Daily briefing: On a big Big Ten matchup, Georgia’s punting problem and Bo Nix vs. Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Ivan Maisel’s “Daily Briefing” for On3:
A tipping point for two Big Ten teams?
Minnesota has lost to Purdue and Illinois in its two October games, and the Gophers – who looked in September like a Big Ten West favorite – desperately need a win. Penn State lost badly to Michigan last week, and with Ohio State coming next week, the Nittany Lions desperately need a win. That’s what makes the Gophers’ visit to Happy Valley worth the marquee slot on ABC on Saturday night. If Minnesota veteran quarterback Tanner Morgan isn’t healthy enough to make his 46th start, the game won’t be nearly as entertaining. But the Gophers will bring a physical brand of football one week after the Nittany Lions took a beating in the Big House. One team will emerge from this game with renewed vigor.
Georgia’s problem? Uhhh – a lack of punts?
No. 1 Georgia’s off week gave us the gift of coach Kirby Smart explaining how a coaching staff takes the week to assess weaknesses and how to turn them into strengths. But what do you do when success keeps you from knowing? “Some statistics don’t have enough real-time examples,” Smart said. “You don’t have sample sizes. How do you evaluate punts? We only have 15 punts. It’s not normal to have 15 punts. So it’s harder to evaluate that. We’re not great in giving up return yards, but we’re really pretty good in net because we have two returns on the entire year. You can’t get a sample size from two returns.” Of the many problems facing a football coach, not punting enough is one you want to have.
QBs in spotlight in Oregon-UCLA
Which quarterback’s maturation do you trust? That question hangs over No. 9 UCLA’s visit to No. 10 Oregon. The Bruins’ Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who shared the starting job as a true freshman in 2018, coach Chip Kelly’s first season in Westwood, will make his 42nd start Saturday. DTR is running less and completing more passes (.748) than he did a year ago. The Ducks’ Bo Nix is running more and completing more passes (.704) than he did a year ago at Auburn. Nix also is playing more consistently and confidently than he did against SEC defenses. Nix has the benefit of playing at home in front of what will be a raucous Autzen Stadium crowd. DTR has a better supporting cast around him, and the Bruins are playing better defense. That will be enough to overcome Nix and a hostile crowd.