BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 62,374
- Reaction score
- 19,169
- Points
- 113
per The Comeback:
Three Key Players
Whomever is playing QB – Gone is three-year starting quarterback Mitch Leidner. And although he never really built on a very solid 2015 season, he still leaves a huge hole on the offense as far as experience and leadership goes. The quarterback competition to replace Liedner will go on through fall camp, but all signs point to the job coming down to either senior Conor Rhoda or sophomore Demry Croft. Whoever gets the starting nod will need to at least pose a threat downfield to open up running lanes for Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks.
Rodney Smith, RB – Speaking of the tailback position, Fleck will likely lean on the ground game a ton as the quarterback position develops. Shannon Brooks will see plenty of action, but the most dangerous and talented guy in Maroon and Gold will no doubt be junior Rodney Smith. He has the speed and vision to be even more of an offensive weapon than he has been, and the coaching staff will call his number when it needs reliable yards on the ground. And often.
Rashad Still, WR – We’re going to stay on the offensive side of the ball, but go over to the outside skill position of wide receiver. He didn’t really break out like everyone expected last year, but P.J. Fleck has preached the need to get the ball to Still a lot in 2017. He’s a lengthy receiver at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds. and can go up in traffic to make momentum changing catches. He’s been a sponge this year acclimating to a new coaching staff, and as long as he can make good on the various ways he’ll get the ball this year, he’s going to put up some impressive numbers and could be an all-Big Ten type performer.
Bold Predictions
Minnesota will lose one of its home non-conference games in 2017. A new system, new coaching staff and new quarterback. That’s what the Gophers are trying to get off the ground in 2017, and that takes time. The home dates in the non-conference include Buffalo and Middle Tennessee. That’s not exactly stiff Big Ten competition, but both have enough talent to make things scary for a team just getting its oars in the water. I say Minnesota loses one of those two in a wee-bit of a shocker.
However …
The Golden Gophers will get the Badger monkey off their backs. That’s right. The thirteen year slide will be broken in Fleck’s first year on the job. The game’s at the end of the year so the team will have had time to get its act together. Mix in the potential for some equalizing late fall weather and a home crowd and I say dust of Paul Bunyan’s axe because it’s coming back to the land of 10,000 lakes and a coach with energy drinks running through his veins.
P.J. Fleck will have his team actually row a few boats down the Mississippi. Ahhhh, a match made in heaven. Fleck likes to row boats, and it just so happens that his new team sits within a stone’s throw of the mighty Mississippi River. As a team building exercise, he won’t be able to resist having his team take turns rowing the boat down the American icon and post it all on Twitter.
http://thecomeback.com/ncaa/top-50-minnesota-golden-gophers.html
Go Gophers!!
Three Key Players
Whomever is playing QB – Gone is three-year starting quarterback Mitch Leidner. And although he never really built on a very solid 2015 season, he still leaves a huge hole on the offense as far as experience and leadership goes. The quarterback competition to replace Liedner will go on through fall camp, but all signs point to the job coming down to either senior Conor Rhoda or sophomore Demry Croft. Whoever gets the starting nod will need to at least pose a threat downfield to open up running lanes for Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks.
Rodney Smith, RB – Speaking of the tailback position, Fleck will likely lean on the ground game a ton as the quarterback position develops. Shannon Brooks will see plenty of action, but the most dangerous and talented guy in Maroon and Gold will no doubt be junior Rodney Smith. He has the speed and vision to be even more of an offensive weapon than he has been, and the coaching staff will call his number when it needs reliable yards on the ground. And often.
Rashad Still, WR – We’re going to stay on the offensive side of the ball, but go over to the outside skill position of wide receiver. He didn’t really break out like everyone expected last year, but P.J. Fleck has preached the need to get the ball to Still a lot in 2017. He’s a lengthy receiver at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds. and can go up in traffic to make momentum changing catches. He’s been a sponge this year acclimating to a new coaching staff, and as long as he can make good on the various ways he’ll get the ball this year, he’s going to put up some impressive numbers and could be an all-Big Ten type performer.
Bold Predictions
Minnesota will lose one of its home non-conference games in 2017. A new system, new coaching staff and new quarterback. That’s what the Gophers are trying to get off the ground in 2017, and that takes time. The home dates in the non-conference include Buffalo and Middle Tennessee. That’s not exactly stiff Big Ten competition, but both have enough talent to make things scary for a team just getting its oars in the water. I say Minnesota loses one of those two in a wee-bit of a shocker.
However …
The Golden Gophers will get the Badger monkey off their backs. That’s right. The thirteen year slide will be broken in Fleck’s first year on the job. The game’s at the end of the year so the team will have had time to get its act together. Mix in the potential for some equalizing late fall weather and a home crowd and I say dust of Paul Bunyan’s axe because it’s coming back to the land of 10,000 lakes and a coach with energy drinks running through his veins.
P.J. Fleck will have his team actually row a few boats down the Mississippi. Ahhhh, a match made in heaven. Fleck likes to row boats, and it just so happens that his new team sits within a stone’s throw of the mighty Mississippi River. As a team building exercise, he won’t be able to resist having his team take turns rowing the boat down the American icon and post it all on Twitter.
http://thecomeback.com/ncaa/top-50-minnesota-golden-gophers.html
Go Gophers!!