Gophers head to Penn State - OFFICIAL GAME THREAD
by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 2:00 PM CDT
in Gopher Football
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PrintMinnesota Golden Gophers at Penn St. Nittany Lions, Oct 17, 2009 2:36 PM CDT
All I know is that the Gophers are 5-2 in their last seven games against the Nittany Lions. Looks like Iowa and Minnesota enjoy dominance over Paterno's boys. In all seriousness, this is clearly a massive challenge but Penn State has their holes as well. If the Gophers can take advantage of a few things while not getting taken advantage of, maybe we can pull out this upset.
- Special Teams - more and more this appears to be the one area that the Gophers have a clear advantage. It is more than just relying on the hope of getting a touchdown out of Troy Stoudermire. The field position battle will be huge. Kickoff coverage needs to force Penn State into 70+ drives all day (assuming we get more than a couple kick-offs) and Stoudermire/Thomas getting the Gophers to the 40 on a regular basis will be significant. And a touchdown out of the special forces would obviously be HUGE.
- Weber/Decker vs. the Penn State secondary - the Nittany Lion's secondary isn't going to be the best secondary we face all year. Decker will be their defensive focus but I'm not convinced they'll be able to stop him. What will stop him is mediocre play from his quarterback so offensively the game may rest on Adam Weber. He has to get Decker the ball and more importantly he needs to find other receivers if Decker is blanketed. I fully expect JoPa to go with the "don't let Eric Decker beat us" strategy. Like I said I'm not convinced they'll be able to stop him without selling the farm. But when they do put too much emphasis on Decker, Weber HAS to find other guys to hurt them.
- Slow down the PSU Offense - Penn State is very talented offensively. I'm not expecting to shut them down or force them to do anything. What we have to do is make them earn every yard they get. Force them into as many third downs as possible. This is kind of what happened in the Air Force game and the Cal game (sans the first quarter). Make them earn third down conversions, sooner or later they will stop themselves with a penalty or the percentages will just catch up with them. Big plays will kill us, make them work for their drives and points.
All of this HAS to be done (and more) if we want to stay in this. The Penn State front 7 is VERY good so I'm not expecting a strong game on the ground. But their secondary is young, their offensive line is young and they haven't exactly put all of their talent together yet. The Gophers need their most complete game of the year but this one isn't completely out of reach.
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Clearly OSU is looking past Purdue
to the Minn game next week
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the Michigan man
pipes up.
The OSU thread wasn’t too happy with my suggestion that they were looking ahead to us. :)
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions
If they can't handle the Purdue D-Line
what will they possibly be able to do against Kirksey, Small, and McKinley and our LBs?
FWIW, Michigan had 720 yards today. Unreal number.
Good one. I used to like Matt Millen's comments before he went to Detroit.
“He used his vision to see the defense.”
Buck Bravo
I don't know much about Nebraska,
but I’ll take Florida over Arkansas. USC should destroy Notre Dame. Barkley is phenomenal.
Buck Bravo
not about him being successful
its about him getting some in game time. Weber is just awful and better not start next year.
Gray probably isn't ready to play,
and the only other option would be the freshman Alipate. As much as I’d like to see Gray, I don’t want to see his confidence shattered early on in his tenure.
Buck Bravo
So maybe Purdue isnt that bad
Looks like we got a shot at OSU next week.
Iowa scares me. Before last season I used to think Ferentz's days were numbered. Boy was I wrong.
Buck Bravo
Ferentz is the best coach in the Big Ten
one of the best in the country.
Jeffdu – no chance against Ohio State next week. Not in the Horseshoe. And, I don’t think Ohio State has lost back-to-back regular season games in 7 years.
yup
OSU used their mulligan this week, they’ll be fired up next week.
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
They also havent lost a road game in awhile until today
We are better then Purdue and OSU has a horrible offense.
Buck – credit to you. You predicted them to be 10-2, I think you’re spot on, and maybe underrating them.
I'll be honest:
I saw it as a toss-up between PSU, OSU, and Iowa and took Iowa to be a little different.
Buck Bravo
And, of course, Taylor Lewan is in Seantrel’s path in Ann Arbor. : )
By the way, I’m of the belief Jeff Wills is on Minnesota’s line because the Gophers missed out on Lewan. Oh well.
I think they are putting together a good recruiting class though
if we get Beau and Sentreal it will put this class in the top 25 for 2 out of 3 years.
getting PSU to 3rd down
is critical, none of those 15 yard runs. Get them to 3rd down.
YES, like that!
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Yeah Texas
Hasnt looked that good though. That game was pure ugly.
:)
all his fault
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions
This line just gets zero push
I thought Davis was a good Oline coach.
I'll tell you now
they can’t
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions
MN will not be able to run effectively on the PSU front
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Play calling is questionable so far
they keep trying these diversion plays but dont get it moving. They need to push down field not move sideways.
agreed
that last bubble was pretty obvious
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions
YES
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions
There just really isnt any top teams in CFB this year
no team has looked great.
in Big Ten
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions
in all of CFB
Florida hasnt even played a good team yet and looks very beatable. Texas finally plays a team and looks ugly. Bama is the closest thing to a NC caliber team but they have question marks too.
bubble screens
I don’t think we’ve thrown a successful one all season. Fisch needs to take it out.
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 3:01 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
or adjust how we run them
that last one was slow and Stommes was unable to make a block on a corner
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he meant
NFL teams should draft ONLY receivers
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
OK, seriously
how did OSU not run the ball on Purdue up and down the field?
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cause they stink
Prior is overrated and Tressel is so obvious with his play calling and too conervative.
I'll take a forced FG
defense is playing alright, just a couple big plays.
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Penn St will get 3 FGs and a TD
Minnesota will get 2 TDS and 2 FGS. 20-16
These False starts are inexcusible
They arnt even close to being in sequence.
freaking penalties
I know the offense was bad on all three plays, but starting 1st and 15 is impossible
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Man our LBs need to get better at finishing RBs
They have a lot tackles this year but have missed a lot letting guys get 3 or more yards after first contact.
Floridas down in the 2nd
ND USC tied. There is more parity in College then in the Pros its weird.
DL is looking slow and weak early
LBs overrunning and not finishing.
defense is getting worked over this drive
on our heals
missing tackles
not getting off blocks
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Traye Simmons is overrated
He cant shed blocks at all
neither of our corners can tackle
but at least last year they could cover
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions
lucky that wasnt a pick 6
NTA should of had that screen a couple of plays ago though it was setup with all the guys bearing down on weber.
Finnally fliped the field position
I think that was a bad spot though the official kept scuffling his feet further from the first down before he spoted it.
im holding out hope that the gray era begins on the next drive.
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 3:37 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
don't hold your breath
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I just got back from picking up JG21Daughter from a birthday party.
The Notre Dame radio broadcast is the most biased, ridiculous broadcast in the history of history.
On USC’s touchdown you’d have thought JFK was just shot again. When Notre Dame scored it was the greatest playcall from an NFL-level head coach. Eat me.
Of course
You need a three and out and give up a 15 yard pass.
Clark's best pass of the day
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions
really?
the defense has been OK and the offense is up against a really good defense.
we are getting beat but I don’t think it looks like being unprepared, maybe just me
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions
move along
no replay
there’s nothing to see here
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A couple other USC - ND thoughts
(1) The Song Girls are true professionals. Short skirts in the 40s in South Bend. So, if it’s cold in September in TCF next year, no worries.
(2) Pete Carroll is 58. WTF?
how about a holding call?
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions
head over to BHGP and give a full report of that woud you?
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Second time we got helped out on a hold call
Triplett has to make that tackle in the backfield. Just like Campbell needed to vs Clay. Poor tackling and penalties show bad coaching.
91 yard drive
I’m curious how many third downs they converted
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this half is really on the offense
I know PSU’s D is good but we need more than 40 yards of offense.
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we have too many slow developing plays
anyone else agree with that?
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Oh i totally agree
they need quick plays so the speed on the team has time to react before the defenders are on top of them. If you give your speed players some space they can make plays.
Just when you think the Offense couldnt get any worse
They throw up 38 in the first half.
defense has missed some tackles but they've make PSU go on long drives and convert third downs
clearly PSU has more talent but at least the defense is making them work. The offense is giving the PSU defense a day off
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Is this really a talent diparity
I dont think so. I think its a coach game planing and getting your team ready to play disparity. When will Brewster and the staff learn to actually coach or can we get some people who do know how to. I never here Brewster say anything about the game hes in or what coming up. Its always next year or i like to recruit but it is all BS. The truth is if you want players like Henderson or Floyd or so on to come to Minnesota Walk the Walk dont talk the talk. He can try to falsely pump himself and his vision all he wants but ill take a guy that proves it on the field. If he wants the best recruits he should worry about who hes currently playing and not about recruiting during the season. Beating teams like PSU OSU would go a longer way in getting recruits then anything he can say.
If you look at Buck Bravo’s assessment yesterday of the talent on MN and PSU, the disparity is not that drastic. The question as usual is, who develops players better?
I wouldn’t take much out of this first half. Let’s see what happens after the break before melting down.
Yeah i saw the breakdown
and it was even closer then i thought it would be. I knew it was fairly close though. The problem is the ineptitude of our offense. I mean really 38 yards. You look again at the 2010 classes coming in and Minnesota depending on a few of the last major targets they have should finish somewhere between 20th and 35th in the nation in recruiting. We have good QBs supposedly recruiting wise behind Weber if the dude cant get it done why stick with a Mason recruit when your job is on the line. Even if Gray totally blows up and we get killed 42-0 by the end it would be better then watching Weber fumble around out there for the 3rd year in a row. I mean really do they plan to play Weber next year too. I wish he was a senior so they would have no choice next year.
I like what you are saying
after three years the talk of his vision needs to start coming to fruition. But clearly the PSU defense is more talented than our offense.
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions
All I will say is this -
Joel Maturi should privately meet with Brian Kelly and Tony Dungy on November 23rd (provided MN finishes 6-6 or worse), and offer a blank cheque to either of them. If he can get either to bite, fire Brewster.
Tony Dungy would have had Floyd and Seantrel’s commitments to MN before their senior years of high school. He has that great of a reputation.
He has said repeatedly
he is done with coaching. He has nothing left to achieve in his career. He is done. Like Barry Sanders. Just done with football.
Completely Outmatched
Our offense looks inept and the defense is bending and now starting to break.
This one will probably get ugly early on in the second half. If so, we should see Gray get some series to himself.
that was a fumble
I know we weren’t going to get the ball but a what point will the refs start getting these calls right?
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this must be our defense
“making them” convert third downs again.
not sure what is worse...our tackling or matt millen's color commentary
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 4:31 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
our tackling is worse
BUT
Matt Millen’s drafting ability is worse than our tackling
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Millen is the absolute worst
I said that well before he was the GM of the Detroit Lions. I absolutely loathed when he was assigned to Vikings games. I have no idea why talking heads think he is so great. He is awful.
Wow. Weber and Decker screwed up. Can’t tell who that was on – Decker had plenty of open space to the edge.
just not on the same page
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions
What really frustrates me
is year after year after year,other Big 10 schools seem to find a way to win a game,and I mean REALLY WIN a game when they’re not expected to…like Purdue today. We lose games we’re supposed to lose,we get upset in games we’re picked to win,we lose tossup games in new and creative ways,we get outright embarrassed in games. This year,even at 4-2,the Gophers are,at best,lacklustre. Too many of coach Brew’s recruits never make it to campus,and,overall,next year’s recruiting class appears to be a big step backwards.Too many coaching changes. Too many changes in philosophy.About the ONLY positive I’ve seen this year is halftime ajustments on defense.
Fair points. My biggest qualm is that Minnesota never pulls an upset. The last big one, I think, was in this stadium, 10 years ago.
Minnesota was 4-1, Michigan was 3-2 when they played.
Both teams finished 7-5.
That wasn’t an upset.
PSU 10 years ago
That was a last-second field goal,after a miracle catch on a deflected pass. Actually,the Goph’s were more deserving the previous year(?) when Hamner fumbled,and PSU got several favorable calls.
MARQUIES GRAY PLEASE
That weber pass on third down was abysmal.
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 4:35 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
can't do that, Joe
surprised you didn’t know that
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what more do we expect from the defense?
we aren’t going to STOP PSU, but the offense going three and out every time is killing our chances.
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prediction ... the gophers never win a trophy game with adam weber playing qb
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 4:44 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
sorry
PSU – 17
Minn – 3
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Somebody earlier this season told me he’d prefer Brewster over Rodriguez as their coach. I’m watching these two Penn State games (this week and next) to test the theory on who is a better in-game technician.
And, I know they played Delaware State, but I want to mention that Michigan had 720 total yards today. That’s the most, EVER, in their program. Their fourth-string running back had 166 yards on 17 carries. The NCAA’s Division I-A scheduling policy is a disgrace.
I am a Weber backer / apologist
but Gray might at the very least wake him up a little bit.
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I used to be on your side
I’m not anymore. It is time to make a change. The offense needs to be better.
But wait, is the offense’s inadequacy due to Weber, or is it due to Fisch’s constraints on his style of play? He’s forced to play with cinder blocks on his feet.
He was a fantastic QB last year. Obviously Dunbar knew how to use him and Fisch doesn’t. How’s that Weber’s fault?
It isn't the play calling
It is the execution…that being said, there was finally a good throw by Weber.
I don't think Gray does anything more (in fact he'd do less)
to get this offense moving, but maybe Weber would get his head out of his ass
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he handed off on a wildcat in the 1st quarter
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
?
I HATE second-guessers and armchair experts( Danny B on "the FAN "makes me wanna puke) but coach Brew has left me lost today. WTF???
I agree
but a wakeup call is needed sometimes
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Weber's lack of running
has nothing to do with the offensive ineptitude. Weber hardly ran at all last year.
I agree that we have no idea what Gray can do. He is probably a much better option QB than he is a throwing QB.
But we are at the point where Weber isn’t making his throws. Something needs to be done.
BTW…where has Whaley been today? I know he has a few carries, but very few.
Okay, Tom Bradley (PSU D-Coord) said it’s hard to game plan against MN because they have a different plan each week based on who they’re playing.
This doesn’t equate with Brewster’s admonition that “we are a hard nosed running team.” It also can explain why Weber is uncomfortable – he’s being forced to learn new game plans each week instead of learning plays and repeating them into the ground.
Sorry, you guys know my point of comparison – that “weak spread based offense” Michigan runs 9 rushing plays. They were 17th nationally, and had 470 yards rushing today. That’s because they run their stuff and get used to their stuff, not worrying about the other guys.
it does jive with what they said when Fisch was first hired
that they’d run an offense that attacked a defense’s weaknesses
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions
not even close
but I bet PSU gets the ball at the 20
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regardless of the replay
what a terrible officiating crew today, that never should have been called a fumble
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Oh well
This is why the NCAA is far better than the NFL. They get the calls right in the end. The replay system in the Big 10 is far superior to the NFL.
PSU defensive line vs. MINN offensive line
was the most game-changing difference in this game.
Buck Bravo
Whaley needs to cut it in
right behind the fullback block.
Did Millen just honestly allude that SImoni Lawrence will be an NFL player? Really? Is it that clear cut?
Pathetic is the only word to describe this game
No reason to give him a day and a half to throw the ball all game what happened to the half time adjustments the D coaches did so well the first 4 games it went away the last 3 ill tell you that much.
not inadvertant
the guy tripped over his own feet
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions
agreed
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions
great pass there foe weber
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 5:23 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Arkansas just scored
on a great step up throw by Mallett.
As i said before there is no top teams this year
just a jumble of ok teams.
Unfortunately
Gopher’s aren’t even one of those
Let 'em play!!!
Boise State and TCU. They are legit teams. Not saying they are the best, but they can play with the best.
Penn State defense is good
but we have stopped ourselves at least as much as they stopped us
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How so?
It isn’t like we had a ton of penalties today or turned the ball over. We just plain cannot move the ball against them. They are just plain better. It is like we don’t belong in the same conference as PSU.
play calling and bad throws
We took one shot downfield all day. Everyone knows that the PSU secondary is young and unproven, yet we never tied to test them.
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions
total fail today for brewster, fisch and weber
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 5:41 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
total fail today for brewster, fisch and weber
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by PJS on Oct 17, 2009 5:41 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Sad. Just sad.
The team wasn’t ready.
Next week should be MarQueis’s start. Ohio State’s defense is going to bait Weber into multiple mistakes, and we have no shot of winning the game after Ohio State was upset today.
And, if MarQueis isn’t going to play much next week or against Sparty, he should be put on transfer watch, because this offense does not suit his skills at all.
Can someone
come up with one positive out of this game bc I cannnot?? What is worse than “dismal?”
usually I can
but we just played poorly
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by GopherNation on Oct 17, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I have not read one post before this
……But I am sure there is some dry humping of Adam Weber. I got a lot to say….and I take it when I deserve it ….step up is all I got to say
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