Scoggins: Max Brosmer’s gift to the Gophers is how he’s allowed coach P.J. Fleck to evolve

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BleedGopher

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Per Chip:

P.J. Fleck celebrated his 44th birthday Friday. The Gophers football coach proved that a coach can change with age.

Fleck vowed to evolve his offensive philosophy this season, to make his scheme more balanced, to find a passing game after largely ignoring it.

Status quo wasn’t an option. Deep down, Fleck had to know it.

So he changed.

The evolution in approach was never more apparent or rewarding than what played out at Camp Randall Stadium on Fleck’s birthday.
The quarterback he entrusted shrugged off frigid temperatures and swirling winds to deliver an efficient, surgical performance in a 24-7 dismantling of the Wisconsin Badgers.
Afterward, Fleck and Max Brosmer shared a warm embrace in the middle of the victory lap celebration with Paul Bunyan’s Axe. Call it a Bro(smer) hug.

“I had to change,” Fleck said.

www.startribune.com

Scoggins: Max Brosmer’s gift to the Gophers is how he’s allowed coach P.J. Fleck to evolve

“I had to change,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said of his cautious offensive approach, which looked totally different in Friday’s convincing victory at Wisconsin.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!
 

A few of us commented in the offseason that we didn't think Fleck was stupid or so stubborn as to jeopardize his job based on the results of last season by going and doing the same thing again. I think it was inevitable that he'd start the year coaching like he traditonally had, but once it was clear it wasn't working, Fleck followed his mantra and truly changed his best. It's not like we had an amazing season but if he didn't reverse his commitment to Tresselball this season would've been a dud and his seat would be borderline hot right now. Good for him, I hope he's learned from this experience.
 

I see it a bit differently.

To me, Fleck has always run an offense that suits the strengths of his current roster of players.

When he had Tanner Morgan, Rashad Bateman, Tyler Johnson and Rodney Smith he ran an offense that suited the personnel.

When he had Mo Ibrahim and a bunch of gigantic maulers on the offensive line, but with no game-breakers at receiver, Fleck fed Mo the ball, pounded the rock and wore down the clock.

Now, with Max at QB and Darius Taylor at featured back, the offense is run accordingly. Max is a QB who can read defenses on the fly and has a lightning-fast release. He throws short, quick, accurate possession passes to the new back who is also an excellent receiver and to Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spenser. He uses these short passes to set up the run, rather than vice-versa.

And he changes the run/pass balance based on the opposing defense's relative strength and weaknesses.

No, I don't see Fleck as stubborn. I think Fleck has shown remarkable flexibility all along. Chip needs to be more observant and quit trying to work his narrative to death.
 

RememberMurray said:
I see it a bit differently.

To me, Fleck has always run an offense that suits the strengths of his current roster of players.

When he had Tanner Morgan, Rashad Bateman, Tyler Johnson and Rodney Smith he ran an offense that suited the personnel.

When he had Mo Ibrahim and a bunch of gigantic maulers on the offensive line, but with no game-breakers at receiver, Fleck fed Mo the ball, pounded the rock and wore down the clock.

Now, with Max at QB and Darius Taylor at featured back, the offense is run accordingly. Max is a QB who can read defenses on the fly and has a lightning-fast release. He throws short, quick, accurate possession passes to the new back who is also an excellent receiver and to Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spenser. He uses these short passes to set up the run, rather than vice-versa.

And he changes the run/pass balance based on the opposing defense's relative strength and weaknesses.

No, I don't see Fleck as stubborn. I think Fleck has shown remarkable flexibility all along. Chip needs to be more observant and quit trying to work his narrative to death.
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Well, Fleck himself said "he had to change". But don't let your narrative get in the way off facts.
 

RememberMurray said:
I see it a bit differently.

To me, Fleck has always run an offense that suits the strengths of his current roster of players.

When he had Tanner Morgan, Rashad Bateman, Tyler Johnson and Rodney Smith he ran an offense that suited the personnel.

When he had Mo Ibrahim and a bunch of gigantic maulers on the offensive line, but with no game-breakers at receiver, Fleck fed Mo the ball, pounded the rock and wore down the clock.

Now, with Max at QB and Darius Taylor at featured back, the offense is run accordingly. Max is a QB who can read defenses on the fly and has a lightning-fast release. He throws short, quick, accurate possession passes to the new back who is also an excellent receiver and to Daniel Jackson and Elijah Spenser. He uses these short passes to set up the run, rather than vice-versa.

And he changes the run/pass balance based on the opposing defense's relative strength and weaknesses.

No, I don't see Fleck as stubborn. I think Fleck has shown remarkable flexibility all along. Chip needs to be more observant and quit trying to work his narrative to death.
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And last year with Athan and a severely banged up RB group, it was a pretty bad hand to play for the offense. I get what you are saying, but Brosmer really gave this coaching staff the ability to spread the ball around.
 


WorkingMyTailOff said:
And last year with Athan and a severely banged up RB group, it was a pretty bad hand to play for the offense. I get what you are saying, but Brosmer really gave this coaching staff the ability to spread the ball around.
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Yes...

And he's not tall. He doesn't have a Big Arm, and he's not much of a runner.

Yet he's a helluva QB. Go figure!
 


Allshade said:
Fleck deserves a ton of credit for bringing in Brosmer. We were so close to an amazing season. It was a lot of fun.
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Well said.

P.J. had to replace both his quarterback and his defensive coordinator in one offseason, and both of the replacements he found were home runs.

2024 will be remembered for thrilling games, and what might have been had we caught a better break here and there. Oh, so close!
 




I agree with Chip here. Max had 1 year eligibility and took until the 2nd half of the Michigan game to figure out basically where in the hell he is at (no offense to the FCS). At that point I’ve almost made a miraculous comeback, but ended up being 2-3. Won 5 of 7 games to end the season (his only season). After the 1st half of the Michigan game the offensive mindset completely changed and opened up.
 


MilosRevenge said:
The Golden Gophers under PJ Fleck are the only team in Big Ten history to have two first-team All-Big Ten receivers but good point
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Completely different qb play between the 2019 team and this years team (I’m assuming that’s what you are referring to). Max is a superior passer to Tenner. 2019 was a pass run option with a post down the middle with excellent wrs vs and actual pro style offense with Max anticipating and throwing receivers open. I get your point though
 

SonoranGopher1 said:
Completely different qb play between the 2019 team and this years team (I’m assuming that’s what you are referring to). Max is a superior passer to Tenner. 2019 was a pass run option with a post down the middle with excellent wrs vs and actual pro style offense with Max anticipating and throwing receivers open. I get your point though
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Tanner was really good in 2019 as well. What makes Max better in my opinion is his ability to go through progressions. I don't think Tanner ever became proficient in that regard.
 



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