Chip: Gophers' reluctance to embrace passing game this season remains baffling; Once a prolific passer Morgan has been reduced to a handoff specialist

[BleedGopher]

per Chip:

The symmetry of the moment is impossible to ignore. Tanner Morgan is returning to the site where he produced his greatest statistical game as Gophers quarterback coming off his worst performance in a Gophers uniform.

Remember Purdue 2019? The offensive game plan?

It went something like this: Pass, pass, pass, pass.

Morgan turned slant passes into fine art in a brilliant performance. He completed 21 of 22 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns.

Now fast forward two years. Morgan is a senior fourth-year starter. And the Gophers treat the passing game as an inconvenience.

In four games, Morgan has thrown the same number of touchdown passes – three – as he had by halftime against Purdue in '19.

The Bowling Green debacle last week was jarring in its imagery, with Morgan completing only five passes for 59 yards wrapped inside a play-calling strategy that made little sense.

Gophers' reluctance to embrace passing game remains baffling

Once a prolific college passer, Tanner Morgan has been reduced to a handoff specialist.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Not wrong about lack of imagination.

But you can't pass when you're sitting on your ass.

OL in 2019 was way way better than what we saw last weekend.

 

[Triple D]

Is Morgan not allowed to Audible and change it to a pass play? It's not like he's not experienced enough to do that.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Is Morgan not allowed to Audible and change it to a pass play? It's not like he's not experienced enough to do that.

I wonder if it would be possible to find out how many QBs actually are allowed to make such a call.

Then how OFTEN they make that call.

And how often it works?

I kinda suspect most who do just have the option to do so if they see X, Y, or Z, something(s) very specific ... but they're not doing it often.

So a guy could be allowed to do it, but it might not work quite like we think.

 

[btowngopher]

Is Morgan not allowed to Audible and change it to a pass play? It's not like he's not experienced enough to do that.

Would have to ask the coaches or Morgan. I could see some coaches allowing that, some not.

 

[hungan1]

Is Sanford Jr well on his way in the latest QB ruination project?

He certainly has the Medusa Touch.

 

[Some Day...Maybe]

You honestly have to look at the Offensive Coordinator, that is the difference. Yes, Johnson and Bateman are gone but that does not account for what we are seeing. There are still receivers on this team plenty talented enough to have an offense that can function at a high level, you just need a quality Offensive Coach/QB coach. Even with CRAB out, you still have enough. Even with Dylan Wright out, you still have enough. Fleck thought he could hire Sanford and continue his success, he was wrong, and he will inevitably come to that conclusion at some point. It's just how long will it take him? I say when the L's pile up because the O is brutal, that's when.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Big picture - the Twin Cities media is openly questioning Fleck and the other coaches to a greater extent than they have since Robb Smith was let go.

last year, everyone pretty much got a pass because of covid. But now, just about all the good will or positive vibes from 2019 are gone.

the next couple of weeks will help determine the future direction of this program. another clunker like Bowling Green, and it will be open season on Fleck and the Gopher program.

The Gophers - and Fleck - need to win, and win impressively to change the narrative.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Big picture - the Twin Cities media is openly questioning Fleck and the other coaches to a greater extent than they have since Robb Smith was let go.

last year, everyone pretty much got a pass because of covid. But now, just about all the good will or positive vibes from 2019 are gone.

the next couple of weeks will help determine the future direction of this program. another clunker like Bowling Green, and it will be open season on Fleck and the Gopher program.

The Gophers - and Fleck - need to win, and win impressively to change the narrative.

Not sure we need to rack up a ton of style points this weekend but a win against Purdue is big in terms of shifting the narrative from the current negativity around the BG game.

Fleck is in year 5 so the expectations are understandably going to be higher. A clunker like the one against BG in year one would have been easier to shrug off. But when you come into a season with intentions of competing for your division, losing a game like the one we did is going to get noticed a lot more.

Has been said numerous times this week that it is on the coaches and players to not let the BG game define their season. They can still be contenders and they have the talent to do it but they can't afford another performance like that one. I feel confident that what happened last weekend got everyone's attention in that locker room, and that we will see a much better effort going forward.

 

[Dakota2]

Is Sanford Jr well on his way in the latest QB ruination project?

He certainly has the Medusa Touch.

He will ruin every QB he touches. His objective seems to be to take all risk out of opposing defense play calling. If you have inferior talent he will equalize you. If you are better he will further empower you.

If Fleck won't change that he either agrees or he is weak.

 

[Dakota2]

Big picture - the Twin Cities media is openly questioning Fleck and the other coaches to a greater extent than they have since Robb Smith was let go.

last year, everyone pretty much got a pass because of covid. But now, just about all the good will or positive vibes from 2019 are gone.

the next couple of weeks will help determine the future direction of this program. another clunker like Bowling Green, and it will be open season on Fleck and the Gopher program.

The Gophers - and Fleck - need to win, and win impressively to change the narrative.

Couldn't be said better.

 

[Marooned]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall some discussion that with the co-OC duties was that Simon was the passing game coordinator (ie, determines all pass plays we run) and Sanford was the ultimate decision-maker with regards to when a pass play is called, but wouldn't decide which pass plays are called.
Anyway, if that's true, could be an interesting angle on why this team skews way so heavily on the run game.

 

[matt]

Is Morgan not allowed to Audible and change it to a pass play? It's not like he's not experienced enough to do that.

Most of the time when Morgan “audibles”, the play is a run. The play has been a pass a couple times after the “audible”. I put it in quotations because Morgan doesn’t really call for it, it’s the sideline relaying the info.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Is Morgan not allowed to Audible and change it to a pass play? It's not like he's not experienced enough to do that.

Ryan Burns seems to think not. He said as much on his podcast. It makes sense since you always see Morgan looking to the sideline when changing plays.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Most of the time when Morgan “audibles”, the play is a run. The play has been a pass a couple times after the “audible”. I put it in quotations because Morgan doesn’t really call for it, it’s the sideline relaying the info.

I'm always debating how many times the play actually 'changes' or not when they do that.

 

[MNGopher23]

Ryan Burns seems to think not. He said as much on his podcast. It makes sense since you always see Morgan looking to the sideline when changing plays.

I tend to agree with Ryan Burns on this. However, it leaves me scratching my head a bit. PJ talks about how smart Tanner is and how well he understands the game, etc. Why not allow him to have a longer leash and see if he can identify opportunities Sanford can't.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I'm always debating how many times the play actually 'changes' or not when they do that.

I hate check with me offenses like that where they constantly have to look over to the sideline for a play and burn almost all the play clock every snap.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I tend to agree with Ryan Burns on this. However, it leaves me scratching my head a bit. PJ talks about how smart Tanner is and how well he understands the game, etc. Why not allow him to have a longer leash and see if he can identify opportunities Sanford can't.

Based on the BG game, I think a walk-on true freshman long snapper might be able to identify opportunities Sanford can't.

 

[PMWinSTP]

Based on the BG game, I think a walk-on true freshman long snapper might be able to identify opportunities Sanford can't.

Do the Gophs have one? Worth talking to him if there is...in all seriousness, I would think the players, specifically Morgan, would provide a lot of feedback on why it's not working.

 

[SanDiegoGopherFan]

Not sure we need to rack up a ton of style points this weekend but a win against Purdue is big in terms of shifting the narrative from the current negativity around the BG game.

Fleck is in year 5 so the expectations are understandably going to be higher. A clunker like the one against BG in year one would have been easier to shrug off. But when you come into a season with intentions of competing for your division, losing a game like the one we did is going to get noticed a lot more.

Has been said numerous times this week that it is on the coaches and players to not let the BG game define their season. They can still be contenders and they have the talent to do it but they can't afford another performance like that one. I feel confident that what happened last weekend got everyone's attention in that locker room, and that we will see a much better effort going forward.

I disagree with that mentality. If we ever want the program to get back to its glory days, style points count in the eyes of the CF playoff committee.

Minnesota nice won’t get us there.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I disagree with that mentality. If we ever want the program to get back to its glory days, style points count in the eyes of the CF playoff committee.

Minnesota nice won’t get us there.

For us to get into the CFP, we probably need to be 12-1 conference champions. If we are 12-1 with a win over the east champion in any year, I don't think a lack of style points will keep us out.

 

[RememberMurray]

Maybe I'm the only one who likes stats, but I find these numbers interesting...

Minnesota offense vs:

OHIO STATE: 31 Points / 24 First Downs / 408 Total Yards / 205 Yds Passing / 203 Yds Rushing / 38:41 T.O.P.

-----

MIAMI (OH): 31 Points / 19 First Downs / 287 Total Yards / 112 Yds Passing / 175 Yds Rushing / 32:36 T.O.P.

-----

@ Colorado: 30 Points / 22 First Downs / 441 Total Yards / 164 Yds Passing / 277 Yds Rushing / 40:13(!) T.O.P.

-----

BOWLING GREEN: 10 Points / 12 First Downs / 241 Total Yards / 59 Yds Passing / 182 Yds Rushing / 31:30 T.O.P.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Maybe I'm the only one who likes stats, but I find these numbers interesting...

Minnesota offense vs:

OHIO STATE: 31 Points / 24 First Downs / 408 Total Yards / 205 Yds Passing / 203 Yds Rushing / 38:41 T.O.P.

-----

MIAMI (OH): 31 Points / 19 First Downs / 287 Total Yards / 112 Yds Passing / 175 Yds Rushing / 32:36 T.O.P.

-----

@ Colorado: 30 Points / 22 First Downs / 441 Total Yards / 164 Yds Passing / 277 Yds Rushing / 40:13(!) T.O.P.

-----

BOWLING GREEN: 10 Points / 12 First Downs / 241 Total Yards / 59 Yds Passing / 182 Yds Rushing / 31:30 T.O.P.

So the silver lining is we won time of possession against Bowling Green!

 

[Taji34]

Maybe I'm the only one who likes stats, but I find these numbers interesting...

Minnesota offense vs:

OHIO STATE: 31 Points / 24 First Downs / 408 Total Yards / 205 Yds Passing / 203 Yds Rushing / 38:41 T.O.P.

-----

MIAMI (OH): 31 Points / 19 First Downs / 287 Total Yards / 112 Yds Passing / 175 Yds Rushing / 32:36 T.O.P.

-----

@ Colorado: 30 Points / 22 First Downs / 441 Total Yards / 164 Yds Passing / 277 Yds Rushing / 40:13(!) T.O.P.

-----

BOWLING GREEN: 10 Points / 12 First Downs / 241 Total Yards / 59 Yds Passing / 182 Yds Rushing / 31:30 T.O.P.

Any easy way to get the run/pass attempts for each of those games too?

 

[Gophergrandpa]

As to audibles, I wonder whether Tanner can make a call at the LOS to change the route tree so that, in the event of an all out blitz ( which leaves the defense extremely vulnerable for a couple of seconds), at least one and maybe two WRs or a TE are running short routes for a quick pass. Or are WRs and/or a TE supposed to recognize the blitz threat and on their own break off to shorter, underneath routes? You can blame sacks 100% on the OL, but good offenses also find ways to exploit (promptly) the defensive vulnerabilities created by a blitz.

 

[RememberMurray]

Any easy way to get the run/pass attempts for each of those games too?

Minnesota offense vs:

OHIO STATE: 14 of 25 passing, 50 rushing attempts

MIAMI (OH): 8 of 17 passing, 46 rushing attempts

@ Colorado: 11 of 17 passing, 53 rushing attempts

BOWLING GREEN: 5 of 13 passing, 45 rushing attempts

The Minnesota offense in 2021 has averaged 18 passes per game, and 48.5 rushing attempts per game.

 

[Bayfield Gopher]

28% pass; 72% run compared to 40/60 which used to be a normal ratio.

 

[Dakota2]

I'm always debating how many times the play actually 'changes' or not when they do that.

Basically running clock.

 

[MNVCGUY]

28% pass; 72% run compared to 40/60 which used to be a normal ratio.

Have to be a little careful with ratios because games like the Colorado one have the potential to mess that up given that you aren't going to pass much when you are dominating another team the way we did in that game. That said, it is a bit disturbing that we had as many or more pass attempts in the Colorado game than we did against Miami and BG given the way those other two games played out on the scoreboard.

It was easy to chalk the lack of passing against Miami OH up to just trying to do enough to hold on and win. Far more disturbing is the lack of pass attempts against BG in a game we never should have felt comfortable in given the way it was playing out on the field.

All we can do at this point is hope the coaches are getting it figured out. If we struggle against Purdue and continue to refuse to put the ball in the air, that will be a true sign that there is something majorly broken in the passing game. I honestly thought the days of the team struggling with the forward pass were in our rearview mirror under Fleck. Really hope they were able to use this week to figure some things out, and we never see an offensive performance like the one against BG again.

 

[Dakota2]

Maybe I'm the only one who likes stats, but I find these numbers interesting...

Minnesota offense vs:

OHIO STATE: 31 Points / 24 First Downs / 408 Total Yards / 205 Yds Passing / 203 Yds Rushing / 38:41 T.O.P.

-----

MIAMI (OH): 31 Points / 19 First Downs / 287 Total Yards / 112 Yds Passing / 175 Yds Rushing / 32:36 T.O.P.

-----

@ Colorado: 30 Points / 22 First Downs / 441 Total Yards / 164 Yds Passing / 277 Yds Rushing / 40:13(!) T.O.P.

-----

BOWLING GREEN: 10 Points / 12 First Downs / 241 Total Yards / 59 Yds Passing / 182 Yds Rushing / 31:30 T.O.P.

Fleck won BG game (TOP).