconsin too. We just chose not to. If you remove the QB sack from the wiscy game that was over four yards a run as well. The difference today, is that fisch decided to wait until Purdue could stop the run before he went for balance. It never happened. Against wisconsic he went to the pass in the second half for some odd reason creating some three and outs, and then we had to pass because we were behind. Wisconsin never stopped our run and they're not too bad on defense. I think our running game may be taking shape. We'll know more against a very good defense next week.
 



If Weber would slide at the end of his runs, they might let him run more often. But he finishes off like A.D.
 

He's much better when he's throwing. When ever he's aiming trying to be perfect because it's a short pass or he actually has time he kind of sucks. I don't think it's a coincidence when he's thinking trying to execute the scripted plays he fails, and when he's trying to win a game at the end he's dynamic. Running is good for his mental approach to the game.
 

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