BleedGopher
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per Randy:
The task looked daunting. The Gophers had allowed an average of 45 points in their first two Big Ten games, and now they were facing a star-studded Ohio State team that was scoring 49 points per contest.
Like last week vs. Iowa, the Gophers focused on stopping the run game. They limited the Buckeyes to 90 yards on 30 carries and no rushing touchdowns in a 30-14 loss on Saturday at Ohio Stadium. "Our run defense was tremendous," Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said.
Against the pass, however, Minnesota was vulnerable. Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins completed 33 of 44 passes for 412 yards and three touchdowns.
Already missing standout safety Antoine Winfield Jr. for the season, the Gophers were without starting cornerback Terell Smith and starting defensive tackle O.J. Smith, both held out because of head injuries. And Terell Smith's replacement, Coney Durr, was ejected early in the second quarter for targeting after a late hit on a sliding Haskins. Chris Williamson replaced Durr.
"We were thin to begin with in the back end," Fleck said. "Losing Coney, next thing you know, it's pretty thin."
Though Haskins had impressive stats, the Gophers defense stiffened enough to force Ohio State to kick three field goals, enabling Minnesota to stay within one score for most of the game.
Haskins was impressed. "I'm pretty sure they're a top-five defense in the country," he said. "What they did, they do it well. They're very consistent."
Gophers linebacker Blake Cashman, whose 13 tackles tied teammate Antonio Shenault for most in the game, saw progress.
"We came out playing hard right away," said Cashman, whose fourth-down stop of J.K. Dobbins ended an Ohio State threat at the Gophers 18 in the second quarter. "We had some issues in the secondary, but that's on me, that's on the defensive line, that's on everyone. But I was very satisfied with what I saw out of our team and our defense today."
Added Fleck: "We executed that well at times, but they've got freak players. … When they got an opportunity to make a play, they did."
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-run-defense-shines-against-buckeyes/497487871/
Go Gophers!!
The task looked daunting. The Gophers had allowed an average of 45 points in their first two Big Ten games, and now they were facing a star-studded Ohio State team that was scoring 49 points per contest.
Like last week vs. Iowa, the Gophers focused on stopping the run game. They limited the Buckeyes to 90 yards on 30 carries and no rushing touchdowns in a 30-14 loss on Saturday at Ohio Stadium. "Our run defense was tremendous," Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said.
Against the pass, however, Minnesota was vulnerable. Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins completed 33 of 44 passes for 412 yards and three touchdowns.
Already missing standout safety Antoine Winfield Jr. for the season, the Gophers were without starting cornerback Terell Smith and starting defensive tackle O.J. Smith, both held out because of head injuries. And Terell Smith's replacement, Coney Durr, was ejected early in the second quarter for targeting after a late hit on a sliding Haskins. Chris Williamson replaced Durr.
"We were thin to begin with in the back end," Fleck said. "Losing Coney, next thing you know, it's pretty thin."
Though Haskins had impressive stats, the Gophers defense stiffened enough to force Ohio State to kick three field goals, enabling Minnesota to stay within one score for most of the game.
Haskins was impressed. "I'm pretty sure they're a top-five defense in the country," he said. "What they did, they do it well. They're very consistent."
Gophers linebacker Blake Cashman, whose 13 tackles tied teammate Antonio Shenault for most in the game, saw progress.
"We came out playing hard right away," said Cashman, whose fourth-down stop of J.K. Dobbins ended an Ohio State threat at the Gophers 18 in the second quarter. "We had some issues in the secondary, but that's on me, that's on the defensive line, that's on everyone. But I was very satisfied with what I saw out of our team and our defense today."
Added Fleck: "We executed that well at times, but they've got freak players. … When they got an opportunity to make a play, they did."
http://www.startribune.com/gophers-run-defense-shines-against-buckeyes/497487871/
Go Gophers!!