Fleck: This is still a developmental program. Year nine has nothing to do with it. Every year is its own entity. We lost nine NFL players last year…

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I like Fleck and that he has raised the floor but come on. He needs to stop this. Year 9 matters. The fact that they missed on almost all of their portal addictions matter. The fact that they don't have 5 division 1 offensive lineman on the team in year 9 matter. Injuries happen to everybody. Step up and take responsibility and say this needs to get better. This is not womens basketball where a 500 record and people want to build a statue for you.
 

Gopher Mac said:
I like Fleck and that he has raised the floor but come on. He needs to stop this. Year 9 matters. The fact that they missed on almost all of their portal addictions matter. The fact that they don't have 5 division 1 offensive lineman on the team in year 9 matter. Injuries happen to everybody. Step up and take responsibility and say this needs to get better. This is not womens basketball where a 500 record and people want to build a statue for you.
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In the current landscape though the expectations you mentioned are attainable or missable in year 3 as they are in year 9. Increased tenure doesn’t magically cure anything.
 




People tend to perceive program development as if it were in a video game, where year to year progression is just that, a constant climb without any regression until five star program status is achieved. The reality is that it does ebb and flow. That being said, I do expect our defensive schemes to make fucking sense if we aren't able to field an Alabama-esque defense in year nine
 





Counting guys who didn't get drafted or make it out of training camp as "NFL players" is unreasonable.

Even if you count it as 9, Ohio State and Oregon both had more than that drafted last year and that didn't stop them from blowing us out.

Sounds like he's saying this is the best we should expect out of him - if 9 years isn't enough, 19 won't be either.
 

GoGophersUMN said:
Counting guys who didn't get drafted or make it out of training camp as "NFL players" is unreasonable.

Even if you count it as 9, Ohio State and Oregon both had more than that drafted last year and that didn't stop them from blowing us out.

Sounds like he's saying this is the best we should expect out of him - if 9 years isn't enough, 19 won't be either.
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He wants culture sustainability. But in year 9 does not have a team with players developed to plug into the system and play that is on him. Plus if he makes mistakes he can go out and get players from the portal to plug holes. If he does not have players ready to play again that is on him. I don't care if they are freshman or seniors or how young they are.Get the players that can play.
 


Should have had a better season last year. The record this year is better than the quality of play has been, that’s the rub. It’s one thing to lose and play well, it’s another to lose like the losses have been this year. Sieve like pass defense and short yardage disaster time and time again on offense. A overall running game that you can’t even call anemic. The only improvement on the season has been at qb and maybe marginally at wr, it is frustrating to watch.
How did they play so well against Nebraska?
 



Tech Machine said:
Should have had a better season last year. The record this year is better than the quality of play has been, that’s the rub. It’s one thing to lose and play well, it’s another to lose like the losses have been this year. Sieve like pass defense and short yardage disaster time and time again on offense. A overall running game that you can’t even call anemic. The only improvement on the season has been at qb and maybe marginally at wr, it is frustrating to watch.
How did they play so well against Nebraska?
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Agree with almost everything said, except for the play was better this year at quarterback than last. Our guy this year is doing fine, but Max was really pretty good.
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
It's college football... there's no keeping players for 10 years.

It's always changing.

Based on talent level ... I'd argue that last years team actually underachieved and this years has to some extent overachieved.
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I agree. My beef this year is that there's just no excuse for the 2025 offensive line situation. My only caveat is that I think the defense has underachieved.

This was going to be a transitional year with a redshirt freshman QB, but the offensive line issues have made the running game stuggle and that is putting additional pressure on Lindsey.
 


mngg11 said:
People tend to perceive program development as if it were in a video game, where year to year progression is just that, a constant climb without any regression until five star program status is achieved. The reality is that it does ebb and flow. That being said, I do expect our defensive schemes to make fucking sense if we aren't able to field an Alabama-esque defense in year nine
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Been more ebb than flow lately.
 







btowngopher said:
In the current landscape though the expectations you mentioned are attainable or missable in year 3 as they are in year 9. Increased tenure doesn’t magically cure anything.
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Yep. With NIL and portal, coaches at big schools are even admitting that the kids don't care whatsoever about loyalty or thinking past one semester. If anything, having an embedded culture is the least you can ask for these days. I'm just fine with PJ
 

It sounds like PJ is making excuses.
Why would he do that?
 


Plenty of other schools around the country lose mutiple players to the NFL and yet they figure out a way to re-tool and win. Im not sure whats more impressive, the number of rah rah slogans this guy chants or the number of excuses he comes up with when his teams don't win games they should. Year 9 absolutely matters because its his culture, his philosophy and his strategy. He told everyone at the beginning of the year this was the most talented roster hes ever had yet here we are hovering around .500. Talk all you want about NIL because if thats why we are 6-5 then him and Coyle need to be beating the bushes for funds to compete at a higher level.
 

50PoundHead said:
I agree. My beef this year is that there's just no excuse for the 2025 offensive line situation. My only caveat is that I think the defense has underachieved.

This was going to be a transitional year with a redshirt freshman QB, but the offensive line issues have made the running game stuggle and that is putting additional pressure on Lindsey.
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They took tons of OL guys and missed on a bunch. Both high school players and certainly this year transfers.

Losing Daniels to Ohio State doesn't help either.
 


MNfootballfan said:
Why weren’t we better last year if we had all that talent?
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Fleck = 1-2 losses per year that could have easily been wins. Sometimes more, in bad years.

2024, we should have beaten UNC and Rutgers. That turns 7-5 into 9-3.

This year, if we manage to beat Wisconsin, it's basically the same thing. Cal and Northwestern games were there to be won.


Can probably say the same thing for 2021-23 years in the easy Big Ten West.


We have had plenty of talent to win 9 games a year against these schedules. Schemes are fine ... nothing special about them.

It really comes down to poor playcalling and in-game decision making.

(Note: I heavily disagree with the choice to run 3 man fronts/rushes on defense .. but there's nothing "wrong" with that scheme, it's plenty sound. It's just a s__tty playcall most of the time)
 

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