I agree. Game plan was fine. We were running at will for most of the 2nd half. You just can't make turnovers and special teams mistakes against Iowa. No fumble we almost certainly win. No missed FG or no INT we probably win.
Iowa was more willing to open up the playbook with Petras (lol) and got rewarded. I get that Mo was dicing but he was also dead tired by the end and the fumble was likely the kind of mental error a fatigued player makes. Relying on Mo was mostly effective and fine but they needed to use that to open up other things and didn’t. I agree that the receiver situation isn’t ideal but they do have a good TE and running QB with a good arm, I think some of that is on the coaches.
That said they should’ve went to OT and they need to figure out the kicker position, you can’t miss a FG from that range.
Iowa was more willing to open up the playbook with Petras (lol) and got rewarded. I get that Mo was dicing but he was also dead tired by the end and the fumble was likely the kind of mental error a fatigued player makes. Relying on Mo was mostly effective and fine but they needed to use that to open up other things and didn’t. I agree that the receiver situation isn’t ideal but they do have a good TE and running QB with a good arm, I think some of that is on the coaches.
That said they should’ve went to OT and they need to figure out the kicker position, you can’t miss a FG from that range.
Mo has had 30+ carries in each of the last 5 games, 36 twice. I'm not going to blame fatigue for his fumble. He was trying to extend the ball for a first down after he got wrapped up and Campbell came in and lowered his shoulder into the ball and it popped out. That's not a fatigue issue, it's unfortunate luck that Campbell was late diagnosing the play.
Fair enough, I was just speculating based on how gassed he looked and the reason for fumble and could be wrong. Admittedly it’s hard to second guess giving someone as dependable as him the ball, I guess my point is that the overall gameplan seemed to leave money on the table. I realize how good Iowa defense is but it seemed like they couldn’t stop Mo and dedicated all their focus attention on it and it would’ve been nice to see them use it to their advantage more via play action. Not saying we needed double the throw attempts or anything just a few more big play attempts could’ve been huge in getting some breathing room.
Oh well, can’t do much about it now, win the Axe/bowl game and it’s certainly not a bad year. After that it’ll be interesting to see where this program trends going forward.
I believe that was Mo's fourth career fumble so he's reliable as hell.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fumbles happen, especially in bitter cold. However, after reviewing the replay, it's obvious to me that Mo just wasn't taking care of the football. It was the dreaded reach-out-with-the-ball-for-an-extra-yard gamble.
It happens. But what a terrible time to happen.
Listened to a chunk of Flecks show on KFAN today and man he’s grasping at straws for answers after this one. A lot of his coach speak devolved into nonsense and he just talked in circles.
Bad running back news for the red team.
https://twitter.com/RJstrib/status/1596596290938630144?s=20&t=I7o2J_i6JhuvHVGbEy6zLQ
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nubin out for Minnesota probably hurts us more than Allen out for Wisconsin hurts them tbh.
Great drive by the gophers and they lead 7-3 late in the first quarter.
Did I just see a passing TD?
Looked like Williams got his bell rung in his carry. Hope he’s alright.
Maybe Kaliakmanis barely had the first, no way to overturn that.
Absolutely atrocious spot on 4th and 1 turns the Gophers over on downs.
Gophers got hosed on the initial spot on the 4th and 1.
Absolutely atrocious spot on 4th and 1 turns the Gophers over on downs.
It was but it was also a poor effort. Decided not to kick the FG and end up handing it to the red team instead.
Looked like Williams got his bell rung in his carry. Hope he’s alright.
Think he took a helmet to helmet shot.
55 for Wisconsin has gotten away with two clear targetings on the last drive of the half.
Foolish fan. It's been clear for years that the B1G only calls targeting when it's a Gopher that initiates the hit.55 for Wisconsin has gotten away with two clear targetings on the last drive of the half.
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
They get the Big Ten leader in sacks back now too.
They get the Big Ten leader in sacks back now too.
Obviously that's why we got all our passes out in the first half. Smart.
What’s his name again?
https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/1596624705347325954?s=46&t=ZgO9_QiYNwxS8ntCdV2DWw
I love how incredulous this PBP guy is that the Gophers offense keeps running the same run play over and over. Apparently he did zero video work before the game.
Now he’s raving about how accurate Mertz is (he’s not) and blaming the receivers for not being able to catch all his crappy throws.
what would a wisconsin player have to do to actually get a hold called? they have held thomas rush on almost every play
Their LBs are just blitzing forward at the line. They need to run a counter or bootleg. Get to open field.
55 hits Kaliakmanis in the head again. Ref throws the flag for targeting and they review it and overturn it.
Daniel Jackson with an incredible catch through a blatant non-called defensive holding.
Of the four or five times he’s hit someone in the head today, that was probably the least likely to be called targeting. So it figures that it’s the one time they throw a flag for it.
55 hits Kaliakmanis in the head again. Ref throws the flag for targeting and they review it and overturn it.
So if you hit the QBs head with the crown of your helmet it’s targeting but if you hit him with your face mask it’s not? What the difference? The result is the same.
Just aggravating that they blow it up on run up middle vs Mo. They keep run blitzing it successfully and they never try to counter it with misdirection.
Just aggravating that they blow it up on run up middle vs Mo. They keep run blitzing it successfully and they never try to counter it with misdirection.
The DT blew right past Ruschmeyer like Ruschmeyer was the one who didn't know the snap count on that last run.
55 hits Kaliakmanis in the head again. Ref throws the flag for targeting and they review it and overturn it.
So if you hit the QBs head with the crown of your helmet it’s targeting but if you hit him with your face mask it’s not? What the difference? The result is the same.
I'm not really sure. I would guess they were focused on the "Forcible Contact" aspect during that review and I don't really think THAT instance was forcible. The other 3 he's had definitely were.
Kaliakmanis with an absolute ROCKET of a throw to Lemeke Brockington on a slant for a 45 yard TD!
Ibrahim was down on the field after the touchdown. Looked like he may have rolled his ankle trying to pick up a blitz on the TD. Hopefully nothing major.
Let’s goooooo!!!! That guy could have a nice career for us #0 Brockington
Remember when we didn’t have any good receivers…..
Their LBs are just blitzing forward at the line. They need to run a counter or bootleg. Get to open field.
Hey how about that. Throw slants to the open field the LBs vacate by blitzing all the time. Well done.
FINISH
WALLEY WITH THE INTERCEPTION! Gophers ball up 23-16 with 2:48 left!
Let’s goooooo!!!! That guy could have a nice career for us #0 Brockington
With Brockington, Hoskins, Jackson, CAB, Wright, MBS, and potentially BFS returning next year, if Kaliakmanis continues to develop and our WRs spend all summer working on catching balls that hit them in the chest they may have a pretty fun passing attack...if they choose to use it.
Mo got cracked in the back of the head AGAIN on the last play. Wisconsin is out looking to hurt.
Trickett's attempt to seal the game doinks off the upright.
Damn it.
LOL the referees refusal to call holding on Wisconsin is ridiculous.
Gophers defensive end got a clear path to Mertz and the LT grabs him across the chest and the refs keep the flags in their pocket. Terrible.
Walley goes to make a play on the ball and gets called for PI.
Finally a holding call against Wisconsin! It's a miracle! Only took 59 minutes and 37 seconds
Walley goes to make a play on the ball and gets called for PI.
Terrible call, that’s was a really nice play.