What happened? What needs to improve next season?

[hungan1]

What in the world happened? The Gophers couldn't score a touchdown for several quarters like they made their quota for the season. Would things have been different had Christenson & Bak were able to play? Nelson was at an ebb. Was he playing hurt? Didn't he have a concussion (MSU)? I don't know if it is the play calling or in combination with key injuries that contribute to the lack of offensive production.

I can understand the Badgers & Spartans are in the upper echelon of B1G, but to lose to Syracuse with lackluster offensive and special teams performance is very telling that something is out of sync.

I sure hope that there are more talented RFr and transfers playing next season to up the offensive production. Otherwise, the Gophers are in for a long season.

The defense had miscues at inopportune times, and they seem to be missing extra springs and pops that they had in their four straight B1G wins.

Do we have the defensive horses to replace the seniors? Hageman the beast is going to be tough to replace.

Let's hope that the Syracuse lost does not sway some of the outstanding recruits away from the Gophers.

I feel that they are just a tad away from stealing a few more victories. They need to sustain both offensive & defensive intensity for four quarters instead of three. We'd like to have quality team depth going into next season.

I hope that this will be a truly Happy New Year in Gopherland!

Go Gophers!

Drinks to Lady Luck:

 

[station19]

Step #1. Show up and be ready to play.

 

[EliteHSscout]

The one thing that caught my attention most, was the wide open receivers that were missed. If the 2 QB's we have now can't effectively throw the ball, we may need to look at Steveler next season.

 

[50PoundHead]

Have to do something about the passing game. I don't know if it's just the QBs that are the problem. I think we need to take a look at the entire scheme. Experience alone should make us better in this department, but it was our biggest problem this year.

A lot of guys to replace on defense, but Claeys seems to be able to match guys with situations, so even losing a couple of impact guys can be somewhat covered in my opinion.

 

[e.bigelow]

The one thing that caught my attention most, was the wide open receivers that were missed. If the 2 QB's we have now can't effectively throw the ball, we may need to look at Steveler next season.

I don't get where the love for Strevler is coming from already. Have the coaches been praising him that I'm not aware of or have read anywhere? I've been to several spring practices and the spring game and watched him and I was not impressed with him yet. You think Nelson and Leidner missed throws, he missed a lot more from what I saw. He is still a RS Freshman (next season) so he has plenty of time to grow and improve. But unless he has dramatic improvement between now and next fall we still have Nelson at QB1A and Leidner at QB1B. Just my two cents on it.

 

[Ole]

The team will gain consistency with experience and added talent/depth.
This program is still "stabilizing" IMO.
We saw alot of really good things from this season and lots of frustrating ones.
None of our losses couldn't have been wins had certain plays been made that were right there for the taking.

I really don't get the teeth gnashing over the QB position to be honest. We've got young talent there and the competition will be fierce going forward. Somebody will emerge and the team will be better for it.
We need to continue to add talent across the board and find more playmakers.
This time last year we had no idea guys like Murray, Maxx, Engel, etc would be as good as they were.
Brick by Brick we're getting there, but we have not arrived yet that is for sure.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I don't get where the love for Strevler is coming from already. Have the coaches been praising him that I'm not aware of or have read anywhere? I've been to several spring practices and the spring game and watched him and I was not impressed with him yet. You think Nelson and Leidner missed throws, he missed a lot more from what I saw. He is still a RS Freshman (next season) so he has plenty of time to grow and improve. But unless he has dramatic improvement between now and next fall we still have Nelson at QB1A and Leidner at QB1B. Just my two cents on it.

Standard love for the backup QB. Just in our case it is for the 3rd string guy since both of the other two are already playing. Fans always think the guy waiting in the wings is going to be the savior.

That being said I would think the coaches will leave the competition for the starting position wide open heading into spring ball so if the kid wins the job great.

 

[50PoundHead]

I don't get where the love for Strevler is coming from already. Have the coaches been praising him that I'm not aware of or have read anywhere? I've been to several spring practices and the spring game and watched him and I was not impressed with him yet. You think Nelson and Leidner missed throws, he missed a lot more from what I saw. He is still a RS Freshman (next season) so he has plenty of time to grow and improve. But unless he has dramatic improvement between now and next fall we still have Nelson at QB1A and Leidner at QB1B. Just my two cents on it.

I think the quote goes something like: "The most popular football player in town is the back-up QB."

Kill has things set up right now with one QB per class (Nelson, jr-to-be; Leidner, rsso-to-be; Streveler, rsfr-to-be; McKinzy,fr) that unless someone really leapfrogs, an experienced guy will always be under center. I think Leidner has a higher ceiling than Nelson (bigger, stronger, stronger arm), but Nelson is steadier and is more likely to reach his ceiling, which isn't that much lower than Leidner's. All opinion on my part. I think we can win with either guy under center provided everything else falls in place.

 

[60's Guy]

yup

I don't get where the love for Strevler is coming from already. Have the coaches been praising him that I'm not aware of or have read anywhere? I've been to several spring practices and the spring game and watched him and I was not impressed with him yet. You think Nelson and Leidner missed throws, he missed a lot more from what I saw. He is still a RS Freshman (next season) so he has plenty of time to grow and improve. But unless he has dramatic improvement between now and next fall we still have Nelson at QB1A and Leidner at QB1B. Just my two cents on it.

Streveler's strength is athleticism. His weakness is his throwing motion and his ability to throw the ball. So, unless he has
better intangibles I'd say it's hype for him to be mentioned as a possible starter. He's not a passing wizard, unless they rebuilt him?

 

[GoldenRodents]

Streveler's strength is athleticism. His weakness is his throwing motion and his ability to throw the ball. So, unless he has
better intangibles I'd say it's hype for him to be mentioned as a possible starter. He's not a passing wizard, unless they rebuilt him?

Let's face it, with the pace of injuries, Streveler is likely to see the field next year. Hopefully he has a work-ethic and innate talent to make it count.

 

[John Galt]

I don't buy into the Streveler hype, but I think it has to do with the coaching staff making a comment that he was about ready to pass Mitch as the #2 until his injury. If his improvement was that fast as a true freshman, maybe he makes a move next year.

But I still think our best hope is for an improved Nelson to emerge.

 

[Great Plains Gopher]

The Gophers just can't pass consistently - and both passing and overall offense, statistically, are near or at the bottom of the B1G. Kill should take a page from K-State and bring in a JC transfer who can throw the ball and move the chains.

 

[Ole]

The Gophers just can't pass consistently - and both passing and overall offense, statistically, are near or at the bottom of the B1G. Kill should take a page from K-State and bring in a JC transfer who can throw the ball and move the chains.

Does it really matter if we win how much passing offense statistically we have?
We won games passing 99, 127, 124, 71, 112, 152, 298, and 186 yards, we lost games by passing 135, 145, 83, 125, and 223.

Not much of a difference when you look at the numbers.

It's about execution, our QB's are still learning to be cold blooded in pressure situations.
If people think Limegrover and Kill want to throw the ball for 250+ each game then keep dreaming. They'd take the SJSU stat line all day and all night. 71 yards passing, 353 rushing, 41:02 min possession. Win by 19.

Over reacting is what we as fans do, but keep a little perspective and understand that right now our path to winning doesn't include slinging the ball 40 times a game.

 

[John Galt]

What needs to improve in 2014?

1. Consistent QB play. Hitting open receivers.
2. Another step forward by the O-line. I'd love to see Pirsig or Hayes overtake a senior and become a starter because they are so good we can't leave them off the field.
3. A homerun threat. We haven't had one since........? Maroney? We need the kind of guy at either RB or WR who can score a 50 yard TD because he can outrun the other team and make guys miss. Good teams have this, as you can't rely on your offense to put together 70 yard milk-the-clock scoring drives all game.
4. Better tackling on defense. It seems like we are usually in the right position to make a play, but too many misses.
5. The ability to defend the WR screen. It seems like we have been killed with that play since the Mason years.
6. Improved pass rush. All the DEs are back and upperclassman (except H. Ekpe) with 2-3 years of significant game experience. Play like it.

 

[GoldenRodents]

What needs to improve in 2014?

3. A homerun threat. We haven't had one since........? Maroney? We need the kind of guy at either RB or WR who can score a 50 yard TD because he can outrun the other team and make guys miss. Good teams have this, as you can't rely on your offense to put together 70 yard milk-the-clock scoring drives all game.

There were about four running plays of 8-9 yards where Cobb or Kirkwood simply tripped. Maroney would have broken all of them for at least 25.

 

[e.bigelow]

I don't buy into the Streveler hype, but I think it has to do with the coaching staff making a comment that he was about ready to pass Mitch as the #2 until his injury. If his improvement was that fast as a true freshman, maybe he makes a move next year. But I still think our best hope is for an improved Nelson to emerge.

+1. Pretty much agree with everything you said here John Galt.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Does it really matter if we win how much passing offense statistically we have?
We won games passing 99, 127, 124, 71, 112, 152, 298, and 186 yards, we lost games by passing 135, 145, 83, 125, and 223.

Not much of a difference when you look at the numbers.

It's about execution, our QB's are still learning to be cold blooded in pressure situations.
If people think Limegrover and Kill want to throw the ball for 250+ each game then keep dreaming. They'd take the SJSU stat line all day and all night. 71 yards passing, 353 rushing, 41:02 min possession. Win by 19.

Over reacting is what we as fans do, but keep a little perspective and understand that right now our path to winning doesn't include slinging the ball 40 times a game.

Nobody is asking for 40 pass attempts a game or 250+ yards, what we are asking for is a passing game that is competent and right now it is clearly not. Kill is trying to do something very similar to what Mason did here but in order for the run first offense to work the passing game needs to be good enough to at least keep the opposing defense honest. Mason teams never put up huge numbers passing the ball but that offense was awesome and dang near unstoppable in some games.

You are correct when you say it is about execution and right now that execution leaves a lot to be desired. Hopefully things take a massive step forward in the off-season on that front because in order for this team to consistently compete against the good teams in the conference it is going to take a passing game that can take some pressure off the run game.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

Step #1. Show up and be ready to play.

Well told.

 

[ruppertflywheel]

We need more " Jimmy and Joe ' s " because limey ain't that great on X's and 0's.

 

[Gopherwatcher]

As a high school coach, I can completely empathize with Coach Kill and his staff in their certain frustrations with their QB situation. Passing the football is a skill, but it's also a very difficult skill to do well. Once you start to change mechanics and throwing motions, a QB's accuracy will drop at first, and then "hopefully" come around. If you think I'm wrong, google "Improving QB accuracy" and see how many supposed QB gurus there are out there. I've been coaching for 16 years, and I am starting to realize that some players are just natural passers and extremely accurate. It's very difficult to improve accuracy. I am hoping that Nelson and Leidner can both improve their accuracy, but I can guarantee you that they aren't going to become super-accurate QBs. But in reality, all that they need to do in this offense is hit the wide open receivers and run the ball. That's the key to make this offense go. It will also help if they can find some more receivers that can create separation from defenders.

 

[station19]

As a high school coach, I can completely empathize with Coach Kill and his staff in their certain frustrations with their QB situation. Passing the football is a skill, but it's also a very difficult skill to do well. Once you start to change mechanics and throwing motions, a QB's accuracy will drop at first, and then "hopefully" come around. If you think I'm wrong, google "Improving QB accuracy" and see how many supposed QB gurus there are out there. I've been coaching for 16 years, and I am starting to realize that some players are just natural passers and extremely accurate. It's very difficult to improve accuracy. I am hoping that Nelson and Leidner can both improve their accuracy, but I can guarantee you that they aren't going to become super-accurate QBs. But in reality, all that they need to do in this offense is hit the wide open receivers and run the ball. That's the key to make this offense go. It will also help if they can find some more receivers that can create separation from defenders.

But in reality Nelson and Leidner are incapable of doing that. Half the time the passes were not within 10 yds of the receiver.

Neither one will turn into a respectable passer.

We will never finish above 500 in Big Ten play with that poor of a passing game.

 

[50PoundHead]

As a high school coach, I can completely empathize with Coach Kill and his staff in their certain frustrations with their QB situation. Passing the football is a skill, but it's also a very difficult skill to do well. Once you start to change mechanics and throwing motions, a QB's accuracy will drop at first, and then "hopefully" come around. If you think I'm wrong, google "Improving QB accuracy" and see how many supposed QB gurus there are out there. I've been coaching for 16 years, and I am starting to realize that some players are just natural passers and extremely accurate. It's very difficult to improve accuracy. I am hoping that Nelson and Leidner can both improve their accuracy, but I can guarantee you that they aren't going to become super-accurate QBs. But in reality, all that they need to do in this offense is hit the wide open receivers and run the ball. That's the key to make this offense go. It will also help if they can find some more receivers that can create separation from defenders.

Thanks for that critique Gopherwatcher. Good to have someone with some actual know-how chime in to point rubes like me in the right direction.

 

[John Galt]

Both Nelson and Leidner need to get away for 1-2 weeks this summer and attend a QB camp led by a pro. It would be good for them to hear another voice at this point in their development.

 

[e.bigelow]

Both Nelson and Leidner need to get away for 1-2 weeks this summer and attend a QB camp led by a pro. It would be good for them to hear another voice at this point in their development.

I couldn't agree more. It would definitely be beneficial for them both.

Although, I remember someone posted something a while back on how Nelson wanted to go to a passing camp last year and Zebrowski and Kill told him not to go or more so they didn't want him to go.

 

[Gopherwatcher]

Thanks for the compliment 50poundhead. I guess you could say that I have a little know-how when it comes to coaching, but there are definitely more knowledgeable people out there than me, including Coach Kill and his staff.

As for what needs to change next season, I don't necessarily agree that QB play is the most important thing that needs to be fixed. I do feel that improved QB accuracy is definitely needed, but I feel that the running game needs to be more consistent for the Gophers to be more successful. Notice I said consistency. I see a lot of Holers talking about that home-run threat. Those are great, but what really stood out to me in the Gopher games this season is how many times they ran for 0-2 yards. Those are the plays that they have to eliminate. Check out the game-by-game stats here. http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2013-2014/teamgbg.html

It's very obvious that as the opposing teams got better, the Gophers rushing stats took a serious dive. With the offense that they have chosen to run, they need to get those 4-6 yard carries on most rushing plays. The home-run plays are great, but it's the 4-6 carries that will win you ball games.

I'd actually like to see the Gophers incorporate more spread-type formations into their running game. I remember seeing the same 4-6 formations all game long against Syracuse. I'm sure they ran more than that, but it seemed that 75% of their offensive plays were from the same I-formation two-TE on the same side and SE on the opposite side. Let's be honest, we don't have the offensive linemen that WI does to open holes out of a tight offensive formation. Hopefully in the future we develop them, but we don't have them yet.

I'd love to hear of Coach Kill's staff going down and listening to Gus Malzahn at Auburn and see how they use formations to attack a defense. Heck, they run a "high-school" offense and gain 400-500 yards a game rushing! And yes, it is a high school offense just with added "window-dressing".

 

[nsmike]

I'd like to address a couple of things all dealing with QBs. The reason Kill didn't want Nelson to go to QB camp was that he need someone to lead captains practices. I feel that with some of the other players stepping forward as leaders, the need for Nelson and Leidner, to fill that role is somewhat diminished. Leidner needs to improve his reading of the defense and seeing the whole field. When he gets surprised he gets flustered which results in bad throws. Nelson sees the field pretty well and doesn't get surprised like Leidner, but inexplicably throws badly, even when the play is perfectly executed. I personally think that Leidner will get better with experience and coaching. Nelson will be a tougher job, like a golfer with the yips, most of problem is between the ears

 

[DoubleB]

how much of Nelson's issues is the splitting of time with Leidner?

confidence or lack of seems to be Philips issue but with 1 1/2 seasons under him he seemed off. Had any of that been due to the concussion he got during the MSU game?

Mitch was only a RS Frosh. he had three more years to improve and Phil will also get better once the cob webs cleared out and more practice

if not the team will not get better. We go as far as the QB's can take us

 

[gophers&guns]

I hope both Nelson a Mitch are able to attend a QB camp this year. There are plenty of vets returning last year to help the WR's and newbies during the time they would be gone.

 

[MZBKA]

We have to be able to pass and catch better. Nelson's first 3 passes of the Wisconsin game hit the receivers in the hands, and the receivers dropped the ball. In the bowl game, Nelson couldn't have hit a receiver if his arms were 9 feet long.

IMO, the bigger problem throughout the season has been our young receivers' inexperience rather than Nelson's throwing. After Engel went down, nobody else besides Maxx could catch the ball.

 

[Deleted_User]

The team will gain consistency with experience and added talent/depth.
This program is still "stabilizing" IMO.
We saw alot of really good things from this season and lots of frustrating ones.
None of our losses couldn't have been wins had certain plays been made that were right there for the taking.

I really don't get the teeth gnashing over the QB position to be honest. We've got young talent there and the competition will be fierce going forward. Somebody will emerge and the team will be better for it.
We need to continue to add talent across the board and find more playmakers.
This time last year we had no idea guys like Murray, Maxx, Engel, etc would be as good as they were.
Brick by Brick we're getting there, but we have not arrived yet that is for sure.

Adam Weber threw better passes than Nelson or Leidner. We tried a few pro set plays that completely failed because our quarterbacks can't do a three step drop when our porous line leaks nose tackles like raindrops in a monsoon. Nobody can catch the ball when the scramble is on. Every play where there were open receivers, there was a blitz succeeding. Where was the h back picking up the extra man in the box? Where was the 2 tight end formation to protect the edge when Syracuse was throwing everybody at the line? Look at or package against their package at the end of the game. They went for the knockout and we were laying down our guard so we could play pass in a package our quarterbacks were not recruited for, the pro-set. If they were, you could certainly fool me that they knew how to handle it on game day.


The coaches lost this as much as anything in the last 3 minutes of the game.