Minnesota Football: Can 2020 Gophers match success from 2019?
By Dante Pryor
Tanner Morgan returns to lead stacked offense
Tanner Morgan returns to lead a Minnesota offense that is stacked once again this season. There are times, however, when it is not how many players you lose, but it’s who you lose. In this case, the Gophers did lose some key players.
The Gophers lose last year’s leading rusher Rodney Smith and leading receiver Tyler Johnson. However, Fleck and new offensive coordinator Mike Sanford will use a by-committee approach to the run game. Mohammed Ibrahim will lead the charge while two or three other running backs will get carries.
Most defensive backs in the conference agree that Rashod Bateman is the tougher matchup defensively, but that is not why Tyler Johnson’s departure hurts. Over 70 percent of Morgan’s passes went to either Bateman or Johnson. With Johnson gone, who is going to pick up the slack?
Bateman is going to be singled out by defenses without Johnson opposite him. Chris Autman-Bell and Demetrius Douglas are the most experienced receivers returning but had fewer receptions combined (42) than Bateman had by himself (60) last season.
One thing the Gophers have going for them is their offensive line. All five starters return this season to protect Morgan and open holes for the run game.