If anyone watched the Viking game last night you will see the importance of the offensive line. Not much time or lanes for the backs to run through. The O-line play (IMO) will be the key to the game with Iowa State.
The big men up front on both sides are the most important part of the game of football.
ANY team regardless of skill, speed, offensive/defensive coaching brilliance, etc needs strong play from their Oline or Dline. The vikings issues are squarely on the Oline's failure to block and the Dline's failure to pass rush/stop the run.
Our Gopher squad had issues all year long up front, improvement on both lines is required before we can take the next step. I hate to say it but what is the difference between the Gophers and the badgers/haweyes? Linemen. Not coaching, not skill players, linemen.
Rewatch the wisky game and see how their Oline dominated in the run game, no adjustments can be made when a oline physically dominates like theirs did to us in the second half. Watch their Dline seal the game late when we were mounting an ill fated comeback.
Rewatch the Iowa game, watch the lack of push we get on their Dline, and the pressure they put on our backfield, then watch their rather blah set of skill players inch just enough offense riding the oline to field goals, short runs, and a win.
It all starts up front.
