Thank you Mili I needed that shot of confidence lol...
I will consider this weekend as a different but also a test run in regards to Wisky. With how much we are talking about being mad about our performance in Minnesota (I'll touch on this in a moment) and how important it is to contain Coleman we better shut him down. If he goes off on us (over 150 yards, which is generous) with our run defense on a heightened alert with a bad taste over Minny then yeah I would be very concerned facing a just as dangerous runner in Gordon.
As for the Minnesota game, I finally had a chance to watch the game as I was at this game in person (I live in the twin cities) and I was very cold/hammered. I thought for the most part our defense was fine and our pass defense was outstanding. Our run defense I thought was great most of the time but there was about 10 or so snaps that we just broke down on and what I noticed is our outside help such as the safeties/OLB's had a horrendous game in coming up in support UNDER CONTROL. Go back and watch this game and watch our guys come screaming up the field only to have Cobb run underneath them. If our guys come up and break down I don't feel we have this issue but IMO we looked wild and totally out of control.
I thought Vonn Bell looked great and although I like Powell in pass pro he really needs to improve in run support, the same goes for Lee who I feel is getting swallowed up a bit because of his size but he also has a tendency to come in out of control. Another thing I noticed is Kwon/Grant really need to start meeting lead blockers straight on and do their best to stay centered because going back to the MSU game they are coming in with a right/left shoulder and guessing which side the play may go to but the problem is they're getting sealed because they are guessing wrong.
In saying this I thought the defense did better than I expected and damn could those turnovers be any more costly? up 14 to 0 and we throw a pick on first down on a deep ball andI hate calls like that on first down because they are low percentage plays that often give us 2nd and 10. Then with a shot to go up 21-7 we screw that up and they get the ball back. Although I am a believer in momentum and I feel that's a good reason why Minnesota scored, that drive is on the defense (we had them 3rd and 12 then they score on a RUN from 30 yds out). Obviously then comes the punt muff that we just can't do to beat scum and Wisky. Not only does that give them the ball 1st and goal but it also takes away the possibility of us closing out the game with one more score (would've made it 38-14 had we scored that drive instead it's 31-21). This game SHOULD have been something like 48-10 because Minnesota really only had 2 drives that resulted in points (I even counted the 80 yards they went after they recovered the fumble in the endzone so it could've been worse)
I will say this.. Our defense is NOT good in quick change scenario's. Minnesota scored every time off our turnovers two of those drives were over 40 yards and this CANNOT happen. If we stay disciplined, break down, and get some stops when there are turnovers we will be fine. The offense and especially the special teams has got to stop turning the ball over but in saying that our defense just needs to be much more consistent.
