Upon Further Review: Gophers’ opener reminiscent of years past – just not 2019
This year has been like any other. Unfortunately for the Minnesota Gophers, the 2020 season started off like too many they’ve seen before.
For Minnesota, which entered ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press top 25 despite not having played a game, it was déjà vu. Another loss to Michigan, which kept the Little Brown Jug, and a defense reminiscent of the 2018 team which at one point allowed 30+ points in six straight games, including four of 40+ and two of 50+.
On Saturday, it was the 18th-ranked Wolverines marching up and down the field with little problem as they rolled to a 49-24 win over Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium.
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Last season the Gophers fell just once at home and never gave up more than 38 points. But this is 2020, not 2019.
Minnesota was unable to overcome a depleted special teams (missing its kicker and punter) and offensive line (without a starting right guard and right tackle) – thanks to COVID and/or injuries — and several key defensive players now in the NFL.
Quarterback Tanner Morgan was erratic, his passes often thrown short or behind receivers. A spark in 2019, Morgan was just 18 of 31 for 197 yards against Michigan.
Meanwhile, when Minnesota did score, Michigan answered with a touchdown every time. The Wolverines also had a fumble returned for a touchdown and had several short fields due to turnovers or a long kick return.
The Gophers couldn’t stop Michigan no matter the circumstances.
The poor defense, bad special teams and inconsistent offense all adds up to an 0-1 start.
Here’s a recap of Saturday’s game:
PLAYER OF THE GAME
One thing that worked well for Minnesota – maybe the only thing – was the running of Mohamed Ibrahim, who gained 140 yards on 26 carries (5.4 average) with two touchdowns. Ibrahim had four runs of 10+ yards and was never tackled for a loss. He was a constant for the Gophers in a game of inconsistency.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME
Well, we know Morgan didn’t forget about wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who returned to Minnesota after opting out of the season earlier in the summer. Bateman had nine receptions for 101 yards – no other Minnesota wideout had more than one catch. It took until the second half to get him some big plays, though. Bateman had just one catch of 10+ yards in the first half, and it went for 14 yards. In the third quarter he had a 25-yard grab and a nice 38-yard catch-and-run. It’s hard to imagine Minnesota’s passing game without him.
THAT MOMENT
Ibrahim’s first touchdown had made it 21-17, but Michigan went on a 77-yard scoring drive to push the lead to 28-17. Minnesota appeared to go three-and-out but, with a fourth-and-4 from its own 31-yard line, the Gophers tried a fake punt. It didn’t work out well. Michigan not only read it but Minnesota tried to get the first with a tight end attempting to run. Ko Kieft instead lost two yards. Three plays later the Wolverines were in the end zone once again … and it felt like the Gophers’ chances to pull this game out was quite slim.
THIS NUMBER
8.6 – Michigan’s yards per play. That’s a lot, by the way. In 2019, Minnesota allowed 5.06 yards per play but never more than 7.96 (Wisconsin in the regular-season finale). The Wolverines had nine chunk plays – three runs of 15+ yards (including ones for 66 and 70 yards) and six pass plays of 15+.. (Michigan also had a 66-yard kick return.) The Wolverines totaled 481 yards – despite having the ball for only 24:51. Minnesota, by the way, averaged a paltry 4.5 yards per play and finished with 326 yards.
THEY SAID IT
“It just wasn’t good enough. At all. In any phase. Offense, defense or special teams. … I just felt like we fought and fought and fought, got ourselves in a hole, fought out of the hole, got ourselves back in a hole, fought out of the hole and then we just couldn’t get back out of the hole that was deeper. … It was really difficult to play catch-up the entire game.” — head coach P.J. Fleck
“Some of our young guys are getting experience for the firsttime and making them g row up really quick. With Braelen Oliver out, there are a lot of young guys getting in there. Somebody out of a gap, somebody not in the right place and it comes spitting out. Same defense, same calls. Doing everything we can to protect our players. It’s that inexperience at times that can come back and bite you.” — Fleck on the defense
“We just weren’t good enough tonight. ,,, . It was one game. The sky hasn’t fallen on the season and we don’t look at it like that.” — Morgan
“Every year is its own individual year. This year we will be facing challenges. It was a tough game. Michigan played a great game, and we didn’t respond when we wanted to. That is on the leadership of this team. We have to grow from that and learn from our mistakes. We have to change our best next week.” — Ibrahim
WHAT’S NEXT
If Minnesota is looking to take its frustrations out, the Gophers might have the right opponent coming up. The Gophers will play Maryland on the road Friday night. The Terrapins were stomped by Northwestern in their opener 43-3. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, a transfer from Alabama, completed 14 of 25 passes for 94 yards with three interceptions.
