For anyone who still thinks that coaching can overcome lack of player talent, the game last night should have been a huge wake-up call. If Fleck had coached MI's talent and Harbaugh had had to work with MN's players, the result would have been much the same.
MN had lowly ranked recruiting classes in each of the last four years, with the possible exception of 2016. And even that class had most of its players losing their RS because the veteran talent ahead of them was so poor.
Going into this season, MN had no experienced QBs or WRs of any repute. Half of its OL is made up of RS FR. Its DL is a patchwork affair, at best, and its LB corps is primarily made up of SO that should have been RS last year. Its DBs are poor.
All that being said, losing to MI at MI is losing to MI at MI. The only team in the Big 10 West that would have a remote chance of beating out MI, OSU, PSU and MSU for the Big 10 East title is WI. Thank God, MN plays in the Big 10 West where I think they can compete in future years for a title.
I was encouraged last week by MN's play at IA. Next year the OL, WRs and QB should be much better and help to improve the offense. It is hard to imagine it could get any worse than it's been in conference play this year.
NE is mostly a spread team. Its defense is porous. I'm hoping the Gophers rebound next Saturday. I look (hope?) for an entertaining game.
P.S. IA and NW are certainly proving to be much tougher than people were giving them credit for being in the middle of October. Both will probably play on New Year's Day.
MN had lowly ranked recruiting classes in each of the last four years, with the possible exception of 2016. And even that class had most of its players losing their RS because the veteran talent ahead of them was so poor.
Going into this season, MN had no experienced QBs or WRs of any repute. Half of its OL is made up of RS FR. Its DL is a patchwork affair, at best, and its LB corps is primarily made up of SO that should have been RS last year. Its DBs are poor.
All that being said, losing to MI at MI is losing to MI at MI. The only team in the Big 10 West that would have a remote chance of beating out MI, OSU, PSU and MSU for the Big 10 East title is WI. Thank God, MN plays in the Big 10 West where I think they can compete in future years for a title.
I was encouraged last week by MN's play at IA. Next year the OL, WRs and QB should be much better and help to improve the offense. It is hard to imagine it could get any worse than it's been in conference play this year.
NE is mostly a spread team. Its defense is porous. I'm hoping the Gophers rebound next Saturday. I look (hope?) for an entertaining game.
P.S. IA and NW are certainly proving to be much tougher than people were giving them credit for being in the middle of October. Both will probably play on New Year's Day.
