Game Three (Minnesota) Thoughts - 2026

[catdaddyp]

I don’t have much to say about this one. The score line should have been better, but we hurt ourselves. I’m hoping we are relatively healthy for next week.

 

QB:

Without CBs legs, our run game basically went out the window. Roggow made some nice throws, but the offense shifted to a more traditional setup with Roggow running the show.

 

RB:

There weren’t that many opportunities and even less running room. Gant also fumbled once.

 

WR/TE:

The drops were drive killers. Can’t have those and expect to beat/compete with many teams.

 

OL:

The line couldn’t get consistent push in the run game and allowed pressure 31% of the time according to PFF.

 

DL:

I’m not sure what Abor’s status is, but he was a menace lined up both inside and out. Having Durham on the opposite side made a difference. Frazier and Kavals continue to progress.

 

LB:

Johnson and Nunoo were really good and easily had their best games as Zips. 

 

DB:

Our nicklebacks and safties struggled, as did most cornerbacks not named White. I’m guessing White will miss at least several weeks from here. Galloway did seem to have some good snaps today, so we’ll see if he gets more action next week.

 

ST:

Patrick’s blunder came at a tough time and basically sealed any chance of making this a competitive contest. Castle had a solid day punting the ball with a long of 52 and three downed inside the 20.

 

 

QB:

Broughton 

Roggow

Beals

 

RB:

Gant

Patrick

Williams

 

WR:

Mason

Louis

Hilburn 

 

WR:

Hills

Burris

 

WR:

Williams

Myers

 

TE:

Alexander

Cravaack

Hook

 

LT:

Slayden

Shor

 

LG:

Smith

Falkner

 

C

Lyons

Mobley

 

RG:

Hampton

Archer

 

RT:

Jones 

Shor

 

 

DE:

Abor

Kavals

Watkins

 

DT:

Mixon

Kavals

Davis

Ross-Graves

 

DT:

Hull

Williams

Brown-Demery

 

DE:

Frazier

Kavals

Watkins

 

LB:

Johnson

Hocker

 

LB:

Nunoo

Curtis

 

NB:

Branch

Moss

 

CB:

Galloway

White

 

CB:

Thomas

Newsome

 

S:

Flowers

Hunter

Somerville

 

S:

Davis

Hunter

 

 

Top Rated Offense (15 snap minimum):

QB - Broughton

C - Lyons

RT - Jones

RB - Gant

RB - Patrick

 

Top Rated Defense (15 snap minimum):

DE - Abor

LB - Johnson

DE - Durham

DE - Frazier

LB - Nunno

 

[LZIp]

I look at these 3 games (maybe 4, unfortunately) as essentially a preseason. Through the first 3, outcome is exactly as expected. Try to look more for the strengths/weaknesses of the team than get too worked up on results when the P4 teams are spending probably something like 200x+ on roster than we are spending. That isn’t even considering operating budget issues.

 

Aside from some correctible mistakes (stupid decisions), I feel our team will stack up pretty well in conference play just about everywhere aside from our defensive backfield. White’s injury obviously did not look good and no other corner has really shown much to me so far. Hopefully Abor is able to come back sooner rather than later, but not being dressed for the 2nd half is concerning . He’s a difference maker. Hopefully CB is okay. I noticed the brace off in the 2nd half. With that said, I’m not really clear whether our team is better with him at QB or Roggow. Roggow definitely stretches the field more, while CB is a dual threat. Seems very  accurate, but we never really seemed to try to stretch the field with him. At the very least, it seems like we have 2 competent options at the position.

Edited 10 hours ago by LZIp

[exit322]

1 hour ago, LZIp said:

At the very least, it seems like we have 2 competent options at the position.

 

When was the last time we could say that?

[csims0917]

Since I’ve been a fan I haven’t been able to say we’ve had two competent QBs

[exit322]

17 minutes ago, csims0917 said:

Since I’ve been a fan I haven’t been able to say we’ve had two competent QBs

 

And how much more competent would they be if they got all the spring reps instead of the ineligible guy our coaching staff brought in?

[ZipForNow]

8 hours ago, exit322 said:

 

8 hours ago, csims0917 said:

Since I’ve been a fan I haven’t been able to say we’ve had two competent QBs

Irons and Undercuffler were both competent.

 

Also, we should stop ragging on bringing in Poff. He was declared eligible. Then the NCAA were dicks about it and got a stay of the ruling. It’s inequitable across the entire landscape. Chambliss is eligible.

 

On another note, we seem to often have multiple competent QBs. Some even transfer up, like Zach Gibson. We often ask too much of these guys. DJ Irons was a one-man wrecking crew. Not a lot of the other pieces have been in place for these guys to have sustained success.