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http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_26681347/gophers-football-after-bye-week-rest-attention-turns
When Mitch Leidner took off on an 85-yard run during a two-minute drill in practice last week, his University of Minnesota teammates hollered from the sidelines, "Mitch can still run! The freight train is coming!"
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound quarterback appears to be running like his former self after a beneficial bye week for the Gophers (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who are back in action Saturday against Northwestern (3-2, 2-0) at TCF Bank Stadium.
Leidner isn't the only ailing Gopher feeling better after an extra week of rest and recuperation.
"It just kind of came at the perfect time, when everyone was getting a little worn down," tight end Maxx Williams said. 'It just kind of gave us that week to get our legs back feeling healthy -- and now really set our sights on Northwestern."
Entering Big Ten play, both Leidner (turf toe) and Williams (calf) were questionable, and several others were playing hurt. All played well in a 30-14 victory at Michigan on Sept. 27 that brought the Little Brown Jug back to Minnesota for the first time since 2005.
But Gophers coach Jerry Kill said he sat 12 to 13 players out of practice last week during the bye.
That included running back David Cobb, who rushed for 183 yards against the Wolverines, his second 30-plus carry game of the season. Cobb was held out of practice until Sunday to rest his body.
"David Cobb was beat up pretty good, (and the time off gave) him a chance to get healthy," Kill said during his Tuesday news conference. "Sunday was a different day (for the) offensive line.
I think we had three offensive guards not practice ... actually four. So for different reasons, we're hoping we get two of the four ready to go, and hopefully they will be back to work today."
Starting senior left guard Zac Epping, who has started 38 consecutive games, continues to play with a high ankle sprain, an injury that might take three to four weeks to fully heal, Kill said.
When Mitch Leidner took off on an 85-yard run during a two-minute drill in practice last week, his University of Minnesota teammates hollered from the sidelines, "Mitch can still run! The freight train is coming!"
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound quarterback appears to be running like his former self after a beneficial bye week for the Gophers (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who are back in action Saturday against Northwestern (3-2, 2-0) at TCF Bank Stadium.
Leidner isn't the only ailing Gopher feeling better after an extra week of rest and recuperation.
"It just kind of came at the perfect time, when everyone was getting a little worn down," tight end Maxx Williams said. 'It just kind of gave us that week to get our legs back feeling healthy -- and now really set our sights on Northwestern."
Entering Big Ten play, both Leidner (turf toe) and Williams (calf) were questionable, and several others were playing hurt. All played well in a 30-14 victory at Michigan on Sept. 27 that brought the Little Brown Jug back to Minnesota for the first time since 2005.
But Gophers coach Jerry Kill said he sat 12 to 13 players out of practice last week during the bye.
That included running back David Cobb, who rushed for 183 yards against the Wolverines, his second 30-plus carry game of the season. Cobb was held out of practice until Sunday to rest his body.
"David Cobb was beat up pretty good, (and the time off gave) him a chance to get healthy," Kill said during his Tuesday news conference. "Sunday was a different day (for the) offensive line.
I think we had three offensive guards not practice ... actually four. So for different reasons, we're hoping we get two of the four ready to go, and hopefully they will be back to work today."
Starting senior left guard Zac Epping, who has started 38 consecutive games, continues to play with a high ankle sprain, an injury that might take three to four weeks to fully heal, Kill said.