BleedGopher
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per Randy:
The return of Croft — should he see action — could give the Gophers a threat in the run game. In the 31-24 loss to Maryland on Saturday, the Gophers struggled to run the ball, mustering only 80 yards on 31 carries. The Terrapins stacked the interior against running backs Rodney Smith (18 carries, 35 yards) and Shannon Brooks (12 carries, 39 yards), and Rhoda offered little threat to stretch the defense. He rushed once for 6 yards.
Fleck made it clear that he wants a healthy Rhoda.
“We’re doing everything we can to not run Conor,” Fleck said. “… We have to make sure we keep Conor upright, keep him healthy, continue to get him to distribute the ball, continue to develop the other quarterbacks behind him.”
Rhoda has carried nine times for 9 yards this season, while Croft had seven carries for 96 yards — most of that on a 64-yard touchdown run at Oregon State, his last game before being suspended.
Fleck stressed that improvement in the running game means improvement in all facets.
“We’ve got to run the ball better. We’re going to do what our offensive linemen can do,” he said. “… For us to run the ball better, guys on the outside have to make better plays. We don’t have the fifth-year senior who’s caught 120 balls and you can say, ‘I’m going to rely on that bell cow.’ “
http://www.startribune.com/quarterb...-but-can-he-boost-the-running-game/449306093/
Go Gophers!!
The return of Croft — should he see action — could give the Gophers a threat in the run game. In the 31-24 loss to Maryland on Saturday, the Gophers struggled to run the ball, mustering only 80 yards on 31 carries. The Terrapins stacked the interior against running backs Rodney Smith (18 carries, 35 yards) and Shannon Brooks (12 carries, 39 yards), and Rhoda offered little threat to stretch the defense. He rushed once for 6 yards.
Fleck made it clear that he wants a healthy Rhoda.
“We’re doing everything we can to not run Conor,” Fleck said. “… We have to make sure we keep Conor upright, keep him healthy, continue to get him to distribute the ball, continue to develop the other quarterbacks behind him.”
Rhoda has carried nine times for 9 yards this season, while Croft had seven carries for 96 yards — most of that on a 64-yard touchdown run at Oregon State, his last game before being suspended.
Fleck stressed that improvement in the running game means improvement in all facets.
“We’ve got to run the ball better. We’re going to do what our offensive linemen can do,” he said. “… For us to run the ball better, guys on the outside have to make better plays. We don’t have the fifth-year senior who’s caught 120 balls and you can say, ‘I’m going to rely on that bell cow.’ “
http://www.startribune.com/quarterb...-but-can-he-boost-the-running-game/449306093/
Go Gophers!!