Gophergrandpa
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Our WRs performed well against WI. Could be a number of reasons for that unusual game success, but scheme, commitment to the pass, passing enough to coordinate timing, etc. might be factors. So, is our WR group a good one? Many seem to think it is subpar.
Based on rankings come out of HS--and assuming no transfers out--the Gophers will enter next year with the most highly ranked WR corp it has ever had. If the NCAA gives him another year, CrAB will come back to lead the group. He was a mid-level 3* at an 0.8499 HS ranking (why not an 0.8500 ranking for the computers to figure out). The next three WRs are all 4* ranked coming out of HS. Dylan Wright was very highly ranked, at 0.9678; Daniel Jackson was at 0.8982; new transfer Markus Allen was at 0.8928. All of these three have had challenges (Jackson's being nagging injuries), but all have superior natural ability and athletic gifts. We also have a talented high 3*, Lemeke Brockington, ranked at 0.8759 in the mix. On a team populated mostly with mid-3*, the potential starters at WR stands out as an exception; it is a loaded group--at least on paper. {Good depth, too. In order of rankings: Ike White, 0.8685; Kristen Hoskins, 0.8611; Dino Kaliakmanis, 0.8593, and Michael Brown-Stephens, 0.08498; plus several local walk-ons).
I believe that our lack of a meaningful, continuous commitment to the passing game during the past two years relates primarily to Mo's truly incredible vision, ability and durability. It was just easier and safer to fall back on him--Old Reliable, who almost never got tackled for a loss or fumbled--rather than to chance mistakes and turnovers, and perhaps losses, developing a robust passing game. It might also have related to the upper limits of Tanner's abilities. Well, in 2023 we enter the post-Mo era ... and the post-Tanner era. In 2023, the most important player on our team, the player we fashion our offense around, will be (as on almost every other good team) the guy who gets a touch on virtually every play: the QB. I think this dynamic alone will (or should!) lead the Gophers back to the process of developing a robust passing game under game conditions--working on the blocking schemes, on timing and coordination with receivers, and on instinctual play through repetition, etc. We will return to seeking multiple explosive plays per game--and taking the chances that go with that "playing to win" mentality.
So anyway, I think our receiver group going into next year is actually quite good from a natural ability standpoint--and could be boosted if TE BSF comes back for a final year. When given meaningful chances, all these receivers (except the transfer in, Allen) have shown Gopher fans some game. The current WR group has the most nominal talent of any we've ever had. Can that talent be revealed and cultivated? That is up to the coaches and the QB. I suspect the QB is up for the challenge!
Based on rankings come out of HS--and assuming no transfers out--the Gophers will enter next year with the most highly ranked WR corp it has ever had. If the NCAA gives him another year, CrAB will come back to lead the group. He was a mid-level 3* at an 0.8499 HS ranking (why not an 0.8500 ranking for the computers to figure out). The next three WRs are all 4* ranked coming out of HS. Dylan Wright was very highly ranked, at 0.9678; Daniel Jackson was at 0.8982; new transfer Markus Allen was at 0.8928. All of these three have had challenges (Jackson's being nagging injuries), but all have superior natural ability and athletic gifts. We also have a talented high 3*, Lemeke Brockington, ranked at 0.8759 in the mix. On a team populated mostly with mid-3*, the potential starters at WR stands out as an exception; it is a loaded group--at least on paper. {Good depth, too. In order of rankings: Ike White, 0.8685; Kristen Hoskins, 0.8611; Dino Kaliakmanis, 0.8593, and Michael Brown-Stephens, 0.08498; plus several local walk-ons).
I believe that our lack of a meaningful, continuous commitment to the passing game during the past two years relates primarily to Mo's truly incredible vision, ability and durability. It was just easier and safer to fall back on him--Old Reliable, who almost never got tackled for a loss or fumbled--rather than to chance mistakes and turnovers, and perhaps losses, developing a robust passing game. It might also have related to the upper limits of Tanner's abilities. Well, in 2023 we enter the post-Mo era ... and the post-Tanner era. In 2023, the most important player on our team, the player we fashion our offense around, will be (as on almost every other good team) the guy who gets a touch on virtually every play: the QB. I think this dynamic alone will (or should!) lead the Gophers back to the process of developing a robust passing game under game conditions--working on the blocking schemes, on timing and coordination with receivers, and on instinctual play through repetition, etc. We will return to seeking multiple explosive plays per game--and taking the chances that go with that "playing to win" mentality.
So anyway, I think our receiver group going into next year is actually quite good from a natural ability standpoint--and could be boosted if TE BSF comes back for a final year. When given meaningful chances, all these receivers (except the transfer in, Allen) have shown Gopher fans some game. The current WR group has the most nominal talent of any we've ever had. Can that talent be revealed and cultivated? That is up to the coaches and the QB. I suspect the QB is up for the challenge!
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