‘Can’t Settle for Field Goals’: Gophers look to fix green zone woes

Per Dylan:

Earlier this week, head coach P.J. Fleck took responsibility for one of those missed opportunities. In the first quarter of last Thursday’s game, on fourth-and-one deep inside Buffalo territory, the Gophers went with a tush push utilizing tight end Jameson Geers as the ballcarrier. It failed, and the Gophers turned the ball over on downs.

“That’s a bad call by me,” Fleck told the media on Monday. “That’s a horrible call,” he added while noting that he was contemplating taking a timeout before the snap, but ultimately never did.

On Wednesday, the Gophers’ performance in those prime situations was a point of discussion for both offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr and quarterback Drake Lindsey.

“It’s going to just come down to execution. The field gets shorter. It’s wider than it is longer,” Greg Harbaugh Jr said about the Gophers’ performance. “I want to be very efficient in the green zone. We don’t want field goals. We have to score points. That comes down to execution, taking care of the football.”


Go Gophers!!

I would definitely agree that changes need to be made in order to march down the field in tight situations.

Gophers used a fake tushpush last year and threw over the middle to Geers. I don't remember which game. That's the kind of play that can be valuable as a threat -- scare the DBs a little.

FanSinceTheFifties said:

Gophers used a fake tushpush last year and threw over the middle to Geers. I don't remember which game. That's the kind of play that can be valuable as a threat -- scare the DBs a little.

Click to expand...

They also did one where they handed off to Taylor who scooter around the left end.

Both very effective plays.