BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,753
- Reaction score
- 16,119
- Points
- 113
per Greder:
To say Minnesota’s offense was plodding in the last two games of the 2017 season would be putting it politely. In losses to Northwestern and Wisconsin, the Gophers were scoreless while averaging 157 yards of total offense.
This year, Minnesota’s offense is surging into those same matchups, starting against West Division champion Northwestern at 11 a.m. Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.
In their previous four games, the Gophers (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten) have averaged 33 points and 452 total yards. While some of those numbers are inflated because they lost big to Nebraska and Illinois, it’s Minnesota’s longest run of 400-plus yards of total offense since 2005-06.
The Gophers’ improving passing game should pose a threat to the Wildcats’ secondary. While Northwestern (6-4, 6-1) has allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns (five) in Big Ten play, they will be without their starting cornerbacks and a starting safety against Minnesota.
Last year, the Gophers lost receiver Tyler Johnson to a broken hand before the final two games and had no viable alternatives. This year, Minnesota complements Johnson — healthy and more productive in his junior season — with promising freshmen Rashod Bateman, Chris Autman-Bell and Demetrius Douglas.
“I think we have a lot more play-makers than we did last year, and I think the play-makers we had last year are better,” Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said.
http://www.dglobe.com/sports/football/4529268-time-gophers-bring-offense-last-two-big-ten-games
Go Gophers!!
To say Minnesota’s offense was plodding in the last two games of the 2017 season would be putting it politely. In losses to Northwestern and Wisconsin, the Gophers were scoreless while averaging 157 yards of total offense.
This year, Minnesota’s offense is surging into those same matchups, starting against West Division champion Northwestern at 11 a.m. Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.
In their previous four games, the Gophers (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten) have averaged 33 points and 452 total yards. While some of those numbers are inflated because they lost big to Nebraska and Illinois, it’s Minnesota’s longest run of 400-plus yards of total offense since 2005-06.
The Gophers’ improving passing game should pose a threat to the Wildcats’ secondary. While Northwestern (6-4, 6-1) has allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns (five) in Big Ten play, they will be without their starting cornerbacks and a starting safety against Minnesota.
Last year, the Gophers lost receiver Tyler Johnson to a broken hand before the final two games and had no viable alternatives. This year, Minnesota complements Johnson — healthy and more productive in his junior season — with promising freshmen Rashod Bateman, Chris Autman-Bell and Demetrius Douglas.
“I think we have a lot more play-makers than we did last year, and I think the play-makers we had last year are better,” Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said.
http://www.dglobe.com/sports/football/4529268-time-gophers-bring-offense-last-two-big-ten-games
Go Gophers!!