Quarterback

[short ornery norwegian]

looking at Brosmer's stats -
his completion % has gone up three years in a row - from 57.1% to 62.6% to 64.0% this season. that seems to indicate improvement.

Not much of a runner - when you subtract sacks, ran the ball 51 times in '22 and 40 times this season. but did have a long run of 42 yards in '22 and 31 yards this season.

as others have noted, now the Gophers have to sell him on MN and hope another team with deeper pockets doesn't come along.

 

[wdgold]

Do we still have the kid from SD we recruited as QB couple of yrs ago?

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Do we still have the kid from SD we recruited as QB couple of yrs ago?

nope. He's at Kansas State. (I had to look it up). Jacob Knuth took a redshirt year at MN and then transferred to K-State.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Concept is great! But I'm confused by PJF and the QB spot. We are a conservative run first, run second team. Ok that's fine, so why not get a running QB? Instead we look for pocket passers. The reason I don't see this happening, I'm guessing this kid has NFL aspirations, why would he come here to hand it off 40 tines a game? Look at a place like WKU or Wazzu, they aren't generally great but they toss it around the park and get kids drafted at that position (Zappe and Minshew). So I think this is a long shot at best. Again I like PJF but his handling of the QB position is a giant red flag.

Unless you want to run a triple option I'm not sure a running QB helps the run game much.

Passing seems like the more natural complement.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Here's Brosmer's UNH roster page. He's from Georgia--as a lot of Gopher players are. He's majoring in Biomedical Engineering! A little sturdier built than AK8: 6'2", 220. Wouldn't mind having him on the roster come spring football.

Max Brosmer - 2023 - Football - University of New Hampshire Athletics

Max Brosmer (16) Quarterback - PHOTO GALLERY Wildcat Career Collegiate Accolades AFCA All-America First Team (2023) Associated Press All-America Second Team ...

unhwildcats.com

 

[Mulligan]

To me AK looks good in the first half of games, and then morphs into something else (inefficient, uncomfortable, unconfident, indecisive - pick one) in the second half. Why is that? Is it him, the team around him, the play call? I think there's a good player there, but this was a wasted season and I'm not ready to put it all on kaliakmanis.

Was also going to post something similar. Part of it might be defense is not settled in; but I also think a big reason is that defenses adjust and Athon can't. That's very much on the coaching and play calling.

 

[GoldenMAV30266]

Here's Brosmer's UNH roster page. He's from Georgia--as a lot of Gopher players are. He's majoring in Biomedical Engineering! A little sturdier built than AK8: 6'2", 220. Wouldn't mind having him on the roster come spring football.

Max Brosmer - 2023 - Football - University of New Hampshire Athletics

Max Brosmer (16) Quarterback - PHOTO GALLERY Wildcat Career Collegiate Accolades AFCA All-America First Team (2023) Associated Press All-America Second Team ...

unhwildcats.com

Hopefully PJ offering a grad transfer QB means AK has expressed interest in transferring.

Can be Brosmer than Drake Lindsey after that

 

[RememberMurray]

Hopefully PJ offering a grad transfer QB means AK has expressed interest in transferring.

Can be Brosmer than Drake Lindsey after that

I don't know exactly what it means to Kaliakmanis, but it sure feels as though change is in the air.

 

[RememberMurray]

Seems like a smart, level-headed, enthusiastic kid...

 

[GoldenMAV30266]

I don't know exactly what it means to Kaliakmanis, but it sure feels as though change is in the air.

AK would benefit from a change of scenery, and probably a smaller school.

He’s got a lot of arm talent, but he’s not good enough to elevate this squad, with the terrible play calling in the big 10.

I’d love to see him succeed, just probably gonna have to be at a mid major level.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Was also going to post something similar. Part of it might be defense is not settled in; but I also think a big reason is that defenses adjust and Athon can't. That's very much on the coaching and play calling.

When you run as vanilla, predictable and easy-to-defend offense as we do, every good defense figures it out quickly and adjusts. And if you don't trust your QB, your offense becomes even more predictable and easy to defend. Our simplistic, transparent offense is fine when in games in which we have superior/stronger athletes, but it is a fail against teams with better/stronger athletes and increasingly a fail in supposed "toss-up" games.

Maybe we need a different QB in order to install and execute a more diverse, creative offense that stresses defenses. But I believe we need an OC mindset change too. And to the extent PJ is micro-managing our OC's into such a simplistic, predictable offense year in and year out, then we need a HC mindset change, too.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I don't know exactly what it means to Kaliakmanis, but it sure feels as though change is in the air.

Things like this should not be a surprise to AK

 

[RememberMurray]

AK would benefit from a change of scenery, and probably a smaller school.

He’s got a lot of arm talent, but he’s not good enough to elevate this squad, with the terrible play calling in the big 10.

I’d love to see him succeed, just probably gonna have to be at a mid major level.

I am coming to a point where I agree with most of this.

Yesterday, it occurred to me that Kaliakmanis reminded me of someone, but I couldn't recall who it was.

Then it hit me: Zack Annexstad. Height, build, running style, throwing style.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Seems like a smart, level-headed, enthusiastic kid...

And he's played outdoor games in cold weather ...

 

[RememberMurray]

When you run as vanilla, predictable and easy-to-defend offense as we do, every good defense figures it out quickly and adjusts. And if you don't trust your QB, your offense becomes even more predictable and easy to defend. Our simplistic, transparent offense is fine when in games in which we have superior/stronger athletes, but it is a fail against teams with better/stronger athletes and increasingly a fail in supposed "toss-up" games.

Maybe we need a different QB in order to install and execute a more diverse, creative offense that stresses defenses. But I believe we need an OC mindset change too. And to the extent PJ is micro-managing our OC's into such a simplistic, predictable offense year in and year out, then we need a HC mindset change, too.

Maybe.

Chicken, or egg?

Better QB play might enable more wide-open play-calling, perhaps. I haven't seen anything from Kaliakmanis this season that screams, "Open up the offense!"

 

[MNVCGUY]

Hopefully PJ offering a grad transfer QB means AK has expressed interest in transferring.

Can be Brosmer than Drake Lindsey after that

Best case for the team would be a transfer QB coming in AND AK staying.

Athan had a very inconsistent year but there is talent there and even if there is a new starter next year he would still make for a very capable backup option.

 

[MplsGopher]

We’re gonna get all excited about this Brosmer kid, then some rich booster at Boston College or wherever will offer him twice the NIL than we can do and that will be that.

Plus, why would he want to come to a heavy rushing offense with a hyper-conservative head coach?

Would be one thing if we could say we win a lot, like if it was after 2019. But ….


I’m not going to watch this kids videos or look at his stats until/if he actually comes here.

Seen these movies before

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Hopefully PJ offering a grad transfer QB means AK has expressed interest in transferring.

Can be Brosmer than Drake Lindsey after that

You raise a good point. Maybe AK is the one breaking it off. It’s not you, it’s me. Unsettled times at the facility, regardless.

 

[mngolf]

Concept is great! But I'm confused by PJF and the QB spot. We are a conservative run first, run second team. Ok that's fine, so why not get a running QB? Instead we look for pocket passers. The reason I don't see this happening, I'm guessing this kid has NFL aspirations, why would he come here to hand it off 40 tines a game? Look at a place like WKU or Wazzu, they aren't generally great but they toss it around the park and get kids drafted at that position (Zappe and Minshew). So I think this is a long shot at best. Again I like PJF but his handling of the QB position is a giant red flag.

He goes by what he has to work with. Limited by 8 and receivers increases the run rate.

 

[mngolf]

We’re gonna get all excited about this Brosmer kid, then some rich booster at Boston College or wherever will offer him twice the NIL than we can do and that will be that.

Plus, why would he want to come to a heavy rushing offense with a hyper-conservative head coach?

Would be one thing if we could say we win a lot, like if it was after 2019. But ….


I’m not going to watch this kids videos or look at his stats until/if he actually comes here.

Seen these movies before

Well take Roadhouse out of your vcr and watch porn.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Best case for the team would be a transfer QB coming in AND AK staying.

Athan had a very inconsistent year but there is talent there and even if there is a new starter next year he would still make for a very capable backup option.

Agree would be ideal but gotta think there is a 0.01% of that happening in the era of the portal. Most everyone’s QB roster consists of thin to none now.

 

[RememberMurray]

He goes by what he has to work with. Limited by 8 and receivers increases the run rate.

That's how I see it as well.

If I'm the coach and the QB is not getting it done, the last thing I would do is throw more passes.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

That's how I see it as well.

If I'm the coach and the QB is not getting it done, the last thing I would do is throw more passes.

Yup, players make plays.

Generally, you call the plays you think your guys can make.

 

[Catechol]

So does this offer imply that there is not going to be any OC change since it would be unusual to seek a commitment from a guy and then bait and switching the OC.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Agree would be ideal but gotta think there is a 0.01% of that happening in the era of the portal. Most everyone’s QB roster consists of thin to none now.

Will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the next few months.

 

[Fan of Ray Christensen]

My meaningless opinions/observations::

AK Plays Like He’s Not 100%
I recall seeing AK at least twice this year tear his knee brace off and throw it to the sidelines. Either his injury from last year hasn’t fully healed or he’s not confident that it’s healed. Regardless, he seems incapable of juking a defender.

Our Playcalling Is Fine
The first offensive play (maybe the third?) against Iowa was a deep post to Crooms/Spencer who had inside leverage in man coverage. Bateman turned that exact same play into a TD against wisconsin in 2019, but AK badly overthrew it. Not saying that Crooms/Spencer turns that into a TD, but it was an aggressive play call.

After the strip-sack against Illinois, Harbaugh aggressively went for the dagger, but AK missed a wide open WR in the end zone. Others have noted obvious missed opportunities, but these two missed plays stood out for me.

I won’t defend Harbaugh as the QB coach, but aside from some general griping I don’t fault his overall play calling.

I don’t see why this shouldn’t be an attractive option for a QB in the portal.

 

[MNVCGUY]

So does this offer imply that there is not going to be any OC change since it would be unusual to seek a commitment from a guy and then bait and switching the OC.

Not sure you can make any assumptions on coaching staff changes since we still have a bowl game to play and the true movement on the coaching front hasn't really happened yet.

If you want a player in the portal you have to get in on them quickly. Unlikely that a transfer QB would pick us specifically to play for Harbaugh.

 

[Taji34]

Some of it is OL play.

I felt this way in 2020 as well, but it felt like a down year for our OL. Teams were able to break through the LOS pretty consistently, and there were many plays that didn't get a chance to develop because AK immediately had to leave the pocket to try to avoid a sack.

I don't know if this is an indication of needing to think about a change at OL coach, or S&C coach, or just more focused recruiting. Could also be a symptom of our own anemic pass rush game not giving the OL a sufficient challenge in practices.

I don't know how much of an impact it had, but it certainly was >0.

 

[Word]

My meaningless opinions/observations::

AK Plays Like He’s Not 100%
I recall seeing AK at least twice this year tear his knee brace off and throw it to the sidelines. Either his injury from last year hasn’t fully healed or he’s not confident that it’s healed. Regardless, he seems incapable of juking a defender.

Our Playcalling Is Fine
The first offensive play (maybe the third?) against Iowa was a deep post to Crooms/Spencer who had inside leverage in man coverage. Bateman turned that exact same play into a TD against wisconsin in 2019, but AK badly overthrew it. Not saying that Crooms/Spencer turns that into a TD, but it was an aggressive play call.

After the strip-sack against Illinois, Harbaugh aggressively went for the dagger, but AK missed a wide open WR in the end zone. Others have noted obvious missed opportunities, but these two missed plays stood out for me.

I won’t defend Harbaugh as the QB coach, but aside from some general griping I don’t fault his overall play calling.

I don’t see why this shouldn’t be an attractive option for a QB in the portal.

These are my takes as well. I don't know how to judge the offense when the most important position in the offense is non-functional. The whole thing breaks down. If it was Tanner Morgan out there this year and it's what it was, that would be a different story.

 

[MNfootballfan]

My meaningless opinions/observations::

AK Plays Like He’s Not 100%
I recall seeing AK at least twice this year tear his knee brace off and throw it to the sidelines. Either his injury from last year hasn’t fully healed or he’s not confident that it’s healed. Regardless, he seems incapable of juking a defender.

Just my 2 cents. I wouldn't read into the knee brace thing too much. The DonJoy style knee braces can be cumbersome to put on. Usually only see offensive lineman and QBs (on their plant foot) wear them. I am guessing when he slid or was tackled a specific way the knee brace moved on his knee. Instead of fixing it and putting it in the same spot it is a lot quicker to just rip it off. I never paid attention if after the drive he would put it back on.

I am not 100% sure on the rule but I believe for an equipment timeout unless it was something quick he would need to come out of the game.