It hasn't even happened yet, and already I'm excited about the change.
P.J. Fleck's Gophers football offense has either been stuck in a bygone era or playing to its strengths, depending on your perspective, for six years.
Regardless of how you frame it, the reality is the same: In six seasons under Fleck, the Gophers have never ranked even the top 100 in pass attempts per game. There are currently 133 Football Bowl Subdivision schools, and the Gophers are often down by the run-happy service academies when it comes to the forward pass.
But there are hints that things could be different this season, as Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins wrote about recently and talked about on Tuesday's Daily Delivery podcast.
A more diversified offense is a necessary ingredient in the Gophers becoming a true contender in the Big Ten and beyond.
The prospect of Athan Kaliakmanis slinging the ball around the field got me thinking, though: What do we want to see from other teams in Minnesota in order for them to take a step forward? Let's see . . .
Vikings: Make a smart decision at quarterback. I think the Vikings need to move on from Kirk Cousins after this season, as they are set up to do. A young, cost-effective, multi-threat quarterback is a clearer path to a Super Bowl than an aging, above-average one. The question is what the Vikings think. What they must not do is this: Stick with Cousins simply because they are afraid of what might happen without him.
Twins: Win a playoff game. That is all.
