After loss, Gophers QB Tanner Morgan: 'I have to respond better than I ever have.'

Sep. 25—Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said the 14-10 upset loss to Bowling Green on Saturday fell firmly on his shoulders. Then quarterback Tanner Morgan said pretty much the same thing.

"I have to play way better," Morgan said. "We talk about being the reason (for success) at the quarterback position and (Saturday) I was the opposite of the reason. It's 100 percent on me, and now I have to respond better than I ever have."

Fleck's team lost as a 31-point favorite, and Morgan's passing offense completed only 5 of 13 passes for 59 yards, with two interceptions and four sacks. It's the U's fewest passing yards in a game since a 31-0 loss to Wisconsin in 2017.

The Gophers offense under coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. this season has been dominate running the ball and meek throwing it. Coming into the game, they averaged 218 yarding yards per game (24th in the nation) and 160 passing yards (113th).

With Morgan struggling, Fleck was asked if he considering a change at QB.

"That hasn't even crossed my mind at all," Fleck said postgame. "I have to look at the entire film of why we lost. I have an idea of why we lost. Everybody's watching the same game I am. I'm not going to jump to any conclusions, any speculations or things like that just based on watching something on the ground level. You can talk about that at any position because I don't think anybody played well."

CrAB EXITS

The return of Chris Autman-Bell has been interrupted.

The Gophers top receiver missed the first two games with an ankle injury but returned to have a team-high four receptions for 76 yards in the 30-0 win over Colorado last week.

Then on the first play of Saturday's game, Autman-Bell caught a pass for nine yards, but got up limping after being tackled. He stayed in the game for the next play, but then exited. He had the joint tapped up and he tried to get loose but didn't return during the first half.

It's the same area Autman-Bell hurt during an horse-collar tackle in training camp practice Aug. 12 and he missed the first two games.

"It's hard to be able to have that same injury," Fleck said. "But we'll see what it looks like (Saturday and Sunday)."

SPECIAL TEAMS ISSUES

After missing three kicks against Colorado, Matthew Trickett made a 36-yard field goal and an extra point, but missed a 52-yard field goal Saturday.

That miss can be excused given the long distance, but Minnesota had a roughing the punter penalty and quickly followed it up with an illegal defensive formation on Bowling Green field goal (which was missed). But the U was bailed out by a Falcons fumble a few plays later.

Returner Trey Potts also muffed a punt. The Falcons couldn't recover, and Justin Walley fell on it.

"(The issues) drive you crazy," Fleck said. "They're preventable."

BRIEFLY

Defensive tackle Rashad Cheney missed his second straight game after playing in the opening two games. The reason is unknown. .... Linebacker Cody Lindenberg, who played in the first three games, had a protective boot on his left foot Saturday. ... Linemen Curtis Dunlap Jr. and MJ Anderson were dinged up vs. Buffaloes, but played against Bowling Green. Anderson appeared to aggravate his lower-body injury during the game. ... Potts and tight end Ko Kieft also missed parts of the game due to injury.