3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
2005 Minnesota Golden Gophers Game Preview
written by: BB73, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs,
Hubbard, Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
written by: BB73, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs,
Hubbard, Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
Well, it's time for the longest road trip that the Buckeyes make within the conference. That's right, the team heads all the way to the Twin Cities, located somewhere between Chicago and the Klondike, to play the Golden Gophers on Saturday.
According to some accounts of recent activities by the local professional football team, these are the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. To be factual, they're actually the fairly large city of Minneapolis, which is located on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, and the smaller State Capital of St. Paul on the other side.
Minnesota plays their home games in the venerable Metrodome, which holds the distinction of being the largest plastic bag to ever host the Super Bowl, two World Series, and a pair of Final Fours.
The Metrodome was also the site of this piece of baseball history: On May 4, 1984, Oakland's Dave Kingman hit a ball into one of the roof's drainage holes in a 4th inning at-bat. The ball never came down and Kingman was awarded a ground-rule double. This raises the question: If A.J. Trapasso really booms a punt, and the ball gets stuck in a drainage hole in the roof, how will the referees deal with the ground-rule double in football? Well, after witnessing the Big Ten officiating crew at Indiana last Saturday, I'm sure we all feel the right call will be made.
The Buckeyes have fared well in the Metrodome, winning all 9 contests since the stadium opened in the early 1980s, including a record epic comeback from a 31-0 deficit in 1989.
Minnesota does have a rich football history, although most of that rich history is of the ancient variety. They claim 6 national titles, but only 1 since the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor (correction: that should say the Japanese, just ignore the channeling of Blutarsky).
Their last two 10 win seasons occurred in '03 and '05. That would be 2003 and unfortunately for them, 1905 (yes, really). They had a brilliant stretch from '00 through '05; they actually compiled a record of 65-4-5 from 1900 through 1905. In both 1903 and 1904, they gave up less points over the course of the season than the number of games they won. Impressive stuff, but obviously ancient history.
The 10 wins in 2003 were partially attributed to their assistant director of scheduling, Betty Crocker. She apparently signs the contracts for the athletic department, and also chooses the flavor for the frosting. Tulsa, Troy State (just before they dropped the 'State'), Ohio, and La-Lafayette were the designated cupcakes that season, while the Big-10 slate had them missing out on tOSU and a Purdue team that went to the Capital One (what's in yer wallet?) Bowl.
Ms. Crocker has apparently been at this scheduling thing long before Glen Mason came to town. After winning 3 straight NC's under Bernie Bierman from 1934 through 1936, they played Notre Dame twice, losing to them in 1937 and 1938. They haven't played the Domers since then, and apparently Ms. Crocker still refuses to take calls from the NotreDameChief of Scheduling for the Fighting Irish.
In order to balance the historical look at the Gophers, it's only fair to point out these facts:
Minnesota only has a losing all-time record against 1 conference, a 1-2 mark against the WAC. They have a winning record against the SEC, the Big-12, and the Pac-10, and are 2-2 against the ACC.
They won their only meetings against Texas and Alabama (their Music City Bowl victory was the last time anybody beat the Crimson Tide, who are now "Rollin' baby").
They have a 29-20 mark against Nebraska. OK, since they've lost the last 14 in the series, Ms. Crocker has dropped the Huskers from the schedule.
Finally, readers are looking for predictions of what will happen in Saturday's game. At this point, it's easier to say what won't happen.
The losing team won't score 56 points, as Purdue did in a loss at the Metrodome in 1993 (59-56, without OT).
Minnesota will not get over 400 yards on the ground and lose the game, as they did against Michigan in 2003, (the Gophers had 424 rushing yards in the game where they lost the 28-7 lead in the largest comeback victory ever for the Princeton-helmeted squad). Minnesota repeated this feat 2 weeks ago, rushing for 411 yards before squandering the Paul Bunyon Axe by failing to get off a punt against Wisconsin with a little over 30 seconds left in the game.
One last thing that won't happen on this visit to the land of 10,000 lakes: The Buckeyes will not be taking a team cruise on Lake Minnetonka.
According to some accounts of recent activities by the local professional football team, these are the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. To be factual, they're actually the fairly large city of Minneapolis, which is located on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, and the smaller State Capital of St. Paul on the other side.
Minnesota plays their home games in the venerable Metrodome, which holds the distinction of being the largest plastic bag to ever host the Super Bowl, two World Series, and a pair of Final Fours.
The Metrodome was also the site of this piece of baseball history: On May 4, 1984, Oakland's Dave Kingman hit a ball into one of the roof's drainage holes in a 4th inning at-bat. The ball never came down and Kingman was awarded a ground-rule double. This raises the question: If A.J. Trapasso really booms a punt, and the ball gets stuck in a drainage hole in the roof, how will the referees deal with the ground-rule double in football? Well, after witnessing the Big Ten officiating crew at Indiana last Saturday, I'm sure we all feel the right call will be made.
The Buckeyes have fared well in the Metrodome, winning all 9 contests since the stadium opened in the early 1980s, including a record epic comeback from a 31-0 deficit in 1989.
Minnesota does have a rich football history, although most of that rich history is of the ancient variety. They claim 6 national titles, but only 1 since the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor (correction: that should say the Japanese, just ignore the channeling of Blutarsky).
Their last two 10 win seasons occurred in '03 and '05. That would be 2003 and unfortunately for them, 1905 (yes, really). They had a brilliant stretch from '00 through '05; they actually compiled a record of 65-4-5 from 1900 through 1905. In both 1903 and 1904, they gave up less points over the course of the season than the number of games they won. Impressive stuff, but obviously ancient history.
The 10 wins in 2003 were partially attributed to their assistant director of scheduling, Betty Crocker. She apparently signs the contracts for the athletic department, and also chooses the flavor for the frosting. Tulsa, Troy State (just before they dropped the 'State'), Ohio, and La-Lafayette were the designated cupcakes that season, while the Big-10 slate had them missing out on tOSU and a Purdue team that went to the Capital One (what's in yer wallet?) Bowl.
Ms. Crocker has apparently been at this scheduling thing long before Glen Mason came to town. After winning 3 straight NC's under Bernie Bierman from 1934 through 1936, they played Notre Dame twice, losing to them in 1937 and 1938. They haven't played the Domers since then, and apparently Ms. Crocker still refuses to take calls from the NotreDameChief of Scheduling for the Fighting Irish.
In order to balance the historical look at the Gophers, it's only fair to point out these facts:
Minnesota only has a losing all-time record against 1 conference, a 1-2 mark against the WAC. They have a winning record against the SEC, the Big-12, and the Pac-10, and are 2-2 against the ACC.
They won their only meetings against Texas and Alabama (their Music City Bowl victory was the last time anybody beat the Crimson Tide, who are now "Rollin' baby").
They have a 29-20 mark against Nebraska. OK, since they've lost the last 14 in the series, Ms. Crocker has dropped the Huskers from the schedule.
Finally, readers are looking for predictions of what will happen in Saturday's game. At this point, it's easier to say what won't happen.
The losing team won't score 56 points, as Purdue did in a loss at the Metrodome in 1993 (59-56, without OT).
Minnesota will not get over 400 yards on the ground and lose the game, as they did against Michigan in 2003, (the Gophers had 424 rushing yards in the game where they lost the 28-7 lead in the largest comeback victory ever for the Princeton-helmeted squad). Minnesota repeated this feat 2 weeks ago, rushing for 411 yards before squandering the Paul Bunyon Axe by failing to get off a punt against Wisconsin with a little over 30 seconds left in the game.
One last thing that won't happen on this visit to the land of 10,000 lakes: The Buckeyes will not be taking a team cruise on Lake Minnetonka.
Date and Time
Game time: Saturday, October 29th, 2005
12:10 EDT Kick-off at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, MN)
ABC (regional) will cover the game.
12:10 EDT Kick-off at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, MN)
ABC (regional) will cover the game.
2005 Minnesota Golden Gophers Offensive Preview
Returning starters: 8
The Buckeyes did a fabulous job of shutting down an up-and-coming Hoosier offense last week. This weekend, it’s off to Minneapolis, to face a Gopher offense that has been dominant for most of the season, and set up the winning points in a giant victory at Ann Arbor October 8th. Last season the Gophers were a very one-dimensional team, ranking 5th in rushing (256.8 ypg) and 88th passing (181.5 ypg). Their scoring offense was very good (30.1 ppg, 29th nationally) and their total offense number was good enough to be ranked 15th in the nation. They had a potent one-two punch running the football, with Marion Barber, III and Laurence Maroney. Still, the one-dimensionality of the offense caught up to the Gophers, as they dropped 5 of their last 6, including a terrible loss to Indiana, before getting a nice win over Alabama in the Music City Bowl.
This season, the offense is still one-dimensional, still with a one-two punch, and still can be exposed by a very good defense. Again, the Gophers are in the top 10 in total offense (492.7 ypg; 9th) and the Gophers lead the nation in rushing with a gaudy 299.1 yards per game, more than option teams Navy, Rice, and Air Force, and heavily run-oriented Texas and Memphis. The passing game continues to be far less than stellar, with 191.5 yards per game ranking 90th nationally. The Gophers are scoring 36.6 points per game, good for a respectable 18th nationally, so all in all, the Minnesota offense is as good as it was last year. Still, the Gophers were blown up by Penn State, demonstrating that a defense that can stop the run can dominate the Gophers ... something Michigan couldn’t do, but Ohio State most certainly can. It will be up the Gopher passing game to keep the Buckeye defense honest, which is a tall order, given the quality of the Buckeye secondary. The Gophers don’t match up well with the Buckeye defense, so they’re going to need a big game from the QB position, and they will have to execute the game plan almost to perfection to emerge victorious in this week’s contest.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Bryan Cupito (6-1, 195, JR)
Bryan Cupito is a veteran in the Minnesota system, and has become somewhat effective in doing what the coaches need him to do. So far in 2005, he’s completed 55% of his limited attempts (149 in 6 games played) for 1208 yards and 10 TDs to 6 INTs. He threw for over 200 in 3 of the first four games, including a season-high 271 and 3 TDs against Purdue. He’s also been able to avoid the big loss by only allowing 3 sacks in 7 games, which is a solid stat. On the downside, Cupito is on pace to put up pretty much identical numbers to what he had last year, indicating that he’s basically performing at capacity, and has been doing so for a while now. He’s also no threat in the run game (11 yards on 17 carries). So, it appears he can be solid when the running game is working, but he cannot take over a game and win it himself, as evidenced in the Penn State game. Throw in the fact that he was knocked out of the Michigan game and missed the Wisconsin game entirely, and his durability is in question, which is something that is really, really going to be a problem against the Ohio State front 7. Expect Cupito to get knocked around, and have difficulty establishing a consistent passing game, even if the Buckeyes stack the line.
The backup is Tony Mortensen, a freshman who started the Wisconsin game after getting garbage time minutes early in the year. He did a decent job, though he only completed 7/17 for 99 yards, and he tossed one TD and one INT. Most importantly, he avoided the huge mistake and had the team in position to win before they experienced one of the biggest meltdowns in recent Big Ten history. He’s a decent stop-gap player, but if he sees the field Saturday, the Gophers are probably in trouble.
QB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Bryan Cupito versus Troy Smith
Smith has certainly been inconsistent this season, but he should feed off a weaker Gopher defense, both running and throwing. Cupito is a gritty player, but he’s been injured, knocked around, and hasn’t been able to step his game up to another level this year. Smith is the choice at QB in this one.
Edge: Troy Smith
Running Backs
RB #22 Laurence Maroney (5-11, 205, JR)
FB #18 Justin Valentine (6-2, 215, SO)
In sharp contrast to the passing game, there is a wealth of talent in the running game, as one might expect. The unquestioned leader is Maroney, who already has 1133 yards and 8 TDs, averaging over 5 yards per carry. He’s topped the 200 yard mark 3 times, including a monster 258 yard performance against Wisconsin, and over 200 against Purdue. On the down side, he’s been held to only 2 TDs in conference play, and was smacked around at Penn State, where he gained only 48 yards on 16 carries. He is a powerful back with good speed, and he can also catch passes, having 11 for 131 yards and a score so far this year. He has factored in very little in the passing game in conference play, however. Maroney obviously has a wealth of talent, but if he wants to be remembered in the elite list of Big Ten backs, he needs a good performance this weekend at home against a stellar run defense.
Second on the depth chart is sophomore Gary Russell, who could be starting on a lot of squads. He has 644 yards and 10 TDs, and averages over 7 yards per carry. He had a huge game against Purdue, rushing for over 100 and scoring 2 TDs and catching a third. He also scored a pair in the Wisconsin game, while rushing for 139 yards. He was also over 100 at Michigan, where his monster run at the end of the game set up the winning points. It could be argued that he has done just as well as Maroney in conference play, so the Buckeyes will have to keep their eyes on him Saturday.
Third on the chart is Amir Pinnix, who has not played in a conference game, and it can be presumed he won’t on Saturday either. Fullback Justin Valentine isn’t much of a factor in the rushing game (9 carries, 41 yards) but he has been working hard on his blocking this year, and has made some improvements. Backup Jason Lamers is a bigger kid (240) who could also see the field some.
RB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Maroney versus Pittman
Statistically, this is a no-contest. Pittman has been playing better as of late however, and has done a good job in recent weeks of establishing a run game. Maroney is clearly the more explosive player, and certainly Russell is a fabulous backup, but don’t count Pittman out ... he could just have his best game when all eyes are on the opponent’s ground attack.
Edge: Maroney
Wide Receivers
WR #83 Jared Ellerson (6-1, 200, SR)
WR #82 Ernest Wheelright (6-5, 210, SO)
This group obviously has limited production due to the mediocre passing attack and dominating ground game of the Gophers. Ellerson is a system guy who has been around for a while and does what the coaches need him to, though he’s had limited opportunities. He has only 13 catches, but for 318 yards and 2 TDs. He’s been almost a non-factor in conference play, however, catching only 5 balls in 4 Big Ten conference games. Wheelright has been by far the most dangerous threat the Gophers have in the passing game, with his good size and ability to get open downfield. He has caught 18 passes for 297 yards and 3 TDs, including scores against Penn State and Michigan. He will probably be the focal point of the Buckeye coverage scheme this week.
Backup Logan Payne is a veteran who has seen plenty of action this year, having caught 19 passes for 268 yards and a score. He hasn’t been much of a factor recently, having caught 2 passes in each of the last 3 games for 25 yards or less. Micah Rucker is fourth on the chart, but has caught only 2 passes this year.
All in all not too much to get excited about here, though one wonders how dangerous Wheelright would be if he were at Michigan State or, gasp, Northwestern.
WR Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ellerson/Wheelright versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Again, statistically, this is no contest. Talent-wise, it isn’t much of a contest either, though Wheelright has plenty of upside, and it would have been nice to see this Columbus product in a Buckeye uniform. He is the only player that poses any real threat in the Gopher passing game, whereas the Buckeyes are loaded with weapons.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
#89 Matt Spaeth (6-6, 270, JR)
Spaeth is the latest in a long line of good Minnesota tight ends, several of whom have gained employment in the NFL. He’s been somewhat limited in the passing game this season, having caught 11 passes for 11 yards and 2 TDs, after catching 24 passes a year ago. Still, he’s caught TDs against Purdue and Wisconsin, and is a big target in the redzone. He’s also a battering ram of a blocker, and will cause the linebackers a few headaches as they pursue the ballcarriers. Spaeth is a big target, a good weapon, and his size makes him an NFL prospect as well.
TE Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Matt Spaeth versus Ryan Hamby
Spaeth is by far the superior blocker, and given the inconsistency of Hamby’s hands, this is a fairly easy one to handicap.
Edge: Matt Spaeth
Offensive Line
LT #64 Steve Shidell (6-5, 285, SO)
LG #68 Mark Setterstrom (6-3, 295, SR)
C #61 Greg Eslinger (6-3, 285, SR)
RG #60 Mike Nicholson (6-5, 285, SR)
RT #77 Tony Brinkhaus (6-4, 295, SO)
This is a veteran group with plenty of talent and experience, especially in the middle. Eslinger and Setterstrom are previous All-Big Ten selections who execute the team’s zone blocking schemes to near perfection. Nicholson has also stepped up this year. The sophomores at the tackle spots are somewhat less experienced, but they have been solid, especially with the run, for most of the season. The low sack total (3) also indicates that this unit is adept at pass blocking as well, which is important with a QB that has injury problems.
A lot of underclassmen are at the backup spots, including freshman tackle Ryan Ruckdashel, and a pair of sophomore guards, Tommy Jacobs and John Jakel. Veteran Tyson Swaggert is the backup at center.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Minnesota versus Ohio State
Both of these lines have played solid football for most of the season. Line aficionados will thoroughly enjoy watching Eslinger and Mangold, two of the better centers in the nation, this weekend. The Gophers are somewhat undersized, but that fits with their zone blocking schemes. If they are vulnerable anywhere, it is on the outside at the tackle spots. Both lines are decent, and it is hard to pick one or the other as standing out.
Edge: Push
Offensive Analysis
Another week, another offense with gaudy numbers for the Buckeyes to face ... and in that regard this is just a warm up for the Northwestern contest in 2 weeks. The Gopher offense lives and dies by the run, and they were exposed badly at Penn State, a team that has many similar strengths on defense to what the Buckeyes have ... though the Buckeye run defense is actually better. If the Gophers can’t run, it will be a long day for them, because a mediocre (at best) passing game will not trouble the Buckeyes. Wheelright seems to be the only real weapon in the passing game, so if the Buckeyes can handle the run for most of the game and keep the Gophers from dominating time of possession, it should be a good week for the Buckeyes. Big numbers or not, it’s hard to consider a team that relies on one thing an elite offense ... and in the end, the Gophers are not.
Overall Offensive Rating: B-
The Buckeyes did a fabulous job of shutting down an up-and-coming Hoosier offense last week. This weekend, it’s off to Minneapolis, to face a Gopher offense that has been dominant for most of the season, and set up the winning points in a giant victory at Ann Arbor October 8th. Last season the Gophers were a very one-dimensional team, ranking 5th in rushing (256.8 ypg) and 88th passing (181.5 ypg). Their scoring offense was very good (30.1 ppg, 29th nationally) and their total offense number was good enough to be ranked 15th in the nation. They had a potent one-two punch running the football, with Marion Barber, III and Laurence Maroney. Still, the one-dimensionality of the offense caught up to the Gophers, as they dropped 5 of their last 6, including a terrible loss to Indiana, before getting a nice win over Alabama in the Music City Bowl.
This season, the offense is still one-dimensional, still with a one-two punch, and still can be exposed by a very good defense. Again, the Gophers are in the top 10 in total offense (492.7 ypg; 9th) and the Gophers lead the nation in rushing with a gaudy 299.1 yards per game, more than option teams Navy, Rice, and Air Force, and heavily run-oriented Texas and Memphis. The passing game continues to be far less than stellar, with 191.5 yards per game ranking 90th nationally. The Gophers are scoring 36.6 points per game, good for a respectable 18th nationally, so all in all, the Minnesota offense is as good as it was last year. Still, the Gophers were blown up by Penn State, demonstrating that a defense that can stop the run can dominate the Gophers ... something Michigan couldn’t do, but Ohio State most certainly can. It will be up the Gopher passing game to keep the Buckeye defense honest, which is a tall order, given the quality of the Buckeye secondary. The Gophers don’t match up well with the Buckeye defense, so they’re going to need a big game from the QB position, and they will have to execute the game plan almost to perfection to emerge victorious in this week’s contest.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Bryan Cupito (6-1, 195, JR)
Bryan Cupito is a veteran in the Minnesota system, and has become somewhat effective in doing what the coaches need him to do. So far in 2005, he’s completed 55% of his limited attempts (149 in 6 games played) for 1208 yards and 10 TDs to 6 INTs. He threw for over 200 in 3 of the first four games, including a season-high 271 and 3 TDs against Purdue. He’s also been able to avoid the big loss by only allowing 3 sacks in 7 games, which is a solid stat. On the downside, Cupito is on pace to put up pretty much identical numbers to what he had last year, indicating that he’s basically performing at capacity, and has been doing so for a while now. He’s also no threat in the run game (11 yards on 17 carries). So, it appears he can be solid when the running game is working, but he cannot take over a game and win it himself, as evidenced in the Penn State game. Throw in the fact that he was knocked out of the Michigan game and missed the Wisconsin game entirely, and his durability is in question, which is something that is really, really going to be a problem against the Ohio State front 7. Expect Cupito to get knocked around, and have difficulty establishing a consistent passing game, even if the Buckeyes stack the line.
The backup is Tony Mortensen, a freshman who started the Wisconsin game after getting garbage time minutes early in the year. He did a decent job, though he only completed 7/17 for 99 yards, and he tossed one TD and one INT. Most importantly, he avoided the huge mistake and had the team in position to win before they experienced one of the biggest meltdowns in recent Big Ten history. He’s a decent stop-gap player, but if he sees the field Saturday, the Gophers are probably in trouble.
QB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Bryan Cupito versus Troy Smith
Smith has certainly been inconsistent this season, but he should feed off a weaker Gopher defense, both running and throwing. Cupito is a gritty player, but he’s been injured, knocked around, and hasn’t been able to step his game up to another level this year. Smith is the choice at QB in this one.
Edge: Troy Smith
Running Backs
RB #22 Laurence Maroney (5-11, 205, JR)
FB #18 Justin Valentine (6-2, 215, SO)
In sharp contrast to the passing game, there is a wealth of talent in the running game, as one might expect. The unquestioned leader is Maroney, who already has 1133 yards and 8 TDs, averaging over 5 yards per carry. He’s topped the 200 yard mark 3 times, including a monster 258 yard performance against Wisconsin, and over 200 against Purdue. On the down side, he’s been held to only 2 TDs in conference play, and was smacked around at Penn State, where he gained only 48 yards on 16 carries. He is a powerful back with good speed, and he can also catch passes, having 11 for 131 yards and a score so far this year. He has factored in very little in the passing game in conference play, however. Maroney obviously has a wealth of talent, but if he wants to be remembered in the elite list of Big Ten backs, he needs a good performance this weekend at home against a stellar run defense.
Second on the depth chart is sophomore Gary Russell, who could be starting on a lot of squads. He has 644 yards and 10 TDs, and averages over 7 yards per carry. He had a huge game against Purdue, rushing for over 100 and scoring 2 TDs and catching a third. He also scored a pair in the Wisconsin game, while rushing for 139 yards. He was also over 100 at Michigan, where his monster run at the end of the game set up the winning points. It could be argued that he has done just as well as Maroney in conference play, so the Buckeyes will have to keep their eyes on him Saturday.
Third on the chart is Amir Pinnix, who has not played in a conference game, and it can be presumed he won’t on Saturday either. Fullback Justin Valentine isn’t much of a factor in the rushing game (9 carries, 41 yards) but he has been working hard on his blocking this year, and has made some improvements. Backup Jason Lamers is a bigger kid (240) who could also see the field some.
RB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Maroney versus Pittman
Statistically, this is a no-contest. Pittman has been playing better as of late however, and has done a good job in recent weeks of establishing a run game. Maroney is clearly the more explosive player, and certainly Russell is a fabulous backup, but don’t count Pittman out ... he could just have his best game when all eyes are on the opponent’s ground attack.
Edge: Maroney
Wide Receivers
WR #83 Jared Ellerson (6-1, 200, SR)
WR #82 Ernest Wheelright (6-5, 210, SO)
This group obviously has limited production due to the mediocre passing attack and dominating ground game of the Gophers. Ellerson is a system guy who has been around for a while and does what the coaches need him to, though he’s had limited opportunities. He has only 13 catches, but for 318 yards and 2 TDs. He’s been almost a non-factor in conference play, however, catching only 5 balls in 4 Big Ten conference games. Wheelright has been by far the most dangerous threat the Gophers have in the passing game, with his good size and ability to get open downfield. He has caught 18 passes for 297 yards and 3 TDs, including scores against Penn State and Michigan. He will probably be the focal point of the Buckeye coverage scheme this week.
Backup Logan Payne is a veteran who has seen plenty of action this year, having caught 19 passes for 268 yards and a score. He hasn’t been much of a factor recently, having caught 2 passes in each of the last 3 games for 25 yards or less. Micah Rucker is fourth on the chart, but has caught only 2 passes this year.
All in all not too much to get excited about here, though one wonders how dangerous Wheelright would be if he were at Michigan State or, gasp, Northwestern.
WR Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ellerson/Wheelright versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Again, statistically, this is no contest. Talent-wise, it isn’t much of a contest either, though Wheelright has plenty of upside, and it would have been nice to see this Columbus product in a Buckeye uniform. He is the only player that poses any real threat in the Gopher passing game, whereas the Buckeyes are loaded with weapons.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
#89 Matt Spaeth (6-6, 270, JR)
Spaeth is the latest in a long line of good Minnesota tight ends, several of whom have gained employment in the NFL. He’s been somewhat limited in the passing game this season, having caught 11 passes for 11 yards and 2 TDs, after catching 24 passes a year ago. Still, he’s caught TDs against Purdue and Wisconsin, and is a big target in the redzone. He’s also a battering ram of a blocker, and will cause the linebackers a few headaches as they pursue the ballcarriers. Spaeth is a big target, a good weapon, and his size makes him an NFL prospect as well.
TE Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Matt Spaeth versus Ryan Hamby
Spaeth is by far the superior blocker, and given the inconsistency of Hamby’s hands, this is a fairly easy one to handicap.
Edge: Matt Spaeth
Offensive Line
LT #64 Steve Shidell (6-5, 285, SO)
LG #68 Mark Setterstrom (6-3, 295, SR)
C #61 Greg Eslinger (6-3, 285, SR)
RG #60 Mike Nicholson (6-5, 285, SR)
RT #77 Tony Brinkhaus (6-4, 295, SO)
This is a veteran group with plenty of talent and experience, especially in the middle. Eslinger and Setterstrom are previous All-Big Ten selections who execute the team’s zone blocking schemes to near perfection. Nicholson has also stepped up this year. The sophomores at the tackle spots are somewhat less experienced, but they have been solid, especially with the run, for most of the season. The low sack total (3) also indicates that this unit is adept at pass blocking as well, which is important with a QB that has injury problems.
A lot of underclassmen are at the backup spots, including freshman tackle Ryan Ruckdashel, and a pair of sophomore guards, Tommy Jacobs and John Jakel. Veteran Tyson Swaggert is the backup at center.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Minnesota versus Ohio State
Both of these lines have played solid football for most of the season. Line aficionados will thoroughly enjoy watching Eslinger and Mangold, two of the better centers in the nation, this weekend. The Gophers are somewhat undersized, but that fits with their zone blocking schemes. If they are vulnerable anywhere, it is on the outside at the tackle spots. Both lines are decent, and it is hard to pick one or the other as standing out.
Edge: Push
Offensive Analysis
Another week, another offense with gaudy numbers for the Buckeyes to face ... and in that regard this is just a warm up for the Northwestern contest in 2 weeks. The Gopher offense lives and dies by the run, and they were exposed badly at Penn State, a team that has many similar strengths on defense to what the Buckeyes have ... though the Buckeye run defense is actually better. If the Gophers can’t run, it will be a long day for them, because a mediocre (at best) passing game will not trouble the Buckeyes. Wheelright seems to be the only real weapon in the passing game, so if the Buckeyes can handle the run for most of the game and keep the Gophers from dominating time of possession, it should be a good week for the Buckeyes. Big numbers or not, it’s hard to consider a team that relies on one thing an elite offense ... and in the end, the Gophers are not.
Overall Offensive Rating: B-
2005 Minnesota Golden Gophers Defensive Preview
Returning Starters: 7
Ohio State will look increase their road win streak to 2 games this weekend as they head into the Metrodome to play the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. Minnesota has been inconsistent to this point in the season from a defensive standpoint, which seems to be a trademark of Glen Mason coached ball clubs. Here is where they currently stand from a defensive standpoint.
Points per contest: 25 PPG (5th in Big Ten)
Total yards surrendered: 371 YPG (4th in Big Ten)
Total Passing yards surrendered: 221 YPG (5th in Big Ten)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 151 YPG (6th in Big Ten)
Defensive sacks: 12 (t-8th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Give up points 79% of time their opponents get inside their 20 yardline (6th in Big Ten)
Minnesota got their best defensive performance of the year 2 weeks ago in Ann Arbor when they held Michigan to 23 points, and 249 total yards of offense. Furthermore, they held Michigan to under 100 yards rushing (94 Yds). On the flip side, they were absolutely blasted by Penn State earlier this season giving up 44 total points. The Nittany Lions put up 364 yards on the ground in that contest, and went for 539 total yards of offense.
This Minnesota ballclub has given up 23 or more points 5 times this season, including every Big Ten game that they have been in to this point. It’s pretty easy to see that the Gophers have been inconsistent this season.
Defensive Line
DE #92 Steve Davis (6-2, 230, FR)
DT #95 Anthony Montgomery (6-5, 310, SR)
DT #97 Mark Losli (6-6, 295, SR)
DE #99 Keith Lipka (6-3, 265, SR)
Minnesota will be led on the defensive line by freshman end Steve Davis. Davis is having a dynamite rookie campaign for the Gophers, where he leads the team with 5 sacks, and 7 tackles for loss. On the season he has a total of 26 tackles, and 1 QB hurry. Davis is a virtual shoe in for the all Big Ten freshman team this season, and has to be considered one of the best freshman defenders in the whole conference. He isn’t necessarily a huge individual, but has a knack for making big plays.
The other end will be manned by Keith Lipka. On the season Lipka has total of 24 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Lipka has also recovered a fumble this season.
On the interior of the defensive line Minnesota will be led by senior Anthony Montgomery. Montgomery has a total of 23 tackles on the season, with 4 being for a loss, and 2 sacks. In addition, he has also forced a fumble from his defensive tackle position. Montgomery is an absolute rock in the middle for the Gophers, he often draws double teams, which opens up the lanes for his linebackers. The other tackle will be held down by senior Mark Losli. On the season Losli has a total of 9 tackles and 1 pass breakup.
Analysis
This unit is average at best. Steve Davis has really come on, and gives Minnesota their only firepower on the front 4. They are experienced, and feature 3 seniors along the line, but really aren’t that dominant. In addition, they have excellent size in the middle, which makes them more effective against the middle running game. They were able to shut down Michigan, but keep in mind the Wolverines were without Michael Hart in that contest. Last week they held Wisconsin to 131 yards on the ground, which is no small feat. But, as I’ve mentioned earlier, inconsistency is the norm on this defense, and it all starts up front.
DL Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Minnesota
Minnesota has a total of 12 sacks so far this season. Ohio State matched that number against Michigan State. OSU leads the Big Ten in nearly every major defensive statistic, enough said.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #46 John Shevlin (6-1, 225, SO)
MLB #58 Mike Sherels (6-0, 235, SO)
OLB #52 Kyle McKenzie (6-1, 235, SR)
Minnesota features a trio of linebackers who occupy 3 of the top 5 spots on the team from a tackling standpoint. Leading the way is sophomore middle backer Mike Sherels. On the season Sherels has a total of 34 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, and 1 sack. Sherels has also picked off a pass this season, and recovered 2 fumbles. Sherels has really come on this season, and is becoming a very steady performer in the middle for the Gophers.
Leading the way at one of the outside backer spots will be sophomore John Shelvin. On the season Shelvin is 2nd on the team with a total of 35 tackles, including 3 for a loss. Shelvin is tied for the Big Ten lead with 3 forced fumbles on the season. He is intelligent, and knows how to find his way to the ball for the Gophers. The other outside linebacker spot will be filled by senior Kyle McKenzie. On the season McKenzie has a total of 32 tackles, including 2 for a loss, and 1 sack.
Analysis
Minnesota has a blend of youth and senority in their pack of linebackers. Fortunately for the Gophers their two best linebackers are only sophomores, which should offer some consistency for the Gophers from a linebacker standpoint in years to come. These guys aren’t flashy, but they make tackles. They have had some good ballgames stopping the run, but seem to get caught up in traffic a bit too much with teams who like to run outside. They are fairly solid in run protection, but do not scare me from a blitzing standpoint.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Minnesota
Minnesota gets consistent play from their bunch of linebackers, but at times have the ability to take over the course of a game like the Buckeye crew can. It’s been well documented how good this Buckeye trio is, with every week you clearly witness how special this unit has become. No comparison in units as a whole.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #4 Trumaine Banks (5-11, 185, JR)
FS #34 John Pawielski (5-11, 200, SR)
SS #2 Dominic Jones (5-9, 180, FR)
CB #15 Jamal Harris (6-0, 185, SO)
Minnesota features a secondary that has been pretty consistent so far this season, especially in the Big Ten. They are led by senior John Pawielski at the free safety spot. On the season Pawielski leads the team with 52 tackles, including 4 for a loss. Pawielski has also picked off a pass, and broken up 3 others. Pawielski is a former walk-on, who has gone on to have a very successful career for the Gophers. He is, without a doubt, the leader of this defense, and brings things to the field that cannot be coached. His leadership will be key this week if the Gophers are going to pull the upset. The other safety spot will be held down by freshman Dominic Jones. On the season Jones has a total of 19 tackles. Jones, a Columbus Brookhaven native, will really be playing with a chip on his shoulder this week. He was the division 2 defensive player of the year last season in Ohio, and will be looking to show the Buckeyes what they passed on. On that note, I think he is the weak spot of this Gophers defense, and has probably been rushed to the field this season due to lack of depth in the Gophers secondary. Look for OSU to go after him right way in this contest.
Leading the way for the Gophers at one of the corner spots will be junior Trumaine Banks. Banks has a total of 33 tackles on the season, including 4 for a loss. He is tied for the team lead with 7 pass breakups in addition to his interception. Banks has also forced a fumble on the season. Banks is yet another Columbus guy on this Gopher squad who will be looking to make some noise against his home town team. He has excellent talent, and has been a starter since his freshman year for the Gophers. Banks is probably one of the top 4-5 corners in the Big Ten this season. Holding down the other corner spot for the Golden Gophers will be sophomore Jamal Harris. On the season Harris has a total of 28 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss. Harris is also tied with his counterpart for the team lead with 7 pass breakups.
Analysis
Minnesota is competitive in their secondary, but, not counting Pawielski, they miss a lot of tackles. Banks is turning into an absolute stud at one of the corner spots, but the other spot is a significant drop off for the Golden Gophers. The biggest glaring weakness for the Gophers is freshman Dominic Jones. He has been unproductive for most of this season, and still seems to be awestruck by the speed of D-I football at times. He has the potential to become a great player down the road, but is probably one of the weak spots on this defense presently.
DB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Minnesota
Minnesota is ranked 5th in the conference against the pass, and has given up 7 TD’s on the season. Ohio State leads the Big Ten against the pass surrendering 192 yards per contest, and has given up a Big Ten low 5 touchdown passes. Minnesota starts a few younger guys who don’t have the experience or talent that OSU features in the secondary. OSU easily gets the nod in this category.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
As I have mentioned several times in this preview, this unit is inconsistent. I’m not sure which Minnesota team will show up this week. If the Gophers decide to play the way that they did in Michigan, this defense has the ability to give us fits this week. They aren’t very strong at pressuring the quarterback, but are very solid in the middle against the run. They have a budding star in Banks at corner, and the leadership in their secondary to calm some of the young guys down if they give up big plays. This game will be a hard fought contest, and I’m betting that they’ll get a very good performance by this Minnesota squad. Glen Mason’s teams always seem to play us very hard. Not to mention, this is a road game for us that isn’t being played in Bloomington. This will be a tight ballgame, but the Buckeyes will be too much late in the contest.
Overall Defensive Rating:C+
Ohio State will look increase their road win streak to 2 games this weekend as they head into the Metrodome to play the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. Minnesota has been inconsistent to this point in the season from a defensive standpoint, which seems to be a trademark of Glen Mason coached ball clubs. Here is where they currently stand from a defensive standpoint.
Points per contest: 25 PPG (5th in Big Ten)
Total yards surrendered: 371 YPG (4th in Big Ten)
Total Passing yards surrendered: 221 YPG (5th in Big Ten)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 151 YPG (6th in Big Ten)
Defensive sacks: 12 (t-8th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Give up points 79% of time their opponents get inside their 20 yardline (6th in Big Ten)
Minnesota got their best defensive performance of the year 2 weeks ago in Ann Arbor when they held Michigan to 23 points, and 249 total yards of offense. Furthermore, they held Michigan to under 100 yards rushing (94 Yds). On the flip side, they were absolutely blasted by Penn State earlier this season giving up 44 total points. The Nittany Lions put up 364 yards on the ground in that contest, and went for 539 total yards of offense.
This Minnesota ballclub has given up 23 or more points 5 times this season, including every Big Ten game that they have been in to this point. It’s pretty easy to see that the Gophers have been inconsistent this season.
Defensive Line
DE #92 Steve Davis (6-2, 230, FR)
DT #95 Anthony Montgomery (6-5, 310, SR)
DT #97 Mark Losli (6-6, 295, SR)
DE #99 Keith Lipka (6-3, 265, SR)
Minnesota will be led on the defensive line by freshman end Steve Davis. Davis is having a dynamite rookie campaign for the Gophers, where he leads the team with 5 sacks, and 7 tackles for loss. On the season he has a total of 26 tackles, and 1 QB hurry. Davis is a virtual shoe in for the all Big Ten freshman team this season, and has to be considered one of the best freshman defenders in the whole conference. He isn’t necessarily a huge individual, but has a knack for making big plays.
The other end will be manned by Keith Lipka. On the season Lipka has total of 24 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Lipka has also recovered a fumble this season.
On the interior of the defensive line Minnesota will be led by senior Anthony Montgomery. Montgomery has a total of 23 tackles on the season, with 4 being for a loss, and 2 sacks. In addition, he has also forced a fumble from his defensive tackle position. Montgomery is an absolute rock in the middle for the Gophers, he often draws double teams, which opens up the lanes for his linebackers. The other tackle will be held down by senior Mark Losli. On the season Losli has a total of 9 tackles and 1 pass breakup.
Analysis
This unit is average at best. Steve Davis has really come on, and gives Minnesota their only firepower on the front 4. They are experienced, and feature 3 seniors along the line, but really aren’t that dominant. In addition, they have excellent size in the middle, which makes them more effective against the middle running game. They were able to shut down Michigan, but keep in mind the Wolverines were without Michael Hart in that contest. Last week they held Wisconsin to 131 yards on the ground, which is no small feat. But, as I’ve mentioned earlier, inconsistency is the norm on this defense, and it all starts up front.
DL Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Minnesota
Minnesota has a total of 12 sacks so far this season. Ohio State matched that number against Michigan State. OSU leads the Big Ten in nearly every major defensive statistic, enough said.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #46 John Shevlin (6-1, 225, SO)
MLB #58 Mike Sherels (6-0, 235, SO)
OLB #52 Kyle McKenzie (6-1, 235, SR)
Minnesota features a trio of linebackers who occupy 3 of the top 5 spots on the team from a tackling standpoint. Leading the way is sophomore middle backer Mike Sherels. On the season Sherels has a total of 34 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, and 1 sack. Sherels has also picked off a pass this season, and recovered 2 fumbles. Sherels has really come on this season, and is becoming a very steady performer in the middle for the Gophers.
Leading the way at one of the outside backer spots will be sophomore John Shelvin. On the season Shelvin is 2nd on the team with a total of 35 tackles, including 3 for a loss. Shelvin is tied for the Big Ten lead with 3 forced fumbles on the season. He is intelligent, and knows how to find his way to the ball for the Gophers. The other outside linebacker spot will be filled by senior Kyle McKenzie. On the season McKenzie has a total of 32 tackles, including 2 for a loss, and 1 sack.
Analysis
Minnesota has a blend of youth and senority in their pack of linebackers. Fortunately for the Gophers their two best linebackers are only sophomores, which should offer some consistency for the Gophers from a linebacker standpoint in years to come. These guys aren’t flashy, but they make tackles. They have had some good ballgames stopping the run, but seem to get caught up in traffic a bit too much with teams who like to run outside. They are fairly solid in run protection, but do not scare me from a blitzing standpoint.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Minnesota
Minnesota gets consistent play from their bunch of linebackers, but at times have the ability to take over the course of a game like the Buckeye crew can. It’s been well documented how good this Buckeye trio is, with every week you clearly witness how special this unit has become. No comparison in units as a whole.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #4 Trumaine Banks (5-11, 185, JR)
FS #34 John Pawielski (5-11, 200, SR)
SS #2 Dominic Jones (5-9, 180, FR)
CB #15 Jamal Harris (6-0, 185, SO)
Minnesota features a secondary that has been pretty consistent so far this season, especially in the Big Ten. They are led by senior John Pawielski at the free safety spot. On the season Pawielski leads the team with 52 tackles, including 4 for a loss. Pawielski has also picked off a pass, and broken up 3 others. Pawielski is a former walk-on, who has gone on to have a very successful career for the Gophers. He is, without a doubt, the leader of this defense, and brings things to the field that cannot be coached. His leadership will be key this week if the Gophers are going to pull the upset. The other safety spot will be held down by freshman Dominic Jones. On the season Jones has a total of 19 tackles. Jones, a Columbus Brookhaven native, will really be playing with a chip on his shoulder this week. He was the division 2 defensive player of the year last season in Ohio, and will be looking to show the Buckeyes what they passed on. On that note, I think he is the weak spot of this Gophers defense, and has probably been rushed to the field this season due to lack of depth in the Gophers secondary. Look for OSU to go after him right way in this contest.
Leading the way for the Gophers at one of the corner spots will be junior Trumaine Banks. Banks has a total of 33 tackles on the season, including 4 for a loss. He is tied for the team lead with 7 pass breakups in addition to his interception. Banks has also forced a fumble on the season. Banks is yet another Columbus guy on this Gopher squad who will be looking to make some noise against his home town team. He has excellent talent, and has been a starter since his freshman year for the Gophers. Banks is probably one of the top 4-5 corners in the Big Ten this season. Holding down the other corner spot for the Golden Gophers will be sophomore Jamal Harris. On the season Harris has a total of 28 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss. Harris is also tied with his counterpart for the team lead with 7 pass breakups.
Analysis
Minnesota is competitive in their secondary, but, not counting Pawielski, they miss a lot of tackles. Banks is turning into an absolute stud at one of the corner spots, but the other spot is a significant drop off for the Golden Gophers. The biggest glaring weakness for the Gophers is freshman Dominic Jones. He has been unproductive for most of this season, and still seems to be awestruck by the speed of D-I football at times. He has the potential to become a great player down the road, but is probably one of the weak spots on this defense presently.
DB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Minnesota
Minnesota is ranked 5th in the conference against the pass, and has given up 7 TD’s on the season. Ohio State leads the Big Ten against the pass surrendering 192 yards per contest, and has given up a Big Ten low 5 touchdown passes. Minnesota starts a few younger guys who don’t have the experience or talent that OSU features in the secondary. OSU easily gets the nod in this category.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
As I have mentioned several times in this preview, this unit is inconsistent. I’m not sure which Minnesota team will show up this week. If the Gophers decide to play the way that they did in Michigan, this defense has the ability to give us fits this week. They aren’t very strong at pressuring the quarterback, but are very solid in the middle against the run. They have a budding star in Banks at corner, and the leadership in their secondary to calm some of the young guys down if they give up big plays. This game will be a hard fought contest, and I’m betting that they’ll get a very good performance by this Minnesota squad. Glen Mason’s teams always seem to play us very hard. Not to mention, this is a road game for us that isn’t being played in Bloomington. This will be a tight ballgame, but the Buckeyes will be too much late in the contest.
Overall Defensive Rating:C+
Predictions
Bucklion's prediction: 31-21, Ohio State
BB73's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 44-21, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 24-13, Ohio State
Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 27-23, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 31-16, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 41 - Indiana 10)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(94) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 38-14, Ohio State (3 + 4 = 7 + 87 last week)
(96) Jaxbuck's prediction: 31-14, Ohio State (10 + 4 = 14 + 82 last week)
(97) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 45-17, Ohio State (4 + 7 = 11 + 86 last week)
(104) daddyphatsac's prediction: 38-10, Ohio State (3 + 0 = 3 + 101 last week)
(112) BB73's prediction: 34-17, Ohio State (7 + 7 = 14 + 98 last week)
(135) Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State (No prediction = High score (17) + 10 pt penalty = 27 + 108 last week)
(142) Bucklion's prediction: 31-17, Ohio State (10 + 7 = 17 + 125 last week)
BB73's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 44-21, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 24-13, Ohio State
Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 27-23, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 31-16, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 41 - Indiana 10)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(94) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 38-14, Ohio State (3 + 4 = 7 + 87 last week)
(96) Jaxbuck's prediction: 31-14, Ohio State (10 + 4 = 14 + 82 last week)
(97) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 45-17, Ohio State (4 + 7 = 11 + 86 last week)
(104) daddyphatsac's prediction: 38-10, Ohio State (3 + 0 = 3 + 101 last week)
(112) BB73's prediction: 34-17, Ohio State (7 + 7 = 14 + 98 last week)
(135) Hubbard's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State (No prediction = High score (17) + 10 pt penalty = 27 + 108 last week)
(142) Bucklion's prediction: 31-17, Ohio State (10 + 7 = 17 + 125 last week)
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