Fleck’s conservative approach costs Gophers in season-opening loss (2024)

The Gophers chalked up an extensive list of self-inflicted issues that led to a 19-17 loss to North Carolina in the season opener on Thursday night.

It was longer than one of those notorious CVS receipts.

Some of the deepest cuts were: Minnesota’s six penalties for 50 yards, including three defensive flags that led to 10 points on two Tar Heels drives; the U’s two missed two field goals in three attempts; and quarterback Max Brosmer’s fumble that turned into one of UNC’s four made field goals.

Another reason for the defeat resurfaced from previous seasons: head coach P.J. Fleck’s tendency to run the ball on third-and-medium or third-and-long when a pass play appeared to be a better answer. His first-quarter decision in this category ended up looming large — especially in what became a two-point defeat.

It came on third and goal from North Carolina’s 10-yard line with one minute to go in the opening period. Instead of having new transfer quarterback Brosmer attempt his first passing touchdown as a Gopher with a throw into the end zone, the Gophers subbed out their best pass catcher, Daniel Jackson, and handed off to new transfer running back Marcus Major.

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“In terms of what (North Carolina was) going to do and what package they were going to be in, we felt like we had a really good opportunity,” Fleck explained. “Again, just because we are at the (10), doesn’t mean the best play is not a run in certain positions.”

The Gophers put wideout Cristian Driver in motion to the right side, and ran behind tight end Nick Kallerup and the weaker of their two offensive tackles, Martes Lewis, while All-American candidate Aireontae Ersery was on the backside.

The Gophers poorly blocked the Tar Heels and Major was dropped for a 1-yard gain.

Then Dragan Kesich clanked a 27-yard field-goal attempt off the right post.

At that point, Brosmer was 3 for 7 passing for 26 yards, including 1 for 3 on third-down conversions. On the first drive, he overthrew Jameson Geers for an incompletion. On the second drive, he threw short to Jordan Nubin for a 1-yard completion with 3 yards to go. Both too-quick drives ended in punts.

On the third drive, Brosmer again threw short to Nubin on third-and-19, but Nubin created a 19-yard gain to move the chains. Then facing a third-and-8, Major had a 7-yard gain, and on fourth-and-1, Major nhad a 8-yard gain.

Despite the conservative approach, the Gophers were finding ways to move the ball down the field. But it fizzled with goal-to-go.

“It’s not just, ‘We are playing it safe.’ We’re not,” Fleck said. “We threw the football a lot (21 times in 55 total plays). We also threw the football and got sacked (five times). We threw the football and got a lot of pressure on us. There are a lot of times in a close game, points matter.”

In his first game amid a jump from FCS-level New Hampshire, Brosmer needed to settle down at the start, Fleck said. In the end, Brosmer completed 62% of his passes (13 of 21) for 166 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. On the ground, he added a rushing touchdown and that lost fumble in the fourth quarter.

Brosmer did not attempt a pass over 20 yards all game, and all-Big Ten caliber wideout Jackson didn’t register his first catch until the second quarter. He finished with four catches for 55 yards.

“You are always going to go back and say, ‘Hey, coach, look at all the calls, look at everything offensively, defensively, special teams,’ ” Fleck said. “How we as coordinators, head coaches, can grow, too. And where we have to grow the most. How we can make our team better.”

The list is long, and it starts at the top of the program.