P.J. Fleck: Gophers must play better or ‘lot of teams are going to beat us’
By ANDY GREDER
With the film reviewed and his game ball stowed away, Gophers coach P.J. Fleck issued a warning after the 17-7 win over Buffalo.
“It wasn’t that we were really disappointed, but it was we all know we did not even come close to playing our best football,” Fleck said Monday. “When you can not play your best football and win a game like that, OK. Not that you get away with it, but you are almost say, ‘OK, if we continue to do that, a lot of teams are going to beat us.’ ”
The Gophers (1-0) implemented a vanilla offensive scheme to lighten the load for its inexperienced quarterbacks and a reconfigured offensive line playing together for the first time.
Their thin defensive secondary weathered a predominately aerial attack, and the special teams overcame two startling missed field goals to seal an opener that was in doubt throughout Thursday night.
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Gophers’ running game surprisingly tame in season-opening victory
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck wins debut, 17-7 over Buffalo
Gophers’ quarterback competition still too close to call after one game
Como Zoo’s newest residents named after Gopher coaches Fleck, Pitino
Fleck wants the data obtained from the win to inform their game plan and execution against Oregon State (1-1) on Saturday night in Corvallis, Ore.
The Beavers were an early one-point favorite against Minnesota on Monday — despite giving up 90 points in two games. After a 58-27 blowout loss to Colorado State, Oregon State needed a touchdown with 1:08 left and a 46-yard missed field goal as time expired from Portland State — a Football Championship Subdivision program — to pull out a 35-32 win on Saturday.
Here are some of Fleck’s reflections from Thursday’s win:
CROFT VS. RHODA IN RUN GAME
The Gophers’ two-quarterback system had divergent results in the running game. In addition to running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith being more effective with Demry Croft in the game, Croft also had six carries for 32 yards to Conor Rhoda’s zero.
“Demry left a lot of meat on the bone in terms of the run game,” Fleck said. “He’s running, but he’s not running to make a huge difference. He’s running but kind of not seeing where he’s going.
“I’m not into the ‘running quarterback’ (vs.) ‘throwing quarterback;’ they are running the same plays.”
“But I think Demry gives you a quality that he can run and he can give you that burst, but at the end of the day, it’s gonna be efficient runs,” Fleck added. “It can’t just be running around. … Same thing with Conor.”
STILL INCONCLUSIVE
So, is there more upside with Croft because he was the most-effective runner?
“They’re both going to play,” Fleck reiterated. “You could talk about Conor’s (passing) yards, but the interception in the end zone is catastrophic. You can talk about the plays Demry made, but there’s things he didn’t make.
“We’re still at a point where no one’s set themselves apart,” he continued. “When people don’t set themselves apart, it’s hard for me to make that decision. Now eventually, I want to make that decision. And eventually, somebody’s going to force my hand that way. If it’s not clear and it’s close, I’m going to make the decision that’s best for the program.”
INEFFECTIVE O-LINE
The offensive line had two players make their first starts — sophomore right tackle Nick Connelly and freshman right guard Conner Olson. Jared Weyler has experience as a swing interior lineman, but made his first start at center. Left tackle Donnell Greene remained a mainstay, while left guard Garrison Wright played extensively across the line last year, but was limited in camp with an injury.
Against Buffalo, “I didn’t think we moved anybody,” Fleck said. “But again, then when you start looking at a team, it’s the camaraderie and the cohesiveness of working together of those five. It’s not just individual talent of every single player up front. It’s how those players work together, that’s what makes an elite offensive line.
“On Thursday, I thought we played as five different lineman instead of one offensive line, which takes time, which goes back to the ‘E’ word — experience,” Fleck added.
SECONDARY IS PRIMARY
About 65 percent of Buffalo’s offensive plays were passes, with quarterback Tyree Jackson completing 22 of 42 for 211 yards, with a touchdown and interception.
“People are going to attack our secondary,” Fleck predicted.
Buffalo had 66 passing yards on two big plays during their touchdown drive in the first quarter, and the Bulls totaled only 66 passing yards in the second half.
“I thought we did a really good job of holding them to a low yardage in the second half in making adjustments,” Fleck said.
SANTOSO STRONG
While placekicker Emmit Carpenter missed two field goals before making the game-sealing 43-yarder with 2:05 remaining, punter Ryan Santoso had a strong evening. He averaged 44.7 yards, which was above last year’s mark of 40.9, and he had three of six punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
“I thought we did a really nice job of executing punting, punt coverage,” Fleck noted.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/0...-better-or-lot-of-teams-are-going-to-beat-us/
By ANDY GREDER
With the film reviewed and his game ball stowed away, Gophers coach P.J. Fleck issued a warning after the 17-7 win over Buffalo.
“It wasn’t that we were really disappointed, but it was we all know we did not even come close to playing our best football,” Fleck said Monday. “When you can not play your best football and win a game like that, OK. Not that you get away with it, but you are almost say, ‘OK, if we continue to do that, a lot of teams are going to beat us.’ ”
The Gophers (1-0) implemented a vanilla offensive scheme to lighten the load for its inexperienced quarterbacks and a reconfigured offensive line playing together for the first time.
Their thin defensive secondary weathered a predominately aerial attack, and the special teams overcame two startling missed field goals to seal an opener that was in doubt throughout Thursday night.
Gophers’ pass rusher Tai’yon Devers held out by coach P.J. Fleck
Gophers’ running game surprisingly tame in season-opening victory
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck wins debut, 17-7 over Buffalo
Gophers’ quarterback competition still too close to call after one game
Como Zoo’s newest residents named after Gopher coaches Fleck, Pitino
Fleck wants the data obtained from the win to inform their game plan and execution against Oregon State (1-1) on Saturday night in Corvallis, Ore.
The Beavers were an early one-point favorite against Minnesota on Monday — despite giving up 90 points in two games. After a 58-27 blowout loss to Colorado State, Oregon State needed a touchdown with 1:08 left and a 46-yard missed field goal as time expired from Portland State — a Football Championship Subdivision program — to pull out a 35-32 win on Saturday.
Here are some of Fleck’s reflections from Thursday’s win:
CROFT VS. RHODA IN RUN GAME
The Gophers’ two-quarterback system had divergent results in the running game. In addition to running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith being more effective with Demry Croft in the game, Croft also had six carries for 32 yards to Conor Rhoda’s zero.
“Demry left a lot of meat on the bone in terms of the run game,” Fleck said. “He’s running, but he’s not running to make a huge difference. He’s running but kind of not seeing where he’s going.
“I’m not into the ‘running quarterback’ (vs.) ‘throwing quarterback;’ they are running the same plays.”
“But I think Demry gives you a quality that he can run and he can give you that burst, but at the end of the day, it’s gonna be efficient runs,” Fleck added. “It can’t just be running around. … Same thing with Conor.”
STILL INCONCLUSIVE
So, is there more upside with Croft because he was the most-effective runner?
“They’re both going to play,” Fleck reiterated. “You could talk about Conor’s (passing) yards, but the interception in the end zone is catastrophic. You can talk about the plays Demry made, but there’s things he didn’t make.
“We’re still at a point where no one’s set themselves apart,” he continued. “When people don’t set themselves apart, it’s hard for me to make that decision. Now eventually, I want to make that decision. And eventually, somebody’s going to force my hand that way. If it’s not clear and it’s close, I’m going to make the decision that’s best for the program.”
INEFFECTIVE O-LINE
The offensive line had two players make their first starts — sophomore right tackle Nick Connelly and freshman right guard Conner Olson. Jared Weyler has experience as a swing interior lineman, but made his first start at center. Left tackle Donnell Greene remained a mainstay, while left guard Garrison Wright played extensively across the line last year, but was limited in camp with an injury.
Against Buffalo, “I didn’t think we moved anybody,” Fleck said. “But again, then when you start looking at a team, it’s the camaraderie and the cohesiveness of working together of those five. It’s not just individual talent of every single player up front. It’s how those players work together, that’s what makes an elite offensive line.
“On Thursday, I thought we played as five different lineman instead of one offensive line, which takes time, which goes back to the ‘E’ word — experience,” Fleck added.
SECONDARY IS PRIMARY
About 65 percent of Buffalo’s offensive plays were passes, with quarterback Tyree Jackson completing 22 of 42 for 211 yards, with a touchdown and interception.
“People are going to attack our secondary,” Fleck predicted.
Buffalo had 66 passing yards on two big plays during their touchdown drive in the first quarter, and the Bulls totaled only 66 passing yards in the second half.
“I thought we did a really good job of holding them to a low yardage in the second half in making adjustments,” Fleck said.
SANTOSO STRONG
While placekicker Emmit Carpenter missed two field goals before making the game-sealing 43-yarder with 2:05 remaining, punter Ryan Santoso had a strong evening. He averaged 44.7 yards, which was above last year’s mark of 40.9, and he had three of six punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
“I thought we did a really nice job of executing punting, punt coverage,” Fleck noted.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/09/0...-better-or-lot-of-teams-are-going-to-beat-us/
