STrib: Football basics keep Gophers moving forward

[BleedGopher]

per Randy:

Through seven games of the 2021 season, the Gophers have shown that they can count on three football basics.

• They can run the ball, no matter who they're using at running back. Injuries have shelved Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts for the season, but the three-man committee of Bryce Williams, Ky Thomas and Mar'Keise "Bucky" Irving, plus wildcat quarterback Cole Kramer, has picked up the slack. Minnesota averages 209.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 24th nationally.
• They can stop the run. With a defensive line that rotates eight players and a consistent linebacker duo of Jack Gibbens and Mariano Sori-Marin, the Gophers are allowing 85.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally.
• And when the opponent wants the ball, the Gophers usually have it. Minnesota averages 35 minutes, 2 seconds of possession, which leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth nationally.

Football basics keep Gophers moving forward

A familiar formula — a strong run game, a stout run defense and huge time-of-possession advantage — led to Minnesota's third consecutive Big Ten victory.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[goldengophers]

The fundamentals are there, do we have the bit extra to get over the top this year?