Golden Nugz 9.21.09
by GopherNation on Sep 21, 2009 3:00 AM CDT
in Gopher Football
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PrintSaturday's loss to Cal was a fun game wasn't it? Maybe some believe that nothing is more valuable than a win, but for many reasons I much prefer Saturday's loss to beating a MAC level or FCS school. A win is a win, and beating Cal would clearly have been better than losing to Cal. But I firmly believe more was learned from this loss than a win over a bad team, this game clearly will better prepare us for the Big Ten.
Marcus Fuller talked about that on Sunday.
There was a time when Big Ten football coaches used to schedule with the Big Ten season in mind, knowing the ultimate goal was to win the Big Ten Conference and go to the Rose Bowl. A dozen bowl games and a Bowl Championship Series later, that's no longer the case. Now, four nonconference wins gets you within two victories of a bowl game, and that's how a lot of coaches keep their jobs. But Minnesota has been to enough also-ran bowl games; it's time to up the ante. When you haven't been to a Rose Bowl since 1962, and haven't won a Big Ten title since 1967, you build a nonconference schedule to help you win the Big Ten. He's right at many levels. If people think Gopher fans or Brewster is crazy for thinking they have a shot at the Rose Bowl, then he should b committed if he (or any of us) think we were in the running for a BCS Title game. So from that perspective, our BCS Title game hops are officially dashed, but this Cal game prepares us for the Big Ten.
- Crimson Quary takes a good look around the Big Ten's last weekend.
- Northwestern is the next opponent. They faced Syracuse, like we did but they were not so fortunate as to beat them. Lake the Posts recaps the game. Sounds like a late INT by Mike Kaftka set up the Syracuse game winning FG. Kaftka did have a record setting day and was this week's Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week. But Syracuse WR, Mike Williams was able to catch 11 balls for 209 yards and 2 TDs. Eric Decker must be drooling to face this banged up secondary.
- Speaking of Decker, Jim Souhan takes a look at Decker and the toughness he showed on Saturday. If you have a man-crush on Decker, I think that's OK.
- The Washington Post thinks Best's stock is rising in spite of facing the 91st ranked rush defense of Minnesota's. Does anyone else feel like our run defense is actually a strength of our defense? Yet, because Air Force ran the ball 66 times and the best tailback in the country had a monster 1st quarter, our rushing stats are not pretty.
- Tough news for the Irish, Mike Floyd is likely out for the season with a broken left collar bone. That is unfortunate for the Minnesota native. Floyd and Will Mobley were the prizes of the 2007 recruiting class out of Minnesota and both have missed essentially a whole season due to injury.
- Rittenberg gave the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week to Decker. Hard to argue that, he was facing a potential All-American corner and racked up a ton of yards and two TDs.
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Northwestern, What are we all thinking now?
With a strong effort against Cal and solid victories against Syracuse and Air Force I really feel we can compete against anything I’ve seen so far in the Big Ten, I think Ohio State will give us our toughest challenge. Penn State looks sluggish so far, anyone else looks very beatable if we play well. Michigan State should have won over ND, their quarterback had all the time in the world in the pocket. I’m looking forward to getting the axe back this year.
"they're calling insane hogs???"
The Gophers will not
win a Big Ten game while rushing for 30 yards. You can book that.
The number that has to be concerning those over at Bierman this morning is not 2-1, or 50,000 tickets sold, it’s 104.
Minnesota is 104th in rushing offense in the FBS. In 2008, Minnesota finished 102nd. So, no change in that regard, except we’re fatter and slower on the offensive line, and the Gophers have taken away their QB as a legitimate rushing threat.
And, stating that this is “the first year of Davis” is no excuse. Davis has been in charge of the running game since the beginning of last December – the Gophers were running the power game against Kansas. He’s had an entire offseason to mold these kids and prepare for this new running game.
Maybe this was the plan to get Seantrel – the running game would stink in 2009, but Minnesota could depend upon Weber and Decker in 2009 to go bowling. Then Brewster could say, gee Seantrel, look at Jeff Wills, you could start for him next fall, and then I’ll move you to LT your sophomore, just like what was done for Joe Thomas and Jake Long. Whaddya say, we need you?
Let Down Alert
This upcoming game has “letdown” written all over it. The coaches have to give the guys time to recharge yet still be ready and prepared to play.
my own feelings coming out of the game is that I was energized, I saw a lot of positives, I know we need to protect Weber more, but overall immediately following the game I was looking forward to playing Northwestern. I think we will OK.
Also I’m going to try and give up KFAN for awhile I can only imagine the negativity following the game, or if they stay true to form they won’t even mention the Gophs.
"they're calling insane hogs???"
you might be right
we beat Syracuse + Syracuse beat Northwestern = overconfidence heading into this Saturday?
what you say here can, and will, be used against you
by GopherNation on Sep 21, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
It can go either way
Either the Gophers are overconfident (hard to say that after a 14 point loss) or they will be hungry after the test against Cal.
If this game was at home, I would say the former. But on the road you have to come out punching. Can we please get a complete game? It is great we play well in the 2nd half, but it would be great if we didn’t HAVE to.
Gnation
not just the overconfidence factor. The guys have expended a lot of physical and emotional energy lately. Opener OT win followed by new stadium opener followed by a top ten nationally televised game. Throw in Decker may not play and this game has me worried. On the road. A lot of factors point to a potential letdown. Coaching staff needs to really be aware.
Bring on the Big 10
The Gophers looked looked like a Big 10 team finally. I think they will be allright.
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