what's happened to our d-line pressure on QB this season?

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we just don't seem to be getting pressure on the QB like we did last year. richardson has been quiet, elmore same thing.

poock seems to be mixing it up in there more than those guys.

i'll hang up and listen.
 

We didn't get it last year either. That's my take. Room for improvement in that department.
 

haven't seen anyone mention, but Steve Richardsons production and playing time have both noticeably dropped off. I would bet he's hurt, and that's a shame. Stelter started.
 

Was it TC that had a stellar year a few years ago? Anyway, I remember "them" saying Hageman really allowed others on the line to get open, due to the opponent having to double team him constantly.

Also, it seems like maybe we are not blitzing on passing downs as much as we could/need to.
 

Team sacks by year under Kill:
2011-19
2012-26
2013-18
2014-27
2015-12

Average 22.5 per year, so the Gophers are behind the pace this year. Last year was the Gophers best year getting after the QB, but overall these numbers are not great.
DL Wilhite had the best individual season with 8.5 sacks in 2012. TC's best year was as a sophomore in 2013 with 7.5 sacks.
 


I don't seen the D Line getting nearly the backfield penetration they used to get and the D Line isn't staying at home if they do get any penetration on run plays.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 

This I will agree with, defensive line play could be improved

Ewert86PC said:
I don't seen the D Line getting nearly the backfield penetration they used to get and the D Line isn't staying at home if they do get any penetration on run plays."

I am seeing a lot of the same pass rush moves(not many spins, or swims and trying to fake a spin or not as much hand fighting), with what seems like a lot of the same routes of attack to the ball. That and not maintaining run responsibility from the right side of the line from either of the defensive ends getting time, there not maintaining gap integrity as well as they should.

In Richardson's defense he is the one guy on the defensive line that is getting a double teamed and is consistently getting attention from both the guard and center spots. He doesn't seem quite as quick off the ball the last few weeks prior to the Nebraska game, they are getting on top of him and putting him to the ground a lot by falling on top of him. This defense slants a lot pre-snap to which seems to be sliding Richardson out of position. To me the defensive tackles are doing a better job with the rotation of Toombs and Stetler getting in , to me those guys are generating pressure and collapsing the pocket, it is the ends that are not finishing off plays by not fighting back or looping back to the ball.

Couple that with the right defensive end giving up contain and taking such wide angles around the QB so much, the line is letting the QB escape and gain far to many yards to the open gap or letting the QB slide back in for an open pass play to develop.
I would like the defensive ends to start doing a better job of reading what is in front of them, looking for keys from the tackles on how to attack them, and when to cut off and play the run or string down the line. You know trying to see the whole picture on run responsibility, there has been to much giving up on the run in executing the wide splits and bull rushes a lot like #69 Jerrod Allen for the Vikings would do, loop around on a wide rush, and not really closing in on the pocket and when you do, the gap you left open is easy picken's.

I know this defense expects the linebackers and safties to funnel up to make a lot of those plays at the line on the runs but if the ends or tackles are getting penetration and some times they are, were not seeing a lot of TFL's or sacks.
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Coming into this year the most thing I was excited about was the secondary. We heard about how there were several draft picks and that they could really cover well. I was thinking with such great cover guys that would free our line backers up to blitz and put pressure on the QB. Against Michigan I barely remember to many blitz'. I wish they would be a more aggressive defense and go more man on coverage and really get after the quarterback quicker and make him hurry the throws
 

Save Richardson and we simply don't have a lot of talent on the DL. Likely our weakest position on this team.
 



I think it's been said that D-Line is one of the toughest positions to recruit. The really good kids get offered by everyone, and have their pick of schools. that leaves schools like MN hoping to catch a break with a kid who wasn't as highly recruited due to size or some other perceived deficiency.

The coaches also seem to have a preference for smaller, quicker DT's. Personally, I'd like to have one space-eater in the middle - 300+ who can clog up the inside gaps and give the LB's room to pursue. The trick is finding one.
 

Maroon92 said:
Coming into this year the most thing I was excited about was the secondary. We heard about how there were several draft picks and that they could really cover well. I was thinking with such great cover guys that would free our line backers up to blitz and put pressure on the QB. Against Michigan I barely remember to many blitz'. I wish they would be a more aggressive defense and go more man on coverage and really get after the quarterback quicker and make him hurry the throws
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I was disappointed we didn't send the house on that 3rd and long where Michigan scored the winning TD. With a new and inexperienced QB in for Michigan, I would have blitzed just about every play.
 

Section2 said:
haven't seen anyone mention, but Steve Richardsons production and playing time have both noticeably dropped off. I would bet he's hurt, and that's a shame. Stelter started.
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I would guess that teams have schemed along their o-lines specifically to contain Richardson as the other guys have been pretty underwhelming all year. But he could certainly be fighting some injuries as well, at this point in the season everyone is beat up in some way or another.
 

Perhaps Amafeula and Botticelli (NFL camp invite) were very good and aided by the fact that they had an NFL MLB behind them. Add in the rest of the D who graduated and the injuries this year and we have a weaker d than last year. This leads to fewer sacks.
 



The lack of pass rush has been the biggest deficiency on this team. If we had any semblance of a pass rush on Saturday night we win going away.

It's been so bad we've had to watch LBs like De'Niro Laster and Julian Huff rush off the edge.
 

H Epke was really talked up by Kill in the off season. I was expecting him to be an impact player.
 

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