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Gophers passing game must improve for a bowl berth - TwinCities.com

keflavik

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Auburn set the median across college football’s passing offenses last season, averaging 233 yards per game.

The Gophers, meanwhile, eclipsed that middle-of-the-road mark only once in 12 games in 2017, with 239 yards in the season-opening 17-7 win over Buffalo. It was all downhill from there...

Fleck and Co. believe they have a more athletic stable of young receivers to compliment consistent producer Tyler Johnson. They are expected to be a trio of freshmen in Demetrius Douglas, Chris Autman-Bell and Rashod Bateman. Seth Green, who moved from quarterback to tight end/receiver during spring practice, is also a potential threat.

“They made plays all through training camp and plays that impressed a lot of us, even the coaches,” senior running back Rodney Smith said. “… Just giving those guys that confidence and making sure they can go out there and do that in the game in front of thousands of people is key.”

The Gophers’ anemic passing numbers a year ago were, in part, related to Fleck limiting attempts and Johnson, their top receiver, missing the final two games with a broken hand. Minnesota didn’t throw more than 16 passes in any of those final four games.

When Fleck named Annexstad the starting quarterback last week, he said offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kirk Ciarrocca would design a game plan to make him successful.

“Our quarterback is going to be expected to run the offense,” Fleck said Sunday. “It’s not how much do we put, how little do we put (on him). Our offense is going to run the way our offense needs to run. … They’re expected to execute it at a very high level — no matter what year (they) are.”..

https://www.twincities.com/2018/08/27/gophers-passing-game-must-improve-for-a-bowl-berth-in-2018/
 
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