Is AKs play a concern?

[GopherPharmaBiz]

Yup.
Both games, too. Arm strength is still there though.

I'm mildly dusappointed so far in Kaliakmanis. I was hoping an offseason of work would improve timing, accuracy and decision making
So far i havent seen it.

However, there is plenty of time for that, and meantime, there is still a ton of natural talent there. And it's not like he's been bad. Decent play and some flashes of better.

It's just not been as good as I was hoping. To get into another level of success, you need more from your QB than "decent."

Good, fair post and kind of sums up how I’m feeling about it.

Game 2 seemed better than game 1, but I spose that’s also partly a result of competition. Game 1 he seemed to lock onto one target and be unable to come off it- similar to a frustration I had with Morgan early on.

The side arm surprised me. I was looking forward to a QB taller than Morgan who might not have as many balls batted at the line, but with that low slot, AK’s throws seem prone to getting batted more than if his slot was higher.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

What do the first 2 games of 2019 look like for Morgan? What story do they tell? Does it match the amazing season he had that year?

I looked it up, not too bad actually. Above average.

cfbstats.com - Tanner Morgan 2019 Player Statistics - Minnesota Golden Gophers

www.cfbstats.com

 

[RememberMurray]

I looked it up, not too bad actually. Above average.

cfbstats.com - Tanner Morgan 2019 Player Statistics - Minnesota Golden Gophers

www.cfbstats.com

Yeah... 29 of 41 / 70.7% / 410 yards / 3 TDs / 1 INT

"Not too bad", indeed.

Then again, he had Bateman and Tyler Johnson.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

in order to throw medium and deep routes, the QB needs time. I have a nagging feeling that the coaches don't necessarily trust the O-line in pass blocking - at least not long enough to allow longer routes to develop.

maybe I'm wrong, but I also have an idea that they are keeping BSF in to block more often instead of letting him release and get downfield - which could also be tied to concerns about pass-blocking.

hopefully this is something that can improve as the new O-linemen have more time to gel as a unit.

 

[RememberMurray]

in order to throw medium and deep routes, the QB needs time. I have a nagging feeling that the coaches don't necessarily trust the O-line in pass blocking - at least not long enough to allow longer routes to develop.

maybe I'm wrong, but I also have an idea that they are keeping BSF in to block more often instead of letting him release and get downfield - which could also be tied to concerns about pass-blocking.

hopefully this is something that can improve as the new O-linemen have more time to gel as a unit.

The o-line definitely needs more time to gel as a unit. Great observation, SON.

That being said, the o-line graded out higher in pass blocking than in the run game against Nebraska. It will be interesting to see if that is also true vs EMU.

My impression: the pass protection seemed pretty good. I don't remember a lot of pressure on Kaliakmanis. EMU did have one sack.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

I often wonder if those fans who yen for deep passes do so because such plays are exciting or if they really think they're useful. Unless they are a genuine threat to the defense even if incomplete (which most are) they only result in a loss of down.
However, I would throw deep on 2nd and a foot if I have Larry Csonka in my backfield.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I often wonder if those fans who yen for deep passes do so because such plays are exciting or if they really think they're useful. Unless they are a genuine threat to the defense even if incomplete (which most are) they only result in a loss of down.
However, I would throw deep on 2nd and a foot if I have Larry Csonka in my backfield.

It's partly a symptoms of us struggling in the red zone. For whatever reason, we are having trouble finishing drives and getting the TD. Better red zone execution would be a fix for that, but so would scoring on some big play deep strikes.

 

[PMWinSTP]

I often wonder if those fans who yen for deep passes do so because such plays are exciting or if they really think they're useful. Unless they are a genuine threat to the defense even if incomplete (which most are) they only result in a loss of down.
However, I would throw deep on 2nd and a foot if I have Larry Csonka in my backfield.

There was at least one 2nd and short where I thought they would take the long shot...but ran it. Very vanilla offensive game plan Saturday.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

It's partly a symptoms of us struggling in the red zone. For whatever reason, we are having trouble finishing drives and getting the TD. Better red zone execution would be a fix for that, but so would scoring on some big play deep strikes.

In goal line situations I wonder why teams never go on a quick count. Is that an old fashioned tactic?

 

[PMWinSTP]

I think there were two 3rd and very short where a QB sneak would have been perfect. Used the RB instead... I think they got one and were stopped on one.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Uh wut?

A college QB “should” look like one of the best?

What's hard to understand? All college QBs should be expected to perfom as well as one of the highest rated QB recruits of all time.......seems totally reasonable and not at all crazy....

 

[goldengophers]

Fleck offenses are just confounding and I would say underpeform their capabilities, if it weren't for D the heat would be up.

 

[SanDiegoGopherFan]

I worry more about how our OC schemes and makes adjustments vs Athan.

Athan is good, so far I dont think our OC is at the same level as Cirroca, not bad like Sanford

 

[Spaulding!No!]

I felt for those who had the gophs and the 20 pt spread. Jeez those last 3 downs

 

[kg21]

Fleck offenses are just confounding and I would say underpeform their capabilities, if it weren't for D the heat would be up.

Everything has to be a long, drawn out drive. It's just hard to score much without the big plays mixed in. We just never get any.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I worry more about how our OC schemes and makes adjustments vs Athan.

Athan is good, so far I dont think our OC is at the same level as Cirroca, not bad like Sanford

If AK misses a pass whose fault is that?

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I felt for those who had the gophs and the 20 pt spread. Jeez those last 3 downs

PJ hates gambling!

 

[RememberMurray]

I'm 67 years old.

At some point in my life time, being a fan of a team changed fundamentally. We are no longer content to simply cheer for the team, and hope fervently that they win. Instead, we analyze every call, every move, every decision, and second guess them all. We pontificate about which play should have been called, and proclaim to an absolute certainty which player should be benched. This coach should be fired. That player should get more playing time.

We aren't really fans anymore. Instead, we're self-appointed experts. I'm including myself in this, by the way.

 

[PMWinSTP]

Everything has to be a long, drawn out drive. It's just hard to score much without the big plays mixed in. We just never get any.

 

[btowngopher]

He’s playing well enough to win the West. He’s making good decisions for the most part and is protecting the ball. He’s been accurate for the most part and is converting 3rd and longs. He looks poised in the pocket and has made plays with his legs.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

I'm 67 years old.

At some point in my life time, being a fan of a team changed fundamentally. We are no longer content to simply cheer for the team, and hope fervently that they win. Instead, we analyze every call, every move, every decision, and second guess them all. We pontificate about which play should have been called, and proclaim to an absolute certainty which player should be benched. This coach should be fired. That player should get more playing time.

We aren't really fans anymore. Instead, we're self-appointed experts. I'm including myself in this, by the way.

I believe most of us are just shooting the breeze discussing football, which really isn’t that important but does qualify as an above average and fun entertainment diversion with a lot of complexity and intricacies.. Some take it a little further, which is fine. Some are trolls, and some are only here to rip on other fans.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I'm 67 years old.

At some point in my life time, being a fan of a team changed fundamentally. We are no longer content to simply cheer for the team, and hope fervently that they win. Instead, we analyze every call, every move, every decision, and second guess them all. We pontificate about which play should have been called, and proclaim to an absolute certainty which player should be benched. This coach should be fired. That player should get more playing time.

We aren't really fans anymore. Instead, we're self-appointed experts. I'm including myself in this, by the way.

Going to go out on a limb and guess that things started changing sometime around the explosion of the internet....

 

[Dakota2]

I'm 67 years old.

At some point in my life time, being a fan of a team changed fundamentally. We are no longer content to simply cheer for the team, and hope fervently that they win. Instead, we analyze every call, every move, every decision, and second guess them all. We pontificate about which play should have been called, and proclaim to an absolute certainty which player should be benched. This coach should be fired. That player should get more playing time.

We aren't really fans anymore. Instead, we're self-appointed experts. I'm including myself in this, by the way.

We always did that talking to ourselves. Now we have internet and message boards to write it down.

 

[USAF]

I'm 67 years old.

At some point in my life time, being a fan of a team changed fundamentally. We are no longer content to simply cheer for the team, and hope fervently that they win. Instead, we analyze every call, every move, every decision, and second guess them all. We pontificate about which play should have been called, and proclaim to an absolute certainty which player should be benched. This coach should be fired. That player should get more playing time.

We aren't really fans anymore. Instead, we're self-appointed experts. I'm including myself in this, by the way.

I'm 65. It's no different today than 40 years ago.
Whats different is we're talking about sports with thousands on the internet, rather than 2 or 3 at a bar or the work break room.

 

[GophersInIowa]

As I watch these highlights, it reminds me of how much our offense looks different so far. It appears we've gotten rid of the the RPO. A lot more 2 TE, QB under center looks this year.

 

[ComoCraig]

The only reason Sanders went to a small college was his dad was a coach there. He always was a P5 QB all the way.

Bingo. Had offers from Georgia, Bama, and LSU among others.

 

[Gopher 461]

West winnable. BIG Championship, not so much. Michigan and Penn State appear to have the consistent balance to get to the Conference Championship and win it. BUT, as the old ball coach used to say, play the game and play it to win it. You never know about motivated college age ballers.

 

[Willwin40]

AK is doing alright. The WR are having trouble separating on the deep balls. Maybe need a little more speed. I’d like to see Taylor on deep routes sometimes. Also would like to 20 yard crossing patterns.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

Is Kaliakmanis' play a concern? Let me put it this way: "No."

 

[TurfGopher]

My heart pains to see the Mitch Leidner and Athan Kaliakmakis comparisons. I wish Athan had Mitch's ability to QB sneak into the end zone at will (minus that one MI game.) Other than that Athan is far superior, Mitch couldnt throw at all. I think he will be as good as Adam Weber.