NCAA – Page 65 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers Need a Lift at Quarterback

Posted on November 14, 2021 by David Shama

It’s time for the University of Minnesota football coaches to consider replacing Tanner Morgan at quarterback. A struggling Morgan has been too inconsistent this season and he faltered again yesterday in Minnesota’s 27-22 loss to Iowa.

With the Gophers leading 13-10 early in the third quarter, Morgan’s sideline pass to an open Chris Autman-Bell was too high, and the errant throw cost Minnesota a third down conversion. The Gophers punted to Iowa and the Hawkeyes scored on a 72-yard touchdown pass on their first play to take a lead they never gave up in the battle for possession of Floyd of Rosedale.

Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said at his postgame news conference the timing of the throw was early. “That was a critical play in the game,” said Fleck who is now 0-5 in the border rivalry with Iowa.

Morgan’s passes were off-target throughout the game, including balls that just sailed beyond his receivers. He completed 14 of 30 passes for 183 yards including a 68-yard strike to Autman-Bell for a fourth quarter touchdown.

Morgan had multiple near interceptions in the loss that knocked the Gophers out of a four-way first place tie in the Big Ten West Division. A short quarterback by Big Ten standards, Morgan’s passes are frequently tipped by defenders rushing toward him with raised hands in the air.

After the Gophers scored late in the fourth quarter on the Autman-Bell pass, they trailed 24-22. That set up a two-point conversion attempt where Morgan rolled to his right and threw toward the end zone only to have his pass knocked down.

In the closing minutes, behind by two points, Morgan and the Gophers had opportunities to change the score. Not a playmaker with his legs, Morgan couldn’t create extra yards, or time to throw the ball, when plays broke down.

It wasn’t just the quarterback who was inconsistent in the passing scheme. The receivers dropped too many passes, or didn’t make difficult catches, or even get open. That kind of performance has been another flaw in the Minnesota offense this season. The Gophers have nowhere near the receiving talent of two years ago when Morgan was so impressive throwing to all-conference playmakers Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman.

“You’d like to be able to see more completions, that’s for sure,” Fleck said. “Too many drops.”

The coaching staff’s responsibility is to provide more capable receivers than Minnesota has shown. That has to be considered a recruiting failure and it’s uncertain how the receiver roster gets fixed in the offseason.

The Gophers, 6-4 overall, 4-3 in Big Ten games, have remaining games at Indiana and home against Wisconsin. Then there will be a yet to be determined bowl game. Morgan is a wonderful person, terrific leader and outstanding game manager, but the present circumstances and timing provide an opportunity for a shakeup at quarterback.

Fleck has four scholarship quarterbacks behind Morgan who to his credit has helped win a lot of games since becoming the starter after the 2018 season was underway. Two of them, redshirt junior Zack Annexstad and redshirt sophomore Cole Kramer, have game experience.

Annexstad lost his job to Morgan in 2018 after he was injured. Annexstad has started seven games for Minnesota and has a stronger arm than Morgan. Kramer has been effective in the wildcat formation this season and has thrown two touchdown passes. He is the best runner among the quarterbacks and has exceptional on-field poise.

A change in the quarterbacks now could spark a passing game that has struggled in painful close losses to Bowling Green, Illinois and Iowa. A quarterback who could provide an occasional running threat in the option offense will make the superb running game even better. Ability to throw with more arm strength can get the ball down the field faster.

Indiana, 0-7 in the Big Ten, was a preseason top 20 team but has been hit hard by key injuries. Yesterday the Hoosiers lost 38-3 to mediocre Rutgers. Although the Hoosiers will try to rally for their final home game next Saturday, their win probability is about 20 percent. That’s a prime stage and opponent to give a start to Kramer or Annexstad.

A solid contribution from the quarterback and a Gopher victory improves the possibility of an upset against a hot Badgers team on a six-game winning streak. Although the Gophers have home field advantage, Minnesota has about a 30 percent likelihood of winning the game as things appear now.

If the Gophers change quarterbacks for the last three games of 2021 and his play elevates the offense that will be welcome news for next season. The development would set expectations for a much more balanced offense that is likely to include the return of All-American tailback Mo Ibrahim.

In yesterday’s game a sideline TV shot of Fleck showed him wringing his hands on a crucial play. At his news conference, the frustration of the loss was perhaps more evident than any time in his Gopher career. Being 0-5 against Iowa is painful.

Fleck’s record against his other border rival is 1-3. The coaches need to decide if another QB gives them a better path to making their record 2-3 against Wisconsin and again taking possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

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U 4-Star Recruit List May Grow

Posted on November 10, 2021November 10, 2021 by David Shama

The Golden Gophers football program has 14 verbal commits for its recruiting class of 2022, with a list of 12 three-star players and two four-stars, per the composite rankings of 247Sports. Ryan Burns—the recruiting authority from GopherIllustrated that is affiliated with 247—told Sports Headliners three-star commits Zach Evans, Kristen Hoskins and Jacob Knuth will be in discussions later this month for four-star status.

Evans, a running back from Rockwall, Texas, plays in the most competitive classification in the Lone Star state. “He’s putting up gaudy stats in 6A Texas football,” Burns said.

Evans, listed at 5-9, 200, could figure prominently in coach P.J. Fleck’s plans for 2022 with the return status of injured tailbacks Mo Ibrahim, Trey Potts and Bryce Williams unclear. Burns expects Evans to enroll at the University of Minnesota in January and participate in spring football.

Hoskins, from Alexandria, Minnesota, played a major role in helping the Cardinals to a 43-35 section playoffs win over Bemidji last Friday, scoring four touchdowns and making a game-saving interception. Listed by 247Sports at 5-9, 160, the wide receiver is small by even high school standards but Burns raves about him.

“The kid is incredibly electric with the ball in his hands. He’s incredibly quick, incredibly fast,” Burns said.

Recruiting evaluators know Hoskins is one of the most explosive playmakers in the Midwest but Burns believes his commitment to Minnesota is for sure. “…I don’t think another offer would really sway him.”

Knuth, from Harrisburg, South Dakota, is 247’s No. 1 prospect in that state. The 6-4, 207-pound quarterback can make plays with not only his arm but his legs and could have his team headed to a state championship.

Burns said Knuth’s size and skill-set is similar to class of 2021 four-star QB Athan Kaliakmanis. With the addition of Knuth, who is expected to enroll in January, the Gophers will have six scholarship quarterbacks if redshirt senior starter Tanner Morgan decides to play another year. A Morgan return probably means at least one scholarship QB will transfer to another program.

Minnesota’s verbal commits can sign National Letters of Intent next month including current four-star defensive linemen Trey Bixby from Eden Prairie and Anthony Smith of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Burns said Penn State’s defensive coordinator recently watched Smith play but doesn’t believe anything has changed regarding Smith’s commitment. “All indications…from Anthony are that he is firm with Minnesota, and I haven’t heard anything to contradict that.”

Fleck and his staff aren’t done recruiting, with Burns expecting the 2022 class to have a few (if not several) more scholarship players even if a final total is months away. Positions targeted will include offensive line, linebacker and perhaps running back with the fluid situation regarding All-American Ibrahim’s decision to play another season.

Burns said the Gophers are looking at junior college defensive and offensive line prospects, too. Current d-linemen Nyles Pinckney, Micah Dew-Treadway and Val Martin won’t be back because their eligibilities are expiring. It’s not clear whether starting defensive end Boye Mafe and offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and John Michael Schmitz will return, according to Burns.

Decisions on return plans by those players and others who are veterans will be known within about two weeks after Minnesota’s bowl game. That timeline will allow whether to enroll in classes.

Burns has a prediction about how Saturday’s game against Iowa can go in the Gophers’ favor. “Score 20 points. 20 points against Iowa should win you a football game.”

Both teams are defense-first, with offenses not as reliable. Burns said the Gophers will have to use some creativity offensively and definitely not rely almost exclusively on their running game. “Tanner is going to have to throw it 25, 30 times,” he said while pointing out Purdue and Wisconsin passed effectively in wins over the Hawkeyes.

Iowa likes to pound the ball, too, and can be reluctant to open up the offense.

“I have more faith in Minnesota’s passing game, than I do Iowa’s,” Burns said.

Worth Noting

Max Shikenjanski, son of former Gophers basketball center Jim Shikenjanski, is an outstanding junior quarterback for Stillwater. “The thing for him is, is it going to be football or is it going to be basketball,” Burns said. He described the Stillwater guard as one of the state’s top basketball prospects in the class of 2023. As for football, Max visited campus for a game earlier this fall and will be evaluated more in the summer.

All the best to my good friend Charley Walters as he recovers from a recent medical procedure.

Don’t expect former Gophers head coach Jerry Kill, now interim head coach at TCU, to be leading the Horned Frogs next season. AD Jermiah Donati made it clear to the Star Telegram in a November 2 story that Kill isn’t a candidate to succeed Gary Patterson.

The U athletic department should initiate a fund-raising campaign to place the first statues outside of Huntington Bank Stadium. The vote here is for coach Bernie Bierman and players Bobby Bell, Bronko Nagurski and Bruce Smith.

Bierman coached the Gophers to five of their seven national championships from 1934-1941. Bell, twice an All-American tackle, was a ferocious pass rusher who had everything to do with Minnesota playing in two Rose Bowls, winning a Big Ten title and compiling a 22-6-1 record during his three seasons of eligibility (1960-1962).

Nagurski, named an All-American at both fullback and tackle, is a football immortal from the 1920s and 1930s who was named to Sports Illustrated’s NCAA All-Century Team. Smith played halfback on two national championship teams and won the 1941 Heisman Trophy—the only Gopher ever to do so. Hollywood made a movie about him, Smith of Minnesota. The handsome football star played himself in the film.

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No Forgetting This U Offensive Line

Posted on November 3, 2021 by David Shama

Barry Mayer admires the University of Minnesota’s 2021 offensive line. Mayer emailed a certain scribe and suggested the O-line is so effective I could run behind it for more than 100 yards per game.

Then during last Saturday’s game against Northwestern, Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan ran 18 yards for a touchdown. The redshirt senior seldom carries the ball and he is not known for his speed, elusiveness or power.

“I rest my case,” Mayer wrote after Morgan’s score.

Mayer, the Fargo Flash, led the Gophers in rushing during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. This season he’s seen injuries sideline three of Minnesota’s top tailbacks, including All-American Mo Ibrahim who was lost in the opening game. Ibrahim, Trey Potts and Bryce Williams are all out for the remaining schedule of four games but the run-offense continues to roll with Ky Thomas and Mar’Keise Irving. Both rushed for more than 100 yards in the Northwestern win.

The running backs roster is talented, but success starts up front with one of the best Gopher offensive lines in 50 years. Minnesota, with its total of 1,178 rushing yards, ranks second in the Big Ten to Michigan and No. 15 nationally. After five conference games the 4-1 Gophers are alone in first place in the Big Ten West Division.

“I’ve told our football team some of our best players are our offensive linemen. You’ve got to build around your best players,” head coach P.J. Fleck said Monday, while wondering what things might look like with a full roster of running backs.

Gopher historians will remember the names of these O-linemen because they have played a lot of winning football at the U. Starters Sam Schlueter, left tackle; Connor Olson, left guard; John Michael Schmitz, center; Blaise Andries, right guard; and Daniel Faalele, right tackle. All are redshirt seniors, except redshirt junior Faalele.

Behind those five are other valued contributors who give the Gophers depth and extra muscle when Minnesota chooses to use more than five offensive linemen on selected plays. That’s a formidable scheme using seven or eight experienced heavyweights, weighing 300 or more pounds.

With over 190 combined career starts, Minnesota’s line is the most experienced among FBS teams in the nation. Overall, the Gophers have one of the deepest offensive lines in the country with 13 players having appeared in at least one college game and 10 starting one game or more.

Nowhere are the Gophers bigger than on the right side with the 6-6, 325 pound Andries and the 6-9, 380-pound Faalele. They, along with Schmitz, figure to be three Gopher linemen receiving a lot of attention leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft.

Minnesota hasn’t had an offensive lineman drafted in 15 years. “That’s all going to change this year,” Fleck said.

The coach frequently refers to Minnesota as a developmental program. Fleck and the staff take players (mostly three-star recruits, not four and five) through stages of progress. “He’s a great teacher,” former Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo said on the Big Ten Network.

Fleck’s enthusiasm is evident when he talks about redshirt backup offensive lineman Axel Ruschmeyer, referring to him as “maybe one of the most improved football players on our entire team.” The coach describes Ruschmeyer as a “gym rat,” a self-made player who is one of the strongest Gophers.

With the intricacies of playing in the offensive line, things don’t work when guys dislike one another. Fleck’s group doesn’t have that issue. They have been through challenges and experiences together including the pandemic, injuries, and close wins and losses on the field. Their chemistry with one another is authentic.

“They’re incredibly close (to one another),” Fleck said. “They hang out with each other off the field, and I think they’re setting an example and a precedent of what it means to be an offensive lineman here at the University of Minnesota.”

In Fleck’s first spring of 2017 he had only four healthy offensive linemen for him and his staff to work with. He’s watched the numbers grow and the level of play trend to new heights. His admiration for the 2021 edition is evident and it goes beyond football.

“They’re incredible people,” Fleck said. “They’re going to be doctors. They’re going to be actuaries. There are going to be lawyers, teachers. They’re going to be incredible husbands and fathers. It’s a really fun group.”

A talented and experienced offensive line allows Fleck, and his offensive coaches including much praised O-line coach and run-game coordinator Brian Callahan, to play what some observers call “Tressel Ball.” When Jim Tressel was head coach at Ohio State he won six Big Ten championships and the 2002 national championship with a conservative approach that emphasized running the football, along with strong defense, special teams and field position.

Fleck was a grad assistant for Tressel at Ohio State during the national title season. He described Tressel as one of the most influential people in his life. Much of Fleck’s philosophy about how to run a program and how to command a game on Saturday comes from his mentor, now president of Youngstown State.

The two remain close and Fleck is grateful for the relationship. “I get a text from him after every game,” Fleck said.

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