Four Downs: The Little Brown Jug

Posted by Higgy

I've seen a lot of media coverage of the 10-year anniversary of the loss to Michigan in the Metrodome on that fateful Friday in 2003, which possibly could be both the high point (the crowd, the atmosphere, physically dominating Michigan) and the low point (the last quarter-and-a-half) in the past 2-3 decades of Gopher football. I'd rather reminisce about what happened two years later.

Another maroon and gold celebration in
The Big House would be magical.

The Classy Gentlemen - Butler, Bruiser, Flony and myself - trekked to Ann Arbor on our first road trip as a group in October, 2005. The result? Gary Russell's famous 61-yard romp down the sidelines, the game clock malfunctioning, a Jason Giannini game-winning field goal and 110,000 silent Wolverine fans. It was magical. I get chills to this day any time I think of it. We were in the heart of the Michigan student section, head-to-toe in maroon and gold, and for only the second time in my lifetime the Little Brown Jug was ours. Celebrations ensued. We witnessed acts on the Ann Arbor sidewalks we can't publicly speak about.

We return to the scene of that memory for our second big road game in front of hundreds of thousands of people this season. Wait ... there weren't 100,000 people at the New Mexico State game? Ah hell ... I was too captivated by Aggie Vision.

It's been a rough week. Likely all Gopher fans spend all week dealing with either a metaphorical or actual hangover after Iowa Hate Week and the debacle that went on at The Bank. It's hard to enter Saturday with much optimism. However, Michigan has certainly looked beatable against teams worse than Minnesota - more than once - this season. So let's look at a few keys to Saturday's game and break the huddle for this week's four downs.

FIRST DOWN - GROW A PAIR
The last time we played, we were physically dominated by Iowa. The last time we played at Michigan, we were utterly embarrassed in the worst performance of the Jerry Kill era. If nothing else, it would be fantastic for the Gophers to come out and play like men and put up a fight. Michigan will have another big, physical offensive line, and rushing for just 30 yards again is NOT an option, and it all starts up front. We need both lines to show that last week was an aberration, or this could be a long, long season, and another rough day in Ann Arbor.

SECOND DOWN - MIX AND MATCH
Normally, I'm 100 percent against any system that employs two quarterbacks. Rather than its intended effect taking place - utilizing both player's strengths - it usually just ruins both players. However, after the events of the last few weeks I think our coaching staff needs to be open to mixing and matching with Phil and The Lamplighter.

THE Bruce Dickinson wants the Gopher QB
situation to explore the studio space. He's gotta
have more quarterback, baby.

I know some people are just calling for Mitch to be the starter after how bad Phil looked a week ago. I think both players have value. I'm fine with Nelson starting again, but if our offense is as stagnant as it was a week ago, let's see The Lamplighter get a series or two. And then asses and go from there. I'm not saying commit fully to a two-QB system, or one or the other as the starter. As Bruce Dickinson would say, "Really explore the studio space."

THIRD DOWN - STAND BY YOUR MAN
This one goes out to our defensive backs. Last year at The Bank, we were fully in the game in the second quarter and it appeared we were about to take down QB Devin Gardner for a huge loss. Instead, he wiggled free and uncorked a bomb to a wide-open receiver waiting in the end zone. We saw a similar play unfold with a lapse in defensive back concentration this season against UNLV.

Gardner's an athletic quarterback. He'll make defensive linemen, linebackers and the occasional blitzer from the secondary miss. It's going to happen. What can't happen is have everyone sell out on stopping him while he's still below the line. He's not Shoelace. He'd rather make plays with his arm, so our defensive backs need to stick to their assignments until he's across that line. Then, hit him and get him on the ground. Our players' ability to pull this feat off certainly relies on their instincts, but I also think coaching will be key this week. All week long, coaches need to make sure the d-backs focus solely on their assignments and trust the line and backers to do the same.

FOURTH DOWN - CONTAIN
Along the same lines as third down, Minnesota's linemen, ends and linebackers need to do a good job of keeping Gardner in the pocket and contain the edges. It's going to be tough against the Wolverines offensive line and potential top-10 pick Taylor Lewan. Optimus Prime and company need to play better than they did a week ago. They can't be regularly blown off the ball. I don't think sacks are necessarily the key to beating Michigan, but pressure sure is. Gardner has made some serious mistakes when the heat is on, so if the Gophers' athletic defensive line and the occasional blizter can get in his head and keep him in the pocket, Brock Vereen and company could be ready to take advantage of the mistakes.

Third down and fourth down basically go hand-in-hand. The dbacks will likely need some form of pressure to stick with their assignments, and the line will probably need a couple seconds of solid coverage to work their way towards Gardner. The defense certainly bent a ton last week, but didn't always break, and that type of effort might be good enough to keep us in the game Saturday. We're gonna need more than seven points out of the offense in any game the rest of the way, so I'll bet that side of the ball is feeling the pressure on the trip to Ann Arbor.


Spirits are low after last week's loss, but
use 2005's win to fuel your optimism.

It could be worse. We could be going to Detroit.

After last week and considering the task at hand, I'd be willing to bet Gopher fans aren't even entering Saturday's game with "cautious optimism." But that's not the way of the Section 117 Classy Gentlemen. We'll find a way to believe every week no matter what - regardless of how delusional it is. And what would make the sting of a loss to Iowa disappear more than a race to the Michigan sideline to take back the Little Brown Jug? Tonight, as you drift off to sleep, let visions of Gary Russell's game-winning romp down the sidelines fill your dreams, and bask in the utter, stunned silence of The Big House as you rest up for another trophy game. And hope that Saturday night dreams will include the highlights of Hageman sacks, Kirkwood touchdown runs, strong quarterback play and another silent stadium.