What a Difference a Year Makes!

[EE_Gopher]

Coaches always say “fans judge progress by wins and losses”. I have BTN2Go. I went back and watched some of the games last year. And I have to say “wow!” It’s like seeing your nephew you haven’t seen in a while and are surprised how much he’s grown.

I know that our offensive line was really banged up last year, but it is amazing the improvement. Even in the Purdue game which we won 44-28, Purdue’s defensive linemen are going through our line like butter. On some of those great passing plays, Philip Nelson never sees them because he let go of the ball just before being slammed to the turf.

When I went back and watched last year’s games, here are some things I thought about:

Wow, is it a different game when you have a good punter!
There really is improved play from the defensive backs.
We set up in more pass first formations last year.
Our linebackers are better this year (understatement).
This year, we can run when the other team knows we are going to run.
It’s a different game when you have Maxx Williams playing for you!

All this makes me believe tomorrow may be a big surprise!

 

[killme]

What would be the surprise? I noticed a difference early in the year. The team seemed tentative, robotic, uncertain last year. It felt like before the snap our best chance for success was the other team making a mistake like a dropped or overthrown pass, or a runner slipping and falling. This year the team seems more aggressive and confident. I'm surprised when the DON'T make good plays. The Iowa game was the only one where I thought we looked completely different than all the other games this season, I think because they were too amped. I think they learned from that.

 

[TAW]

Serious question: Other than QB, has the turnaround happened with mostly the same players, with just another year of good coaching, or are there different bodies on the field?

I'll hang up and listen.

 

[hungan1]

... All this makes me believe tomorrow may be a big surprise!

Carpe diem! SKI-U-MAH!

 

[FreakyDeke]

Serious question: Other than QB, has the turnaround happened with mostly the same players, with just another year of good coaching, or are there different bodies on the field?

I'll hang up and listen.

We graduated 0 of the following position last year: QB, RB, WR (contributers, anyway), OL (all positions), and S. It's the improvement you'd expect when a 6-6 team, loaded with FR and SO, gets more comfortable with the system and bigger, faster, and stronger. We got a JUCO MLB that was desperately needed and a killer TE that was redshirting last year, but that's about it for new bodies. After this year we also graduate just 1 offensive contributer, OT Ed Olson.

 

[RochesterGopher]

Last year they were people thinking that Kill and Company wouldn't last bc they would get canned now the main concern IMO is if any of the coordinators or assistants leave for head coaching gigs. What a difference a year makes is right.