Ok, this will probably be a disappointment for some and a relief for others.
I got back to my hotel in time to watch the 2nd half of the game yesterday. After watching my Texans play the worst D ever against a team I hate, I decided to watch the 1st half of the Gophers game on DVR.
Here are my thoughts (yep, I have been drinking heavily);
1. I absolutely love college football. It is my favorite sport and it isn't even close. I loved the Sooners as my good friend played QB there and won the national title. Also, my dad raised me a Sooner fan as he went to school in Bartlesville, OK and told me never cheer for nebraska. That said, get this shit straight...
I AM A GOLDEN GOPHER FAN THROUGH ABD THROUGH. I WORE GOPHER GEAR AND MADE MY WIFE DO THE SAME AT THE OSU V PSU GAME IN COLUMBUS YESTERDAY. I NEVER ATTENDED ONE CLASS AT THE U of M BUT I BLEED MAROON AND GOLD.
2. I am depressed as hell. I have been to many other P5 stadiums for games. I have interacted with fans all over this country. Minnesota does NOT get it. On the 2nd 3rd down at the OSU V PSU game, my wife turned to me and said, "the fans are mad at the other fans that don't stand and cheer. In Minnesota, they tell you to sit down.".
I can't get this out of my head. For those that love the Gophers like me, I have come to the realization that our atmosphere will never change unless we pull a "Barry Alvarez Wisconsin". I hate saying it, but there it is. We have to become really good to change the atmosphere. It is what it is.
3. Our D is legit. Harris is young and he got toasted...alot. That said, we will be fine next year. Our depth will be ok.
4. Croft has no pocket presence. He moves up when he should roll out. He drops back when he should step up and run or pass short.
5. We dropped some easy balls. Croft missed on some wide open routes. He has no ability to go thru the progressions like most top tier QBs do.
6. Our OL is getting better. I like the progression.
7. For those that hate the play calling. You do realize the running lanes are open due to the passing plays right ? At the same time, our WRs run routes terribly and the second the main route ends, they quit in the play and just stand around. Rewatch the game. On out routes, we run terrible boundary routes. We drift on the crossing routes allowing the DBs to make up space. On plays where Croft is flushed from the pocket, the WRs are standing there or jogging to random areas not holes in the zone coverage.
8. Listened to Fleck's post game press conference. He says it exactly like it is.
9.. We can beat anyone left on the schedule.
10. There is a former D1 coach (I hate his team so I won't say his name) that says there are 5-7 plays every game that determines the outcome. I could not agree more.
Woz runs the route. Croft doesn't throw an INT and instead throws the drop off pass to Smith who was wide open. Johnson doesn't drop the pass. Those are 3 that went against us. Yep the INT that we got because iowa's wide open WR can catch the fly route is one that went out way. ...
Anyways, in our losses, we have had 2 or 3 of those game changing plays go our way, but we have had 4 to 5 go against us. That is unfortunate band why we are 4-4 and not 6-2.
11. I think Fleck would tell you there are certain things this year that he would do differently. He is not Superman. He makes mistakes. That said, the issues with this team are not coaching. We simply don't have enough good athletes at certain positions. This is not saying Kill and Clayes sucked. Not at all. They simply didn't have us in a place, this year, that no matter who the coach was, we could win as our roster is so weak at 3 or the most 4 key positions.
12. We will make a bowl game next year.
13. We will play in the B10 Championship game in the next 5 years. Just watch. Trust the process despite it being painful as hell now.
I got back to my hotel in time to watch the 2nd half of the game yesterday. After watching my Texans play the worst D ever against a team I hate, I decided to watch the 1st half of the Gophers game on DVR.
Here are my thoughts (yep, I have been drinking heavily);
1. I absolutely love college football. It is my favorite sport and it isn't even close. I loved the Sooners as my good friend played QB there and won the national title. Also, my dad raised me a Sooner fan as he went to school in Bartlesville, OK and told me never cheer for nebraska. That said, get this shit straight...
I AM A GOLDEN GOPHER FAN THROUGH ABD THROUGH. I WORE GOPHER GEAR AND MADE MY WIFE DO THE SAME AT THE OSU V PSU GAME IN COLUMBUS YESTERDAY. I NEVER ATTENDED ONE CLASS AT THE U of M BUT I BLEED MAROON AND GOLD.
2. I am depressed as hell. I have been to many other P5 stadiums for games. I have interacted with fans all over this country. Minnesota does NOT get it. On the 2nd 3rd down at the OSU V PSU game, my wife turned to me and said, "the fans are mad at the other fans that don't stand and cheer. In Minnesota, they tell you to sit down.".
I can't get this out of my head. For those that love the Gophers like me, I have come to the realization that our atmosphere will never change unless we pull a "Barry Alvarez Wisconsin". I hate saying it, but there it is. We have to become really good to change the atmosphere. It is what it is.
3. Our D is legit. Harris is young and he got toasted...alot. That said, we will be fine next year. Our depth will be ok.
4. Croft has no pocket presence. He moves up when he should roll out. He drops back when he should step up and run or pass short.
5. We dropped some easy balls. Croft missed on some wide open routes. He has no ability to go thru the progressions like most top tier QBs do.
6. Our OL is getting better. I like the progression.
7. For those that hate the play calling. You do realize the running lanes are open due to the passing plays right ? At the same time, our WRs run routes terribly and the second the main route ends, they quit in the play and just stand around. Rewatch the game. On out routes, we run terrible boundary routes. We drift on the crossing routes allowing the DBs to make up space. On plays where Croft is flushed from the pocket, the WRs are standing there or jogging to random areas not holes in the zone coverage.
8. Listened to Fleck's post game press conference. He says it exactly like it is.
9.. We can beat anyone left on the schedule.
10. There is a former D1 coach (I hate his team so I won't say his name) that says there are 5-7 plays every game that determines the outcome. I could not agree more.
Woz runs the route. Croft doesn't throw an INT and instead throws the drop off pass to Smith who was wide open. Johnson doesn't drop the pass. Those are 3 that went against us. Yep the INT that we got because iowa's wide open WR can catch the fly route is one that went out way. ...
Anyways, in our losses, we have had 2 or 3 of those game changing plays go our way, but we have had 4 to 5 go against us. That is unfortunate band why we are 4-4 and not 6-2.
11. I think Fleck would tell you there are certain things this year that he would do differently. He is not Superman. He makes mistakes. That said, the issues with this team are not coaching. We simply don't have enough good athletes at certain positions. This is not saying Kill and Clayes sucked. Not at all. They simply didn't have us in a place, this year, that no matter who the coach was, we could win as our roster is so weak at 3 or the most 4 key positions.
12. We will make a bowl game next year.
13. We will play in the B10 Championship game in the next 5 years. Just watch. Trust the process despite it being painful as hell now.
