To end the Gophers' Friday practice session, coach P.J. Fleck put a twist on the two-minute drill.
The practice was a walkthrough, meaning players were going half-speed and non-contact. Quarterbacks weren't throwing, instead pointing out their targets downfield and holding onto the ball.
Despite the limitations, Fleck rolled with his own variation of a two-minute offense. He chose the clock situation, how many timeouts the Gophers had and other typical factors in the late-game simulation.
Rather than the players actually running through the plays, though, Fleck just yelled out what he thought should happen per play. That meant a play could have gone for a 50-yard gain or an incompletion — whatever Fleck wanted.
The unusual situation led to tight end Bryce Witham praising Tanner Morgan for his throws that never happened. Kickers were also praised for their made field goals, despite the result depending entirely on Fleck.
The variation of the two-minute drill during the walkthrough was Fleck's attempt at focusing on the mental aspect of the game. The Gophers were coming off a long, physical Thursday practice, so the coach switched it up for the next day.
As a defensive lineman, Sam Renner said he knew the drill wasn't exactly for him. He pointed out how the quarterbacks and defensive backs likely got the most out of it, being able to see routes and formations downfield. Renner, who bangs low in the trenches, did appreciate the non-contact portion of the drills for the sake of his body.
"It was part of the practice, I understand that," Renner said. "But as a player and competitor, you always want to kind of put that pressure on your shoulders and not let somebody else choose it. But I understand what coach Fleck was doing."
