Ohio State 34, Minnesota 21 (Sep. 27)

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by stpaulgoph

Weber is about 6'3 220 lbs. His touch needs work and he focuses on Decker a lot (in part because Decker is very good, and in part because lack of other options) but last year Weber threw 19 picks and has thrown only 1 through 4 games so far.

Did Weber throw most of his 19 picks later in the year against tougher competition, or were they spread fairly evenly across the season?

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by stpaulgoph

OL is in flux and should be considered avg.

I thought I heard the B10 announcers say you were starting/playing like three or four true frosh on the line. Is that accurate?

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Did Weber throw most of his 19 picks later in the year against tougher competition, or were they spread fairly evenly across the season?

ESPN - Adam Weber Stats, News, Photos - Minnesota Golden Gophers - NCAA College Football

Spread fairly evenly (0-2 per game), other than FAU, where he tossed 4 INTs (but also 4 TDs). Also his 3rd game as a frosh.

[stpaulgoph]

What is something that Brewster or his staff have done well this year, perhaps ahead of expectations or a key adjustment from years past?

Well they have the ability to MAKE adjustments--which is unheard of for Gopher fans. All Big Ten folks have seen a game where Minney rushed for 300 yards plus and blew the game in the 4th quarter with terrible coaching.

Glen Mason is proud owner of the 1st and 3rd largest come from behind bowl losses EVER.

This staff makes adjustments and we have fielded a defense in the second half of every game that wasnt embarassing. This is a good thing. Ted Roof is the DC...former HC at Duke. I know Duke is a football joke, but look up Roofs success with Ga Tech. He knows how to coach a good defense.

What is an area that Minnesota or the staff could do better? An area expected/hoped to be better but is a weakness?
We havent been very creative on offense--and still focus too much on Decker (which is in part Weber's issue, but the coaches have input). We need more downfield passing instead of west coast stuff.

They also need to recruit a DE.

But overall this coaching staff is solid for us

Coming off a 1-11 season they recruited better than Mason EVER did, and they have our team playing pretty close to our talent level (at least against FAU they did).

Keep em coming folks!

[stpaulgoph]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

I thought I heard the B10 announcers say you were starting/playing like three or four true frosh on the line. Is that accurate?

We had all RS Frosh and Sophs on the line last week. Our starting LT and Center and RG were all out for the game. We have no true frosh OL on the roster.

All the injured starters will be back this week.

Not a spectacular group, but Minney always has good lines and this one isnt too bad. Its not 2003 Minney either.

We have a kid, DJ Burris, at RG, who is an Ohio kid. Championship power lifter?

He is big and nasty--did the NFL bench of 225 a reported 42 times this summer.

[stpaulgoph]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

71%?! That's a damn good completion percentage for practice. Damn. I noticed your RB was smaller than you normally go with. Do you think he'll be able to pound it all game if your air attack falters at all? How many carries does he average a game?

None of our RB's are very big, but that fits the spread scheme. Maroney and Barber and Tapeh had size when we ran the power game like OSU does, but we now run the the spread and shifty backs work best.

No world beaters in the backfield here.

[Dryden]

O-Zone has the depth chart up for Minny. Some interesting changes:

The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

D-Line goes Wilson, Worthington, Heyward, Gibson. Sabino has jumped Spitler at #2 MLB behind Laurinaitis. Robo is #1 on the PR unit. Ray Small is absent from the return unit listings entirely.

[buckeyes_rock]

Originally Posted by Dryden

O-Zone has the depth chart up for Minny. Some interesting changes:

The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

D-Line goes Wilson, Worthington, Heyward, Gibson. Sabino has jumped Spitler at #2 MLB behind Laurinaitis. Robo is #1 on the PR unit. Ray Small is absent from the return unit listings entirely.

And Rose is at end still...thought they were trying to move him inside? I kind of liked him at tackle the few times I saw him there last game.

The Ray Small thing is just weird. He's still a backup at WR, but not on the punt team? I'd really hoped he had turned the corner.

[JXC]

Originally Posted by buckeyes_rock

And Rose is at end still...thought they were trying to move him inside? I kind of liked him at tackle the few times I saw him there last game.

The Ray Small thing is just weird. He's still a backup at WR, but not on the punt team? I'd really hoped he had turned the corner.

He did turn the corner...and take it to the house...2 weeks ago.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by JonathanXC

He did turn the corner...and take it to the house...2 weeks ago.

That doesn't apply to what he's talking about, yet another demotion in the depth chart (and it's not due to great production from the current duo).

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by stpaulgoph

Weber is about 6'3 220 lbs. His touch needs work and he focuses on Decker a lot (in part because Decker is very good, and in part because lack of other options) but last year Weber threw 19 picks and has thrown only 1 through 4 games so far.

He is the Big Ten leader in passing yards, and completion percentage. I know the competition Minney has played is soft by anyones standards--but Weber is completing a gaudy 71% of his passes right now. 7 tds as well.

He has raised his level of play which has helped the Gophers out A LOT.

Weber is also #1 in passing efficiency in the conference.

[Yertle]

I know I'm stating the obvious, but this season is feeling a lot like the 2004 season. Struggle... struggle... struggle... and then BLAM! Offense!!!

Granted, the struggle in 2004 was nearly epic with a loss to NW (AAAARRRGRGHHHH!!!) and a complete dismantling at the hands of Iowa. Hopefully, this year's struggles are limited to lackluster performances against Ohio and Troy, with the unfortunate repeat of the dismantling (different school, same result). Ideally, the BLAM starts this Saturday. I think it just might.

Ohio State 33
Minnesota 13

[Joe56]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

I'm sure they do. I was referring more to the fact that the big twelve as a whole doesn't seem to get the disrespect on the level of the big ten, when both "top teams" are struggling in the big games. I fully understand why tOSU catches hell...we haven't been getting it done. But the rest of the big ten catches hell for our failures. The rest of the big 12 seems immune to that.

Great point, look at mizzou. Great team that nearly lost focus against BUFFALO, one of the all time worst college programs. How much did we hear about that this weekend? Not much.

[stpaulgoph]

Originally Posted by Yertle

I know I'm stating the obvious, but this season is feeling a lot like the 2004 season. Struggle... struggle... struggle... and then BLAM! Offense!!!

Granted, the struggle in 2004 was nearly epic with a loss to NW (AAAARRRGRGHHHH!!!) and a complete dismantling at the hands of Iowa. Hopefully, this year's struggles are limited to lackluster performances against Ohio and Troy, with the unfortunate repeat of the dismantling (different school, same result). Ideally, the BLAM starts this Saturday. I think it just might.

Ohio State 33
Minnesota 13

If Beanie plays it could be real tough to keep it close, although North/South power game in general plays into our relative defensive strengths. DT is probably our best position on defense besides CB. Big Jewhan Edwards is a load at about 340 (think Pat Williams) and Garret Brown are both stuffers in there. Get to the corners though? Our DE's are weak in contain and run defense.

I do think Pryor will turn the ball over a few times. He has looked good, but looks a little "loose" when carrying it.

Gophers are ball hawking this year (lead Big Ten in TO margin at +11) and should be able to sucker him into a bad throw or two. Thats the Gophers best hopes of keeping it close.

Also, and this isnt a flame, but if tOSU tackles like they did on the first Troy TD we should keep it close. I couldnt believe it was OSU I was watching. Has that been like that all year?

[Yertle]

HA!!! I don't take that as a flame at all. The tackling has certainly been miserable by JT's defensive standards. The Troy touchdown was just plain painful to watch. The secondary seemed to spend all off season learning how to catch... and they've forgotten how to tackle. Even Malcolm Jenkins is missing too many. Frankly, I'd take the missed INT's over the missed tackles. The only one of them wrapping up is Hines and we all saw how well he can catch screen passes that fall in his lap. Hmmm.... am I on to something?

Anyways, no offense, but if Beanie was 100%, this would be a 20 point game at halftime. Whether he plays or not, he won't be 100%, so there goes that wish. If OSU plays like it has the last 3 games (or maybe all year), then this will be a nailbiter. I'm hoping the offense finds its rhythm and the defense finds its swagger and the Bucks are able to get some breathing room in the 4th quarter.

Also, I do agree, Pryor doesn't look like he's trying to hold on to the ball sometimes. But then again, he doesn't really look like he's trying to run either, and the next think you know, he's 15 yards down field. If your defensive ends are weak, you might be hating Pryor by Saturday evening. He leasurely jogs a 4.3 40.