New Gophers QB Max Brosmer is exceeding P.J. Fleck's expectations

[BleedGopher]

Per Nolan:

“He’s constantly curious, he’s a great leader, he had to come in here and really be the guy right away so we needed somebody that was mature enough to handle that and I thought he’s done a great job of that,” Fleck told BTN. “He was an instant leader the minute he walked in and his leadership is infectious and you can see that he controls a whole football team already in short seven months.”

Brosmer comes in to the U after four seasons at New Hampshire, including a 2023 campaign in which he led the FCS in passing yards with 3,459 yards while completing 64% of his passes. Brosmer threw 29 touchdown passes to just six interceptions and also ran for three scores last season.

The transfer quarterback has been quick to fit in with his Minnesota teammates, something he credits them for as they embraced him from the minute he arrived. Brosmer told BTN it's been a "blast" getting to work with his new team this offseason.

Brosmer's teammates also have recognized those same leadership traits that Fleck praised in him. Last season's top receiver and likely Brosmer's favorite target this fall, Daniel Jackson, said Brosmer's leadership qualities were immediately present when he arrived in Minneapolis.

“He’s a great leader, commander, takes the offense by the ropes and like also you get to see being around him, he’s a funny guy, cool to be around, nice to be around and he makes you better, truly, in every aspect, as a person and as a football player,” Jackson said of Brosmer on BTN. “So it’s just really nice to have him here.”

New Gophers QB Max Brosmer is exceeding P.J. Fleck's expectations

Gophers coach and teammates tout new quarterback's leadership qualities.

www.si.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[GopherMarroon]

Efficient, I love what he maybe will do for the team. Hit that 3rd and 5 accurately. Play action for a 6 and yards.

 

[1983]

None of this matters until the first snap. Hopefully all the lovey dovey stuff translates into a great year for the guy. he needs receivers to run correct routes and get some time in the pocket.

 

[spermophilus]

I’m guessing, and am confident, and have to believe - that he can hit a . . . wide . . . open . . . TE that is sitting down in coverage, for a critical 1st down, a mere 4 or 5 yards away. That shouldn’t be a big ask, correct?

Let’s just be competent/upper-half in passing efficiency, and explosive plays, and good things will happen.

 

[Gopherchase]

Of all of the babble that comes out of PJs mouth this is the one that we really can’t pay any attention to. We heard for a year and a half how AK8 was the second coming Hohensee and we saw how that turned out. At least this guy has a track record and I’m totally optimistic, but PJ has no credibility on the quarterback front right now.

 

[Scott R Fisher]

None of this matters until the first snap. Hopefully all the lovey dovey stuff translates into a great year for the guy. he needs receivers to run correct routes and get some time in the pocket.

I'm thinking the team chemistry he's building will give the team a boost of confidence which is essential to success. His receivers are all pretty experienced so I would guess running the correct routes shouldn't be an issue. His offensive line is likewise experienced and and accomplished as well so all of the pieces seem to be in place for a surprisingly good season of football.

 

[Scott R Fisher]

Of all of the babble that comes out of PJs mouth this is the one that we really can’t pay any attention to. We heard for a year and a half how AK8 was the second coming Hohensee and we saw how that turned out. At least this guy has a track record and I’m totally optimistic, but PJ has no credibility on the quarterback front right now.

AK8 is an enigma. He played pretty well the previous year in some tough spots so I'm guessing PJ was as surprised as the rest of us that he flopped as badly as he did. Brosmer is far more experienced and polished so I would guess he has a definite advantage playing the position well. Staying healthy at key positions will be the key to our success this year.

 

[matt]

Ok PJ, that’s great that he’s curious and has leadership qualities, but can he throw the ball?

 

[minnyrules11]

Ok PJ, that’s great that he’s curious and has leadership qualities, but can he throw the ball?

Watch the film and yes.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Of all of the babble that comes out of PJs mouth this is the one that we really can’t pay any attention to. We heard for a year and a half how AK8 was the second coming Hohensee and we saw how that turned out. At least this guy has a track record and I’m totally optimistic, but PJ has no credibility on the quarterback front right now.

it wasn't just Fleck. I can remember Ryan Burns and other media figures raving about how good AK looked in practice. He had great "arm talent." he could "make all the throws."

which should remind all of us that practice is not like playing in an actual game against an unfamiliar opponent.

and -- hindsight being 20/20 - probably should have raised a red flag about the defense. If AK was looking good against the Gophers' defense in practice, but could not repeat that performance against other teams, that does not put the defense in a good light.

 

[Word]

it wasn't just Fleck. I can remember Ryan Burns and other media figures raving about how good AK looked in practice. He had great "arm talent." he could "make all the throws."

which should remind all of us that practice is not like playing in an actual game against an unfamiliar opponent.

and -- hindsight being 20/20 - probably should have raised a red flag about the defense. If AK was looking good against the Gophers' defense in practice, but could not repeat that performance against other teams, that does not put the defense in a good light.

Or maybe it was a coach realizing that AK was the best option and the next QB was a huge step down. He has to say something to the media and he certainly isn't going to trash his struggling QB. Sometimes coaches just say stuff to say stuff.

I've coached youth sports for many years and even I've had to BS a little when parents ask me about the team or players.

 

[RememberMurray]

it wasn't just Fleck. I can remember Ryan Burns and other media figures raving about how good AK looked in practice. He had great "arm talent." he could "make all the throws."

which should remind all of us that practice is not like playing in an actual game against an unfamiliar opponent.

and -- hindsight being 20/20 - probably should have raised a red flag about the defense. If AK was looking good against the Gophers' defense in practice, but could not repeat that performance against other teams, that does not put the defense in a good light.

The bolded is true: Kaliakmanis did have/does have arm talent.

One of the lessons here is that arm talent isn't everything when evaluating QBs.

 

[gophernut1]

AK = great arm that was inconsistent in part because he did not have a feel for the game. Threw too hard on plays he shouldn't and made lots of poor reads. OC KC was able to keep playbook simple and i am guessing only gave him one option on where to throw the ball. That is good for a handful of games but good coaching catches up with that easy. Wouldn't surprise me if he has a great year (especially toward the end). Rutgers can afford that, Fleck needs his QB to be able to at the very least not lose games. If Brosmer can make it where our passing game is a threat than that is a win. If he can make it where our passing game is "the threat" than it could be a special year.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

The bolded is true: Kaliakmanis did have/does have arm talent.

One of the lessons here is that arm talent isn't everything when evaluating QBs.

I don't want to get in an argument today - but this is exactly why I can't stand the term "arm talent."

In my book, AK lacked one of the key tools of a QB - touch. It's great if a QB can throw the ball 100 miles an hour, or throw the ball 70 yards in the air. but if a QB has a man open 10 yards down the field, and throws the ball 5 feet over the receiver's head - I absolutely do not think you can say that QB has "arm talent." touch is a key component of a QB's game.

that ability to change speeds - loft the ball if needed - drop a swing pass into the RB's hands on a wheel route - that is all part of "arm talent" in my book. maybe AK will improve at Rutgers. It will be interesting to see how he does.

 

[Plausible Deniability]

Hard not to be excited to see Max under center this season. I think him and the offense surprise us this year!!

 

[Gopherchase]

it wasn't just Fleck. I can remember Ryan Burns and other media figures raving about how good AK looked in practice. He had great "arm talent." he could "make all the throws."

which should remind all of us that practice is not like playing in an actual game against an unfamiliar opponent.

and -- hindsight being 20/20 - probably should have raised a red flag about the defense. If AK was looking good against the Gophers' defense in practice, but could not repeat that performance against other teams, that does not put the defense in a good light.

Yep, I am as guilty as anyone hell after the Wisconsin game the year before last I’m surprised I didn’t go out and get a number eight jersey.

 

[RememberMurray]

I don't want to get in an argument today - but this is exactly why I can't stand the term "arm talent."

In my book, AK lacked one of the key tools of a QB - touch. It's great if a QB can throw the ball 100 miles an hour, or throw the ball 70 yards in the air. but if a QB has a man open 10 yards down the field, and throws the ball 5 feet over the receiver's head - I absolutely do not think you can say that QB has "arm talent." touch is a key component of a QB's game.

that ability to change speeds - loft the ball if needed - drop a swing pass into the RB's hands on a wheel route - that is all part of "arm talent" in my book. maybe AK will improve at Rutgers. It will be interesting to see how he does.

There is no argument here.

Arm talent/arm strength are synonymous in my book. Physical ability.

Touch and feel on throws, knowing when to fire it and when to loft it — those are things that have more to do with the player's brain than with his talent. Firing a bullet pass at a team mate who is five yards away from you shows lack of common sense rather than lack of ability.

 

[mngg11]

I don't want to get in an argument today - but this is exactly why I can't stand the term "arm talent."

In my book, AK lacked one of the key tools of a QB - touch. It's great if a QB can throw the ball 100 miles an hour, or throw the ball 70 yards in the air. but if a QB has a man open 10 yards down the field, and throws the ball 5 feet over the receiver's head - I absolutely do not think you can say that QB has "arm talent." touch is a key component of a QB's game.

that ability to change speeds - loft the ball if needed - drop a swing pass into the RB's hands on a wheel route - that is all part of "arm talent" in my book. maybe AK will improve at Rutgers. It will be interesting to see how he does.

Dude launched the ball like a missile whether it was 5 yards or 50

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

None of this matters until the first snap. Hopefully all the lovey dovey stuff translates into a great year for the guy. he needs receivers to run correct routes and get some time in the pocket.

Team chemistry absolutely matters.

Just don't know if what is being reported is real at this point... everyone is pretty positive this time of the year.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I don't want to get in an argument today - but this is exactly why I can't stand the term "arm talent."

In my book, AK lacked one of the key tools of a QB - touch. It's great if a QB can throw the ball 100 miles an hour, or throw the ball 70 yards in the air. but if a QB has a man open 10 yards down the field, and throws the ball 5 feet over the receiver's head - I absolutely do not think you can say that QB has "arm talent." touch is a key component of a QB's game.

that ability to change speeds - loft the ball if needed - drop a swing pass into the RB's hands on a wheel route - that is all part of "arm talent" in my book. maybe AK will improve at Rutgers. It will be interesting to see how he does.

"Arm talent" is like "high upside", and other weird euphemisms.

You can almost assume they're missing something else / not performing all that well the more you hear about it.

If someone tells me that some baseball player that I don't know well has a really good looking swing, I can assume he is batting somewhere below .230 ... but that swing

 

[Word]

"Arm talent" is like "high upside", and other weird euphemisms.

You can almost assume they're missing something else / not performing all that well the more you hear about it.

If someone tells me that some baseball player that I don't know well has a really good looking swing, I can assume he is batting somewhere below .230 ... but that swing

What if a coach describes a player as "lightning in a bottle"?

 

[hello-world]

This is the first time we've gone into a season where I have seen exactly 0 reps of Minnesota's QB wearing maroon and gold since I became a fan. No idea what to expect. The few games of his I've seen from UNH looked good. Complete wild card for me.