| Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-2, 3-2) at #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0, 6-0) |
| NOON - Columbus, OH - FS1 |
| Goodbye positive non-conference vibes, hello shootouts. The Gopher defense that allowed only 9.0 ppg in non-conference play, getting Minnesota to 3-0, has completely disappeared in league play. How bad is it? If Ohio State puts up only the 42.7 points that they have averaged through 3 Big Ten games, Minnesota's scoring defense numbers will actually improve. Yes, they lost their best defensive player with the season ending injury to Antoine Winfield Jr., but the problems run deeper than that. To start with the offense needs to help. Yes, they scored a bunch against Iowa, but the turnovers continue to put their defense in bad spots. In just two Big Ten games Minnesota has already turned the ball over 7 times, that's a full additional turnover per game more than the next worst (Iowa and Michigan State each with 2.5). However those 7 turnovers have only led to 17 points, and one was direct on a pick six by Maryland. So while it's easy to point at the turnovers, they haven't been as costly as they could be. What's clear is that P.J. Fleck plans to let Zack Annexstad throw the ball far more than anyone expected he would. Part of that is a product of being behind, but I still don't think anyone thought he'd have thrown the ball 68 times over the past two weeks. He looks ok for a freshman with limited weapons at his disposal, but still not nearly well enough to be throwing it that often, particularly as inconsistent as he is, with a Big Ten worst 47.1% completion percentage in conference play to go with a league high 6 interceptions. They don't have a ton of choice though, averaging only 2.5 ypc running, for 90.0 ypg, both second worst in the Big Ten. While Ohio State's secondary seems vulnerable to the big play, in conference play they are also holding opponents to a league best 47.7% completion rate, for only 6.1 ypa, second only to Michigan. So for all the hand wringing about the Ohio State defense, even the worst part of it is still playing pretty damn well. Offensively there are no questions about Ohio State, they are firing on all cylinders across the board. Their run game could stand to improve against better opposition, but that's quibbling. Minnesota does have a guy who can create some havoc in Carter Coughlin, who already has 5 sacks on the season. Ohio State needs to account for him, but without Winfield, I'm not sure who else they need to. At this point it's tough to say where Ohio State's head is at. They slept walked through most of last week, but as I pointed out last week, they have consistently done that in the week following big midseason wins under Meyer. So is that all it was, or is this team just going to struggle to get up for these types of games. If we get the A version of the Buckeyes picking it to only be a 24 point win is going to be laughable. |
| OHIO STATE 45, MINNESOTA 21 |
Some sneaky injuries for OSU with Jonathan Cooper and Malik Harrison are in the concussion protocol and may not play. That leaves them pretty thin at defensive end and forced to play other linebackers.OSU's depth and recruiting are like nobody else in the conference. Shouldn't be a problem on Saturday. Minnie's OL is not seasoned - I believe they will be starting a true freshman at tackle for the first time, and the kid has not played much at all - even in high school (IMG). He's big but very raw.
I didn't see a thread for this.
I'll be at the game. Tailgating at the Ag Engineering lot before and after. Chili (with beans) and with all the fixin's will be my contribution to the spread.
I think everyone is expecting a blow out, OSU is favored by 29. I wonder if Haskins will be able to muster a pass attempt over 20 yards or if he will make his wideouts do all the work again.
OSU's depth and recruiting are like nobody else in the conference. Shouldn't be a problem on Saturday. Minnie's OL is not seasoned - I believe they will be starting a true freshman at tackle for the first time, and the kid has not played much at all - even in high school (IMG). He's big but very raw.Jashon Cornell will play DE, but after him they would have to play true freshmen. Harrison is less of a loss, except that linebacker has been a bit iffy for OSU and he has been pretty solid.
Of course you didn’t see a thread on this LOL. Only threads to rip on them get any play here.
It is mostly up to team fans to post game week threads on their team. I know you're new here, but that's normally how it works.True. Or I could go post in game week threads from 2 and 3 games ago/ just to keep them up there. Or create a “season “ thread and post in it every time I see a stat that is positive. Lol
:57:
Ohio State leads the all time series 45-7.This is just astounding to me. The Gophers were a charter member of the league and the Buckeyes joined for the 1913 season so from 1913-2017 these two teams were in the same league for 105 yet only played 52 times.
Each of the Gophers' last four victories were against four different OSU coaches: Cooper, Bruce, Hayes and Fesler.
In fairness to the Gophers, the two teams didn't play much prior to 1965.
Yeah, I imagine it was mostly due to geography. Not sure when commercial airlines became commonplace, but that would have been a pretty brutal train or bus ride.That was my first thought. Imagine that had to be the longest train ride in the 9/10 member days
Especially since freeways weren't really around back then. Imagine driving from Minneapolis to Columbus on State Routes? The horror.
I wouldn't mind seeing a breakdown like that for UW/UM on the game thread for same, if you have time. I think it's very similar, and both are charters*.www.winsipedia.com/games/wisconsin/vs/michigan
That was my first thought. Imagine that had to be the longest train ride in the 9/10 member daysYeah, in the early days it took OSU two days to get up to Ohio Wesleyan by horseback.
Ha. But seriously no one said he doesn't ever throw the ball 20+ yards in the air. It was merely pointed out that when he does, his completion percentage is not one of the top few in the conference.Is this where I post about OSU’s robust YAC numbers? As they are most robust.
So just an honest question. As a Gopher fan how long do other schools see the Gophers not competing. We have not really been relevant since Lou Holtz and that was a 2 year flirtI don't know. I mean you are 1 home coach hire away from being relevant. I can already say I'm not sure the boat rower is the guy.
So just an honest question. As a Gopher fan how long do other schools see the Gophers not competing. We have not really been relevant since Lou Holtz and that was a 2 year flirtHow do we mean competing? Like, if they get Glen Mason good for a while then build on it, that might work. If you mean become a division contender, they don’t have that far to go at the moment, but they’d have to beat Nebraska to the punch (gawd the division is thin right now)
Yeah, I imagine it was mostly due to geography. Not sure when commercial airlines became commonplace, but that would have been a pretty brutal train or bus ride.They'd just leave earlier,less practice and more playbook and stretching out.Love to go back in the day and take one of those train rides.coaches fall asleep card games break out....
Especially since freeways weren't really around back then. Imagine driving from Minneapolis to Columbus on State Routes? The horror.
Yeah, in the early days it took OSU two days to get up to Ohio Wesleyan by horseback.Old timers will tell you about Custer,Sitting Bull,Crazy Horse and Michigan Championships.Oh this isn't the Pot Stirring thread,sorry
So just an honest question. As a Gopher fan how long do other schools see the Gophers not competing. We have not really been relevant since Lou Holtz and that was a 2 year flirtYou're wanting a Supra-Mason level of accomplishment?
You're wanting a Supra-Mason level of accomplishment?If Minnesota had won, this post would have looked incredibly stupid. As it stands, during the game, I found myself thinking about what I'd written here and about regretting it. I think I still stand by the post. But maybe UMinn can do it faster than I realized. A long way left to go, though.
First things first: How to get to a consistent Mason era level of football? I think it would take at least a 6 year investment with an imperfect (but not tire fire) coach. I think Fleck is at least good enough for that. But getting from that Mason level to the CCG era Big Ten championship level? It could take another decade, either with the same coach or by selling out for a really innovative longterm guy (at just the right time - very risky) once Fleck rebuilds the roster.
The most important aspect of both phases is that Minnesota stop with the coaching turnovers. Pick a "good enough" coach and go for the ride. Otherwise, every do-over begins at the Rutger or just-supra-Rutger level.
Another career day for Haskins, but what the hell happened to our run game and run defense?This will be our Achilles. Especially when the cold winds of November blow, although I think the D improves when we get guys back. Weird how they have shut teams down in the second half- that won’t work against Pursue at night, or MSU or Maryland on the road, or Michigan.
Another career day for Haskins, but what the hell happened to our run game and run defense?From the O-Line,Price & Jones are playing in the NFL from last year.Branden Bowen who started last year until his broken leg.That had surgery again this September.So depth would be my guess.From the Def.line starters Trace Sprinkle and Tyquan Lewis,Sam Hubbard,Jalyn Holmes,LBs Chris Worley and Jerome Baker,DB's Webb & Ward gone - all playing on Sundays except Sprinkle.I know Hubbard and Ward left early and playing lights out.Prolly could have used some of those guys and it doesn't appear they've been adequately replaced.Especially the O-Line,takes a while to work those guys into place.So basically a 10 starter turn over