Fleck is never going to recruit big-name players who are just going to college to play football. Those types of recruits would never fit in with PJ's "Row The Boat" philosophy, and he knows it. We will never see those types of players (with Fleck here...) and I'm A-OK with that.
He threw 40% in this first full game. It's not like he went out there and totally changed the offense. If anything, they substantially dumbed it down for him and they still couldn't execute.
Name any possible way the gophers score 17 in that game with Morgan.
Well, he routinely throws his receivers open so that might have helped. The difference when you can't get seperation is inches.
I think it's more that no one outside of the midwest knows much about the Gophers. Had we remained successful since the '60s then I think recruits would be coming here just like to Michigan and PSU and better than WI.
No idea what you're even trying to imply here. I'm not trying to be a smart a**, I just honestly don't know what you're getting at. But yes, I'm underselling MN kids. Most of the MN kids in the class won't see the field unless we are so bad that we're back struggling in the non-conf. Then they'll see the field because it will mean we have nobody better.
Re: the first question, I don't know. But that's not what I was trying to talk about. I was just pointing out that there is no competition. Do you disagree, and do you honestly feel like AK8 is allowed to compete with Morgan? I certainly don't. To me, it was Morgan's job no matter what, except injury, which to me means "no competition".
I said the first part, but when the F did I ever say the bolded??????
Oh, whoops, you certainly got me there. An undersized center than could only play in Mason's zone blocking scheme and a good WR. Yep, in the past 20 years my criteria might have overlooked Decker. One player out of how man MN kids that didn't belong on a B1G field. But I doubt you'll take the time to look up the long list of losers. You just needed a quick-hitting, snarky comeback that took little effort.Greg Esslinger & Eric Decker chime in -
Mark Setterstrom says hi, as does Matt Spaeth, both unheralded MN recruits and what about MB JR or Dom? Get the point????
I'm showing that his class is basically the same as all the other teams in the West.
I couldn't care less if he brings in a busload of players from a prison and pays them with hookers and blow if they win titles.
Just to be clear, my posed question was do we think the Gophs will win fewer games going forward if Athan starts the rest of the season as opposed to Morgan starting.
And my answer is unequivocally yes. Pairing a freshman QB with a line that can't pass (or run) block and receivers that can't get seperatiom will lead to an ugly end to the season.
And pairing a slower, less athletic QB with said line and receivers is somehow better?
I couldn't agree with you more - and it is only going to get more cut throat with USC joining the conference. Watching the post game interviews of some Alabama games really made me question how these kids could possibly be passing classes - then the NC scandal hit and it all made sense. With more and online classes (which include rampant cheating as far as I am concerned), it is going to go from bad to worse. We are already able to pay players legally now. This is not college football of the leather helmet days - this is semi-pro ball now and the notion of the 'student athlete' is long gone.
Yes, because the slower, less athletic QB is also better at football
You are basing this on...what?
Look, if y'all are gonna force me to say it. Athan currently has a 37.2 passer rating on a 42% completion percentage with 1 TD to 3 INTs. He was not just bad last week. He was awful. Not is fault, but that's the truth.
Then I'm taking a "glass half full" outlook. That means we CAN close the gap with IA and WI....I just need hope, baby!
Thanks for your perspective! This is how I've typically felt, and why I've been (mostly) impressed with coach Fleck from the start. It's been a tough month though, for sure.
It started with the terrible timing of the firing. If they'd done it in November after the season, they'd likely have gotten Gary Patterson instead of being left with Brew and Dan Mullen as options (and then chooing the wrong one). They got lucky to get PJ after making the same mistake again.