Zach Pyron or Drake Lindsey, who will be the Gophers' QB1 in 2025?

[PMWinSTP]

May or may not matter. My assumption is better passers would go to a team that passes more.

84th in FCS, so more run heavy than the average team.

From what I see, GT is a balanced offense. Ranked high 30s rushing, high 40s passing. Where did you get 84th and what does it represent?

 

[Wally]

Curious: what are Pyron’s physical limitations? Rated a four star coming out of HS. Size? 6’3”, 220.

Lindsey will start and Pyron will be our change of pace bulldog, like Seth Green or Cole Kramer.

Pyron over the pylon.

 

[RememberMurray]

It's a bonus for the Gophers that we now have a QB on the roster who has a bit more experience, and has even made some starts against quality competition.

Ryan Burns says the staff loves Lindsey's potential, but adding Pyron is a very nice hedge. Plus, we need a viable #2 in case of injury.

 

[Spoofin]

From what I see, GT is a balanced offense. Ranked high 30s rushing, high 40s passing. Where did you get 84th and what does it represent?

Pass play %.

College Football Stats - College FB Team Passing Play Percentage | TeamRankings.com

College Football passing play percentage, by team.

www.teamrankings.com

 

[PMWinSTP]

Pass play %.

College Football Stats - College FB Team Passing Play Percentage | TeamRankings.com

College Football passing play percentage, by team.

www.teamrankings.com

Not one I look at much but will now. I like the passing offense and rushing offense stats as comparison stats. Generally default to scoring offense and defense for overall.

 

[btowngopher]

Maybe, but Wittke seems capable of running too and we didn't use him in the wildcat last year. Only used Taylor. But who knows, maybe they will come up with something new.

Personally I’m not a fan of the wildcat. Rather they direct snap to Taylor if anything.

 

[Word]

Personally I’m not a fan of the wildcat. Rather they direct snap to Taylor if anything.

That's what a wildcat is, no? True wildcat gets snapped to the RB.

 

[btowngopher]

That's what a wildcat is, no?

I guess I mean having a designated QB for it, especially ones like Green or Kramer who aren’t that special as runners anyway. We’re obviously running 95% of the time in those sets, just use your best rb.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I guess I mean having a designated QB for it, especially ones like Green or Kramer who aren’t that special as runners anyway. We’re obviously running 95% of the time in those sets, just use your best rb.

I agree on Kramer but I disagree on Green. The Seth Green wildcat was pretty automatic in 2018/2019. But I agree with your general point, I don't like running out the wildcat just because you have a decently mobile QB.

 

[BronkosGhost]

If Zack Pyron is the starter the Gophers are in trouble.

 

[fmlizard]

That's what a wildcat is, no? True wildcat gets snapped to the RB.

Yeah, somewhere along the line we went from Darren McFadden taking direct snaps (the original wildcat of this era) to it becoming a word for designed QB runs.

 

[Word]

I agree on Kramer but I disagree on Green. The Seth Green wildcat was pretty automatic in 2018/2019. But I agree with your general point, I don't like running out the wildcat just because you have a decently mobile QB.

I've never been a fan of wildcat either but Green got stopped maybe once all year in 2019. I was a fan of that one. And he threw it a couple times too.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

the last few days while watching some of the D2, D3 and FCS playoffs, I've noticed several teams that seem to have a backup QB who is a better runner than the starting QB.

 

[Word]

the last few days while watching some of the D2, D3 and FCS playoffs, I've noticed several teams that seem to have a backup QB who is a better runner than the starting QB.

How do they use the backup?

 

[short ornery norwegian]

How do they use the backup?

in the examples I saw, they bring him in and the backup carries the ball on a designated QB run. basically what the Gophers did with Cole Kramer. only in the games I saw, the backup "running QB" tended to be a bigger, stronger type than the starting QB.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Can truly say I have no idea. Let's see what the picture looks like after spring ball.

 

[U2Gopher]

Ryan Burns says the staff loves Lindsey's potential, but adding Pyron is a very nice hedge. Plus, we need a viable #2 in case of injury.

And I think that is what this is about. Drake is going to be the starter barring some pre-season injury. Pyron is insurance at worst but I actually think he’s going to see the field 7-10 times a game. I think he’s going to be a great wild-cat or change of pace option with his legs. And the fact that he can actually throw it some and has a track record of doing so, he can potentially be dangerous with his arm in what defenses think could/should be running situations.

 

[walrus]

I don’t care. I wish each qb great ability to learn the system, good health and no major injuries. Hope each adjusts well to campus life and academic load while playing Gopher football. And may each qb answer the call when the call is made.

I trust the coaches to dial the phone to make the call to the best qb when that time comes.

I hope ego doesn’t get in the way of any of the qb candidates and will always remember that the coach will be the final judge and wants, needs and has to give ‘this team the best chance to win B1G games.

That’s right: the coach will decide. i honestly believe that even he doesn’t know for certain who that will be yet. There are too many variables on December 16,2024 how it will al play out in the late summer of 2025.

 

[Big Dawg]

I'm confident in the QB's the gophers seem to have available to choose from.

 

[BilldGopher]

Here's something interesting to me. Looks like Mr. Pyron has a degree in Business Administration from GT. According to US News/World Report rankings, the GT Scheller College of Business ranks 20 nationally while our beloved Carlson School of Management ranks 35.

If the strength of a degree and the academic performance needed to get it is apples-to-apples, then I'd say Zach's got some smarts too to go with his arm and feet. The Gophers have had some Carlson grads over the years that is good to see. Now some GT smarts added to the roster. I'll take it even if a Number 2 role.

 

[mcrow47]

I think Pyron is insurance for Lindsey not being ready. I think Lindsey should be able to beat out Pyron but if not they have a plan B. I think it's a competition but I think the coaches want Lindsey to be clearly the better QB. Lindsey should have a leg up as he's been working with the OC and coaching staff for a full season.

 

[PMWinSTP]

My gut says Lindsey. He's had a year to better understand the offense and learn from watching Max.

 

[RememberMurray]

Here's something I think we should bear in mind:
We might have gotten a tiny bit spoiled watching Max Brosmer play QB in 2024.

I've been utilizing YouTube to rewatch much of the '24 Gopher football season, and damn, Max was just fun to watch. He's obviously not the tallest, or the most athletic. He doesn't have a bazooka arm (although he can spin it pretty damn well). But that rattlesnake-quick release! The decisiveness! The ability (and confidence) to fire the ball before the receiver has even made his break, and put it on the guy! Really impressive. Plus, the QB's leadership role appeared to come to him naturally. There was no phony rah-rah B.S. He always seemed genuine and sincere.

Ryan Burns said we shouldn't expect a Brosmer-level portal pickup this year. He's right; you can't get a Max Brosmer every year, for the simple reason that Max Brosmer-level QBs are pretty rare.