Butler’s Backtrack

Style points, and why they don’t matter
Posted by Constable Butler

To date, the Gophers are 4-0 and they beat their toughest non-conference opponent handily Saturday afternoon at The Bank.  Sure, many Gopher fans say, but they’re in trouble when they get to the B1G unless they can show a stronger passing game.

Maybe that’s true.  But I had a little déjà vu on Saturday.  My buddy Dave was in the stands for this game, just as he was in 2010 when the Tim Brewster-led Gophers lost 34-23 to Jerry Kill’s Northern Illinois squad early in the final season of Brewball.  I remember Dave turning and looking at me early in the fourth quarter and saying, “They’re just flat out better than us.”   And I agreed.  They ran the ball better, they blocked better, they took fewer penalties, they executed on third down, and they put the game away in the fourth quarter.  The one thing they didn’t do better?  Pass the ball.  I had to go back to the box score. 

Kill's ground-control game worked wonders with
Mitch Leidner (7) and David Cobb (27) Saturday.

Adam Weber was 31 for 46 that day for 373 yards , 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception for our beloved Gophers.  That’s a solid day, and certainly an impressive yardage total.  NIU’s Chandler Harnish? He was a Mitch Leidner-like 11 of 17 for 81 yards.  NIU rushed for 297 yards that day. 

That they didn’t throw the ball around didn’t matter against a squad from the Big Ten.  They executed their system, ugly as it may look, and pushed around a Big Ten team on the ground.  They did it with a diverse running game with varied formations.  They had too many ways to beat us on the ground for us to be able to stop them. 

Do I wish we’d seen more from the Gopher passing game to this point?  Yeah, a little.  On the other hand, we saw the jet sweep to KJ Maye added to the fold this week and we’re seeing serious production from David Cobb, Roderick Williams, and hopefully soon Donnell Kirkwood again, not to mention what both Leidner and Nelson bring to the rushing game.  The maroon and gold had rushing yards with one back, two backs, three backs, and no backs lined up in the backfield with numerous formations and multiple types of motion. 

This is what we should have known we were getting when Jerry Kill was hired.  And when there are so many ways to beat teams on the ground, I guess style points really don’t matter all that much. 

Big Party's B1G Word of the Day

Word: Touché
Definition: (interjection) tou·ché  - Acknowledgment of a telling remark or scoring hit

I try not to be intentionally crappy at anything (usually).

Other than my brief post earlier this week, this will be the first time in a long time that I’ve written something for others to read.  Well, other than a school papers and work e-mails.  Those uninspiring creative outlets aside, the last time I put pen to paper about a topic I actually felt passionate about was probably my comprehensive Warcraft 2 Geocities page, which was an epic monument to how much an unbelievable nerd I was before puberty.

I committed to writing these snap reactions without the benefit of re-watching the game or reading any professional recaps because that would lend to some modicum of novelty to my post.  I didn’t want my viewpoint to be skewed by someone else’s opinions, and I wanted to write more from an angle of what it felt like in the stadium instead of having 100 percent accuracy about happened on the field. I thought I could aide my recollection of the game by taking notes and figured it would be easiest to just use my phone to accomplish this. Now that I am reviewing those notes I have no idea what half of them mean.



Tailgating for 11 a.m. games ain't all bad.

Actual notes from my phone:
     ·  Cochoran dor a loss1)!! Keller
     ·  Maxx big block Leif
     ·  Lesiee good push 2 tinez td
     ·  Spartan Pottstown in the bathroom
     ·  Nugget good power, covv great shimmy. Stick it I. The home and make it all wiggly.

So, I guess I’m doing this review from fully from memory. Here goes…

In my last post, I wrote quite a few words defending Phil Nelson as the starting quarterback. I was admittedly more than a little weary of this game since San Jose State was by the far the strongest opponent on the non-conference schedule.  I thought to win they would have to have a great game on defense, another Marcus Jones punt/kick return, and a strong game from the running backs.  I didn’t have a ton of faith in Leidner playing well for a full game.

(Cue The Monkees)

Then I saw this game, and I’m a Be-Leidner!

Sorry that’s terrible. I should delete it and not actually post that.

Why haven’t I deleted it yet. We’re keeping it?

Yep, we’re keeping it.

Sorry again.

We see you, Lamplighter. Touche' friend.

Anyways, Touche’, Lamplighter, you definitely proved me wrong.  I will be mighty pleased if you keep it going.

I still don’t think a healthy Nelson should hit the bench just yet, but Mitch “The Lamplighter” Leidner put together the best game by a Gopher QB since Purdue last season. The passing numbers weren’t great, but Mitch was putting most of the balls where they needed to be, including the his first pass to Engel on the sideline (which I still think was a catch – again, I haven’t watched any highlights) and the pretty touch throw over the top to KJ Maye. However, the big game changer was the way he used his legs. The boy ran like he was possessed to the tune of 150+ yards and 4 tds. Leidner seems to have a little bit more speed and power when he tucks it and runs than Phil Nelson, but the Gophs are going to need someone behind center who can sling it in order to stand a chance in the Bee One Gee.

As Higgy mentioned earlier this week, Shortell had a pretty decent game against Syracuse last year (and was flawless the week before against WMU playing in relief of an injured MarQueis Gray), so I don’t know what to expect from either of the QBs next week against the hated intruders from the land that smells like Floyd’s pig pen.

Other things I liked:
     ·  The Nugget and Cobb, Thunder and Lightning Ground Show. (Nugget: MINE FELL THE HARDREST!  Cobb:YEAH, WELL MINE WERE THE DEADEST!) Cobb could prove to be a great change of pace from the bruising Williams Jr. and Kirkwood when/if he returns to the rotation. It definitely helps soften the blow of the Berkley Edwards injury and potential redshirt if Cobb can keep showing the speed and vision he’s shown the last few games.
     ·  Cockran and Optimus Prime getting pressure on the QB.  Kellen predicted it!
     ·  Other than the quick TD drive in the 2nd quarter (which admittedly happened when I was in the bathroom) it seemed like the D actually kept the much-hyped David Fales pretty in check.  A lot of completions and yards, but a minimum of big plays. I was still really impressed by his accuracy and quick reads.


Rap & Big Party rep for Jerrysota.

     ·  Speaking of big plays, great pick by Aaron Hill and a huge forced fumble by DeVondre Cambell when SJSU was driving. It seemed like they were both all over the field on Saturday.
     ·  I can safely say that’s the first time I’ve ever seen a kicker get booted from the game for fighting. That’s the strangest ejection I’ve seen at a sporting event since Bruiser and I saw Jerry Sloan get kicked out of a game against the T-wolves about four minutes into the 1st quarter nearly a decade ago.
     ·  Sitting with adorable kids will get you on the Jumbotron.  Excellent work on your handsome progeny, Constable and Mrs. Butler.
     ·  Amazing response by the Epilepsy Foundation in rallying behind Coach Kill.  I plan to wear my Jerrysota shirt with pride to every remaining game this year.

Well, that’s it for now.  Make sure to come back for some even more incoherent rambling after next week’s game!

Gophers vs. San Jose State: Four Downs

Posted by Higgy

Each week, I'll take a look at the upcoming game and focus on four keys to the game, hence the clever "Four Downs" title. It's a football thing. Well, I won't do it each week. We have two byes. I won't look at the non-existent opponent that week, ya dingus.

Tomorrow the Golden Gophers receive a visit from the San Jose State Spartans and their ugly uniforms. At stake? A 4-0 start and perfect trip through the nonconference schedule, not to mention 2/3 of the way to bowl eligible. So ... for an 11 a.m. out-of-league game, actually quite a bit against a team that should be a lot better than anyone else we've faced to this point. Let's line up for four downs.

FIRST DOWN - DEJA VU?
If you're feeling Deja Vu because we're 3-0 and welcoming our toughest nonconference opponent into TCF Bank Stadium with a talented, NFL-prospect quarterback and a good passing game, it's because this is EXACTLY LIKE LAST SEASON. Just replace Syracuse with San Jose State and move a night game to 11 a.m. and it didn't take Doc Brown and a DeLorean to get you here.

Other similarities? Our starting quarterback is out. It looks like Phillip Nelson won't play, which gives Gopher fans a full game to fall in love with Mitch "The Lamplighter" Leidner. For my feelings on who our starting quarterback should be (and Gopher fans' quick trigger to call for the backup) can just be summed up by reading Big Party's BIG Word of the Day from earlier this week. I think Nelson is our starter and Leidner would have to be REALLY good tomorrow to insert himself into the discussion for more playing time.

Who gave those gentlemen field passes?

How can he do that? Continue his passing efficiency from last week, with a few more intermediate and deep routes mixed in. (More Maxx Williams? Yes please!) Don't keep it quite as much. We should have Kirkwood back tomorrow. Rodrick Williams has been good the last two weeks, and David Cobb is one of our most pleasant surprises so far. Hand the ball to them. Don't keep it as often. Save your impressive combination of speed and size as more of a surprise/big play element. Plus, as Coach Bud Kilmer taught James Van Der Beek and all of us, "By running the ball, we control the clock," and that will be huge against SJSU.

Most of all, don't be Max Shortell. But get us a win, like he did against the Orange last season.

One big difference? I don't think the Classy Gentlemen will come into a pair of field passes for this game. Our sideline antics against Syracuse were over the top.

SECOND DOWN - MAKE FALES FAIL (no easy task)
I know, terrible pun. Hopefully, like Syracuse a year ago, this ends up being strength vs. strength with our pass defense. A similarity we can't lean on? Experienced cornerbacks Michael Carter and Troy Stoudemire, because they graduated. This needs to be the game Derrick Wells proves that he's healthy, and the move to corner was a good one. We need Eric Murray and Martezz Shabazz at their best. Brock Vereen needs to patrol the middle of the field. I'm real excited to see the speed of Devondre Campbell in coverage. We should see him for a lot of snaps. And let's see James Manuel and Damien Wilson on some blitz

Be very afraid.

And, as Kellen deftly pointed out in his video blog, we need Ra'Shede Hageman and Theiran Cockran to continue being dominant forces. They should have an edge against the SJSU line and we need pressure on Fales, who I've heard is accurate and efficient. If Hageman can get a sack without a helmet, hopefully he can really do some good things with his chin strap buckled up. And let's see James Manuel, Aaron Hill and Damien Wilson on some blitzes for added pressure. What do you think, Coach Kilmer?

"The only pain that matters is the pain you inflict!"

THIRD DOWN - MORE WEAPONS PLEASE
I've already covered our QB and RB situation, and mentioned our good friend Maxx "Double X" Williams, but this offense needs to be a little more explosive and a few young weapons emerging would be real nice. Jamel Harbison finally played last week, but didn't do much of anything. Drew Wolitarsky is starting to get some action and Donovahn Jones continues to settle in at WR. If these three young talents - or even two of the three - can start making plays down the field and on the edge, it could be a huge boost to The Lamplighter in his first start.

Also, what happened to KJ Maye? Let's get him involved. Put him in motion and either fake it to him or hand it off to give our offense another dimension. Run a few WR screens for him. Look for him on third downs (along with Double X). I really like his skills now that he's a full-time WR and he's been basically non-existent since the UNLV game.

Having said all that, I still want to see us control the line of scrimmage, the clock, and pound the ball on the ground. But I think Wu-Tang Financial would want us to diversify our bonds.

Should be another gorgeous day in Lot 37 and Sec. 117.

FOURTH DOWN - GET UP EARLY TO GET A WIN
I'm usually not a big fan of analysts putting a lot of emphasis on how time zones can affect a team's performance. However, when you're a Mountain West team that plays a ton of night games, and now you're getting up for an 11 a.m. central time kickoff, which is normally your 9 a.m., I can be convinced it will be a little more of a factor. I was tempted to call the former Miami players that called Brian Bosworth all night before a bowl game against Oklahoma, as revealed in "The U," to see if I could hire them to do the same to Fales.

That means another early morning for us fans as well. Thanks a lot for the weeknight 6 p.m. kickoff and  a pair of 11s for our three home out-of-league games, B1G. The Classy Gentlemen plan to be in Lot 37 by 7:30 a.m. We've got Von Hanson's double-smoked bacon and maple sausage links ready to fuel us (among other things) and we'll be ready to shout the Spartans into a handful of false starts. Get up early, get excited, and hopefully we'll be 4-0 by midday.

That should just about cover it. This was meant to be shorter, but hot damn is this new blog exciting! Time for bed ... we've got a big day tomorrow.

The Constable and the Kellen - Ep. 1

Posted by Constable Butler

Kellen Butler is a lot of things. Charter member of the Section 117 Classy Gentlemen. Outstanding goalie. Great tailgater. Dynamite flag football player. Gopher football and hockey expert. Tremendous at executing instant replay reviews in Lot 37 pickup football games. The best fan photo op at TCF Bank Stadium when he sports his tiny maroon and gold formal wear.

He's also 8.

Now, he's the world's leading Minnesota Gopher Video Blogger under the age of 10. Take a look back at last week's win over Western Illinois and preview Saturday's big game against San Jose State, along with an update on the Andover Flag Football Gophers' 2-0 start, in the first-ever episode of "The Constable and the Kellen."

Keep coaching, Coach

Posted by Higgy

Me and Coach Kill at an August scrimmage.

Dear Coach Kill,

Thank you for all you've taught myself - and the general public - about epilepsy during your three years as the head football coach at my alma mater, the University of Minnesota. I hope you've already made a full recovery from your seizure Saturday at halftime of the Gophers' win over Western Illinois, and that you're ready to lead our team to another win this weekend against a good San Jose State team.

I'm writing you today to let you know, from one fan's perspective, you're making a huge impact on the field and beyond. Your latest medical complications have drawn - if it's possible - even more media attention than the others during your tenure at Minnesota. Some of the reports include empathy and compassion ... some don't. But most of them have centered on one prevailing question: should you continue to coach? Some have even been presumptuous to answer the question for you and your boss, Athletic Director Norwood Teague.

I'm writing so you know there are fans out there that support all your decisions, and don't believe your resignation due to the effects of epilepsy is what's best for any of us, despite the suggestions by numerous columnists. In fact, I hope you continue to coach my beloved alma mater for many reasons related to football, and for many that are even more important.

I was there, in my usual seat in Section 117, on that hot September afternoon when you suffered a seizure during the closing moments of a tough loss to New Mexico State. I witnessed most of it from across the field. I knew you were a cancer survivor, but I was not aware of your epilepsy at the time. I was one of the thousands of fans who sat stunned, silenced. I was naive and fearful, helpless and terrified, all at once.

Some of my group waited out the traffic after the loss with a postgame tailgate. Not me. I needed to go, traffic jam or not. I got in my car, sat bumper-to-bumper between our tailgate lot and the I-94 on-ramp, and got home as soon as I could. Witnessing your seizure put me in a funk for the remainder of the weekend and much of the coming week. I was concerned for your health, for your family, for your staff and players, and for the scores of Gopher fans like myself who were enthusiastic about the start of you tenure as our head coach, and suddenly faced the worst kind of unknown.

However, like a lot of people, I've been learning since then thanks to your coaching. My education continued when our group attended a spring practice session in April. We were fortunate enough to be there the day you welcomed the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota as your special guests, and your postgame talk to simultaneously lifted up your team, the fans and, most importantly, those kids suffering from the same affliction as you. You told those kids over and over that they could achieve their dreams. You convinced me they could, and I'm willing to bet those kids walked away from that practice more confident than ever. Now, in the wake  of the events of the past week, I hope you remember the important message you delivered that day and can heed your own passionate advice.

As the 2013 season drew near, there were several tremendous articles about your ongoing battle with epilepsy and your work to raise awareness of the affliction. ESPN's Rick Reilly wrote a great column that even referenced the spring practice I just mentioned. The Star Tribune's Joe Christensen also wrote an in-depth piece that shed a lot of light on the details of your condition, which must have required you and your family to open up about your epilepsy in a way you hadn't to that point. I'm glad you did, because it helped those of us paying attention to continue our education.

Saturday, you unfortunately succumbed to another seizure at the start of halftime. I didn't witness this one, as I had already gone up to the concourse. I learned of it from my more Twitter-savvy friends when I returned to my seat. This time, the feeling was different, thanks to your coaching between 2011 and now. The fear was replaced with familiarity and preparation.

That day, it became apparent your work is paying off. Your coaches and team came out for the second half and supremely executed the game plan - without their head coach - to pull away for a comfortable win. Before the second half kicked off, I took one quick moment to myself and said two short prayers - one for your health and one for your family - and then I did what I think you would have wanted me to do. I returned my focus to cheering the Gophers on to victory. So did the rest of my crew, and the rest of the fans in The Bank.

You've talked about how your coaching staff and your players are prepared to proceed with the game plan in the event of a seizure. Saturday proved that to be true. Saturday also proved the fans have finally caught up. Some of the members of the media still don't know the game plan, so your coaching isn't completely done. But keep going and they'll get there, because they've got the right man to coach them up.

Keep coaching us, Coach. We're making progress. The program is headed in the right direction. The fans have bought in and are behind you, in good health and bad. We believe in what's going on, and our conviction in the team and in you is NOT conditional.

Over the years, I've had countless people tell me that, as a Gopher fan, I should temper my expectations. That pisses me off. We should aspire for greatness. A winning record. A New Year's Day bowl. Great recruiting classes. Continual facility improvements. A B1G Championship. A trip to Pasadena. Impeccable health for our head coach.

The belief that we can eventually get there ... we owe that to you, Coach. We see you fighting, and we're ready to fight with you. We know that if we stumble, you'll be there to pick us up and keep pushing us forward. Now it's our turn to do the same for you. Let's continue to work, continue to learn and let's continue that forward progress. Continue to lead, Coach, and we'll continue to follow.

Ski-U-Mah.

Sincerely,

Matt Higgins

Minneapolis, Minn.