Orlando Sentinel: Minnesota relies on toughness to offset departures, ranked #44

[BleedGopher]

per the Orlando Sentinel:

Strengths: Minnesota was one of the stingiest teams in the Big Ten when it came to pass defense. The Golden Gophers allowed just 193 yards per game through the air last season and were tied for fourth in the league with 15 interceptions. Much of that production came from cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who returns this season after leading the team in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (9) last year. The offensive line has a combined 88 career starts, with seven different players earning starting opportunities last season. Guards Joe Bjorklund and Josh Campion and tackles Ben Lauer and Jonah Pirsig all saw time on the line, and Brian Bobek steps into the center role after the departure of Tommy Olson.

Pete Mortell was the Big Ten's punter of the year last season after leading the league with 45.1 yards per punt. He anchors a special-teams unit that could be one of the best in the conference.

Weaknesses: The team must replace David Cobb (1,626 yards, 13 TDs), who was one of six running backs in the Big Ten to rush for more than 1,500 yards last season.

For all of its success in the ground game, Minnesota couldn't spark its passing attack. The Golden Gophers ranked next to last in the Big Ten in passing offense with just 142 yards per game through the air while attempting a league-low 248 passing attempts. To make matters worse, quarterback Mitch Leidner had 13 of the team's 20 turnovers (8 interceptions, 5 fumbles).

Outlook: The Gophers take after their coach, who has coped with epileptic seizures while leading Minnesota out of the Big Ten cellar, and are a hard-nosed football team. Minnesota will need to be with just 48 returning letterwinners and the second-toughest nonconference schedule in the Big Ten.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...ball-countdown-no-44-minnesota-2015-post.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[Dannyboy]

So 48 returning letter winners is a low amount? Just wondering.


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[vagopher]

The one thing I don't worry about is replacing David Cobb.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

All the writers keep saying Bobek will be the starting center. I think it's more likely to be Christensen.

 

[nc2mn]

They're just assuming that a transfer from tOSU must be better than anything here... hehehehe Typical sportswriters - don't believe anything is any good until it is proven - so they always carry previous performances forward until you shove your new abilities down their throat. We'll get there.

 

[Ragpile]

Gophers would be ranked higher if schedule wasn't so tough. Give the Gophers OSUs schedule and they might be 10, 15 rungs higher.

 

[upnorthkid]

what we're ranked on all the preseason lists won't matter when we upset TCU and storm the field on opening night.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

All the writers keep saying Bobek will be the starting center. I think it's more likely to be Christensen.

I thought we were more likely to use Christensen at guard to keep the pressure of the double teams from the DT off of him, but I could be wrong. Wouldn't mind seeing Christensen back at center just though I heard the coaches were kind of keen on keeping Christensen at guard to lessen chance of additional injury.
What about the Texas kid Mays wasn't he standing out quite a bit at Center this spring, or the other Freshman from Texas they really liked how that early enrollee played?