What’s needed make a step up?

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btowngopher

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I think we have the defense needed to win more games and get to the double digit kind of level. What I don’t think we have yet is the offense. I know we love to blame the OC, but I think Harbaugh is actually sufficient. I think what we need is a couple more star players. We need a few options like we had in 2019. Another option I see is if we can have special teams become elite, we’d basically have the Iowa model.
 

To me, for the most part, this year and in prior years, they need to be more focused and consistent week in and week out. If the team that showed up to play Penn State had shown up in Ann Arbor, TCF on week 1 and in Piscataway, this team is 10-2, ranked and was in playoff contention.

It’s not that they can’t do it, they just don’t do it every week.
 
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btowngopher said:
I think we have the defense needed to win more games and get to the double digit kind of level. What I don’t think we have yet is the offense. I know we love to blame the OC, but I think Harbaugh is actually sufficient. I think what we need is a couple more star players. We need a few options like we had in 2019. Another option I see is if we can have special teams become elite, we’d basically have the Iowa model.
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I agree with your take. In general over the Fleck years we lack something different each year.
Callahan has had a lot of NFL top round draft picks. We had one this year but our o-line was inconsistent. We could pass better than we could run...huh? That's not who have been.

Wide receivers go missing in action often over the years. Playmakers on offense are sparse.

Special teams has been bad to adequate every year. Definite area of improvement that could help.

I think the hard part is the moving landscape...the whole business changes every year.
Transfers from the portal. NIL. Now the schools are paying $20 million on top of NIL.
85 to 105 scholarships. 18 conference teams. No Big Ten West. 4 Team playoff to 12 team playoff. It's all a moving target.

10 and 2 wasn't far away. I think we are improving as a program.
 


PJ and staff need to be better game prep and game day coaches. Step in the right direction this year. Explosive plays, too.
 

I agree with all the above, and I will add:

More money and the ability to manage that, and fundraising.
If we have better resources, the playing field levels out some and we can move up a notch or two. It’s not that far off in the distance
 

Things we still need:
Better talent
Less predictability on offense
Elite Special Teams play (kicking cost us a few games this past year.)
To always have a competent QB and Offensive Line.

Of course, only some of these can be easily addressed.
 

btowngopher said:
I think we have the defense needed to win more games and get to the double digit kind of level. What I don’t think we have yet is the offense. I know we love to blame the OC, but I think Harbaugh is actually sufficient. I think what we need is a couple more star players. We need a few options like we had in 2019. Another option I see is if we can have special teams become elite, we’d basically have the Iowa model.
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We were one receiver away.

Imagine Bateman + DJ + Spencer.

That combo would stress a defense in ways that would result in significant lapses and explosive plays. The lack of explosive plays is the difference.

Consider: this year, the longest pass to any WR all year was 39 yards to DJ.

In 2019? Tyler had catches of 73 yards, 45 yards, 56 yards, and a pair of 38-yard receptions, all in different games. Bateman had receptions of 42 yards, 47 yards, 59 yards, 66 yards, 46 yards and 51 yards, all in different games. CrAB had a 70 yard reception.

Take this year, and simply add those catches randomly throughout. You win against NC. You win against Michigan. You win against Penn State. And so on.

The Gophers program is SOLID as can be. PJ is the real deal -- no doubt.

The issue is that the way things are constructed now, the Gophers can win only if they play: (i) mediocre or poor teams; or (ii) play perfect football -- no mistakes ever. But even solid programs like the Gophers make mistakes. And without explosives, there's really no way to "erase" the mistakes. So you end up with no margin for error.

That's what explosives give you: margin for error.

Your need for explosives is directly related to the degree to which you are error-prone. A coach may wish for no errors (which would mean no need for explosives), and it's a great things to strive for. But you can't take errors down to zero. So you need some degree of explosion.

That's the next step: giving this program -- on a regular basis -- sufficient explosiveness to permit a reasonable level of error.
 



I think you need to have explosive players to increase the explosive plays. It’s that or just elite offensive play calls to trick the defense.
 

To jump up a level, the recruiting needs to jump up at least a level, maybe two.

You don't get consistently into the top 20 with recruiting classes in the 40s or 50s. More 4 stars, higher 3 stars, the occasional 5 star or 2 are needed.

Sadly, the recruiting seems to have dropped off in recent years, if anything.
 

USAF said:
To jump up a level, the recruiting needs to jump up at least a level, maybe two.

You don't get consistently into the top 20 with recruiting classes in the 40s or 50s. More 4 stars, higher 3 stars, the occasional 5 star or 2 are needed.

Sadly, the recruiting seems to have dropped off in recent years, if anything.
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I agree, it almost seemed like Fleck had more patience early on with pursuing some higher star guys, he’s shifted to locking up his guys early. I think he’s done well identifying talent, but sometimes I think he jumps on some lesser talents a bit earlier than necessary when he could be putting in the work trying to convince a blue chipper. Hopefully some of these blue chip transfer guys work out like Williams and Coleman. The portal might be the best way to get these types to come here. I think there has been a shift to take more local guys which I like as they seem to stick around more.
 

btowngopher said:
I think you need to have explosive players to increase the explosive plays. It’s that or just elite offensive play calls to trick the defense.
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Agree.

And if DJ were paired with someone like Bateman, he'd yield more explosion.

DJ + Spencer = great release technique, precise route running, precise route spacing, precise route timing, in other words, well developed technical skills that permit an offense to manufacture receptions to drive down the field in small-and-medium-sized chunks. PJ values that, and he should. It let's you control the flow of a game in a predictable, mechanical way.

...Until you make a mistake. Then there's no margin for error.

PJ needs to keep doing what he's doing, and get the right set of receivers in place that add explosion to the equation.
 



I think the roster is built to compete at a high/borderline playoff level(on defense especially), all we need is a high functioning QB and a deep threat at wide receiver to make the offense truly dangerous. You don't need eleven 4/5 star guys to be a winner, but it helps. Both coordinators showed that they can call great games against tough teams at different times this year. Hetherman was a great hire and PJ got out of Harbaugh's way, leading to some excellent games by Brosmer. You live and die by the QB room.
 

mngg11 said:
I think the roster is built to compete at a high/borderline playoff level(on defense especially), all we need is a high functioning QB and a deep threat at wide receiver to make the offense truly dangerous. You don't need eleven 4/5 star guys to be a winner, but it helps. Both coordinators showed that they can call great games against tough teams at different times this year. Hetherman was a great hire and PJ got out of Harbaugh's way, leading to some excellent games by Brosmer. You live and die by the QB room.
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You and I agree.
 

We need more explosive plays and players, perhaps the two new receivers and 8.3ypc RB will provide quick strike capability
 

MaxyJR1 said:
I think it's more explosive plays
More consistency in the run game.
We led the B1G in FG attemps including 17 over 50 yards. Iowa attemped 12 over 40 yards
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Just looked it up. We won every game (4) when Taylor went over 100. Lost 3 of 4 when he was held below 50. 2-1 when he went between 50 and 100. Didn't play against North Carolina. We passed much better this year, but when we didn't run well, we didn't win. That's why I was a bit disappointed in the O-line. Need more consistency there.

The athleticism continues to rise, but it would be nice to have a bit more speed in the LB corps and on the outside on offense. Maybe the new WRs bring some of that.
 


Not much, in my opinion. A couple more disrupters on the D-line (especially an unblockable edge), another Bateman type WR and a little better o-line. Those are all obtainable in the portal with due diligence, NIL money and a little luck.
 

the elite teams have either: elite QB's, elite WR's, elite RB's - or some combination of the 3.

look at the Smith FR WR for Ohio State. that kid is a level of athlete that MN - up to now - can only dream about.

so with the NIL situation improving and revenue-sharing coming in, can MN start to land some real difference-makers on offense?

Brosmer was a really nice player -but I'm talking about QB's, WR's and RB's that have a chance to be drafted in the first 4 or 5 rounds. the playmaker equivalent of an Ersery.
 


In addition to what others have said, a truly top level QB would help.

It's been over 50 years (1972) since a Gopher QB has been drafted in any round of the NFL Draft. Not even as a flier back in the 12 round era. Not even when the Gophers have had some very good teams recently.

There has never been a Gopher QB (who entered the NFL as a Gopher) to start an NFL game.

Minnesota hasn't done very well at attracting or developing QBs with pro level traits. Many schools well below us in the recruiting pecking order have done far better at this.
 


Go out and beat someone you have no business beating. That opportunity was there this year against PSU.
It's there next year with Oregon and OSU as well.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
Go out and beat someone you have no business beating. That opportunity was there this year against PSU.
It's there next year with Oregon and OSU as well.
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I get your context, but I don't think we're in the "No business" phase of the program anymore. That went out the door in 2019. We should expect every game against the big boys to be close enough where consistent defense over the course of a game, competent qb play, and a sustained drive at the end can lead to a victory. We were there against PSU, and I expect us to hang and contend with Oregon and OSU next year if Drake has the chops. Fingers are crossed!
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
Go out and beat someone you have no business beating. That opportunity was there this year against PSU.
It's there next year with Oregon and OSU as well.
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The point isn't to beat someone you have "no business" beating. That's called an upset.

That gets you one win. And if you had no business beating someone good, you're not going to repeat it.

The point is to improve to where it IS your business to be beating the PSUs, the OSUs and the Oregons. Half the time. Get to where it's not an upset.

That's "taking a step up."
 

More consistent qb and offensive line play, which usually means better players. NDSU has better QBs consistently and at this point constantly, at least before max. I just don’t get that.
Offensive line has Had some good individuals as of late, just not enough.
 


Consistency has been identified and I translate that to playing four quarters every game. That's actually a lofty goal even for the blue bloods but that's especially needed for teams where the talent drops off...which is Minnesota.

This year at the start was the game of halves...strong play first half then drop off the second or vice versa. It really wasn't until October when we were getting at least 3 good quarters going into 4.

This is actually nothing new. Just where we are.
 

In reality, we need better players all over the field to take a consistent step up. We may have our moments, but to be a top 20 team with recruiting classes typically ranked between 35-55 is a very difficult thing to sustain.
 

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