BTNs Dienhart: What I'll be watching at Minnesota fall practice

BleedGopher

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per Dienhart:

Here are five things I will be watching at Minnesota practice.

1. Chemistry. Everything is new in the Twin Cities, as the P.J. Fleck era is kicking off. Is everyone on the same page? Will there be a big learning curve? Will there be buy-in from all the players? All the fun offseason Fleck stories have been told. Now, it’s time to get to work … and win.

2. Quarterback. Mitch Leidner is gone. What now? Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft are battling for the job. You have to go back to Adam Weber to find the last time the Gophers had a signal-caller who could really sling it.

3. Offensive line. This unit was decimated in spring drills. How does it look now? The group needs to be tough and physical at the point of attack to help propel what could be a good rushing attack. No doubt, Vincent Calhoun, Garrison Wright and Donnell Greene are big and physical.

4. Secondary. Under Jerry Kill, the defensive backs had been a strong suit. But there are questions in the back-end. The staff can build around safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Daletavious McGhee. How do the corners look? Antonio Shenault and Kiondre Thomas?

5. Pass game. For too long, this offense has lacked explosive ability. Who will stretch the field for the Golden Gophers? Rashad Still is a good bet, but I want to watch Tyler Johnson and Eric Carter, among others. More TD tosses are needed. Get this: The Gophers threw a total of five against FBS teams last year and never came up with two in a game – four came against FCS Indiana State.

http://btn.com/2017/08/16/dienhart-what-ill-be-watching-at-minnesota-fall-practice/

Go Gophers!!
 


Anyone know when the Gopher preview airs on BTN?


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Weber? Try Cory Sauter (when Jeezo-Beezo was still coach).
 




I watched the MSU/Iowa BTN Live show Monday, Nebraska was yesterday. Crosschecking the BTN schedule: MN will be on tv Thurs night per the schedule.
 






per Dienhart:

2. Quarterback. Mitch Leidner is gone. What now? Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft are battling for the job. You have to go back to Adam Weber to find the last time the Gophers had a signal-caller who could really sling it.

Here are the career stats for the top Gopher QBs of all-time. Was Weber really the last QB that we had that could sling it? Yes he leads in all-time yards, but the top 5 are all incredibly similar in completion % (but would you believe Cupito has a lower completion % than Mitch?). Mitch stands out due to fewer passing TDs, but he has the most rushing TDs.

Foggie has the most yards per attempt at 8.2 with Cupito close behind at 8.1. Weber lags on this stat 6.8 yds per attempt vs Mitch's 7.1 yds per attempt.

Cupito and Abdul-Khaliq lead in TD per attempt.

Dungy, Foggie, and Fleetwood lead in INT per attempt.

gopherqb.jpg
 


They are also airing the "MN Classic" Rutgers at MN 2016. Don't miss it! After that an actual classic -Iowa at MN 2011. Followed by the WA State game.
 

They are also airing the "MN Classic" Rutgers at MN 2016. Don't miss it! After that an actual classic -Iowa at MN 2011. Followed by the WA State game.

It's not truly a Minnesota Classic night unless Minnesota-Illinois 1996 is shown......
 




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