Talk about the most brutal schedule ever.

They open with LSU

The first 4 big 10 games are at MSU, at Michigan, home to OSU, at Iowa

I'm getting goose bumps thinking how bad their season could be.

http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-16/2016-wisconsin-badgers-football-schedule.php

It's then home to Nebraska and then at NW!!!

Wright left this afternoon, and I'll hopefully be able to get in touch with him shortly. By all accounts his visit went very well.

Link: Photo Gallery: Gophers beat Oregon State

Reading the recap of the game they gave Player of the Game to Rodney Smith. Yes, he ran hard last night and arguably got better as the game progressed. I believe if you re-watch the film you will see a lot of carries where he misread the hole and could have had a much better game. That being said, I'm not ripping Rodney for his performance rather I disagree with him being named Player of the Game. Instead, I would bestow that honor to Ryan Santoso. He had an incredible performance last night. I would argue that when the Gophers were struggling on offense he saved them because he pinned the Beavers deep in their territory. When we couldn't get the ball off of our own 5 yard line he punted the ball 47 yards and then had a negative 7 yard return due to his hang time. His performance helped the Gophers save themselves from stupid penalties, bad snaps and other mental mishaps. Rodney ran the ball 27 times but each punt by Santoso proved to be pivotal for the momentum of the game. Ryan Santoso, I would argue, was the Player of the Game.

Gophers commits Dominik London and Grant Ryerse both showed no rust opening night against one of the state's best defenses.

https://minnesota.rivals.com/news/london-and-ryerse-impress-in-season-opener

There was endless complaining here that Ohio State should have been called for targeting Leidner last year. 100% of this board agreed. There was even complaining about it this off-season. I was the ONLY one who said I hate that call and wouldn't have made it. Unless it's an obvious spear to the head, I don't make that call. I was ripped by 100% of the board. I said I was standing on principle.

I suggested that QB's would start flopping like in the NBA. Everyone said that was a preposterous suggestion.

Just wondering if this board is still 100% in favor of the targeting call....

Link: Malik Davis Article

their QB looks awful. Thought he was supposed to be improved.

Run D has regressed too.

Oklahoma losing to Houston too.

Remember, the Gophers beat a power 5 opponent despite a million mistakes. That's way better than getting run on and losing to a MAC team in a game where the QB looks awful.

Northwestern has played relatively clean, but they just don't look very good.

Here's what sticks in my mind. Our first possession on third and short we had a deep handoff when it needs to be a quick hitter. There were so many dumb penalties, hopefully that is just first game jitters and can be cleaned up or it will definitely be a problem. Smith ran well but I want to see both he and Brooks in the backfield together. Tyler Johnson was our best wideout, he needs to take over for KJ Maye and be our go to receiver and run the ball on the option instead of Wolitarski. Leidner managed the game well and didn't turn it over which is exactly what we need. The player most likely to be playing on Sundays next year is Santoso. He was awesome. We need to find a punt returner. We look clueless out there. There are 2 guys back and the ball still is not caught half the time. Thats rediculous. I like that we brought defensive pressure a lot but we have to defend the screen pass. I had flashbacks to the Michigan comeback years ago. The 2 point conversion was a huge gamble we did not need. It almost backfired and went for 2 the other way. After we called timeout I was sure we would go for 1 but I was flabergasted that we still went for 2. It's not the smart play there. I'm not that worried about the targeting, I think it was a combination of first game aggressiveness and some marginal officiating. Hopefully Rallis and Still recover from their injuries and we handle Indiana State with ease.

I doubt you will see a better group of pure freshmen make an impact on a Power5 game this weekend than Johnson, Devers and Martin. Congrats to this staff for recruiting them, coaching them, and getting them ready in a few weeks to play and let them make their mark as Gophers. Future become brighter last night at some key positions. And I think there are a few more out there who didn't play.

everyone. We are 1-0

For a different perspective:

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or.../2016/09/canzano_oregon_state_football_1.html

Anyone notice that the past several years Minny almost never scores in the first quarter, and seldom in the third quarter? Again yesterday-zero points in quarter one and three.THANKFULLY--Mitch and the O is a 4th quarter scoring machine the past few years, however sometimes it has been to late.

IF....and, of course, it's a big IF....if the Gophers can win their 4th game on the road at Penn St. and their 5th game at home against Iowa, the Gophers could get to 9-0 and being ranked in the Top 15 in the nation.

Kil is suffocating their offense too!

Link: London and Ryerse impress in season opener

Brian was at the East Ridge vs. Lakeville North game and was impressed with London and Ryerse.

1. Leidner is who we though he is.

He is inconsistent still with his passes. He is great with his decisions in the QB read option running game.


2. Claeys decision to go for 2 was not your typical "conservative Gopher coaching decision"...and I liked it!


3. Our front 7 on D are going to get eaten up by teams with good "north south running games". We are too small and too out of position.

Specialists warming up right now but otherwise the stadium is mostly empty.

NFL scouts expected tonight are the 49ers, Chiefs, Falcons, Ravens, Texans, and Vikings.

Had a very nice first game in USD's 21-48 loss to New Mexico. He split some reps, but seems to have gotten the majority of snaps. Passing = 10/13, for 117 yds and a TD. Running = 16 for 131 yards and 2 TDs. Good for him.

There were some big shoes to fill. Dubwa filled one pair. Literally

Minny did not give up a sack, and Minny had 2 strip sacks and recoveries in the same game?

1. Win the darn game
2. Would the effort translate into a B1G win?
3. Staying healthy

Feel free to add to the list.

When you consider what went wrong this game: a million penalties both legitimate and entirely bogus, a muffed punt turnover, a couple bizarre snaps. Consider all that, then remember that the Gophers defeated a power 5 conference opponent tonight.

Our senior QB played a really great 2nd half. He made great decisions and converted clutch play after clutch play down the stretch. THAT is good news. Mitch was so poised on those clutch runs and throws in the second half. And as Glen Mason said 'He's a full step faster this year'.

First games are awkward. They are mess. There are tons of penalties and turnovers and bizarre mistakes. That happens EVERY year. Remember, football teams usually make their biggest improvement between weeks one and two.

Jay Johnson spent the first quarter calling plays like he was Matt Limegrover. I think he thought we could just roll over them. Well, the Beavers are clearly improved, and once Johnson found his groove the offense put up 30 points in the last 3 quarters.

We had a bunch of true frosh play HUGE in their first ever collegiate game: Devers is a revelation at DE. If he can do this at 6'6" 215, imagine how nasty he is gonna be in the seasons to come. Tyler Johnson got open and made plays tonight. Kamal Martin did some good things.

Jalen Myrick, Damarius Travis, and Kiante Hardin were great tonight. Richardson and Stelter were really good. Gaeline Elmore made plays.

3 of our top 4 LBs spent the game in the locker room and our LBs still played pretty well (after the first quarter).

Kunle Ayinde is a weak link at safety. I like the guy and I respect all walk-ons, but the staff has gotta find someone else to play the lion's share of the snaps from that spot, and I think they will.

Gibson made a huge tackle on special teams--showed great speed.

So many good things happened tonight. Remember, Iowa struggled mightily in September last year, but once they got on a roll they were tough to stop.

This Minnesota team can do the same thing.

Go Gophers!

SKI-U-MAH! This year is gonna be a lot of fun.

found myself frustrated with the offense then I was like, we put up 30. Not a bad debut for our new OC. We made some bone head mistakes that will get cleaned up. We good! Congrats Claeys and company.

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