Bringing in QB with only 1 year of eligibility

csom_1991

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I think we all can agree that QB is the most important position in the game. That said, if you bring in a portal player at QB - that player better be ready to step up and compete on Day 1. I hope Max can get it figured out quickly but if we finish with 5ish wins, was this move justified as it takes reps away for someone that may actually be a 3 or 4 year starter? I think this was the big gamble for Fleck and we still have the rest of the season ahead of us - but, if we get QB play like we got today I think the 5ish win season is likely. I just don't know if this was the right move unless Fleck feels our QB room is completely devoid of talent.
 

I think we all can agree that QB is the most important position in the game. That said, if you bring in a portal player at QB - that player better be ready to step up and compete on Day 1. I hope Max can get it figured out quickly but if we finish with 5ish wins, was this move justified as it takes reps away for someone that may actually be a 3 or 4 year starter? I think this was the big gamble for Fleck and we still have the rest of the season ahead of us - but, if we get QB play like we got today I think the 5ish win season is likely. I just don't know if this was the right move unless Fleck feels our QB room is completely devoid of talent.
The qb room was devoid of talent, like literally we had no qbs.
 

I think it comes down to how the offense develops over the next few weeks and if Fleck retains Harbaugh past midseason if it continues to suck. When Brosmer was slinging it at the end, he looked good. I think our offensive scheme is keeping him leashed.
 

So, Kaliakmanis was the answer😅? The Greek rifle was a huge miss by Fleck (fatal?) but who else did they have? The transfer portal gave us this New Hampshire guy who is still clearly the best we have this year.
 

Did anyone see The Drake in the open practices? And I'm not looking for what Ryan Burns says as he sucks the D of nearly every recruit and hypes up players in the offseason more than anyone.
 


So, Kaliakmanis was the answer😅? The Greek rifle was a huge miss by Fleck (fatal?) but who else did they have? The transfer portal gave us this New Hampshire guy who is still clearly the best we have this year.
My comment would be:
AK week 1: 15 - 24, 147 yards, 3TDs, 155.2 rating.

I know, different schools and different opponents and all.

But the important part is that AK will still have time left to develop while Max is 1 and done. Next year, we are back to the same 'Young Team' excuse. So if you gave me the choice, I would have kept AK between the 2. Now, Max may turn into a world beater and we win 6 games rather than 5 - he is still gone at the end of the season.
 

My comment would be:
AK week 1: 15 - 24, 147 yards, 3TDs, 155.2 rating.

I know, different schools and different opponents and all.

But the important part is that AK will still have time left to develop while Max is 1 and done. Next year, we are back to the same 'Young Team' excuse. So if you gave me the choice, I would have kept AK between the 2. Now, Max may turn into a world beater and we win 6 games rather than 5 - he is still gone at the end of the season.
How did AK do against UNC last year?
 

I think we all can agree that QB is the most important position in the game. That said, if you bring in a portal player at QB - that player better be ready to step up and compete on Day 1. I hope Max can get it figured out quickly but if we finish with 5ish wins, was this move justified as it takes reps away for someone that may actually be a 3 or 4 year starter? I think this was the big gamble for Fleck and we still have the rest of the season ahead of us - but, if we get QB play like we got today I think the 5ish win season is likely. I just don't know if this was the right move unless Fleck feels our QB room is completely devoid of talent.
The Goophers have a long history of not recruiting top notch QBs.
 

How did AK do against UNC last year?
I think that would only be relevant if you do not believe in player growth over time. I think AK is likely a better player now than he was last year. I would also say that UNC is a worse team than they were last year.
 



We haven't had good QB play since 2019. Fleck and staff refused to bring in real competition for Tanner and promised the world to Athan. Our QB depth chart is now Max, a true Freshman in Lindsay who was an averageish P5 QB recruit, and a VTech transfer in Wittke who lost out on the backup job there.

We needed to bring in another QB better than Wittke (or the Fresno State backup who backed out of coming here) that would be a better option as the backup this year and provide real competition for Lindsay/whomever next year. I think we probably were in the position we had to promise Brosmer the starting spot, but that's because of a situation of our own making (lack of success and lack of passing post 2019).
 

I think that would only be relevant if you do not believe in player growth over time. I think AK is likely a better player now than he was last year. I would also say that UNC is a worse team than they were last year.
He had a 40% completion percentage. How much do you think a player can grow in a year?

UNC is a worse team this year... because they lost their QB. They returned almost all of their defense. How much do you believe in player growth? Do you think they maybe got better on that side of the ball? Given what they just did to Minnesota's run game. I think it's possible. They had exactly 0 coverage breakdowns that I saw today.
 

He had a 40% completion percentage. How much do you think a player can grow in a year?

UNC is a worse team this year... because they lost their QB. They returned almost all of their defense. How much do you believe in player growth? Do you think they maybe got better on that side of the ball? Given what they just did to Minnesota's run game. I think it's possible. They had exactly 0 coverage breakdowns that I saw today.
The Gophers fell behind in 2023 by 2 scores - which forces coaches to change the playbook and makes them easier to defend. Now, I am not arguing that AK is all world or anything of the nature - I was very disappointed in him last season as well. But, we basically got an even swap skill-wise in the current season based on the 1st game performance. I hope Max plays better - but again, winning 6 games this year really doesn't build to anything when we start over next season again with a new QB.
 

The Gophers fell behind in 2023 by 2 scores - which forces coaches to change the playbook and makes them easier to defend. Now, I am not arguing that AK is all world or anything of the nature - I was very disappointed in him last season as well. But, we basically got an even swap skill-wise in the current season based on the 1st game performance. I hope Max plays better - but again, winning 6 games this year really doesn't build to anything when we start over next season again with a new QB.
This is laughably untrue.
 



My comment would be:
AK week 1: 15 - 24, 147 yards, 3TDs, 155.2 rating.

I know, different schools and different opponents and all.

But the important part is that AK will still have time left to develop while Max is 1 and done. Next year, we are back to the same 'Young Team' excuse. So if you gave me the choice, I would have kept AK between the 2. Now, Max may turn into a world beater and we win 6 games rather than 5 - he is still gone at the end of the season.
you clearly did not watch the game and how he got those tds apparently
 

you clearly did not watch the game and how he got those tds apparently
I guess we can just update each week and compare. My guess is that AK will have a better season statistically than Max but I do hope that I am wrong.

As far watching him play - here are the youtube highlights. Rutgers basically looked like a Gopher team using the run to set up the pass and utilizing a lot of passing to the RBs and checkdowns. What I saw was AK was accurate (something he wasn't at MN), had touch for the short passes (which he didn't have here), made good decisions and is a better running threat than Max. Now again, competition matters but I think a lot of AK's problems here were due to system and we will see soon enough if that is true.

 

I guess we can just update each week and compare. My guess is that AK will have a better season statistically than Max but I do hope that I am wrong.
I'm willing to put money on completion percentage if you are.
 

I think PJ needs to look hard at having a dedicated QB coach. The season is still early but after 1 season and a game you have to question Harbaugh’s ability to develop a QB. They seem to get worse under him.
 

I guess we can just update each week and compare. My guess is that AK will have a better season statistically than Max but I do hope that I am wrong.

As far watching him play - here are the youtube highlights. Rutgers basically looked like a Gopher team using the run to set up the pass and utilizing a lot of passing to the RBs and checkdowns. What I saw was AK was accurate (something he wasn't at MN), had touch for the short passes (which he didn't have here), made good decisions and is a better running threat than Max. Now again, competition matters but I think a lot of AK's problems here were due to system and we will see soon enough if that is true.



We need to see Rutgers against West Virginia Sept 21.


Maybe the Gophers coach is to blame as some say. I cannot give an assessment of that. Just that Fleck has blown his opportunity.
 

# 3 Lindsay throws a really nice ball in warm up's and is pretty tall dude. I was hoping we could do well enough to play him in 3 to 4 games this year to get him some live game reps. That kid has arm talent that I'm not used to seeing at Minnesota.He doesn't seem afraid of letting it rip. Best passer of the football at least, i have seen since Adam Weber.
 
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I guess we can just update each week and compare. My guess is that AK will have a better season statistically than Max but I do hope that I am wrong.

As far watching him play - here are the youtube highlights. Rutgers basically looked like a Gopher team using the run to set up the pass and utilizing a lot of passing to the RBs and checkdowns. What I saw was AK was accurate (something he wasn't at MN), had touch for the short passes (which he didn't have here), made good decisions and is a better running threat than Max. Now again, competition matters but I think a lot of AK's problems here were due to system and we will see soon enough if that is true.

Watched some condensed game video on YouTube and didn't see any checkdowns. He didn't hold the ball long enough and frankly didn't need to against Howard. Even the RB screens looked like his primary targets. I will say that the passes looked better than what he threw last year. Threw them with better touch. I'll wait to see how he does against a P4 team before I'm convinced that he's better than Brosmer.
 

Just because a guy has been here for 3-4 years doesn’t mean he’ll be better than a one year guy. There’s no rule that a qb requires two years of starting under his belt before he can be competent.
 





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