I'm always partial to watching line play, as a former center. Your son did a great job today! His pull to the right and bulldoze block on two players on the Gopher's 5th touchdown was a thing of beauty, His pass protection was spot on, particularly picking up blitzes in the "A" gap. He and Weyler did a great job of pushing the d-line and provide cutback lanes for both backs.
Well done #55!!

I know he isn't a player, but I really liked the pay calling yesterday. I was excited as a kid in a candy store when I saw that Indiana state was bringing LB's on the blitz so we ran screen passes. I was excited when they went to a 2 deep zone, so we ran post and slant routes to open spots in the zone, then when we had them trying to jump those routes, we ran out routes and corner routes. The running game had pulling guards all game long.

I award my game ball to Mr. Johnson the OC! Yesterday was what alot of us have been waiting to see for a fee years now. A team that can adjust its offense to attack the trends of the defense.

What went well today:

-The Gophers offense with a borderline breathtaking performance today. 593 yards of total offense stacked up and the first team offense came out early in the 4th quarter.
-Kobe McCrary is a ball player. He showcased solid vision, power, and cut back ability as he came off the bench to rush for 176 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. He might be hard to keep off the field even when Brooks is healthy. Running back depth is not a problem for Minnesota.
-The offensive line looked really good once again. The holes were certainly there in the run game and Leidner was sacked just once. He had a ton of time to throw and was able to scan the field and find open receivers in the passing game frequently.
-Mitch played like a 5th senior senior should today. He was poised in the pocket and only miss fired on a couple throws downfield, but those are going to happen to every quarterback. He put the Gopher playmakers in position to make plays all game long, and ended up throwing four touchdowns. Great day for Leidner.
-Wolitarsky caught anything and everything today. He ran crisp routes against the Sycamore secondary and made a couple really impressive catches in traffic. His two touchdowns today are a career high for him in one game in his college career.
-Brian Smith played better today at receiver after not being able to get open at all against Oregon State. He finished with four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown, the first of his career.
-Rodney Smith, once again, dazzled with a couple spectacular runs after being initially stopped at the line of scrimmage. 17 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown were his final numbers.
-Lots of playing time for young guys. Jared Weyler got extended time at right guard after Vincent Calhoun went down with a toe injury, hopefully he gets healed up after the bye week. Carter Coughlin and Coney Durr burned the redshirts today for Minnesota and Coughlin played almost the whole second half and linebacker and as a stand up defensive end.
-Jalen Myrick shut down a side of the field once again today for the Gophers. Indiana State rarely tested him at all.
-Cody Poock and Jack Lynn stood out in run support, they did a really nice job today.
-Merrick Jackson saw extended playing time in the second half and took advantage of it, he was able to get penetration and get his first collegiate sack at the Division-I level.

Things That Didn't Go Well:

-356 total yards of offense for Indiana State today. They moved the ball well at times and pulled off a handful of big plays for chunk yardage.
-Kunle Ayinde was picked on once again and had another tough go of it in coverage for Minnesota. He didn't turn around on a deep ball on 3rd and long and his man just out jumped him for the ball and came down with it inside the Gopher five yard line.
-Minnesota suspended corners Kiante Hardin and Ray Buford along with safety Dior Johnson and freshman defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson for a violation of team rules. Not sure what happened but we shall see if they are back after the bye week.
-Perhaps these suspensions made the biggest impact on the defense today as Antonio Shenault got the start at cornerback and was picked on all day long. Two touchdowns were caught by his man as he was going one one one with them and he just lost the battle for the ball. Hardin and Buford were strongly missed over there today.
-Alonzo Craighton also got beat in coverage a couple times today in replacement of Shenault, although he did make a nice play on a deep ball along the Gopher sideline to break up a pass in the air.
-False start penalties. Minnesota had three on their opening drive. Mitch Leidner did well to weather the storm here and converted three third downs to keep the chains moving.
-Dropped passes. Leidner through ten incomplete passes today, and at least five of them should have been caught. Wozniak dropped two easy ones, Rodney Smith dropped one and Brian Smith dropped a touchdown (Minnesota later scored). These are plays that the Gophers can get away with now but in close games it just can't happen as frequently.
-Only one turnover forced today, and it was on a fumble, nice strip by Julian Huff I believe. Gophers are still looking for their first interception, however. Need to force more turnovers. They are plus three in turnover margin on the year.

Top Plays:

-Wolitarsky diving catch and getting his knee down in bounds. Fantastic play and the ruling was initially incomplete, but overruled afterwards.
-McCrary jukes and twists his way for a 50 yard touchdown on 3rd and 20.
-Tyler Johnson catch and extension for his first career touchdown as a Golden Gopher.
-Brian Smith catch on the slant and fighting his way into the end zone for his first touchdown as well.
-Rodney Smith spins out of a tackle in the backfield and picks up an impressive 15 yard gain.
-Emmit Carpenter going three for three in the kicking game! Now 4-4 field goals on the year, and none were really chip shots.

Things to Take Away Going Into the Bye Week:

-Aggressive Jay Johnson=FUN. That was an impressive performance today from the Minnesota offense. I know it was not a good opponent, but Leidner still executed well and made the throws he needed to make. He was set up for success by his offensive coordinator.
-Running back depth is not an issue for Minnesota right now. Smith, McCrary, Brooks, and maybe even Johannssen will get carries this year.
-How healthy is the team overall? Gophers need to make sure Calhoun is all good as they certainly need him at right guard.
-Can the secondary get the needed adjustments? Hardin and Buford were sorely missed today, and that was evident. The second safety spot next to Travis should have some competition these next couple weeks. Ace Rogers should be able to get back into the mix as well. Antoine Winfield Jr. could see some more time also, he got some good run on special teams and on the defense in the 4th quarter.
-3rd down defense still a bit of an issue. 7-15 were the Sycamores today on down and distance. Oregon State had success on 3rd down also. Coverage needs to be better.
-Still could be some guys we haven't seen yet make a big impact on this team this season. This is a big couple weeks to get guys healthy and ready to play as we gear up for conference season.
-The Gophers are 2-0, and we should all be happy about that!

With Isaiah Washington committing to Minnesota, McKinley Wright will now announce his decision on Tuesday, and I fully expect him to commit to Dayton.

It is so fun to watch.

They make great decisions on which gap to cut into and which way to cut in the 2nd level. Out RB coach needs a raise as the development of the RB's has been awesome.

Was very good today. Have not had a chance to study the stats but he passed the eye ball test. Most throws were right on the money. Several ridiculous drops got cleaned up better after Q2. He will be ready.

Link: Big Ten Recap: Week Two

the hell network is the Iowa -Iowa State game on?????

Thank you for shying away from the 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense against an inferior opponent and kicking the crap out of a cupcake like you're supposed to do through the air and ground. As a result, the passing game got great reps, Mitch looked like a stud standing in the pocket, the WR's were able to make plays (when they held onto the ball), made it easier to run the ball, and lastly lots of youngsters got meaningful PT. That's what these types of games are for!

Signed,

Let it Breathe Fan Club

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You can watch Quinn's hudl here.

Going forward today was huge in our psyche and culture.

Its so hard to believe 15 years have past since 9/11... It is said that 20-25% of the people in the US are too young to remember the events. I can remember it like yesterday.

If you go to your knees today, make it to be in prayer or as a thankful gesture to our heroes in the fire, police, or military... Not as a protest to whatever your cause.. We live in the greatest country in the world.. Though not perfect by any means, we still have heroes and I pray you join me in appreciation and thankfulness for those who do right by our country by protecting freedoms and justice. THANK YOU FIRE, POLICE, MILITARY, AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL FOR BEING DAILY HEROES THAT PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US!!!!!!!

But I stand on basic principles that don't change. Recruiting is obviously one of the key things to me.

I was the only one arguing endlessly for innocent until proven guilty for other schools (Art Briles thread), and for not blaming coaches like Pitino for behavior stuff....because I knew it could happen here again to BB or FB. Looks like there's an issue with FB here in week 2.

I was the only one arguing endlessly against the targeting penalty (Ohio State game)....because I knew it could happen here. 3 ejections in the first game.

I stand on principle. But I support Gopher football 100%. I support the coaches and the players.

Link: Indiana State reflects on loss

WOW...Central Michigan beats #22 OKU on the last play....I assume the Goph's will be replacing the Cowboys in the rankings ....and Philip Nelson has a good game against NCST in a win.

Watching TCU/Arkansas game and sure enough with 2 minutes to go, TCU scores to go up 7. They kick the pat and take the 8 point lead. The fighting Bielema's march down the field and score, go for two, score, and now game is tied going into OT. Patterson could have ended the game by going two and converting. Guarentee you that Bielema would have kicked the PAT to tie the game if TCU would have went for two and missed, so when it's all said and done TCU kicking the PAT was a waist of a play.

I didn't have an opinion in the original thread debating this decision when Claeys did it last week, but after watching this unfold with TCU and Arkansas, I am convinced it's the right way to go.

We won, we won, we won! Offense dominated. Defense not dominate. We won by 30. Scored 58. We should be rejoicing. Some of the comments and threads are ridiculous. We are right on plan. 2-0 and beating inferior opponents. Go Gophers!

Spaulding
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A little under an hour from kickoff.

Student section is a fourth full right now. At this point before the Oregon State game, it was full.

Gophers are wearing gold lids, maroon jerseys, and gold pants. They're undefeated in that combo since getting the current uniforms in 2012.

Everett Williams is in street clothes on the sideline.

Mike Sherels is on the sideline again.

Beautiful day for football!

Belker and Bayfield are co-workers from week 1. Great predictions guys.

On to week 2....

Golden Gophers vs. sycamores

Ok, I think we win. I think we have far superior talent. I simply don't think we are going to open up the passing game and deception on the offense yet. We will run 70% of the time no matter down and distance. At the half we are up 7.

Final:

Gophers 31

indiana state 17


Let's hear it...whatcha got...

- The 58 points scored by Minnesota is the most ever in TCF Bank Stadium. The last time the Gophers scored at least 58 was in a 63-26 win against Indiana in 2006.

- The Gophers had 31 first downs. They hadn't had 30 or more first downs since a game against Toledo in 2004.

- With the win, Minnesota remains undefeated when their uniform combination is gold lids, maroon jersey, and gold pants.

- All nine of Minnesota's red zone trips this season have resulted in a touchdown.

- Drew Wolitarsky, Brian Smith Jr., and Tyler Johnson all caught touchdown passes. The last time three different Gophers caught touchdowns was six years ago when MarQueis Gray, Da'Jon McKnight, and Troy Stoudermire all caught touchdowns.

- Mitch Leidner today moved into seventh in all-time passing touchdowns at Minnesota. His four passing touchdowns today put him at 32, which passed Billy Cockerham's 29.

- Kobe McCrary's 176 yards was the fourth-most ever in TCF Bank Stadium.

- Surprisngly, Rodney Smith only has five career rushing touchdowns. Touchdown five came today. Smith finished with 17 carries for 74 yards (4.4 ypc) and that touchdown.

- Carter Coughlin and Coney Durr lost their redshirts.

- Scott Ekpe hadn't recorded a collegiate sack until today.

Anyone know what happened and was the suspension just for this game? We could have used them in the secondary.

I am in Heaven. I have been asking for this for years. 2 attempts in one half!!

We would have 2 really good gains as well had the RB not dropped the 1st one.

I am so happy !!!!

Link: Postgame presser: Leidner and Wolitarsky

through 2 games. THAT is awesome.