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Gophers Game Preview: U Football is Back and Under the Lights Against Oregon State
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/691768?referrer_id=388419
Oregon State (0-0 overall, 0-0 Pac-12) at Minnesota (0-0 overall, 0-0 B1G)
When: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. CT – Minneapolis, Minn.
Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805)
TV/Radio: BTN, KOOL 108 FM
Coach: Gary Andersen (2nd season)
Line: Minnesota -13, o/u: 55.5
INSIDE THE GAME
We’re back, Gopher fans! The long wait from a December bowl victory is over, and it’s finally football season. It doesn’t get much better than a primetime kickoff at The Bank on opening weekend. We get to see how Claeys handles his first official season as head coach, if Mitch Leidner can live up to the preseason hype, and so much more. If you don’t have a ticket for Thursday, get one and make sure the bank is rockin’.
Beavers at a Glance
Oregon State was 2-10 last season and failed to win a conference game for the first time since 1997.
The Beavers are a relatively young and inexperienced team. They boast only 15 seniors—13th fewest in the country—and 19 players on the two-deep have yet to play a snap in college.
OSU has a talented duo of wide receivers with Victor Bolden Jr. and Jordan Villamin. The two have combined for over 2,500 career-receiving yards. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound “Villytron” has recorded a reception in 21 consecutive games.
Senior linebacker Caleb Saulo is the leading returning tackler with 107 career stops in 11 starts.
Keep an eye on No. 22 Seth Collins. The versatile Collins, who racked up nearly 600 rushing yards in only eight games as a quarterback last year, will line up at numerous offensive positions this season. The 6-foot-3, 188-pound sophomore will likely have a role similar to Ohio State’s Braxton Miller.
Familiar Foe
Gary Andersen is in his second season with Oregon State after spending two seasons as Wisconsin’s head coach. The familiarity with the Gopher staff will help Andersen prepare for the early season test.
“Obviously we haven't changed much on defense at all, and so he's going to—they're going to have an idea of what they want to go after with the O-line coaches out there that was with him at Wisconsin,” said Tracy Claeys of Andersen. “You know, they'll know more about us than some other opponents, but it still comes down to executing.”
Coach Speak
"Many people may not use that word 'powerhouse' for those guys, just because of where they are. But I would, because I think it's a team that can line up against anybody in the country.” – Gary Andersen on the Gophers
“Really well. Really well. You know, somebody said the other day—occasionally he's not on spot, but anybody you turn on and watch, nobody is on spot on every one. But he's really done a good job of making decisions and getting the ball out.” – Tracy Claeys on how Mitch Leidner has been throwing the ball
STORYLINE CENTRAL
Danny Moran of the Oregonian takes a look at the Beavers’ depth chart. Like the Gophers, OSU’s two-deep is home to a number of true freshmen—seven in total for the Beavers.
Marcus Russel of Building the Dam takes a look at a player to watch for the Beavers, Seth Collins. The quarterback-turned-receiver is an incredible athlete, and can excite the crowd with the ball in his hands. Despite the position change, OSU is expecting big things from Collins, and could certainly be one to watch on Thursday.
Gina Mizell and Danny Moran from the Oregonian try pick a number of over/unders for the Beavers. Of note, both writers take the under (truth be told, they picked a push) on three wins for OSU.
You can watch Gary Andersen’s full press conference HERE, including notes from Mizell. Spoiler: Andersen calls the Gophers a “powerhouse”. Thanks, Gary.
WHO WINS?
The Gophers Win If…
Rodney Smith and the inexperienced offensive line can get the running attack churning early. Losing Shannon Brooks to injury during the preseason hurt, but the new faces and lack of experienced depth by the big boys up front is an area of concern heading into the season. The Gophers first unit SHOULD be able to impose their will on the ground, and have the firepower to bury the Beavers.
“Our issue [on offense] still is the depth in the offensive line,” said Claeys. “We have some very good young players there, from some freshmen and redshirt freshmen, but it's just a different beast to be ready to go. But the additions we've made with the junior college kids and the work that the other guys have put in, I do feel really good that we'll be able to put a first team out there on offense that can move the football.”
The Beavers Win If…
They can exploit Minnesota’s corners. With the loss of Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jalen Myrick takes over as the Gophers’ top CB, but behind him are a number of youngsters. Minnesota’s depth chart includes Myrick along with a true sophomore, a redshirt freshman, and two true freshmen. The Minnesota coaches have every reason to be confident in their group, but look for the Beavers to test the younger corners early and often.
“They’ve got a bunch of new DBs playing on the backend that they feel good about, but we’ve got to see how we feel about them,” said Andersen.
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/691768?referrer_id=388419
Oregon State (0-0 overall, 0-0 Pac-12) at Minnesota (0-0 overall, 0-0 B1G)
When: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. CT – Minneapolis, Minn.
Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805)
TV/Radio: BTN, KOOL 108 FM
Coach: Gary Andersen (2nd season)
Line: Minnesota -13, o/u: 55.5
INSIDE THE GAME
We’re back, Gopher fans! The long wait from a December bowl victory is over, and it’s finally football season. It doesn’t get much better than a primetime kickoff at The Bank on opening weekend. We get to see how Claeys handles his first official season as head coach, if Mitch Leidner can live up to the preseason hype, and so much more. If you don’t have a ticket for Thursday, get one and make sure the bank is rockin’.
Beavers at a Glance
Oregon State was 2-10 last season and failed to win a conference game for the first time since 1997.
The Beavers are a relatively young and inexperienced team. They boast only 15 seniors—13th fewest in the country—and 19 players on the two-deep have yet to play a snap in college.
OSU has a talented duo of wide receivers with Victor Bolden Jr. and Jordan Villamin. The two have combined for over 2,500 career-receiving yards. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound “Villytron” has recorded a reception in 21 consecutive games.
Senior linebacker Caleb Saulo is the leading returning tackler with 107 career stops in 11 starts.
Keep an eye on No. 22 Seth Collins. The versatile Collins, who racked up nearly 600 rushing yards in only eight games as a quarterback last year, will line up at numerous offensive positions this season. The 6-foot-3, 188-pound sophomore will likely have a role similar to Ohio State’s Braxton Miller.
Familiar Foe
Gary Andersen is in his second season with Oregon State after spending two seasons as Wisconsin’s head coach. The familiarity with the Gopher staff will help Andersen prepare for the early season test.
“Obviously we haven't changed much on defense at all, and so he's going to—they're going to have an idea of what they want to go after with the O-line coaches out there that was with him at Wisconsin,” said Tracy Claeys of Andersen. “You know, they'll know more about us than some other opponents, but it still comes down to executing.”
Coach Speak
"Many people may not use that word 'powerhouse' for those guys, just because of where they are. But I would, because I think it's a team that can line up against anybody in the country.” – Gary Andersen on the Gophers
“Really well. Really well. You know, somebody said the other day—occasionally he's not on spot, but anybody you turn on and watch, nobody is on spot on every one. But he's really done a good job of making decisions and getting the ball out.” – Tracy Claeys on how Mitch Leidner has been throwing the ball
STORYLINE CENTRAL
Danny Moran of the Oregonian takes a look at the Beavers’ depth chart. Like the Gophers, OSU’s two-deep is home to a number of true freshmen—seven in total for the Beavers.
Marcus Russel of Building the Dam takes a look at a player to watch for the Beavers, Seth Collins. The quarterback-turned-receiver is an incredible athlete, and can excite the crowd with the ball in his hands. Despite the position change, OSU is expecting big things from Collins, and could certainly be one to watch on Thursday.
Gina Mizell and Danny Moran from the Oregonian try pick a number of over/unders for the Beavers. Of note, both writers take the under (truth be told, they picked a push) on three wins for OSU.
You can watch Gary Andersen’s full press conference HERE, including notes from Mizell. Spoiler: Andersen calls the Gophers a “powerhouse”. Thanks, Gary.
WHO WINS?
The Gophers Win If…
Rodney Smith and the inexperienced offensive line can get the running attack churning early. Losing Shannon Brooks to injury during the preseason hurt, but the new faces and lack of experienced depth by the big boys up front is an area of concern heading into the season. The Gophers first unit SHOULD be able to impose their will on the ground, and have the firepower to bury the Beavers.
“Our issue [on offense] still is the depth in the offensive line,” said Claeys. “We have some very good young players there, from some freshmen and redshirt freshmen, but it's just a different beast to be ready to go. But the additions we've made with the junior college kids and the work that the other guys have put in, I do feel really good that we'll be able to put a first team out there on offense that can move the football.”
The Beavers Win If…
They can exploit Minnesota’s corners. With the loss of Eric Murray and Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jalen Myrick takes over as the Gophers’ top CB, but behind him are a number of youngsters. Minnesota’s depth chart includes Myrick along with a true sophomore, a redshirt freshman, and two true freshmen. The Minnesota coaches have every reason to be confident in their group, but look for the Beavers to test the younger corners early and often.
“They’ve got a bunch of new DBs playing on the backend that they feel good about, but we’ve got to see how we feel about them,” said Andersen.
