Gophers Game Preview: Minnesota Needs to Get Back on Track Against Boilermakers

Gophers Game Preview: Minnesota Needs to Get Back on Track Against Boilermakers
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/561943?referrer_id=388419

Minnesota (3-2 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) at Purdue (1-4 overall, 0-1 Big Ten)
When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT – West Lafayette, Ind.
Stadium: Ross-Ade Stadium (57,236)
TV/Radio: ESPN, KFAN 100.3
Series: Minnesota leads the series 35-32-3
Last Meeting: October 18, 2014; Minnesota won 39-38 at TCF Bank Stadium
Coach: Darrell Hazell (3rd season, 5-24)
National Championships: Minnesota (7); Purdue (0)

INSIDE THE GAME

Boilermaker Front Five

Purdue’s offensive success starts up front with a stout line. The Gophers’ experienced defensive line will have their hands full with Purdue’s moving company.

“They're very aggressive up front in the offensive line,” said Tracy Claeys. “So a lot of people are more position blockers anymore up front on the offensive line. But their line gets off the ball, and they try to get after you.”

Getting Off the Field

There’s no question the Gophers have a strong defense this year. One area where that unit has struggled is on third down. Minnesota ranks 10th in the conference in opponent third down conversion rate—allowing opponents to convert 36.4% of the time. Getting the defense off the field is key heading into Saturday.

“I think we can get off the field a little bit more if we play better on third down,” said Claeys. “That will be our emphasis this week…You give up two or three extra ones a game, and that leads to about 12 to 15 plays extra that we're having to play, and that's time it takes away from the offense.”

Physicality

Despite trailing 21-0 against Michigan State last week, the Boilermakers rallied and fell by just three points, 24-21. Jerry Kill was impressed with Purdue’s physical play against the Spartans.

“They're a team that's getting better, and you know, I mean, they were physical against Michigan State,” said Kill. “They played very physical.”

Matchup to Watch

Minnesota run defense vs. Purdue running game: The Gophers defense will be tested on Saturday by a talented tandem of running backs. Markell Jones, who is having a sensational freshman campaign, leads the Boilermakers’ rushing attack. The 5-foot-11, 207-pounder dominated Michigan State last week—rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Jones—who is averaging almost seven yards per carry—has yet to be stopped for a loss in 60 rushing attempts.

“He's a very confident young man,” Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell said of Jones. “Extremely confident. It's nothing boastful, but he is extremely confident in his abilities and the things that he's capable of doing.”

Jones is joined in the backfield by sophomore, D.J. Knox. The two gifted runners have combined for 840 total yards of offense and seven touchdowns.

“We feel very confident with both of those guys with the ball in their hands,” Hazell said. “I think they both bring a little bit different things to the table. We can't get either one of those guys enough touches.”

STORYLINE CENTRAL

The Indy Star’s Mike Carmin has a great notebook on all things Purdue football. It’s definitely worth the time to help get up to speed on the Boilermakers.

Carmin also profiles Purdue’s offensive youngsters, redshirt freshman quarterback David Blough and true freshman running back Markell Jones.

Kassie Darding of the Purdue Exponent details the Boilermakers’ concerns over the strength of the Gopher defense.

Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press has the latest on the Gophers’ kind of…sort of…not really…quarterback situation. Kill was hesitant to give any indication how Minnesota will use Mitch Leidner or Demry Croft.

WHO WINS?

The Gophers Win If…

They can score quickly. Minnesota’s offense has struggled all season but especially in the first quarter where the Maroon and Gold have scored just three points. It’s been a pretty easy plan for Purdue’s opponents: score first and you win. All of the Boilermakers’ losses came after being down at least seven points early, while their lone victory saw Purdue jump out to the lead.

“It's been a struggle,” said Limegrover about the first quarter scoring difficulties. “It's hard. We're trying to find different ways before that ball is even kicked off to try to get those guys going a little bit because it's like there's tentativeness to it. Some of that has come out of the couple of those opponents not knowing what was going on. But now you get to the point where now you do have a better idea. So that's all part of the confidence thing of, hey, let's go out, and let's get on this thing quickly.”

The Boilermakers Win If…

They can catch the Gophers’ defense off-guard. Purdue throws lots of different looks at opponents which could pose a problem if Minnesota is forced to play a handful of younger players on the defensive side of the ball.

“It's a challenge to get lined up upright and make the call from -- most of the formations are unconventional,” said Claeys. “There's some way they're imbalanced in some ways. So you don't know where the eligible receivers are. You've got to pay attention to who's on the line, who's off the line, and the motion adjustments you make. It's a challenge to get ready for in a week.”

The whole season on offense so far has been one big butt pucker. The offense is playing so tight, than can't get the basics done. The coaches are tight, Liedner is playing tight, the media is tight, the fans are afraid to watch they are so tight. One mistake and the sky starts to fall on offense, it's painful to watch.

The lockroom needs to loosen up, and the team needs to play with some energy and confidence. They need to play with an underdog attitude that has helped the success the past few years. Shake it out, do some yoga, loosen it up, raise the energy. This needs to change. Kill needs to find a way to make football fun, and loosen this team up.

Prescription for the Gophers' ailments: Tough out the first win against Purdue. It won't be easy. Purdue lost by three points to the Spartan in East Lansing. They''ll are stoked. They are sensing a wounded Gopher and are in for the Kill.

The offense doesn't necessarily need to score a lot of points but they need sustained drives that keep the defense off the field. Ideally we would get at least a field goal about every other possession along with one or two TD's. If the offense can avoid three and outs and when we are forced to punt, our special teams need to pin Purdue deep in their own territory. Assuming these things happen, the defense will do fine. Obviously if last weeks offense shows up, it will be a long afternoon and another splendid week on GH.

we'll win and be back on track for a big nebraska game next week.

hungan1 said:

Prescription for the Gophers' ailments: Tough out the first win against Purdue. It won't be easy. Purdue lost by three points to the Spartan in East Lansing. They''ll are stoked. They are sensing a wounded Gopher and are in for the Kill.

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What happened between Purdue and MSU has little to do with this game. Each game is its own entity. I recall a certain team that went out to LA and gave the USC Trojans all they could handle, even having a chance to win the game at the end. That team used that fire and momentum of almost taking down the Trojans and parlayed it into a home loss against New Mexico State. To steal a line from Pantera: Yesterday don't mean sh**.

Breakin' The Plane said:

What happened between Purdue and MSU has little to do with this game. Each game is its own entity. I recall a certain team that went out to LA and gave the USC Trojans all they could handle, even having a chance to win the game at the end. That team used that fire and momentum of almost taking down the Trojans and parlayed it into a home loss against New Mexico State. To steal a line from Pantera: Yesterday don't mean sh**.

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Totally agree here. If we're going to look at the MSU game we should also look at the rest of Purdue's season. A win against an FCS team, a loss to Marshall (non power 5), a loss to Bowling Green (non power 5) and a huge blowout loss to 2-3 Viginia Tech.

Would like to see the Gophers roll away from edge pressure with having Mitch roll out backside. A nice counter where he boots away from pressure to the weakside and throws to the fullback or H back leaking out of the backfield after a fake draw to the tailback is a nice way to beat tendencies, and blitzing linebackers running twists to the backside. There both in the backfield you have booted out away from the pressure got them to bite on the draw and fake to the tailback and you have a nice easy wide open pass to the fullback or tight end on counter action. Same for faking power or an outside zone play, fake that and then counter pitch to the weakside and you will have used the edge blitzer's momentum against them. Get Mitch on the move, have him sprint out and away from pressure and get his quick boot out throws going. Need to get the offense in to a flow and get them on a roll converting first downs.

Break some play calling tendencies on first and second down and than hit them with our bread a butter stuff. Wouldn't mind seeing Thomas get a few belly plays up the gut because I think we can hit Purdue up the middle.

MNGoldenGophers1 said:

The offense doesn't necessarily need to score a lot of points but they need sustained drives that keep the defense off the field. Ideally we would get at least a field goal about every other possession along with one or two TD's. If the offense can avoid three and outs and when we are forced to punt, our special teams need to pin Purdue deep in their own territory. Assuming these things happen, the defense will do fine. Obviously if last weeks offense shows up, it will be a long afternoon and another splendid week on GH.

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I also think the defense needs to get off the field when we pin them deep, and also create a few turnovers. Give the offense a short field a few times and that could get them going a little bit. In the last three games, the average starting field possession for the Gophers was their own 28 yard line. Only once in 34 possessions has the offense started in the opponents' side of the field in that time frame.

I'm not saying the it's the defense and special teams' fault the offense has struggled. Just that a few short fields should help.

Herd said:

The whole season on offense so far has been one big butt pucker. The offense is playing so tight, than can't get the basics done. The coaches are tight, Liedner is playing tight, the media is tight, the fans are afraid to watch they are so tight. One mistake and the sky starts to fall on offense, it's painful to watch.

The lockroom needs to loosen up, and the team needs to play with some energy and confidence. They need to play with an underdog attitude that has helped the success the past few years. Shake it out, do some yoga, loosen it up, raise the energy. This needs to change. Kill needs to find a way to make football fun, and loosen this team up.

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hate to say it but i agree with you. Team feels stale.