Boat Inspection: Minnesota Gophers Week 2
Status: Getting our sea legs
Do I think the Gophers are in trouble? In the long run, no, but some improvement is needed throughout the team. A win is a win, but a 10 point win against an inferior opponent is cause for some concern. If we were still in the Jerry Kill/Tracy Claeys era and this happened, I'd suggest jumping overboard, but given PJ Fleck is new, there is no need to panic.
Last week: W, 17-7 vs Buffalo
Quarterback will be a topic of conversation all season regardless of who plays. Conor Rhoda had the better game last week against the Bulls, but Demry Croft was still solid despite less playing time. Neither one wowed the fans, and the competition will still be ongoing for a while.
Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks were solid, and did just enough to keep the offense moving. The coaching staff kept things fairly simple as to not tip their hand too much going forward. In the passing game, the obvious standout was Tyler Johnson, who hauled in six passes for 141 yards and produced a number of missed tackles. While Johnson was the star, seven other receivers also caught passes, but the Gophers will need more weapons to emerge besides Johnson.
Defensively, the middle of the defense played extremely well, and was a big reason why Buffalo only managed 51 yards on the ground. There were times when contain was broken, and led to Bulls' quarterback Tyree Jackson breaking outside. If Minnesota can continue to stop the run this effectively, good things will follow.
The concern for the defense comes on the back end, and it has mostly to do with consistency. Antoine Winfield Jr. showed why he's the best defensive back on the team, but he's going to need help. Both cornerbacks showed flashes of their potential, but there were times when they got lucky after a receiver beat them and the pass was underthrown.
UP NEXT: at Oregon State
The Beavers are off to a rough start. Their first game resulted in a 58-27 blowout at the hands of Colorado State (who later was held to just three points against Colorado), followed by a close win against FCS Portland State. While the Beavers have struggled so far, they still have players who can be weapons.
Running back Ryan Nall (above) is one of the better backs in the country and, at 6'2" and 237 pounds, is a big body to bring down. Another name to know is Thomas Tyner. The former Oregon Duck has big play potential, and landed in Corvallis after injuries forced him to retire (he obviously came out of retirement and transferred to Oregon State).
Quarterback Jake Lutton showed signs of his potential early in the Colorado State game, but inconsistency plagued his second half. His favorite targets so far are Noah Togiai, Jordan Villamin, and Timmy Hernandez. While Lutton is the best passer on the team, he sometimes will be replaced with senior Darrell Garrettson (the runner, essentially).
Defensively, the Beavs have already picked off three passes and recovered two fumbles. One thing Gophers fans should note is safety Jalen Moore is their leading tackler, as their defense is giving up 521 yards per game. Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith should see plenty of Moore, and that's a great sign.
Outlook: Choppy waters. Minnesota has things they need to work on, but Oregon State has holes in their boat that need immediate maintenance. This is a team that shouldn't be taken lightly, but can also be put away with a quick and dominant start.
