Drops Are A Real Problem

Gophergrandpa

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Gophers don’t throw downfield much. OL protection problems are an obvious component. But drops by receivers downfield is probably another key factor. Brosmer has delivered a lot of catchable balls downfield that don’t get caught. If the Gophs are going to start scoring at a level that will allow them to beat the good offenses at Maryland, Illinois and Wisconsin, the Gophs need more explosive plays. A couple of receivers besides DJ9 need to start catching catchable balls downfield.

 

Interesting to see how spread out the drops have been among a lot of different guys. One drop against UCLA but it was a huge one by Geers in the opening series as that play might have gone for a TD but if not at the very least would have been a huge gain and set us up well to start the game with points on our opening series.
 

Have no idea how many quality WRs are using the portal but that would have been a nice get to go with Brosmer for this season.

Certainly this one torched TJ for his dropsies but he pretty much always balanced it over the full 60 minutes of the game. Agree with OP this is an understated issue this season.

Anywho, if next year and beyond we continue the shift to a slightly stronger role for the pass game on offense, then I'd like to see an unhappy WR at a blue blood get picked up and don Maroon and Gold to raise our game on that front. Couldn't hurt.
 

Have no idea how many quality WRs are using the portal but that would have been a nice get to go with Brosmer for this season.

Certainly this one torched TJ for his dropsies but he pretty much always balanced it over the full 60 minutes of the game. Agree with OP this is an understated issue this season.

Anywho, if next year and beyond we continue the shift to a slightly stronger role for the pass game on offense, then I'd like to see an unhappy WR at a blue blood get picked up and don Maroon and Gold to raise our game on that front. Couldn't hurt.
Yup. Brosmer was a good pick-up. But the Gophs are dropping catchable downfield passes, and (other than DJ9) are doing squat on contested downfield passes. So, I think PJ and the OC are calling fewer downfield passes, even in clear situations (like second and one). Relying more on short and mid-range passes. Once DJ9 is gone, we will have a lot of receivers, but not sure how many, if any, are sure-handed. Makes a huge difference in the downfield passing game.
 

Yup. Brosmer was a good pick-up. But the Gophs are dropping catchable downfield passes, and (other than DJ9) are doing squat on contested downfield passes. So, I think PJ and the OC are calling fewer downfield passes, even in clear situations (like second and one). Relying more on short and mid-range passes. Once DJ9 is gone, we will have a lot of receivers, but not sure how many, if any, are sure-handed. Makes a huge difference in the downfield passing game.

MN pass attempts during Fleck’s tenure:

-last in conference three times
-second to last two times
-third least two times

This season currently seventh. The run heavy philosophy can be argued about, but if you’re a top shelf WR how easy is that for other schools to recruit against? They’re gonna have to really want to RTB, love Fleck, love MN, or be targeted with a $ offer they can’t refuse. I thought Williams would be the deep threat we’re missing but so far he’s AWOL which is concerning.
 


MN pass attempts during Fleck’s tenure:

-last in conference three times
-second to last two times
-third least two times

This season currently seventh. The run heavy philosophy can be argued about, but if you’re a top shelf WR how easy is that for other schools to recruit against? They’re gonna have to really want to RTB, love Fleck, love MN, or be targeted with a $ offer they can’t refuse. I thought Williams would be the deep threat we’re missing but so far he’s AWOL which is concerning.
Doesn’t take a lot of skill to catch the ball.
 

MN pass attempts during Fleck’s tenure:

-last in conference three times
-second to last two times
-third least two times

This season currently seventh.
The run heavy philosophy can be argued about, but if you’re a top shelf WR how easy is that for other schools to recruit against? They’re gonna have to really want to RTB, love Fleck, love MN, or be targeted with a $ offer they can’t refuse. I thought Williams would be the deep threat we’re missing but so far he’s AWOL which is concerning.
Thanks for some data plus some more reality.

Guess we'll need a Decker v2.0 who wants to stay home and be good enough to start Year 2...

In the meantime, keep scouring Coach and find that RTB wannabe WR out there, hand them an oar, plus a wad of cash too. Ski U Mah.
 











I guess I haven’t noticed so many downfield drops, more so guys aren’t really getting much separation downfield. Felt like we had more drops last year.
 

200.webp
Random
The title of this had me thinking this was a Penguin reference from the new HBO series.
 


PFF has the drops for starting BG120 QBs (at 50% of snaps) with Brosmer coming in at 7.1%, in the bottom half of the conference but not terrible. The TE had 3 of the 11 drops. I guess it's not a surprise that AK is once again at the bottom like last year.

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