Mo is coming back!

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GFBfan said:
With the injury I believe Mo's route to the NFL will be as a FB like CJ Ham. He has been a devastating lead blocker for our QB runs and believe he can continue to do that at the next level.

Early in the year I would hope they use him sparingly until he shows he's 100% recovered. Both Ky and Bucky should split carries until that time. Once the BIG part of the schedule rolls around, then ride the hot hand between the three.
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I agree with your 2nd graf for sure. Mo only needs a good second half of the season to show the pros he is back. They definitely should take their time given our riches in the RB room.

As far as the CJ Ham comparison, I hope (and think) you are likely off there. First, Ham has about 25 pounds on Mo. That would be a lot of weight for him to put on. Second, (pre-injury obviously) Mo has a level of shiftiness and ability to break tackles that I've never really seen from Ham. I think (as long as he heals fully), Mo definitely has a career in the NFL. He is tough and smart and I think has better RB instincts than Rodney Smith (who still got some NFL carries despite all his injuries).
 

WriterGoph said:
I agree with your 2nd graf for sure. Mo only needs a good second half of the season to show the pros he is back. They definitely should take their time given our riches in the RB room.

As far as the CJ Ham comparison, I hope (and think) you are likely off there. First, Ham has about 25 pounds on Mo. That would be a lot of weight for him to put on. Second, (pre-injury obviously) Mo has a level of shiftiness and ability to break tackles that I've never really seen from Ham. I think (as long as he heals fully), Mo definitely has a career in the NFL. He is tough and smart and I think has better RB instincts than Rodney Smith (who still got some NFL carries despite all his injuries).
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Agree. Mo is a very well rounded back who doesn't have a clear weakness, but also doesn't stand out in any particular way...as a burner, or a receiving guy, or a pounder. The very few guys who make the NFL as fullbacks are true specialists, and many come up the OL or TE path.

I think Mo's NFL chances will come from improving/getting more chances as a pass receiver and also contributing on special teams. And a lot of luck with the team he goes to.
 

Love it. But given how much depth we've proven to have this year, I really hope they don't run Mo into the ground and manage his carries to give him a shot at the NFL.
 


Also wonder how Potts might fit into the mix if he is back as well.
 





GoldenRodents said:
Is Potts future in football that questionable?
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Nobody knows. He hasn't been on the sidelines since the injury and there have been no details about what put him in the hospital.

So I would say his status could only be considered questionable at this point. :)
 



When Mo is back healthy, I think the good news is that we will have a number of guys next year to take the load off of him. Limit Mo to maybe 12-15 carries through quarters 1-3 by leaning on Thomas/Buck/Potts(?), and then let Mo be the closer in the 4th quarter when defenses are starting to get tired, and you have a B1G RB of the year with fresh legs out there.
 


WriterGoph said:
Depends how bought into the culture they are. If they care about Mo - which I strongly believe they do - I think they would gladly have him take the lead (just like Mo did when Rodney and Shannon were back). Also, after this year, it would be hard to not think you'd be getting playing time as the #3 back.
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That's why I felt there was a very good chance that Mo would be back. He's always there, fully engaged talking to the other running backs. Was right in the corner where the team came out at the Colorado game. Mo came roaring out on one leg with the injured leg on the scooter going like a bat out of hell and then right into a huddle. The look on one of the coaches was priceless. He followed him with a grin and then slowly shook his head like he couldn't believe someone like that.

Morgan gives off the same vibe of totally buying into what P.J. is selling.
 




GDMFT said:
Take it for what it's worth but this is what I found.
www.healio.com

Most football players returned to NFL after Achilles tendon repair

About 73% of players returned to the NFL after Achilles tendon repair, according to a recently published study in Foot and Ankle International. “Achilles tendon injuries in the NFL are common season-ending injuries that require a surgical repair,” Joshua D. Harris, MD, told...
www.healio.com www.healio.com
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I know it was more than likely an achilles tendon injury but has anyone ever said for sure what his injury was?
 

Excited for Mo to come back as he is a proven, solid RB1. We do need to curb out enthusiasm just a bit with the "embarassment of riches" at RB we seem to have. I think our very highly ranked O-Line has a lot to do with what we are seeing. It is going to be radically different next year and I suspect not as effective as the incredibly seasoned and meshed group we see now. Mo has proven that he can run with far less effective O-lines in front of him. This is great news.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Don't see them promising the job to Tanner but think it would take them seeing something really special in one of the other guys to unseat him from the starting job. They would need to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that putting in Athan or someone else would lead to significant improvement on the field.
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Kramer is getting playing time in a role he fits. Gotta give Clark a real chance to compete next year, I think. He has been loyal, waited his turn, signals in plays, has a great arm and attitude. 6’5”, 225. Deserves a fair chance in 2022. And, if he is meaningfully better than a returning Tanner, then PJ’s culture dictates that Clark should get hus chance to show it in the field.
 

it will be awesome having coach Mo Ibrahaim on the football field, with the young lineman for one last ride!
 

MplsGopher said:
I'd be fine with having just 4 RB on scholly, instead of five. If we somehow lose 3 RB to season ending injury, again (doubt that has ever happened in the history of modern football like that, in back to back years) then you can say you told me so.

Evans could potentially serve the same role as Irving is this year, in that case.
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Four RBs on scholarship wound be extremely thin. Could be a disaster in the making for a run-heavy, pass-timid team. During 2021 spring practice, the working assumption was that the Gophers could enter the 2021 fall season with 7 scholarship RBs:
1. Mo; 2. Trey; 3. Wiley; 4. Williams; 5. Williamson; 6. Thomas; 7. Irving. Contribution was also expected from w/o Preston Jelen.
Next year, I would be real happy with Williams’ coming back (if it fits with PJ’s needs). Bryce is a savvy veteran player. Not flashy but solid and dependable in all phases. And not a prima donna.
 

MplsGopher said:
So you think Irving is the next Maroney? You can already see that, based on him getting 25% of the snaps now? Hmmm ... maybe.
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On paper, Maroney was a low 3 star recruit. Irving was a 4 star with offers from both Michigan schools, Wisconsin, Iowa and others.

On field, Mason gave Maroney enough playing time to hit 1,000 yards as a true freshman, despite having another NFL caliber running back (Barber) ahead of him. I don't see Fleck operating that way when he has the choice. Ky and Irving were buried on the depth chart behind at least 2 inferior backs until injuries, and the tendency to give nearly all the carries to one back (at least until Potts went down).
But given the chance, Irving has gone over 70 yards in every game he's had as many as 10 carries. He's averaging 5.2 ypc.

So I think it's difficult to compare the two without taking coaching philosophy and roster situations into account. But for sure, I can see Irving playing on Sundays once he adds a bit more size/strength and gets to show some pass receiving/3rd down skills.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Definitely.....time to get the all time winningest QB at the U of M out of here ASAP....
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Winningest QB at Minnesota is not a high bar. Morgan earned the distinction. That does not assure anyone he will be the best on the roster next year.
 

Dakota2 said:
Winningest QB at Minnesota is not a high bar. Morgan earned the distinction. That does not assure anyone he will be the best on the roster next year.
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fewest pass attempts behind navy and army in all of football. Let's try someone they actually trust next year.
 



Dakota2 said:
Winningest QB at Minnesota is not a high bar. Morgan earned the distinction. That does not assure anyone he will be the best on the roster next year.
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As has been said many times, the backup QB is always the team's most popular player with a certain portion of the fan base. On almost any football team, ever.

These fans seem to know far more about the skill levels of QBs on the roster than the coaching staff does. It's weird how coaches, who see these players in practice almost every day, just can't grasp the obvious.
 

RememberMurray said:
As has been said many times, the backup QB is always the team's most popular player with a certain portion of the fan base. On almost any football team, ever.

These fans seem to know far more about the skill levels of QBs on the roster than the coaching staff does. It's weird how coaches, who see these players in practice almost every day, just can't grasp the obvious.
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Who is the backup qb?
 

RememberMurray said:
These fans seem to know far more about the skill levels of QBs on the roster than the coaching staff does. It's weird how coaches, who see these players in practice almost every day, just can't grasp the obvious.
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I agree. All coaches are always right. It's a good thing us fans have people like you to remind us that we are not professionals and we should probably just not post opinions on an internet chat forum.

And thank you for being the voice of reason. /s
 

Six to Eight said:
I agree. All coaches are always right. It's a good thing us fans have people like you to remind us that we are not professionals and we should probably just not post opinions on an internet chat forum.
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The same lame opinion, over and over, would be especially good.
 




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