Paul Johnson is coaching his final game at Georgia Tech today. His Yellow Jackets are 7-5 with no signature wins and just one relatively bad loss, to USF. Georgia Tech has an excellent run game -- they lead the nation in rushing yards per game and are 12th in rushing yards per attempt -- but have struggled defensively, both in the run and pass game.

Quarterbacks TaQuon Marshall and Tobias Oliver are as much of running backs as they are quarterbacks. They're fast and agile and are the Yellow Jackets' two leading rushers. In Georgia Tech's flexbone offense, there are three others in the backfield: two A-backs and a B-back. The A-backs are behind the tackles. They're often put in motion pre-snap and are usually the ones optioning out with the quarterback on triple options. The B-back is lined up behind the quarterback with his hand in the dirt. Georgia Tech's offense has three base plays: the dive (hand-off to the B-back), sweep (pitch to A-back who goes in motion pre-snap), and triple option. Georgia Tech's offensive line is decent in the run game but has struggled in the pass game, which makes sense as they were recruited to almost exclusively run block. Georgia Tech has only thrown the ball for 100+ yards four times this season, and against Virginia Tech, they only attempted one pass which fell incomplete.

Georgia Tech fired former Minnesota DC Ted Roof after last season and brought in Appalachian State DC Nate Woody, who had a great track record with the Mountaineers. The defense hasn't been as strong in Atlanta. Georgia Tech plays a 3-4, and defensive end Anree Saint-Amour is the best player in the front seven. The linebackers have struggled to tackle, as the highest-rated tackling grade among their starters is 54.7. GT plays a lot of Cover 3 and Cover 4, so they are among the best in the ACC at not giving up big plays but are among the worst otherwise.

Time for take off to Detroit! Any bars around the team hotel that fellow Gophers will be finding their way to?

-- Matchup Preview: Georgia Tech
-- Behind Enemy Lines: Georgia Tech
-- Film Room: Georgia Tech
-- Rankings & Predictions: Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech
-- Facts & Figures: Georgia Tech
-- PFF Grades: Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech
-- Film Room: Tanner Morgan and the Passing Game
-- Transcript: PJ Fleck at the Quick Lane Bowl
-- Georgia Tech hopes to send Paul Johnson out a winner from the Associated Press

Gophers offense vs. Georgia Tech defense: Quarterback Tanner Morgan is 3-2 as Minnesota’s starting quarterback. The U did not commit a turnover in their upset win over Wisconsin; Georgia Tech is No. 12 nationally in turnover margin (plus-9). Minnesota has lost 11 fumbles (104th in nation); the Yellow Jackets have recovered 13 (third ). The U’s go-to receiver Tyler Johnsonis 14 yards from breaking Ron Johnson’s single-season receiving record (1,125) and a touchdown from tying Johnson and Omar Douglas’s one-year bests of 11. The U leads the Big Ten, and is 16th in the nation, averaging 14.11 yards per completion. Running back Mohamed Ibrahim is 64 yards away from eclipsing 1,000 for the season. He’s currently third on the U’s freshman rushing leaderboard. With Donnell Greene (knee) out, Blaise Andries will move from guard to tackle, and true freshman Curtis Dunlap will make his first career start at right guard. Defensive end Anree Saint-Amour leads Georgia tech with 11 tackles for lost yards and four sacks. EDGE: Gophers ..

Prediction:Georgia Tech players griped about how a 5-3 finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference somehow got them in the low-rung Quick Lane Bowl. If that bitterness remains, they could send out Paul Johnson with a loss in his last game in Atlanta. But they should be able to execute in the option and live up to their favored status. Georgia Tech, 27-24

https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/...georgia-tech-who-has-edge-in-quick-lane-bowl/

What y'all got. Our original choice, reservations were cancelled by restaurant. It decided to close for Christmas.

Just made protective later reservation over at MGM Wolfgang Puck. Likely one of the few places that won't piss off the wife.

But am open to other suggestions .

GOPHERS OFFENSE VS. YELLOW JACKETS DEFENSE

QB Tanner Morgan improved as the season progressed. He has explosive weapons in receivers Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman (a combined 123 catches, 1,782 yards, 16 TDs). Freshman Mohamed Ibrahim has emerged as a move-the-chains back. Tech’s defense allows 28.9 points per game, 80th nationally. Advantage: Gophers

SPECIAL TEAMS

Georgia Tech’s Wesley Walls is 8-for-8 on field goals, punter Pressley Harvin III averages 44.3 yards per attempt. The Gophers’ Demetrius Douglas is a TD threat on punt and kickoff returns. Advantage: Georgia Tech

PLAYER TO WATCH

With the Yellow Jackets using a triple-option offense, the Gophers will have several players to watch. The most productive of those is senior quarterback TaQuon Marshall, who has rushed for a team-high 896 yards. Marshall has 824 yards and five TDs passing.

THE OPPONENT

Georgia Tech won its final four ACC games before falling 45-21 to SEC runner-up Georgia. The Quick Lane Bowl will be the final game for veteran coach Paul Johnson, who is retiring. Johnson, 61, has guided Tech to a 3-5 record in bowls, and his team is making its return to a bowl game after a one-year absence.

GOPHERS DEFENSE VS. YELLOW JACKETS OFFENSE

Facing a triple-option offense will be new for the Gophers, and Georgia Tech’s is especially solid, leading the nation with 334.9 rushing yards per game. With Gophers LB Blake Cashman leaving early to prepare for the NFL, Julian Huff will have to fill that void, as he did well at Wisconsin. Advantage: Georgia Tech

INTANGIBLES


The Yellow Jackets want to send Johnson out with a win, but the Gophers hit their stride in the final three weeks of the season and looked like a team with a bright future. Advantage: Gophers

RJ’S PREDICTION

Gophers 31, Georgia Tech 27

Georgia Tech’s triple option will be a challenge, but Minnesota’s offense can play ball-control, too.

Mrs Bayfield and I have been thinking about taking in the Fresno State game. We have never been to California or Vegas other than to stop overs in LA and Frisco.

We plan to fly into Vegas take the drive up to Fresno and spend 7-10 days checking out the area. We will base in Fresno. We know Fresno is just an hour from Yosemite and other parks so we will certainly visit and hike those places. We have no desire to go to LA, maybe Frisco. We will spend one night in Vegas on the return.

What places and events are a "must" to visit?

As “The Year of the Axe” draws to a close, it’s once again time to honor the contributions of Elite posters by naming of The Gopher Report 2018 Poster of the Year (POY)!

2018 has been a rollercoaster year for Gopher Sports, with a promising basketball team sliding into disappointment, women’s softball and volleyball achieving at a high level, a new hockey coach, and a football season that caused emotional vacillation between elation and despair before concluding with the glorious homecoming of The Axe. Throughout it all, MJH and his dedicated team provided the kind of coverage and analysis that keeps us all coming back for more.

Throughout this eventful year, a wide-range of posters have diligently posted their own analysis, insights, opinions, and humor, dreaming of the possibility that they might one day be recognized with the ultimate TGR posting honor, Post of the Year.

Past winners will surely attest that while the to road to Poster of the Year is long and arduous, winning the acclaim and admiration of their peers, along with all the honors, rights, and privileges conferred upon the POY (no cash value,) during the year of their reign, made it all worthwhile!

The 2017 POY winner was @Vifan. (1st runner-up: @GopherJim, Tie-2nd runner-up: @fencejumpers, @wren121.)

Vifan produced thoughtfully balanced posts, including special insights from the Ohio area. Can he pull off the incredibly difficult repeat win of this prestigious honor, as @foggieguy did in 2015? You will decide, through your nominations and voting.

To nominate a poster, post their alias (e.g., @Matt Jessen-Howard, @E.J. Stevens, etc.) in this thread by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26th. You may nominate as many posters as you like in your post, just not any posters who has been TGR staff members during 2018. (@Littlefinger is eligible this year) I'll compile a list of the 9 posters with the most nominations (the poll thread max,) and put them into a polling thread for final voting (yes, once again you will be able to see who votes for who, and make devious changes to your vote in exchange for whatever seems fair,) with the winner to be announced within 24 hours (to allow for recounts and any other messy disputes) of the poll closing at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 31st.

Who is worthy of nomination? That's completely up to you! Here's a list of some frequent posters, to get your thoughts started:

@-TUNDRA- (36,355 posts as I write this)
@Littlefinger (34,127 likes as I write this)
@umfb27
@dubwa
@Viperman69
@OPD77
@GopherJim
@stroke the post
@DWG In NE
@AhliBobwa
@Vifan
@Gopher Rube
@chap99
@fencejumpers
@blackoliveguy7
@kcgorilla
@Tuchman Marsh
@tcfgophernation
@junit3
@olygopher
@Whytetale
@Anticallihan
@Doc Arnold
@keflavik
@sky dragon 15
@MOGopher
@alanschroeder
@Bens71
@BOBGOD
@gophernutt

Your nominations ARE NOT limited to this list. Feel free to nominate any poster, as many posters as you like, and even campaign on their behalf in your post!

Let the fun begin, and may the best poster win!

to everyone here. I’ve been with you guys for 18 months now and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.

Here's a couple of them. The others at the link

What’s at stake

Tech can finish 8-5, which would be the sixth eight-win season of coach Paul Johnson’s tenure, which will conclude at game’s end. Since Bobby Dodd’s retirement after the 1966 season, Tech had nine eight-win seasons in the 41 seasons before Johnson’s hire. By winning percentage, there have been 10 seasons better than the .615 that an 8-5 season would represent.

It also would be Tech’s third consecutive bowl win after victories in the 2014 Orange Bowl and 2016 TaxSlayer (Gator) Bowl and fourth in the past five. The longest bowl win streak in school history is eight, during Dodd’s tenure.

It would be a satisfying conclusion to a season that began 1-3 with losses to South Florida, Pittsburgh and Clemson. The Jackets rallied from that point by winning six of the final eight regular-season games.

About Minnesota

The Golden Gophers enter the Quick Lane Bowl at 6-6. On offense, Minnesota runs a lot of run-pass option with quarterback Tanner Morgan and throws often to wide receiver Tyler Johnson (seven catches per game), whom the Gophers deploy across the field.

Freshman running back Mohamed Ibrahim (104 rushing yards per game) is another skill player that Tech has to slow.

“The big key will be to try to slow down their run game because you can’t let ’em do both,” Johnson said.

Minnesota also boasts a freshman right tackle who might be the largest opponent Tech has ever faced, Daniel Faalele, who is 6-foot-8 and 400 pounds.

Minnesota plays a 4-3 defense that has improved since the firing of defensive coordinator Robb Smith after the ninth game of the season. The Gophers gave up 6.3 yards per play in the first nine games and 4.9 in the final three. Defensive third-down percentage was 42 percent before the change and 22 percent after.

The Gophers will play without two key players – left tackle Donnell Greene and linebacker Blake Cashman – who chose not to play to begin draft preparations. Cashman was the team’s best defensive player. Coach P.J. Fleck also suspended one or more players for the game for an apparent violation of team rules, but had not identified them as of Sunday

https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/...a-the-quick-lane-bowl/ufD0Csis6rtaMDdbOp8CCK/

beat Iowa

MINNESOTA OFFENSE:


MINNESOTA DEFENSE:

GEORGIA TECH OFFENSE:

GEORGIA TECH DEFENSE:

• Suspensions: TGR heard about the suspended players a couple weeks ago, but Minnesota obviously does not want their names revealed, so I didn't make any changes to this depth chart other than Cashman/Greene. But I will say there are two players that are in these graphics that I believe are on the suspended list.
• With Dunlap starting and Donnell Greene out, I slid Blaise Andries to left tackle and put Curtis Dunlap at left guard. I'm not actually sure that this is how the offensive line will look, but that makes the most sense to me.
• Minnesota likely won't use their traditional front against Georgia Tech's flexbone, but I didn't edit the formation for the sake of simplicity (and I'm sure Rossi will use several different looks).

Oturu Claims Big Ten Freshman of the Week


Brad Rempel

MEN'S BASKETBALL | 12/24/2018 12:00:00 PM

Daniel Oturu has been selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday. The Woodbury, Minn., native has posted three consecutive double-doubles, including the Friday night win over North Carolina A&T.

Against the Aggies, Oturu finished with a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. Oturu was 9-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 at the free throw line, with four rebounds coming on the offensive end. He also finished with two blocks.

Oturu had double-double performances in the prior two games, wins over Arkansas State (19 points, 12 rebounds) and North Florida (13 points, 11 rebounds). So far this season, the Cretin-Derham Hall product leads the Gophers in blocks (2.0 bpg), a figure which ranks third in the Big Ten, is second in rebounding (7.9 rpg; B1G- 9th) and fourth on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg).

He is the second Gopher to win the award this season, joining guard Gabe Kalscheurwho was named top freshman for the week of November 26.

Oturu and the Gophers return to action in six days, hosting Mount St. Mary's in the non-conference finale on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/...turu-claims-big-ten-freshman-of-the-week.aspx

I saw that Alabama had three players suspended. I wonder if the press down there hounded Saban as bad as our press does PJ. To be fair Saban did name the three players but did not release why they were suspended.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

The rest of the column is at this link:

https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/...an-shuffled-around-on-gophers-offensive-line/

DETROIT — The Gophers will have a new-look offensive line when they face Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field on Wednesday.

With senior Donnell Greene opting for season-ending knee surgery in preparation for a shot in the NFL, the Gophers will move redshirt freshman Blaise Andries from right guard to Greene’s left tackle spot. They will insert true freshman Curtis Dunlap at right guard.

“Curtis hasn’t started yet, so we think he’s becoming a really good player in practice, but in the game situation, his first bowl game, getting his first start, we’ll see,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said Monday. “We could always move Blaise back to right guard and put (Sam) Schlueter at left tackle. We’ll play it by ear as we keep going forward.”

Andries, a four-star recruit from Marshall, Minn., has started all 12 games at right guard, and Schlueter, a redshirt sophomore from Victoria, Minn., has five starts at right tackle and two at left when Greene was injured or being discipled...

HELP FOR HUNGRY
Gophers players had just heard about how the potatoes and apples they would pack in meals Monday at Gleaners Community Food Bank would help families in five counties in southeastern Michigan. That’s when Fleck had a question.

He wanted to know how many pounds Georgia Tech had packed earlier in the day. Once those numbers were relayed, a competition commenced.

Georgia Tech packed 12,030 pounds of potatoes and 4,685 pounds of apples, with Minnesota exceeding those marks with 19,500 pounds of potatoes and 5,255 pounds of apples....

BRIEFLY
A Quick Lane Bowl spokeswoman said Monday that “based on distribution numbers, we are expecting more than 24,000” fans at Wednesday’s game. When Minnesota beat Central Michigan, 21-14, in this bowl in 2015, attendance was announced at a very inflated 34,217 fans.

Since wont get a chance tomorrow to post Christmas wishes to my fellow slackers, thought i would jump the gun and do it now (did not see the "official" thread yet).

Peace and Joy to you and your families this Christmas season.

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Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech
Gophers to battle Jackets for Motor City Supremacy



FOOTBALL | 12/25/2018 10:19:00 AM

GAME NOTES (PDF)

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Minnesota earned a bowl berth - its 20th in school history - with a 37-15 win at border rival Wisconsin on Nov. 24. The Gophers reclaimed Paul Bunyan's Axe with the win and beat the Badgers for the first time since 2003 and won at Wisconsin for the first time since 1994. Minnesota will play Georgia Tech, from the Atlantic Coast Conference, on Dec. 26 in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. This will be Minnesota's second appearance in the Michigan-based bowl, as the Gophers beat Central Michigan, 21-14, on Dec. 28, 2015.

2. The Gophers are 7-12 in Bowl Games, but have won their last two. In addition to beating Central Michigan 21-14 in the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl, the Gophers also posted a 17-12 win against Washington State in the 2016 Holiday Bowl. Prior to 2015, Minnesota had lost its previous seven bowl games. The Gophers seven bowl wins have come in the following bowls: 1962 Rose Bowl (beat UCL 21-3), 1985 Independence Bowl (beat Clemson 20-3), 2002 Music City Bowl (beat Arkansas 29-14), 2003 Sun Bowl (beat Oregon 31-30), 2004 Music City Bowl (beat Alabama 20-16), 2015 Quick Lane Bowl (beat Central Michigan 21-14) and 2016 Holiday Bowl (beat Washington 17-12).

3. Seven members of this year's team played in the Quick Lane Bowl when the Gophers beat Central Michigan in 2015. Running back Rodney Smith started for the Gophers and rushed 15 times for 74 yards. The following players also saw action in that game: Shannon Brooks (15 carries, 65 yards), Jacob Huff, Julian Huff (3 tackles), Payton Jordahl (starting long snapper), Antonio Shenault and Blake Cashman. Smith and Brooks will not play in this year's bowl game, as they are injured. Cashman has elected not to play in the Quick Lane Bowl as he prepares for a professional career.

4. Minnesota won two of its final three games to earn a bowl berth. In addition to beating rival Wisconsin in the final game of the season, the Gophers also topped Purdue (held Boilers to season low 233 yards and 10 points) 41-10. Minnesota's lone loss in its last three games was a 24-14 setback to Big Ten West division champions Northwestern. Minnesota last won its final game of the regular season in 2011 when it beat Illinois 27-7 at home. Minnesota has never won its final game of the regular season and a bowl game in the same year. A bowl victory would mean that Minnesota would win three of its final four games of the year, which is something the Gophers have not done since 2006 (beat Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa to end the regular season before losing to Texas Tech in the Insight Bowl).

5. Minnesota is 7-12 in its 19 played bowl games, but nearly every game has been closely contested. Fourteen of the games have been decided by 10 points or less and 12 were decided by one score. Minnesota has scored 418 points (22 ppg ave) in 19 bowl games and has allowed 421 points (22.1 ppg ave).

https://gophersports.com/news/2018/12/25/football-quick-lane-bowl-minnesota-vs-georgia-tech.aspx

From Nick Falato: https://minnesota.rivals.com/news/film-room-georgia-tech

Merry Christmas to all!

Tujautae Williams picked up a tremendous Christmas present less than 72 hours before most families gather around the tree. Minnesota issued him a scholarship offer on Saturday.

They joined Texas Tech, DePaul, and New Mexico as high major programs who have offered along with Milwaukee, Detroit, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Northwestern State, Buffalo, UIC, Utah State, and Florida Atlantic.

Williams says he is also hearing from Tulsa, Gonzaga, Miami, Virginia Tech, and Georgetown.

The 6-foot-6, 175 pound senior spoke with The Gopher Report Sunday night and told us how the Minnesota relationship came about.
"They have been recruiting me since July. Coach (Rob) Jeter saw me when I was playing in the NY2LA Tournament. He spoke with me about two weeks after the AAU season was over and told me he liked me and was interested."

Since then, Williams and Jeter have built a solid relationship. In fact it is on good enough footing that Jeter can be brutally honest with the recruit when need be.

"Coach Jeter tells me what I can do for the program, " Williams admitted. "He is brutally honest with me. He tells me the good and bad. He likes my versatility, how I come off ball-screens, and that I play fast. He also tells me I need to work on my shooting."

Coach Jeter was in Chicago last night to see Williams and his Rezin Orr Academy squad defeat North Community High 84-58. Jeter was impressed enough that he offered Williams immediately after the game. Williams said he really wasn't surprised because of the persistence of Jeter.

"They have seen me play five times, so I knew they were for real after they came that many times. Coach (Richard) Pitino is coming in next month, so I'm excited about that."

Williams hasn't seen Pitino in person, but added the two have spoken on the phone. Williams already has had previous experience with the university which has led to knowledge about the basketball program.

"I have a cousin that went there. She liked it a lot. When she would come back home, she would always tell us how great it was. That's when I started liking them. I've watched them play a lot. I like the way they play and the pick and rolls they do with the wings."

That style fits what Williams does according to his own self assessment.

"I can play multiple positions. I can play anywhere from the point guard, to the shooting guard, to the small forward. I'm really good in transition and off ball-screens. I'm very versatile. I can also guard multiple positions."

Scott Burgess of Prep Hoops Illinois has covers the Chicago area heavily, and has seen Williams play a number of times.

"He is a 6-foot-6 small forward from Orr who played as a role guy last year, and has stepped up this season into a feature player. Williams is a long and lanky wing who is a plus athlete and attacks with force off the bounce. He is a much improved passer. His jumper needs to get better consistently from three to max out his upside."

Williams told us he is will take his visits after the season is over. Rezin Orr is currently 8-4. The regular season concludes on January 26, and then the high school playoffs begin immediately after. Williams plans on taking full advantage when the visits do occur.

"I'm looking for a good fit. Academics are important. I also want a safe environment and a place where I have good relationships."