Strack: Gophers Will Need Tanner Morgan Eventually

[BleedGopher]

per Strack:

Maybe not this week… maybe not next week… but eventually…​

There have been games this season where the Minnesota offense hasn’t needed Tanner Morgan. They’ve been able to dominate play on the ground, and when you’re running up and down teams like the Gophers did last Saturday vs the Terrapins, there’s really no good reason to do anything else.

Other times, however, Fleck has been too reluctant to put the ball in the hands of his veteran leader who he claims to trust so much. Like earlier this season in the worst loss of the head coach’s time in Minnesota. When they were upset at home against Bowling Green in week 4, Tanner Morgan finished 5/13 for just 89 passing yards and 2 interceptions. Dreadful.

If Tanner could have found ANY rhythm on ANY drive during the second half of that game, the Gophers probably win and they’re probably 6-1 instead of 5-2. Instead, Morgan threw both of his interceptions on the final two Minnesota drives, sealing the historic upset. Maybe there was a reason Fleck looked hesitant to give him too many opportunities that day.

If BGSU can do that to this Minnesota offense then so can Iowa and Wisconsin, who are both still on the schedule. At some point, Morgan will have no choice but to throw his team to a victory.

Can Tanner Do It?​

Throughout his career in maroon and gold, Tanner Morgan has proven himself as someone who’s capable of being a future NFL draft pick. Hell, he set just about every single-season passing record in the University of Minnesota record books back in 2019, when he finished the season with 3,253 yards, 30 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 66% passing. But back then, he had Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman on each side of him.

Gophers Will Need Tanner Morgan Eventually

Tanner Morgan is yet to prove that he can make that pass in 2021 that leads his team to victory when the Minnesota Gophers need it most. That won't last.

www.minnesotasportsfan.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

True.

But in cases like Maryland in the 2nd half ... keep doing it until they can stop you.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

The reason I like to see more passing—even if you can win by abandoning the passing game—is two-fold: (1) a robust passing gives more of our difference makers a chance to make explosive plays. CrAB, MBS and Wright have all shown big play potential when given reasonable chances. I personally don’t like the idea of going into a fistfight with one arm voluntarily tied behind my back. (2) Repetitions build confidence, not just in practice but in games. Lack of repetitions might diminish confidence, coordination and ultimately even engagement; and disuse can promote “rust” which can’t always be shaken off on demand.

I am happy when we win any B1G game, and if OC and PJ want to run an offense that often “ghosts” our receiver corps, so be it. I’m sure there is a good reason. But, we are a “developmental” program and I am confused about why we are so adamantly opposed to developing the skills of our receiving corps in game conditions. We’re winning, so maybe that is the ticket in 2021.

But, come November, we might regret having worked so assiduously to develop the strength in one arm while purposely letting the other arm wither. It would no doubt be a great accomplishment to win the West with one arm tied behind our back—proving just how powerful that one arm is—but if we want to maximize our chances of winning the West, why not develop and use both arms?

 

[fmlizard]

I wasn't aware the Gophers weren't using Tanner Morgan this year. In the game prior to the last one, just 13 days ago, Morgan was 20/24 for almost 10 YPA and along with Chris Autman-Bell they carried the Gophers to the Chair.

This writer has a very short term bias. Look for it to continue against a Northwestern team that is last in the Big Ten vs the run by a large margin, but it won't get the Gophers past Wisconsin and Iowa who rank 1 and 3 vs the run (Minnesota is #2)

 

[MaxyJR1]

I wasn't aware the Gophers weren't using Tanner Morgan this year. In the game prior to the last one, just 13 days ago, Morgan was 20/24 for almost 10 YPA and along with Chris Autman-Bell they carried the Gophers to the Chair.

This writer has a very short term bias. Look for it to continue against a Northwestern team that is last in the Big Ten vs the run by a large margin, but it won't get the Gophers past Wisconsin and Iowa who rank 1 and 3 vs the run (Minnesota is #2)

My thoughts as well. They've needed him all year and he has gotten them to 5-2.

 

[RogueGopher]

The few issues in the passing game is mostly due to the receiving corps than the QB. CAB didn't play most of the game against BG.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I wasn't aware the Gophers weren't using Tanner Morgan this year. In the game prior to the last one, just 13 days ago, Morgan was 20/24 for almost 10 YPA and along with Chris Autman-Bell they carried the Gophers to the Chair.

This writer has a very short term bias. Look for it to continue against a Northwestern team that is last in the Big Ten vs the run by a large margin, but it won't get the Gophers past Wisconsin and Iowa who rank 1 and 3 vs the run (Minnesota is #2)

Yeah this passing panc is slowly turning into something akin to the satanic panic from the 1980s. Panic feeding panic...but little else.

 

[hungan1]

Sanford Jr and Simon better be ready to crank up the air assault. You can't rely on the ground assault alone on the better teams on the schedule.

Wisconsin and Iowa will find ways to exploit the Gophers running game.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I don't think we'll see much passing today, NW has a pretty good pass defense and the weather will be a factor.

I could see them opening up a little more against Illinois next week. Their pass D is not great, and the weather looks better right now.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I don't think we'll see much passing today, NW has a pretty good pass defense and the weather will be a factor.

I could see them opening up a little more against Illinois next week. Their pass D is not great, and the weather looks better right now.

I agree that we won't see a ton of passing today unless things go sideways. But it won't be because Northwestern has a good pass D, it will be because Northwestern has a horrible run D.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I wasn't aware the Gophers weren't using Tanner Morgan this year. In the game prior to the last one, just 13 days ago, Morgan was 20/24 for almost 10 YPA and along with Chris Autman-Bell they carried the Gophers to the Chair.

This writer has a very short term bias. Look for it to continue against a Northwestern team that is last in the Big Ten vs the run by a large margin, but it won't get the Gophers past Wisconsin and Iowa who rank 1 and 3 vs the run (Minnesota is #2)

Yeah, we can pass which is very different than what is going on in Wisconsin right now with their offense.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

There is another thread about MN being a heavy run-balance team.

I went back and tracked the run-pass balance for every year Fleck has been a D1 head coach.
he had two years at WMU where they averaged over 30 pass att per game.

This season, MN is averaging just over 18 pass att per game. That is the lowest number of pass att per game in Fleck's head-coaching career.

MN is also running fewer offensive plays per game. So the run-pass balance has shifted more to the run and the team is running fewer total plays.

Is this a one-year blip? To know that, we will need more data from future years.

 

[Gophers1992]

I find it odd how much criticism there has been about how run heavy we were against Maryland. They couldn’t stop it, why wouldn’t we run?

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Sanford Jr and Simon better be ready to crank up the air assault. You can't rely on the ground assault alone on the better teams on the schedule.

Wisconsin and Iowa will find ways to exploit the Gophers running game.

Watching the Wisconsin defense, esp. disruptive LB Leo Chanel (6’2” 261 lbs ILB), neutralize Iowa’s running game. We might need a passing game one of these days. Maybe it’s there, waiting …

 

[Gophergrandpa]

I find it odd how much criticism there has been about how run heavy we were against Maryland. They couldn’t stop it, why wouldn’t we run?

Just curious. If Maryland (or any team, for that matter) had trouble stopping our passing game, and it appeared we could win the game simply by passing, would that mean we should, therefore, abandon the running attack for that game?

 

[Gophers1992]

Just curious. If Maryland (or any team, for that matter) had trouble stopping our passing game, and it appeared we could win the game simply by passing, would that mean we should, therefore, abandon the running attack for that game?

Yes if we can pass at will and run clock I have no issue with that.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Just curious. If Maryland (or any team, for that matter) had trouble stopping our passing game, and it appeared we could win the game simply by passing, would that mean we should, therefore, abandon the running attack for that game?

Yes, because in the end the goal is to win the game.

This isn't real complicated. Running is much safer than passing because there are fewer variables involved. So if you can run the ball effectively there is little to no reason to pass as long as the run game is working.

We have some people stressed that we aren't using more pass plays in games. We are still working on the passing game in practice and we have shown that when we need to throw we can. Those extra couple passing reps in games aren't going to make a massive difference one way or another.

We are 6-2, doesn't have to be pretty as long as we are winning the games.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Yes, because in the end the goal is to win the game.

This isn't real complicated. Running is much safer than passing because there are fewer variables involved. So if you can run the ball effectively there is little to no reason to pass as long as the run game is working.

We have some people stressed that we aren't using more pass plays in games. We are still working on the passing game in practice and we have shown that when we need to throw we can. Those extra couple passing reps in games aren't going to make a massive difference one way or another.

We are 6-2, doesn't have to be pretty as long as we are winning the games.

When you say safer, are you considering, among other factors, the possibility of further injury at a now-thinly staffed RB position?

 

[MNVCGUY]

When you say safer, are you considering, among other factors, the possibility of further injury at a now-thinly staffed RB position?

Run plays are safer than pass plays. Injuries can happen on any play to any player. I don't think we should change our offense and go outside our comfort zone out of fear of our RB getting hit.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

The injury to Williams happened on a wheel route play. The Potts injury may very well have been non-football related. The receiver group also have been dealing with injuries though the impact is less because they have been able to return fairly quickly.

Something tells me that if the receiver group was targeted 30+ plays a game, we would be seeing similar attrition to what we see with the running backs.