Why the Gophers will win 7 games this year.
The talent level is good enough.
Are we the most talented team in the B10? No, but it is good enough to win 7 games.
Jacobs and Hageman are the real deals at tackle. Which ever one is in the game at any given time will be able to apply pressure up the
middle. If we get a D end, or several, to come through our D will be OK. Garin and Wilhite have the talent and speed but haven’t had the
coaching. Maybe it will click for them this year.
A lot has been written about the linebackers. No need for me to add to it. They will be just fine.
Claeys has said he will be able to apply pressure on the QB this year. If we take him at his word the D will be average B10 or better, a
huge improvement over last year.
We are OK at running back with 2 guys who can bang it into the line - Cobb and Kirkwood. We have 2 speed guys - Edwards and Wright. Cobb is 218 and may have good speed as well but I haven't seen enough to be sure. Bennett is a solid back who won’t make mistakes, can catch out of the backfield.
Lair and Rabe can both run and both have pretty good hands. This will allow Limegrover to play around a little bit. For example, Limegrover might line up both tight ends on the line then, when the defense is set, split them out going 4 across instead of 2 across.
Gray. A lot has been made of his lack of accuracy in passing, which I agree with, but Gray IS accurate on short passes. I expect a lot of rollouts where Gray either runs or flips it out to the receiver in front of him.
The receivers all seem to have good hands. Harris, Green, Keise, Jones and of course McKnight all can catch the ball. This has not always been the case with the Gophers and is not the case with all big 10 teams. The recievers have the hands to catch some badly thrown
balls. This will make a difference in some games.
Limegrover has said they will be OK on the O line this year. When he says OK I assume that means good enough to win some games in the B10
Coaches
This group of coaches can be expected to out coach at least half of their opponents. I believe Kill and crew are 2-3 against B10 teams and, in each case, they had less talent than the team they beat.
Games
Probable wins - we have more talent
New Mexico
Miami
NDSU
Northwestern
Purdue
Toss ups - these might have more talent but there are other factors
Michigan - talent but is Hoke the guy? Will he make effective use of Robinson?
Illinois - could be Zooks last year.
Iowa - rebuilding
Probable Losses - but a chance for an upset.
USC - may not take Gophers seriously. A big mistake with a Kill coached team
Nebraska - same as USC. Gophers follow OSU and Badgers on Huskers schedule and precede Michigan State. We may catch
Nebraska on a down week
Wisconsin - Depends on their new QB. If he is banged up or ineffective we have a chance
Michigan State - Greg Jones is gone. Their D may not be up to par. Fire and brimstone may rain down on them from above.
I would expect us to win one toss up and to pull an upset somewhere.
Discuss
The talent level is good enough.
Are we the most talented team in the B10? No, but it is good enough to win 7 games.
Jacobs and Hageman are the real deals at tackle. Which ever one is in the game at any given time will be able to apply pressure up the
middle. If we get a D end, or several, to come through our D will be OK. Garin and Wilhite have the talent and speed but haven’t had the
coaching. Maybe it will click for them this year.
A lot has been written about the linebackers. No need for me to add to it. They will be just fine.
Claeys has said he will be able to apply pressure on the QB this year. If we take him at his word the D will be average B10 or better, a
huge improvement over last year.
We are OK at running back with 2 guys who can bang it into the line - Cobb and Kirkwood. We have 2 speed guys - Edwards and Wright. Cobb is 218 and may have good speed as well but I haven't seen enough to be sure. Bennett is a solid back who won’t make mistakes, can catch out of the backfield.
Lair and Rabe can both run and both have pretty good hands. This will allow Limegrover to play around a little bit. For example, Limegrover might line up both tight ends on the line then, when the defense is set, split them out going 4 across instead of 2 across.
Gray. A lot has been made of his lack of accuracy in passing, which I agree with, but Gray IS accurate on short passes. I expect a lot of rollouts where Gray either runs or flips it out to the receiver in front of him.
The receivers all seem to have good hands. Harris, Green, Keise, Jones and of course McKnight all can catch the ball. This has not always been the case with the Gophers and is not the case with all big 10 teams. The recievers have the hands to catch some badly thrown
balls. This will make a difference in some games.
Limegrover has said they will be OK on the O line this year. When he says OK I assume that means good enough to win some games in the B10
Coaches
This group of coaches can be expected to out coach at least half of their opponents. I believe Kill and crew are 2-3 against B10 teams and, in each case, they had less talent than the team they beat.
Games
Probable wins - we have more talent
New Mexico
Miami
NDSU
Northwestern
Purdue
Toss ups - these might have more talent but there are other factors
Michigan - talent but is Hoke the guy? Will he make effective use of Robinson?
Illinois - could be Zooks last year.
Iowa - rebuilding
Probable Losses - but a chance for an upset.
USC - may not take Gophers seriously. A big mistake with a Kill coached team
Nebraska - same as USC. Gophers follow OSU and Badgers on Huskers schedule and precede Michigan State. We may catch
Nebraska on a down week
Wisconsin - Depends on their new QB. If he is banged up or ineffective we have a chance
Michigan State - Greg Jones is gone. Their D may not be up to par. Fire and brimstone may rain down on them from above.
I would expect us to win one toss up and to pull an upset somewhere.
Discuss
