What to expect from P.J. Fleck's Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2024 | ALL Big Ten Podcast

brand new quarterback coach PJ Fleck now Cory I want to open it up to you like this one of my favorite players that I think is underrated right now in the Big 10 is Darius Taylor their running back um just to kind of open it up before he got hurt last year five game sample size 33 carries for 193 yards and a touch 22 for 138 in a touch 31 for 198 two touchdowns 16 carries for 59 yards against Iowa and then 35 carries 208 yards and two touchdown coryan this team gave Darius Taylor they gave Northwestern fits last year Northwestern still won the game so open it up here man I mean is it about the running game is it about some of the returning players what are some of the keys for Minnesota be successful this year in the Big 10 the the key for them to get over six wins this year is obviously Darius Taylor right he's got to be their Bell cow we saw what he did to Northwestern last year Joey they had him dead to rights on that game where Northwestern came back and beat him right with that trick play unbelievable he broke so many tackles in the backfield dead to wrs he's a highlight he's got the speed he's got the strength he's got the balance he's got it all right he was injured um but I think this year they really have to rely on him especially with the new quarterback in there max brosmer they're hoping that he can step up believe he came from New Hampshire a year ago had pretty good stats but this is the Big 10 football baby so they really got to rely on on Taylor I think he's going to be the exactor him and let's talk about PJ Fleck right I I think in my opinion I feel like he's underperformed for for Minnesota right there was high hopes for him right there's a couple Seasons where he had some some big win numbers and he's the the rowing the boat I don't know if it's been as steady as it used to be Joey so in my opinion I think this is a critical year for PJ Fleck right because people are saying hey when is he GNA win the Big G big game when is he gonna have all these wins right we had high hopes and we kind of been seeing the same thing every year six wins seven wins when is he going to take the next step to be nine 10 wins don't think it's going to be this year but I think they're hoping soon because Minnesota for a while had been a really good program before I went to Northwestern they had some really great running backs right Gary Russell Maran Barber um Lawrence they had some dudes there that were winning you know nine 10 games um so it's PJ Fleck able to get back to there this year I don't think so but I think if they could have an eight- win season that would be huge for them I think eight wins would be absolutely huge for Minnesota and if you're looking at Darius Taylor I think he's kind of a Darkhorse candidate to possibly lead the Big 10 in rushing before we move over the side of the ball you know they brought in aan kic Manis is out Max brosmer is in transfer out of New Hampshire 29 touchdown passes last year which is a pretty good number I do like Daniel Jackson as a wide receiver he was able to show up at times last year but on the defensive side of the ball Corey what is it going to come down to I did like a little bit of what I saw from J Joiner to finish the year Cody lindenberg seemed like that that pillar on defense but he got hurt I mean what is going to be the key for them to kind of Stack up against some really tougher teams when you start to look at their schedule is not going to be easy for Minnesota yeah you look at the Arsenal attack of of some of these teams right especially when it comes to USC UCLA they're going to try to air it out so I think you know Penn State this year I think they're going to try to air it out a little more um it it definitely comes down to pressure I think they're gonna have to be able to stop the run that's non-negotiable and then be able to get after the passer and those passing situations so whether it's bringing pressure CU they have a talented secondary all those guys you mentioned are ballers but it's all about that rushing cover working together so they're going to have to generate pressure and I think for Minnesota in general we saw that Northwestern game there was a lot of holes in them defensively right they gave up a lot of points Northwestern they got them early on but they couldn't finish the game in the second half it was very lopsided favoring Northwestern so they're G to have to be able to finish games because a game like that when Northwestern came back on him you can't lose games like that can't and I think that's the mark that's why I was saying PJ Fleck in my opinion I think he's on the hot seat right because I think he's underperformed what his contract and what he's been paid so I think this is a critical year for him he's got to win seven or eight games in my opinion and PJ Fleck on the hot seat you want a fun one how about North Carolina uh coming up in just a couple of days or by the time you may watching this right now right now they're twoo underdogs it's not a great way to start your season if you're PJ Fleck or you're the Gophers right now and I'm unfortunately I got to go under on Minnesota too as well I don't think they can get to eight when you start talking about you got to lose these games one way or the other I don't think that they could possibly do it