BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 62,323
- Reaction score
- 19,027
- Points
- 113
per Randy:
Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca must be licking his chops with the weapons in his arsenal next year. Along with that stable of backs, he’ll have star wideout Tyler Johnson — “Basically, not done yet,” the junior said after the Quick Lane Bowl, an indication he’s staying for his senior year, instead of bolting for the NFL. Complementing Johnson will be productive freshman receivers Rashod Bateman and Chris Autman-Bell. In addition, the Gophers coaching staff is high on 6-7, 260-pound tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford, who preserved his redshirt this year.
Of course, the Gophers’ late-season surge followed Fleck’s decision to fire defensive coordinator Robb Smith after that loss in Champaign, Ill. Fleck replaced him with defensive line coach Joe Rossi, initially on an interim basis but on full-time terms after the victory at Wisconsin.
With Rossi in charge, the Gophers allowed an average of 14.8 points per game. In the 1-5 Big Ten start, Minnesota allowed 43.2. Fleck’s message of “simple, sound and fast,” along with Rossi’s attention to detail, helped salvage the season.
“Our players tackled really well, they did their job, they communicated really well,” Fleck said after the Gophers limited Georgia Tech, the nation’s leading rushing team at 334.2 yards per game, to 56 on the ground in the first half and 206 for the game. “Our coaches did a great job of subbing our players in and the type of packages we had, even though very concise, were worked to perfection.”
With the late-season success now come expectations. These young Gophers will be a year older in 2019, with room to improve. Fleck relishes the opportunity.
“When you have success, that’s when it’s the hardest — the sustainability to build on it,” Fleck said. “That’s the challenge champions have, and I believe our guys can handle it. The price tag just went up.”
http://www.startribune.com/final-four-football-games-turned-around-gophers-future/503590772/
Go Gophers!!
Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca must be licking his chops with the weapons in his arsenal next year. Along with that stable of backs, he’ll have star wideout Tyler Johnson — “Basically, not done yet,” the junior said after the Quick Lane Bowl, an indication he’s staying for his senior year, instead of bolting for the NFL. Complementing Johnson will be productive freshman receivers Rashod Bateman and Chris Autman-Bell. In addition, the Gophers coaching staff is high on 6-7, 260-pound tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford, who preserved his redshirt this year.
Of course, the Gophers’ late-season surge followed Fleck’s decision to fire defensive coordinator Robb Smith after that loss in Champaign, Ill. Fleck replaced him with defensive line coach Joe Rossi, initially on an interim basis but on full-time terms after the victory at Wisconsin.
With Rossi in charge, the Gophers allowed an average of 14.8 points per game. In the 1-5 Big Ten start, Minnesota allowed 43.2. Fleck’s message of “simple, sound and fast,” along with Rossi’s attention to detail, helped salvage the season.
“Our players tackled really well, they did their job, they communicated really well,” Fleck said after the Gophers limited Georgia Tech, the nation’s leading rushing team at 334.2 yards per game, to 56 on the ground in the first half and 206 for the game. “Our coaches did a great job of subbing our players in and the type of packages we had, even though very concise, were worked to perfection.”
With the late-season success now come expectations. These young Gophers will be a year older in 2019, with room to improve. Fleck relishes the opportunity.
“When you have success, that’s when it’s the hardest — the sustainability to build on it,” Fleck said. “That’s the challenge champions have, and I believe our guys can handle it. The price tag just went up.”
http://www.startribune.com/final-four-football-games-turned-around-gophers-future/503590772/
Go Gophers!!