The Gophers have a tight end problem
Examining a key cog in the Gophers’ ground game struggles
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have faced a significant issue in their running game this season, as they rank 16th in the Big Ten and 116th nationally for rushing offense. Their average of 120.4 yards per game on the ground has been particularly poor, with the team failing to accumulate 200 rushing yards in any single game this season.
The lowest point was a 13-yard rushing performance against Mississippi State. However, a high point was achieved against Akron Zips, where they recorded 191 rushing yards. The primary reason behind this problem is the lack of a strong tight end presence. The Gophers entered the season lacking their top three tight ends from previous years, relying on inexperienced players such as Kaden Helms, Pierce Walsh, Julian Johnson, Sam Peters, Jacob Simpson, and freshmen Roman Voss, George Rohl, and Gabe Weaver.
The coaching staff has acknowledged the issue and has been working on improving the tight ends' blocking, but the progress has been slow.
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