Minnesota Golden Gophers

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

Division:

Big Ten West

2013 record:

8-5 (4-4 4th B1G Legends)

Returning offensive starters (8):

RG Foster Bush, RT Josh Campion, RB David Cobb, LG Zac Epping, TE Drew Goodger, C Tommy Olson, TE Maxx Williams, WR Drew Wolitarsky

Projected starting offense:

QB Mitch Leidner, so., 6-4, 233; RB David Cobb, sr., 5-11, 225; TE Drew Goodger, sr., 6-5, 265; WR Drew Wolitarsky, so., 6-3, 223; WR Isaac Fruechte, sr., 6-3, 204; TE Maxx Williams, so., 6-4, 254; C Brian Bobek, jr., 6-2, 282; RG Caleb Bak, sr., 6-3, 302; RT Josh Campion, jr., 6-5, 326; LG Zac Epping, sr., 6-2, 321; LT Ben Lauer, so., 6-7, 310

Returning defensive starters (7):

DE Michael Amaefula, DT Cameron Botticelli, DE Theiren Cockran, S Antonio Johnson, CB Eric Murray, S Cedric Thompson, LB Damien Wilson

Projected starting defense:

DE Theiren Cockran, jr., 6-6, 238; DT Scott Epke, jr., 6-4, 281; NT Cameron Botticelli, sr., 6-5, 290; DE Michael Amaefula, sr., 6-2, 244; SLB Jack Lynn, so., 6-4, 234; MLB Damien Wilson, sr., 6-2, 254; WLB De'Vondre Campbell, jr., 6-5, 225; CB Eric Murray, jr., 6-0, 194; CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, jr., 5-11, 186; SS Cedric Thompson, sr., 5-10, 211; FS Antonio Johnson, jr., 6-0, 207

Returning specialists (2)

: P Peter Mortell, jr, 6-2, 198; KR/PR Marcus Jones, sr., 5-8, 166

Other specialists: K Ryan Santoso, fr., 6-5, 260

Key losses:

HB Mike Henry, QB Philip Nelson, LT Ed Olson, DT Ra'Shede Hageman, LB Aaron Hill, LB James Manuel, CB Brock Vereen, PK Chris Hawthorne

Key additions:

RB Jeff Jones (6-0, 198), OL Connor Mayes (6-5, 305), TE Gaelin Elmore (6-6, 246), QB Dimonic Roden-McKinzy (6-0, 214), LB Cody Poock (6-2, 230), DB Craig James (5-11, 170), WR Conner Krizancic (6-2, 190)

2013 review:

The Gophers enjoyed their best season since a 10-3 finish in 2003. They were picked to finish last in the Legends Division by many. Six wins was the popular high end for the Gophers. The eight wins were the most regular-season wins since ‘03, The topper was a victory over Nebraska for the first time in 53 years. Or was the topper winning four consecutive Big Ten games for the first time in 40 seasons? Either way, the 2013 Gophers had themselves a season.

And they didn't even beat Iowa or Wisconsin.

Some numbers from the Daily Gopher: The Minnesota defense only allowed 2 Big Ten teams to score more than two TDs in a game. The Gophers had just one B1G game that was non-competitive in the fourth quarter (UM lost 42-13 to Michigan). The Gophers had a running back with 1,100 yards and six 100 yard games (David Cobb, who's back), most since the celebrated duo of Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III. Minnesota hit 2,400 rushing yards for the first time since 2005. They scored a victory over a ranked opponent (No. 25 Nebraska). The Gophers have improved their win total by a least two games each subsequent year under coach Jerry Kill and now have as many Big Ten wins in three seasons (eight) versus the entirety of the Tim Brewster era.

The Gophers did all that with a relatively young team. They return eight starters on offense, including four of five O-linemen. The defense does lose monster DL Ra'Shede Hageman, but it returns seven starters.

The bar is rising at Minnesota and, this time, we're not talking about Bloody Marys.

2014 schedule:

A28 Eastern Illinois, S6 Middle Tennessee State, S13 at TCU, S20 San Jose State, S27 at Michigan, O11 Northwestern, O18 Purdue, O25 at Illinois, N8 Iowa, N15 Ohio State, N22 at Nebraska, N29 at Wisconsin

Key Stretch:

Let's go with the final third. It begins Nov. 8 against Iowa at TCF Bank Stadium. No remember, UM will not sanction the 'We Hate Iowa” chant this year. So, Iowa doesn't have to sweat that kind of ridicule (this is sarcasm, the 'We Hate” isn't going anywhere and it's kind of a fun rallying cry for both sides). Minnesota wanted this game badly last season. Don't expect ‘14 to be any different.

After Iowa, it goes Ohio State, at Nebraska and then the big finish at Wisconsin. What's the high end for the Gophers in these four games? Is 2-2 realistic? A victory over Iowa is realistic. UM beat Nebraska last season, but hasn't won at Memorial Stadium since 1960. Minnesota has two wins over Ohio State since 1969 (last one was 2000). The Gophers are 2-16 against Wisconsin since 1995 and haven't won in Madison since 1994. A 2-2 mark would be realistic and might be enough to put Minnesota in the thick of the west division race.

Trap game:

As noted previously in these previews, Illinois coach Tim Beckman might be/is definitely coaching for his job with the Fighting Illini this season. It's year three in Champaign and it sure seems as though college football is on a three year 'show me or get the heck out” cycle. Right or wrong, Illinois is going to look at Minnesota as winnable. (It will do the same with Iowa.)

The Illini fall the week after Purdue for the Gophers, but the week before they play host to Iowa. Illinois might be dangerous if the Gophers start thinking pig a week early.

Glass half-full:

The guts of a young Minnesota team that broke through for eight wins last season return. On offense, that means four of five offensive linemen return. That means RB David Cobb (who rushed for 1,202 yards) returns. Coach Jerry Kill has raised Minnesota's physical level of play in each of his three previous seasons. The Gophers have the personnel to take that up another notch.

Quarterback isn't the issue you'd think it'd be. Philip Nelson left the program in January, not long after a lackluster performance in the Texas Bowl. Nelson started far ahead of sophomore Mitch Leidner in 2013, but that started to diminish. Leidner became a regular. Nelson saw the writing on the wall and transferred to Rutgers (he subsequently has been charged in an assault case and dismissed from Rutgers).

In Leidner, Minnesota has a 6-5, 233 horse of a QB. Leidner didn't have showy passing numbers - 43 of 78 for 619 yards and three TDs to one interception - but he showed enough in the run game (102 rushes for 407 yards and seven TDs) to be considered somewhat of a dual threat.

The Gophers linebacking corps needs work, but returnees in the D-line (ends Michael Amaefula and Theiren Cockran and DT Cameron Botticelli) should help break in that group.

Glass half-empty:

Can the Gophers maintain the physical pace it set last season? The answer on offense is that they're certainly going to try. With Leidner in charge (he'll face competition from freshmen Chris Streveler and Dimonic Roden-McKinzy), there will be no mistaking Minnesota's identity. It will be run-first and throw when the defense cheats. Running backs David Cobb and Rodrick Williams, Jr. are proven and highly touted freshman Jeff Jones and redshirt freshman Berkley Edwards will be a boost.

That's a lot of chips in the running game. Leidner will have to show defenses he can beat them through the air. The Minnesota receiving corps hasn't struck fear in defenses the last couple of seasons. TE Maxx Williams (25 catches, 417 yards and five TDs) is starting to take off.

On defense, it's hard to ignore the loss of Hageman, a second-round NFL draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons. The blueprint for a physical offense is there. The defense, particularly the front seven, will have to show it.

The Iowa angle:

The Hawkeyes thundered out to a 20-0 lead in the third quarter of last season's 23-7 victory at TCF Bank Stadium. It looked to be a blowout, but it ended up being one of those games where Iowa couldn't land the knockout.

Minnesota made it 20-7 going into the fourth. Iowa managed a stalemate field goal and walked away with the win. The stats said monster win for the Hawkeyes - 246 yards rushing to just 30 for Minnesota, a 12-minute-plus advantage in time of possession and 22 first downs to just 11. It was a comfortable win for Iowa, but fell short of dominating.

This might be semantics, but Iowa and Minnesota will strike each other with similar game plans this season. The game is again at TCF Bank (it's a B1G scheduling quirk). Minnesota will have a bye before facing the Hawkeyes. The game sits at the beginning of November, which could be a championship drive for one or the other.

For Minnesota's situation, for now, Iowa is a direct measure of success. A win over the Hawkeyes wouldn't be everything for the Gophers program. They've beaten Iowa in the past. But, for Minnesota's situation right now, it would be a big deal. The Minnesota program has a rich history and is awash in trophy games (Floyd of Rosedale, Paul Bunyan's Axe, Little Brown Jug and Governor's Victory Bell). Trophy games mean a lot to the Minnesota program. Since 1982, the Gophers are 10-22 against Iowa. Since 1978, Minnesota is 10-26 against Wisconsin. The last time Minnesota held Floyd and the Bunyan Axe? It was 1990.

This is the beauty of the Big Ten west. It will have to prove itself worthy of the east division, it's just set up that way. Whichever division had Ohio State and Michigan was going to be deemed the more powerful. The way the west is set up now, rivalry and tradition (or good, old fashioned hate) will need to spur it to the heights.

So, let's call November 'Hate Month” for the Hawkeyes, kicking off with Minnesota and finishing with Nebraska.

(Remember how last year's game ended? Minnesota had two timeouts, but Kill had his headphones off. Iowa ran the ball, and guard Conor Boffeli ended up getting his knee twisted. He lived to tell about it, but Kill appeared to have a few animated words with Ferentz. Maybe he tried to sell the benefits of taking a knee?)

Quotable:

'It ended up in our game program, which I didn't know about. I told our guys to take it out. . . . I don't like the cheer, at all. I've talked to Gary [Iowa athletics director Gary Barta] about that. I don't like it a bit and, hopefully, we can try to steer away from it. I think for some kids it's funny and it takes on a life of its own. I don't like it.” - Minnesota athletics director Norwood Teague on the 'We Hate Iowa” cheer, which, obviously, is no longer being sanctioned by the University of Minnesota

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@sourcemedia.net