Northwestern, 29, Minnesota, 28, Post-game thread

Not sure when I will calm down, but this drink might help

Clearly Demos is still thinking about the Outback Bowl. The good news? We made every mistake possible and got a W on the road in the Big Ten. The bad news? We made the same mistakes last week and dont appear to have learned much.
Also, how about Tony Jones? Kid made a couple mistakes but was a huge spark as well

Ok so ive read just about every post written this season by lake the posts and sippin on purple… but for like 3 players in uniform today on the field I was like… WHO?

Im legit hyperventilating too… seriously, my lungs feel like I just ran a 5k… hopefully that comes down

And how about my boy Ben Johnson with 2 HUGE plays to close out the game!

My question is this? Who coaches the running backs? What is his backgroud? Was he a former Pro? A college runningback? Is he the one who makes the decisions on who plays? Maybe it is time to look at who is in charge of the runnung backs. What is the the criteria for the starter? Is there a formula..off season competition or just coaches choice? I would like to know who is the fastest running back…. the strongest…and who knows the playbook inside and out…because the offensive plays to the backs appear to be very shallow.

About the O-line…
None of the commentators (web or TV) has mentioned the offensive line and their inability to provide holes. Their run/block capability is sub-par…The best they have done all year is against Ill. State and Rice!

My grade for the NW running backs is F+ against the Gophers!

but the fumbles have to stop. It’s incredibly hard to win a game with a -3 margin (which it was before the last play).

How does every single game come down to this…

WOW! Why do we always have to make it come down to the last play of the game? We almost gave that game away just like the Packers did to the Bears last Monday night. A win is a win though and I’ll take it.

The turnovers in the red zone were disturbing, but I’ll give Persa the benefit of the doubt. I was glad to see Fitz go with other running backs who could score and pick up first downs. After last week I didn’t want to see Arby Fields running sideways anymore.

Defense still needs to learn to shut down the run game and improve their coverage. There were some first downs given away due to bad coverage or missed tackles.

Special teams….well, what can I say? I’ve been pretty vocal about my distain for Demos. It’s pretty sad when your heart is racing when this guy comes on to kick a 27 yard field goal because you know it’s a 50/50 chance (at best). I just don’t know why Fitz doesn’t give Budzien a chance.

We may get away with playing like this against a weak Purdue team, but if the Cats don’t improve we are going to crash hard against teams like Penn State, Iowa and Michigan State.

C’mon Fitz….you know the issues, now it’s time to whip them into shape.

Okay, not really, but it sure felt that way. When Demos kicked that field goal with just over 2 minutes remaining, I thought for sure we were going to lose. I mean, we left Minnesota just enough time to go down and win the game. But the D came up big.

Other Thoughts

1. Persa: 23-30. Only 30 passing attempts… They need to be at the 40-50 mark every game (since most of the running plays I saw were 1-2 yd. gains at best). I realize there were probably about 10 other passes where Persa tucked the ball and ran, but still… give up on the running game, Fitz. Just start chucking it.

2. This game should have been OVER in the first quarter. We were up 7-0, moving the ball… fumble. Then we scored again, got the ball again, and were driving again… fumble. Hold on to the football, people!

3. We’re 5-0. And at the end of the day, that’s the only thing that counts.

7 more wins to go.

Those were almost as back as the turnovers. Two offsides calls, plus that facemask when we had them at 2nd and 25… brutal. Just brutal.

Wow.

Absolutely beautiful day — mostly sunny with passing clouds, 60 degrees and crisp. Some significant wind. Had first row seats in Section 202, and was right next to their massive scoreboard. Sat in a section with a bunch of NU folks, but wasn’t able to bond with them as they occupied the highest rows of the section. Mild Minny fans all around — all were very friendly while me, my sis and bro-in law (all NU alum) were screaming the whole game.

Few Observations from my section:

1. Place was about 75% full at kickoff, and then filled up about to 85% by half-time. The music heading into the 4th quarter was some 90s Jock Jam, followed by Sweet Caroline. Kinda weird.

2. TCF Bank is a beautiful stadium — great amenities, great sight lines all around. At the Scoreboard end of the field there’s a few rows of seating and then a plaza that allows folks to walk through and watch the game. Even saw a few dads throw the ball to their kids there.

2a. When the Gophs score, the PA announcer declares, “That’s 6 Points…IN THE BANK!” Catchy.

3. Game day atmosphere outside the park was festive — lots of family friendly booths (facepainting, draw your own sign) along with a studio show was taping.

4. Minny played meat and potatoes against us on offense — pound us with the run, and then play-action. Weber is very good with play-action deception, and their backs were just Dodge Ram-Tough. Opponents should definitely watch tape on this, as their O-Line beat us up, and protected Weber.

5. On the other hand, our offense was clicking in the first quarter. We seriously could’ve hung 28 points on them, as they looked lost on pre-snap, and bewildered after we’d run off consecutive positive yardage plays. It really was a shame we didn’t make it 2 scores, cause at that point we would’ve forced them to throw, and they would’ve been one-dimensional on offense.

6. Saw that Ebert catch right in front of me. We couldn’t believe it, as Persa got drilled letting it go, and it just looked like a wounded duck heading Ebert’s way. That was uber-clutch.

7. As the teams came out from half-time, I saw Demos hit 2 wind aided 50 yarders.

8. Trumpy looked good from where I was sitting — always moving forward, and working inside well. Frankly, I was surprised to see Smith’s shirt get burnt.

9. That play action TD to Tony Jones was gorgeous. We didn’t know who #12 was, and had to look it up in the program. I’m sure the Gophs had no idea who this guy was as he just burned them.

9a. My sister taps me as Stefan lines up his game winning kick: "Daily Headline tomorrow: “Re-Deemos.”

10. Overall, great game experience. Loved it when the fellas came over towards our section to sing the fight song after the win. I was yelling for them to get on the bus.

If we play the rest as bad as this one, we don’t beat Illinois and certainly not Indiana, not to mention PSU, Wiscy, MSU or you know who. Maybe Purdue, but just maybe.

the game is a blowout win if the offense doesnt turn the ball over, that part is easily correctable though the defensive line was terrible against the run today that could be a problem down the road.

Ebert’s catch was ESPN’s #4 Play of the Day