touchdownvikings
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Why it will come down to Dylan Wright. Again.
Here’s the deal, gentlemen:
-Rossi has the D locked in. The secondary will be good enough to permit the “manufacture” of pressure, if that’s needed, and to further permit substantial run support, if that’s needed (with Sori-Marin and Oliver, I doubt that will be needed). There’s flexibility built into the structure and strengths of the defense, and a proven D-coordinator that can exploit it. The D will keep the Gophers in every game. Same as last year, albeit with a different “formula.”
-Offensively, the run game will be enough to permit the Gophers to wear down and eventually beat most opponents. There’s 3 proven RB’s, and if none of them can be what they were pre-injury, they’ll just roll with Evans, who – let’s be honest – has the highest ceiling of any of them. I know, I know: the OL departures. That’s overblown. Plenty of 2020 experience on the line: Ruschmeyer, Boe, Guedet, for example. These guys aren’t unknowns by any stretch of the imagination. (JMS goes without saying). Obviously, there’s also Filiaga, Carroll, Shaw. There’s a low-risk offensive line in that group, and a proven top-notch positional group coach in Callahan to get it done.
-To return to 2019 “form” we need two “stud” WR’s. For two reasons. Let’s start with Tanner. He’s reason #1. Tanner is the best Gophers QB in my lifetime, and I’m 50. He’s accurate and has great touch. He throws a decidedly catchable ball. Those are his most prominent affirmative strengths (he has others). I could list his weaknesses, but those are irrelevant here. The point is that his most prominent strengths are downstream from identifying a receiver to deliver the ball to. If he has two stud WR’s, that gives him the ability to identify his target based on offensive set and defensive alignment and scheme – both of which are pre-snap knowns. That means he gets to use his strengths, and does not have to reveal his weaknesses often. The other reason for needing two stud WR’s is that it’s a scheme buster. There simply isn’t a good defensive scheme to deal two studs. Double them both up and the Gophers will run on you. Leave one singled-up and that’ll be the one that catches 120+ yards of passes. In other words, 2019 all over again.
-Autman-Bell is one stud. So we just need one more. Wright is the obvious choice. He has – far and away – the best toolset. He needs to be more aggressive in terms of competing for the ball, needs to be way more physical. But he’s got footspeed and can catch. If he can be consistent, so Tanner KNOWS what he’s got in Wright pre-snap, we’ll have a very enjoyable season
Here’s the deal, gentlemen:
-Rossi has the D locked in. The secondary will be good enough to permit the “manufacture” of pressure, if that’s needed, and to further permit substantial run support, if that’s needed (with Sori-Marin and Oliver, I doubt that will be needed). There’s flexibility built into the structure and strengths of the defense, and a proven D-coordinator that can exploit it. The D will keep the Gophers in every game. Same as last year, albeit with a different “formula.”
-Offensively, the run game will be enough to permit the Gophers to wear down and eventually beat most opponents. There’s 3 proven RB’s, and if none of them can be what they were pre-injury, they’ll just roll with Evans, who – let’s be honest – has the highest ceiling of any of them. I know, I know: the OL departures. That’s overblown. Plenty of 2020 experience on the line: Ruschmeyer, Boe, Guedet, for example. These guys aren’t unknowns by any stretch of the imagination. (JMS goes without saying). Obviously, there’s also Filiaga, Carroll, Shaw. There’s a low-risk offensive line in that group, and a proven top-notch positional group coach in Callahan to get it done.
-To return to 2019 “form” we need two “stud” WR’s. For two reasons. Let’s start with Tanner. He’s reason #1. Tanner is the best Gophers QB in my lifetime, and I’m 50. He’s accurate and has great touch. He throws a decidedly catchable ball. Those are his most prominent affirmative strengths (he has others). I could list his weaknesses, but those are irrelevant here. The point is that his most prominent strengths are downstream from identifying a receiver to deliver the ball to. If he has two stud WR’s, that gives him the ability to identify his target based on offensive set and defensive alignment and scheme – both of which are pre-snap knowns. That means he gets to use his strengths, and does not have to reveal his weaknesses often. The other reason for needing two stud WR’s is that it’s a scheme buster. There simply isn’t a good defensive scheme to deal two studs. Double them both up and the Gophers will run on you. Leave one singled-up and that’ll be the one that catches 120+ yards of passes. In other words, 2019 all over again.
-Autman-Bell is one stud. So we just need one more. Wright is the obvious choice. He has – far and away – the best toolset. He needs to be more aggressive in terms of competing for the ball, needs to be way more physical. But he’s got footspeed and can catch. If he can be consistent, so Tanner KNOWS what he’s got in Wright pre-snap, we’ll have a very enjoyable season
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