Chip: P.J. Fleck's return to conservative play was just what the Gophers needed

[BleedGopher]

Per Chip:

At the risk of sounding hypocritical, the run-heavy approach employed by the Gophers football team Saturday night made sense and was fundamentally necessary.

Yes, yes, we know. In years past, this writer has howled with derision at P.J. Fleck's ultra-conservative game plans and fondness for a vanilla scheme. Mohamed Ibrahim ran with purpose and heart in his brilliant career, but the one-dimensional nature of those offenses came at the expense of developing a competent passing attack, which lowered the ceiling on the entire operation.

So why applaud a return to Fleck-ball in a 25-6 win over Eastern Michigan?

Because a one-dimensional approach the other way isn't the answer, either.

P.J. Fleck's return to conservative play was just what the Gophers needed

A course correction for the Gophers replaced their weak running game from the season opener with consistency.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[RememberMurray]

I'm glad Chip has apparently seen the light.

The identity on offense is (and should be) a powerful, physical running attack complimented by an efficient passing game. Ideally, it will look a lot like the 2019 team.

We aren't going to be playing basketball on grass at Minnesota. Nor should we.

 

[fmlizard]

I'm not so sure that the game plan from game 1 to game 2 became more "conservative"

The game 1 plan had a lot more passing, but that passing was very...conservative.

Both games have had vanilla playcalling, but EMU had a lot more run calls.

To be able to run the ball effectively against the best teams on the schedule, the Gophers will need to be able to have some threat of a downfield passing game, misdirection, or something else that will keep teams from stacking 8 and 9 guys in the box.

 

[El Amin Fan]

You take what the other team gives you.