Golden Nugz 9.17.09

by GopherNation on Sep 17, 2009 3:00 AM CDT in Golden Nuggets Comment 9 comments

It's time to start really getting ready for Cal. I had a post started recapping my TCF inaugural game experience but time has gotten in my way and it is not nearly finished. And since we are much closer to the Cal game than the Air Force game, let's look forward.

This Examiner article has quotes and notes from Cal Coach, Jeff Tedford's press conference. As has been reported all over the Bears are coming to Minnesota a day early. Nobody's sure if it will help Cal and their road woes, but everyone seems to think it can't hurt to try.
The MN Daily previews the Cal game.

"It’s not about plays, it’s about players," Brewster said. "It’s not about schemes; it’s about the players that execute those plays."
And the player we should most fear is Jahvid Best who is averaging over 10 yards per carry.
With a great running game like Cal has, our linebackers will be a major key to slowing this rushing attack down. Marcus Fuller highlights the Gopher linebacking corp.
Offensively the Gophers need to be more consistent if they want to score on Cal. Kent Youngblood says the offense is looking to avoid the roller coaster.
All Pac 10 Blog previews the game. One of them says a 20 point Cal win and the other thinks the Golden Bears by 21. Have they not heard about Cal's road struggles?
ESPN's Pac-10 blog also takes a look at the upcoming game.
I was fortunate enough to do a Big Ten Network podcast yesterday talking about the new stadium and previewing the Cal game a little. The podcast is below.

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Howard Griffith

On the Big Ten Network Howard made a “bold statement” that the Gophers would hold Jahvid Best to under 80 yards. Hope he’s right.

"they're calling insane hogs???"

by CrowTrobot on Sep 17, 2009 8:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

he has been alright with his bold statements towards the Gophers

last year during August when they visited practice he said they would absolutely make a bowl game.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Sep 17, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Podcast

FYI the Gopher Part starts with 22 minutes left in the Podcast.
Great Job!!

"they're calling insane hogs???"

by CrowTrobot on Sep 17, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My prediction

I think Cal’s balanced offense wears out the Gophers. Our offense has too many three-and-outs and after a somewhat close first half, the score ends up somewhat lopsided after we fail to score the entire second half.

Cal 31
Gophers 10

by rencito on Sep 17, 2009 11:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rencito

Looks like Mich. St. and the U of M will be playing the toughest games in the Big 10 this weekend. You gave us your Gopher prediction, but how do you think MSU will do agst. ND?? As always, I am hoping the B10 fares well out of conference.

by Texas Gopher on Sep 17, 2009 11:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cal 38 - Gophs 13

I think rencito is dead-on with that prediction, except that we will score a garbage TD at the end.

by Garrick on Sep 17, 2009 11:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I do this every time

but as the week goes on I get more convinced that we can make a game of this. It comes down to our ability to slow down the run game. I think our offense will be fine and I think the strength of our defense is stopping the run. So maybe we slow down Best like people are not expecting and we make this a close game.

I still think we lose, but as the week goes on I think we will make this close than people are predicting. I’m such a rube.

what you say here can, and will, be used against you

by GopherNation on Sep 17, 2009 12:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I too am growing in confidence

The more I think of how bad Cal is on road, they have done nothing on the road the last 2 years.
I’m hoping that the 3rd time is the charm for getting the offense going. I’m confident the defense will show up and stuff Best and we’ll get a bunch of turn-overs.

"they're calling insane hogs???"

by CrowTrobot on Sep 17, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If our defense can continue to play well

we should be able to hang with these guys at home. Let’s hope that Weber figures out how to throw a football before the 4th quarter. We can’t afford to have him sleepwalk through the first 3 again.

by GreasyLlama on Sep 17, 2009 1:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs