Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill officially announced back-up QB Max Shortell the starter for Saturday night’s game against Syracuse. The sophomore Shortell replaced a banged-up MarQueis Gray in last week’s game against Western Michigan and secured the Gophers’ victory by throwing for 188 yards and 3 TDs. Gray is suffering from left ankles sprains, so the baton has been passed to Shortell, who starts his first game since a blowout loss against Michigan last year.
Shortell is a prototypical pocket-passer with a strong arm. This week he’s expressed his comfort with the offense. The Gophers have scored at least 28 plus points in each of their first three games, compared to just reaching that margin just once last season. A golden opportunity presents itself for the Orange. A young QB getting a rare start at home with heightened expectations under the bright Saturday night lights. The pressure mounts on Minnesota, and the Orange has a realistic shot at coming in and stealing one.
Here are the top our reasons why the quarterback change for the Gophers actually gives the Orange an advantage tomorrow.
- SU has the the experience at QB
Undoubtedly Ryan Nassib‚Äôs three-year experience as a starter gives Syracuse a great shot to control the clock. His record-breaking numbers to begin the season dropped off last week, but from a leadership standpoint he’s been great. He has taken his game to a new level in year five. But Nassib’s ability to handle himself with the media and locker room proves he understands the keys to preparation. Playing in a hostile non-conference environment is no secret to him either,¬†having played USC at the Coliseum last year. Look for Nassib put points up.
- SU knows the Gophers will have to turn to their ground game
Minnesota has a dynamic running back in Donnell Kirkwood, who rushed for a career-high 110 yards last week. However, the Orange defense will know what’s coming. Obviously with a back-up QB who has started just two games in his career, Minnesota will stress the running game. Gray was also a huge piece of their ground attack. Meantime, the Orange seem to be figuring out a nice blend of its own running backs, building off the Stony Brook win. Prince Tyson-Gulley tells The Fizz each RB brings something unique:
“I believe there is no limit. I believe with me, Jerome [Smith], and Ashton Broyld, we are all going to bring something to the table.”
- Minnesota takes a hit to its big play potential
Gray being sidelined should help the Syracuse defense stay stout all game. SU‚Äôs main problem has been preventing the big play, and letting opponents convert on long 3rd downs.¬†Without the play-making of Gray, Minny’s ability to rip off big chunks of yardage should be cut down. Marquis Spruill tells The Fizz it‚Äôs tough to not get off the field on 3rd downs.
“It  takes a chunk out of your heart. You got to flush it and keep going to work.”
Shortell is still developing and does not utilize his legs as often as Gray. The passing game therefore becomes more predictable for the Orange to attack.
- The Orange D will be able to play fast
Marrone wants the defense to continue to play with an up-tempo mindset. You better believe it will be difficult for the Gophers to develop consistency now having the playbook rearranged in Shortell‚Äôs favor. SU’s defense won’t be taking the Gophers for granted. Spruill has compared this team to¬†a similar foe from Week 1:
“It’s kind of like Northwestern was. They have a spread. They have three wide-outs most of the time. It’s nothing that practice can’t fix. We go over their plays in practice. Hopefully we see the same things in the game, if not, we make adjustments and keep playing.”
A fast pace keeps the D on its toes and fuels a game-changing attitude every down. Dyshawn Davis preached guys are always looking to work together on the fast mentality:
“Our main thing [on defense] is we just want to help each other out by sprinting to the ball. Everybody giving a good effort, taking shots, [and] breaking down making good tackles. In terms of tempo, we just want to play fast and play at our game, and everything will take care of itself from there.”
The Big Ten wasn’t kind to SU after losing to Northwestern in a heart-breaker, but exposure to the experience helps. The grueling out-of-conference schedule is halfway done. TCF Bank Stadium has been around just for a few years, but crowds accumulating close to 45, 000 have made it a tough place to play. So the game will feel fast and upbeat. Davis says the team can’t wait to play its first road test of the season:
“The coaches are fired up. We’re fired up. Coach Shafer told us it’s sold out over there. It’s going to be loud. The atmosphere is going to be crazy. We’re fired up looking to get a good game over there in the Big Ten Conference and get a W.”
The Gophers sold out of 5,300 upper-bowl tickets for $10 apiece in only two days. With the creative playbook continuing to unfold along with its gritty defense, the Orange has the firepower to pull an upset.
Listen to Fizz Radio tomorrow from 9 – 10 AM for a full preview of the Orange and the Golden Gophers. Follow us on Twitter @OrangeFizz for updates throughout the course of the game.
Posted: Brendan Glasheen
31 responses to “Golden Opportunity: Top 4 Reasons Minnesota‚Äôs Backup QB Helps Syracuse”
@Brendan Glasheen,Davis says the team can’t wait to play its first road test of the season:
I guess what I didn’t realize was Syracuse and the suburbs reached as far East and South as the Meadowlands. We have to be the largest city in the world.
Now getting off from my sarcasm,wasn’t the game at the MetLife Stadium a road game at a neutral site?
Syracuse wins tomorrow night 38-21.
GO CUSE
Home game at a neutral yet soon to be familiar second home site.
HAHA JK, Go Cuse!!!
HCDM/dougie better win!!!
@Terry;so what happens if he doesn’t? What then? Are we in for another one of your anti Dougie tirades?
If we are then do us all a favor and keep it to yourself and please stay off of this web site.
GO CUSE
@Ron.. i think its an honest request! He can advocate for a different coach, BUT the evidence says why? Since the #s were released HCDM is doing ok @Terry! He’s had the 2nd best turnarouund in 40 games in school history, following GROB, he’s like +11…..so inside the #s, HCDM isnt doing as bad as it seems! I had ta ease up!
“Men lie, numbers don’t!”
Yeah Guys,heck we expect a bowl season,who could expect more from a young team?I think we match up better w/a pro style QB so I expect a rare breather with the Gopher’s tommorow SU 37Minn16.Minny did’nt look very good the 2 times I saw them…UNLV should have beaten them in their OT tilt…
The BiG10 has a lousy OOC record the last couple of yrs!!Worse this year!Easy win..
Carlton,u know Trinity HS is on TV tonight?Im swingin back an forth b’tween them and LLM/Baylor…
@bigdip;yeah your right bigdip on the numbers.
Coach Marrone is second only to Coach Ben Schwartzwalders winning percentage in his first 40 games.
Let’s hope for a big win tomorrow.
GO CUSE
Are any of you guys watching the Baylor/ULM Game? I think that ULM is going to win the game.
If they lose, I was just wondering if that ESPN idiot Steve Greenberg will report the same about Baylor(as he did Syracuse) and drop them to the bottom of the BIG 12 conference power rankings for having such a hard time with ULM.
I write the above post believing that ULM is going to win the ball game and hit the button to post it and the very next play they fumble the ball Baylor recovers and marches down field for a touchdown. What a game! ULM has nothing to be ashamed of,they are a good team and fun to watch.
@Russ didnt know that. I know they are ranked #1 in the nation. They got a few 4star guys on the team. Brain Quick is the only one i know off the top of my head. I was watching a crappy live stream of my HS play for a little bit. They took on the best team in our class in NY for like the past 8yrs. I think their win streak is up to 50 games? 2nd longest in the country I think. Sucks i’m stuck home getting essays and a project done for mon. and i can here the party going on outside. yuck! Its been crazy all day around here. After gettin outta work late i went to check out the gameday setup out. I had my staff shirt and access pass on and some lady asked me if i new if they where doing anymore live stuff for the show and why they had mic’s setup. Nicely said i didnt know and she lays into me about how worthless i am. So i took my couple pic’s and quickly got the hell outta their lol. Long day! cant wait for gameday! lol
Wont see the game again this week. Will be at work and i’m to poor to afford the big 10 channel. It will be a blow out anyways. Gulley will go for a 100 and TD. Sales will go for 100 and 2 TD’s. Final score 38-17 `Cuse. Gain some momentum before we crush pitt! Enjoy the games!
Go `Cuse
Like the prediction Carlton! Ps I think Trinity was ranked #3 not #1, nitpicking. They looked good, especially Quick. That dude is special!
Ron, ULM beat Ark by 3 lost to Auburn by 3,both in OT, and played really well against Baylor. I would say very good team. Notice they ran a lot of the uptempo offense like SU has adopted? I think that uptempo equalizes a lot of things on the field. Heard Minny had trouble with the uptempo in one of their games so I am hoping SU’s gives them fits! Go ORANGE!!!!!
Carlton,we had CBA/Shenendohowa but I dont think thats anywhere near Rochester HaHas what HS did u go too?
I told u Carlton this was a good yr for Trinity to catch Bosco but u never no w/Bosco they beat ranked teams every yr on the road ranked or not!!
@Russ i’m not really from the ROC. Its easier to say that then my hometown b/c its way out in the country haha. I went to School at Livonia. They played Hornell last night an lost 35-22. Hornell owns the 2nd longest win streak in the country. We havent beaten them at any level of football since my JV team beat them. Trinity is unreal! they are the best HS team i have ever seen up close. Although going to see gunner kiel play jeff. last yr in ind. was pretty cool as well.
Hornell Carlton? Yeah that is the sticks but a lot of nice towns in NY along 86. Not much to do in those towns but relatively safe and good places to raise a family.
Is that anywhere near Govenour ?Brian Leonards hometown,I no thats in the sticks too!My family on Dads side is from PEI,Canada and Cape Breton Island,Canada!I used to go up for the summers as a kid to stay out of trouble!I see Alex Officer on rivals recruiting site has VaT/WVU as his favorites and they havent even offered yet and he has BC/UConn and Buffalo as other 3 favorites?I guess we should pull our offer and not let him embaress us?They’res plenty of fish in the sea!!Who needs him!!”Go Cuse”
Sorry Carl, I meant Livonia…Ive heard of the town!!Nothing wrong w/growing up in an all american town,heck my folks came from rr mailboxes HaHa..!
@Russ….this may be a surprise, but kids arent lookin at the 1-3 record,
and racing to be Orange! A school with SUs resources, should be winning! When is enough, enough? 8 straight D-1 losses….this is a bad product on the field!
I agree Dip,lets start to put some truth on here!!I wondered what happened to the Dip I admired but we had to give it a shot if ya know what i mean?Terry had every right to his opinion!!I wonder what happened to CDL and Norma?Change of heart?Lets see what the crowd has to say first!
Dip,anytime u start going after juco’s its a sign of trouble!!Only desperate people generally go down that road!!I wonder why we have trouble after 4 yrs making inroads in NJ recruiting?I was watching to see who really cared about our talent level discussing that basic truth yesterday?Only Malone and you were honest about it!They’re the real fans!Heck even the coaches admit it!Metlife is our way of offering an olive branch to Jersey cause talk is cheap!Remember the Rome is burning comment?U knew what I meant?I figured u could read b’tween my lines!…@Carlton,are they still partying into Sunday morning?White trash alley?Congrats on ND,FSU wins!!Wish Cuse could say the same….what can we say?We’ll see friday w/Pitt on short rest..listen…”crickets”??I wonder if Malone noticed Bergen Catholic lost by a point to St Joes of Montvale?38-37..I wonder what Ron thinks,he’s either working or quiet!!
Guys and Dipper,I think we should wait a little while till we cool down from this tough setback b4 we make any rash statements..Stringer said a wise thing last week about the “sky falling”…its not,at least not yet but we’re going to have to prepare ourselves to consider the possibility of a reevaluation of the whole situation if things don’t get better soon!!I mean after a tough loss is not a good time for rational decisions,…thank’s fellas!!…these novels are gonna kill me..HaHa..
Ron,yesterdays loss really threw me as Minny looked like a very lucky and average team to me this yr!They either played over their head or we had an off game?Now were in a tough position of “must win” games that nobody wants to b in!…we MUST win the Pitt game now or things are gonna get rough in Cuse football world!Watching others in the BE looking good makes it even tougher!!Whats ur take take?
I notice the newest thread has had 0 comments on it or no one cares since yesterday!!that goose egg’s been there since noon yesterday,the headline changed but not the 0…if we won their would be 20 comments!!
Good write-up. I certainly love this website. Stick with it!
Paragraph writing is also a fun, if you know after that you can write if
not it is difficult to write.
I’ve been surfing online more than three hours these days,
yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It is beautiful worth sufficient for me. Personally, if all
webmasters and bloggers made good content material as you did, the
internet can be much more helpful than ever before.
I visited multiple web pages except the audio quality for audio
songs existing at this website is in fact
fabulous.
I think that is one of the so much significant information for me.
And i’m happy reading your article. But want to remark on some normal things, The web site taste is ideal, the articles is in reality great : D.
Just right process, cheers