Gophers overcome slow start to dominate the Boilermakers
by GopherNation on Oct 10, 2009 3:31 PM CDT
in Gopher Football
32 comments
The first quarter caused some serious angst for Gopher fans (see open thread here). Purdue converted third downs all the way down the field and jumped to a 10-0 lead as the Gopher Mulligan Offense managed just 52 yards of offense, zero points and very shakey quarterback play from Adam Weber. But for the second consecutive week Purdue greatly regressed after their hot start, giving the ball away and the Gophers dominated the rest of the remaining three quarters in all phases of the game.
After the 10-0 start the Gophers routed the Boilermakers to the tune of 10-35.
So what went right and what went wrong?
After the ugly start very little went wrong with the offense. The Mulligan Offense still reared it's ugly head with some occasional plays called that made you scratch your head. But the offense committed just one penalty after the first quarter, the OL played their best game of the year and Adam Weber threw one pick but completed 4/6 with a touchdown run. He wasn't asked to do much (and he didnt') as the Gopher ground game really took over.
The pass defense was not very good. Purdue put 5 guys out in patterns on a regular basis, and that is not easy to defend but guys were wide open and we benefited from some dropped passes. And the 61 yard TD to Keith Smith was a complete breakdown in coverage (Kim Royston). That stuff can't happen regardless of the opponent or score differential.
Adam Weber was pretty bad. It has been well documented here that I am in Weber's corner (though the luster has worn off), but he was pretty bad today. Fortunately the running game was good enough that we didn't need him to do much with his arm. But that won't be the case the next two weeks, he better get his head screwed on straight or the next two weeks will be ugly.
The run game was great today. Whaley averaged nearly 10 yards per carry and as a team we racked up 200+ yards. Kevin Whaley and DeLeon Eskridge each scored a touchdown and the offensive line really opened some holes for all three backs to run through. The lone pass worth writing about, the 47 yard pass to Eric Decker, was only there because of a great play-action fake and all kinds of time for Weber to throw it deep.
Finally a comfortable win. The 20-35 final was Brewster's most comfortable Big Ten win in his tenure here.
It was cold and we played like a cold weather team. The question is, did you have your dad'gum chillie hot?\
Post game it was pretty clear that everyone was pleased with the big plays, complete game by the defense, special teams and the offensive ground game.
Brewster - "Obviously when you block a field goal for a touchdown, special teams plays a big role in that. Again, we were very opportunistic. We did a good job converting situations where they gave us some really good field position. When you run the ball successfullly good things are going to happen. We talked to our team about eliminating the self-inflicting wounds. I thought they did a really good job."
Special Teams were great but the running game was the story of the game. Kevin Whaley and the offensive line both played their best games of the year.
"He (Whaley) did a nice job. He really does a nice job sticking his feed in the ground and making cuts. I'll tell you he's a physical guy for his size and we're really pleased with him."
He may have propelled himself to a lot more carries and the opportunity to be the feature guy.
All in all this was a nice bounce-back win for the Gophers. A sluggish start but it rolled to a comfortable win and we showed some ability to run the ball effectively. Clearly we have some things to continue to work on especially heading into Penn State, but 2-1 in the Big Ten and this team still has a real opportunity to get 4 wins in conference despite some of our deficiencies.
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I can't figure out...
Why Gray isn’t getting some more passing chances. Is he just not that accurate or is Brewster just in love with Weber?
Brewster
is just in love with Weber. If gray actually got as much PT as Weber his footwork would improve and therefore his passing accuracy. Which also happens to be something that Weber isn’t really good at with the PT. Bottom line, they just need to start Gray.
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 12, 2009 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Of course
Because it’s always the right move to start a freshman quarterback, who was recruited to play a spread-read option offense, in a pro-style set which has more than 500 hand signals. Never mind the fact that he had to be gray-shirted because he couldn’t qualify academically on time.
And of course, it’s always smart to play the freshman quarterback over the 3-year starter who was Second Team All Big Ten last year, who has a synergy with an All American wide receiver (and if you don’t think the All America WR would hang his head a little if his best friend was benched, you’re not human – keep Decker happy).
Set aside the Decker point, however. If Gray was the best QB, do you honestly think Brewster would sit the kid?
Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed
this morning? Seems a little sarcastic this early in the week after a win. Would Brewster start Weber over Gray if he thought Gray was the best QB? Answer is that if Weber is slightly better now and Brewster is playing for his job (IMO). Bottom line is that Gray is more talented…but not playing and that does impact recruiting down the line.
I don’t care if he was recruited to play the spread-read option offense.
I don’t care if Weber has started for 3 years (2.5 actually).
Yes I would like to keep decker happy, but he is not the coach.
Fact of the matter is that of the following accomplishments that the Gophers could accomplish (I am merely being thorough here),
BCS Championship
Rose Bowl
Big Ten Championship
Trophy Games
Slight Winning Record with lower level bowl game
The only one we have any shot at after the Badger game is the last one. Let’s be honest, the first three were never really possible this year. And playing for #5 every year is stupid. You play for at least the #2-4 options even if #1 may never be realistic.
If that means losing an extra 2 games so we can develop some long term talent and at least be able to waive the PT card with recruits. Going for 8-8 or 9-7 was Mason’s gig. Brewster isn’t being paid for that.
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 12, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I would argue
that being thrown out into Big Ten play without an adequate understanding of the offense is just as big an indictment as playing early may be a drawing card. If Gray plays this year, is underprepared and develops bad habits, instead of practicing, reading situations from the sidelines, and improving his technique for 2011, that’s a poor coaching decision.
Let’s not forget that youngsters playing is the exception, not the rule. Vince Young did not start until his redshirt junior year. Leinart, Sanchez, Booty, they got time to develop and learn. The last thing Gray should do is be starting in Happy Valley this weekend – he’d get eaten alive by Penn State’s offense.
Valid point
Admittedly, I don’t get to watch all of the practices and can not speak to the level of emphasis they place on developing Gray. Hopefully they are making developing both Gray and Alipate. It is just painful to me to have a QB with decent overall completions percentages for his career to not be able to hit a WR in stride on an open route.
I would love to have Decker another year, but we should be okay with Green, Stoudemire and Carpenter. Green and Stoudemire seem to get open fairly consistently which is promising.
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 13, 2009 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions
It is promising
the development will have to continue next year without Decker, though. That will be the key – Green, Stoudermire and Carpenter are probably getting room to operate because opposing teams are rolling their safety help over to Decker. Once Green or Stoudermire has that safety help, how will they perform? That’s the 2010 question.
Agreed
Plus I think you will have Bryant Allen either playing WR or CB. He has really nice hands and could see him being a nice possession receiver. Although with the lack of DB depth they may choose to put him there and go for picks with his punt return skills.
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 13, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
correction
Hopefully they are making developing both Gray and Alipate an emphasis.
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 13, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Whaley
It should be obvious to even the most casual observer by now that Whaley is our most talented running back. The best talent is not necessarily the best player, however. The way the best talent does become the best player is through experience. It is time for the coaching staff to put aside their grudge against Whaley and give him more carries.
Destroyed
If Weber does not get his head out of his A$$ by this time next week he would love to be back at that 55-0 thump they took from Iowa. We will get freaking destroyed the next two weeks without above average QB play….just dont think Weber has the ability to break runs which will be needed to keep drives alive. Get Gray with the first team all week and lets go for a Win instead of a good showing. Play the KIDS!
sure Gray will run better
but you have seen nothing to make you believe Gray will be able to complete a pass which will also be key to winning the next couple weeks. Seriously, the fact that the coaching staff has called 2 (maybe 3) passing plays for Gray all season should tell you something. And his decision making on the limited runs he has been allowed hasn’t exactly been stellar since the NU game when they gave him 10 yards per carry.
Take a look around, QBs all over the place are missing open guys far worse than Weber. As I type this Stanzi just over threw his open TE right into the Michigan DB’s hands (but it was dropped). Elliot’s last INT, he had his man wide open but he over threw him by three yards and BPT picked it. He isn’t going to be confused for Colt McCoy and I get the frustration but I still think people are incredibly unrealistic. At this level he is isn’t going to win any major awards but he is the best we’ve seen in a Gopher uniform in a long time. Even if he doesn’t progress one bit he still gives us the best chance to win now.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
by GopherNation on Oct 10, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions
GN
Really? Really? I guess I owe you a hats off to keep this great board going.
Now to the nuts and bolts. Stanzi to Weber…not even in the same league…they beat Michigan…Iowa dismantled Weber at home…Weber is a joke….Your only defense is there is nothing that has led me to believe that Gray can complete a pass? You cant be serious to think that the play of Weber has given us any chance to win. If anything his play has prohibited the Gophers from winning and the games they have won were in spite of his shoddy performances. His season is a shambles. And I give no credit to this coaching staff as the end all be all of who should be playing….they continue to run Eskridge and Bennet on the field when Whaley clearly was in a zone and had the best game going……If you lend so much credit to any coach let alone Brewster then explain why he continues to allow Fisch to manage games the way he does……Your initials arn’t EW by any chance are they? You remind me of someone I know..its almost to close that is why I ask your initials. I will take my Gophers pride to the grave but Im not going to take their bullshit choices by coaches to the grave….They played the Kids more than ever today and they pulled out the game. Gray adds a tangible threat to break a long run from the QB position every snap….weber adds nothing. If a play breaks down he chucks the ball up…fortunately Decker is all world and bails him out a lot…..Your love for weber is lost on me….and most Gopher fans that come here….And by the way…most teams dont have a guy like Gray riding the pine. It reminds me of Adrian Petersons rookie year. I was at the Vikes game in KC and Dipshit childress kept Peterson on the sideline when trying to drive the field to score the winning TD…..we lost of course…that my friend has never made any sense…a playmaker is a playmaker…you need to get them snaps….I have never seen anyone score a TD from the sideline…..its about winning…screw everything else…put the players on the field that have ability…not the ones that kiss the coaches ass.
I could put up a much more complete defense
but your only point is that Gray MIGHT be better down the road so let’s bench the only guy who gives us a chance. I’m not getting into that kind of a pissing match because it is senseless. The attitude of “OMG he threw a terrible pass, put in the other guy!” is short-sighted and ignorant.
Two more points…
Maybe Stanzi’s team beat Michigan but maybe the rest of his team was just better than Michigan’s.
And please don’t ever compare Gray to Adrian Peterson. It is foolish when he hasn’t taken a meaningful snap at the collegiate level.
Weber has struggled and I’m not trying to pimp him as the best QB in the country. But he CLEARLY gives us the best chance to win right now.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
by GopherNation on Oct 12, 2009 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
dallas
Has got to be the most negative poster on here. It was comical watching his comments in the game thread yesterday. It must be challenging to always have such a cynical outlook to life.
Visit my D2 Baseball Blog - Northern Sun Baseball
by FishingMN on Oct 11, 2009 6:47 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Good news/bad news
Good news unquestionably the special teams play. I am wondering why Ellestad wasn’t kicking last year. It is a real relief not to hold your breath on every PAT. The defense is playing solid, not spectacular. Give them credit because the offense is not helping them at all and they are on the field a long time. I think I read somewhere that Purdure ran 20 more plays and won the TOP game. The offense is another story. Weber’s confidence is shot all to hell. Painful to watch. I hope for the young man’s sake he gets it back. I understand Dallas’ frustration with the QB play, but the name of the game is win. For right now, I believe Weber still gives us the best chance to do that. And by right now, I mean the first half agst. PSU.
Put on your psychology hat here
Let’s start with the assumption that your starting QB, Adam Weber, is not comfortable or confident with and in his play. I can think of 10 reasons off the top of my hat why that might be. So here is the first series of plays in the game yesterday agst Purdue.
1st and 10—-Weber rolls right, doesn’t force the ball to Decker, tucks and runs for 8 yards.
2nd and 2—-QB draw and weber runs for 8 yards (not 100% on the yardage) but picks up a first down easily.
Off to a good looking start right? Looks like he has his head on and in the game, right? His body language is strong.
1st and 10 and WTF do you do?? Bring in Gray to run his one and only move that picks up one yard.
2nd and 9—-Weber hands off for 5 yards
3rd and 3 and Weber throws that godawful pass to an open receiver 7 yards in front of him that misses and now you punt the ball.
Now that is just one of many calls by this coaching staff that I found absolutely infuriating yesterday. Putting Gray in on the 3rd play of the game after 2 good looking opening QB plays, made ZERO sense to me.
FishingMN
Your a fan like me…..hey maybe I am emotional. But My posts yesterday were more than negative to everyone but our idiot coaching staff and Weber. I agree with TexasGopher…maybe were spoiled by watching local high schools on TV in Texas put together more logical game plans than what I see out of Fisch. I will give some credit to Cosgrove and making the defensive adjustment and playing his young players when the upper classmen have sucked. Cooper and Carter were good examples yesterday…didnt hear Carters name much…which tells me he covered well and didn’t get thrown at. Outside of the defense not recognizing that in the WI game that they ran to the side they motioned to over and over and still not adjusting Cosgrove as done an all right job.
what did Carter do?
let’s not forget that the OL played great (not freshmen), Campbell was the best player on the field, Brown/Small were solid in the middle, Jacobs had his best game as a Gopher and BPT made a couple big plays. You can point out a couple freshmen who did well but let’s not start acting like all the kids should be playing on the basis of Cooper and Kirksey and Whaley.
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
by GopherNation on Oct 12, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Gray
We’ve only got to see one passby Gray. He was under a little pressure and rolling to his right, he had to throw on the run and threw incomplete to Hayo who was not open. He did have a tight end open underneath about 8 yards downfield and didn’t see him. It will be fun to see Gray run with the ball and make some plays, but as far as passing I am pretty sure we are way better off with Weber right now. Let’s just hope that that game was just a really bad day as it was the worst performance I have seen from him to date.
My view on Weber vs Gray
After having to watch Cupito for what seemed like an eternity, I have only 1 problem with Weber. That being his inability to hit his WR in stride. Weber is what I like to call a placement QB. He throws the ball to an area and the WR correct to get it. Decker is awesome at this phase of the game and makes Weber look pretty darn good. Hence his career completion percentage…largely thrown to Decker. But when it comes to utilizing his other WRs he comes up short. My gut is telling me this is for a combination of two things.
1. The WR don’t have the experience that Decker does and aren’t as good at adjusting their routes.
2. Weber doesn’t have the ability to properly time his throws and this them in stride.
The second may be broken down into poor footwork and the staff changing his mechanics (although they may have changed the mechanics to try to correct for this).
Gray on the other hand needs some serious PT. His throw to Hayo could have been completed if his footwork was more developed. Had he planted his back foot it was a nice completion. This comes from reps with the top offense and game experience. All of which is being spent on Weber. I hope that if Weber starts to struggle against Penn State, they put in Gray. I don’t want to start next year with Weber as our QB. He is as good as he ever will be, which is okay, but they have a player that can be better and they aren’t using him. How does this help us get recruits?
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 12, 2009 8:38 AM CDT reply actions
Red Shirt?
I get the anger by some fans about Weber. Do I personally want to see Grey more involved? Of course I do. But I feel that he is being underutilized. And it really make me scratch my head as to why he isn’t red shirted? If the coaching staff saw after the first two games that he would not be a viable option, and that he would play a limited role this season, why waste the year of eligibility?
You waste the year of eligibility
by using him to tie the game against California, and then hope your defense can stop the Jahvid Best monster. Also, by having Gray in the offensive suite of plays, you are forcing opposing teams to take up more practice time worrying about the “Gray matter.” Those 15-20 minutes defending against Wild Rodent formations may mean the difference between a team superficially preparing for, say, Hayo Carpenter, or spending an extra session defending against Minnesota’s special teams, as opposed to having to prepare for Gray.
You also waste the year of eligibility because you have Moses Alipate redshirting.
RB depth Chart
Whaley
Eskridge
Bennett (he is still trying to get his explosiveness back after the ACL injury)
Whaley is more speed than the others and Bennett is more power with Eskridge being a combo IMO.
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 12, 2009 12:38 PM CDT reply actions
Whaley having a couple of good runs
against Purdue does not make him top of the depth chart. Purdue’s lateral speed is pathetic – Whaley won’t have it so easy against Navorro Bowman and the Nittany Lions.
Have any depth chart suggestions
you would care to enlighten me on then? Would you prefer Duane “I trip myself” Bennett or Eskridge?
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 12, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
How about this.....
you have no evidence so far that Whaley is currently a 20 carry a game rusher. He has 16 carries for his career. Yes, he has been promising, but 8 carries against Purdue is not a reason to bench a guy who is a 3-year starter.
Bennett is averaging 4.6 ypc. That is a good average. The offensive line is becoming adequate. Whaley is a change of pace back that gets to the edge. There’s no reason to change the mix just because Whaley had 8 good carries against a terrible defense.
And, acting like you know who is the better RB than the coach is just being GopherFan. The coaches make the choices, and we critique, but if Whaley was really better than Bennett, he’d be starting.
About those 4.6 ypc averages
Most of that came against NW and Purdue…so just like Whaley…leaves a lot to be desired. I would love to have a complete back who is pretty fast, strong and has decent agility…but beggars can’t be choosers.
From a quality of viewership perspective, I have watched Bennett trip himself way too many times. Some of this is due to smaller than adequate holes and lanes, but all of the backs have to deal with that.
At the end of the day, none of our RBs are good enough to be a clear cut starter. It is a RB by committee situation and it should include all three. Start off the games giving equal carries and see who seems hottest…then ride them through the game.
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 13, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions
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