STrib: Three takeaways from the Gophers' 48-10 win over New Mexico State

[BleedGopher]

per Randy:

1. Zack Annexstad grew as the game went on: When a true freshman walk-on quarterback starts a season opener, you know a college football team doesn’t exactly have a stocked cupboard at the all-important position. But Annexstad acquitted himself well on Thursday night. Though he threw incompletions on three of his first four passes, he started to find a groove on the Gophers third possession when he connected with Chris Autman-Bell for a 14-yard gain on third-and-6 and then hit Tyler Johnson for a 7-yard TD pass.

As freshmen do, Annexstad made a mistake, fumbling a shotgun snap that New Mexico State recovered and cashed in for a touchdown.

Undaunted, Annexstad told Fleck that things would be all right.

“I looked at him and said, ‘We’re going to be all right, huh?’ ” Fleck said. “Usually it’s me telling them, ‘Hey, you’re going to be OK.’ That’s his personality. It’s different. And I like it.”

Annexstad then responded by leading three TD drives and completing six of seven passes for 132 yards and a TD during that span.

Winfield is a difference-maker: Think the Gophers missed Antoine Winfield Jr. for the final eight games last year? The sophomore safety made a big impact in his first game back from a hamstring injury. Along with making five tackles, Winfield had the play that took any fight out of the Aggies. With the Gophers up 21-10, Winfield returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown, a play in which he blasted through five would-be tacklers.

“First, I gotta give credit to everyone on Savages, which is our punt return team,’’ Winfield said. “I just remember catching the ball and I ran up the middle. Somebody tried to tackle me, and I just bounced off and remember seeing daylight.’’

Said Fleck, “It’s nice to have him back on the field, isn’t it?”

Smith can wear down a defense: While Annexstad improved after the slow start, he can give a big tip of the hat to senior running back Rodney Smith, who tenderized the Aggies defense while rushing for 94 yards in the second quarter. He averaged 9.4 yards per carry during the Gophers’ three second-quarter drives that turned the game.

“We built a little bit of confidence and made plays,’’ said Smith, who had 189 all-purpose yards and surpassed 4,000 for his career. “We just had to get flowing and get in the groove. A couple of explosive plays got us going.’’

http://www.startribune.com/three-ta...rs-48-10-win-over-new-mexico-state/492193941/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Tully55]

"Smith can wear down a defense."........I have a feeling the DB who tried tackling Smith while standing straight up and met Smith's helmet with his chest would agree with this statement. He was on the ground being attended to quite a while after the play.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Zack Annexstad grew as the game went on:

No, he grew on the first couple of series when he was failing. He stopped growing when he was having success. Try to keep up Randy.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I have trouble believing anyone just gets better or such during a game..

Also are they counting TJs drop as something we should count against him? That wasn't on Annexstad....

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Cashman could have made it 4 takeaways. Really good to see him on the field.

 

[rockford]

Annexstad's "slow" start was due primarily to his receivers' inability to make plays. It looked to me like everything he threw in the first half was exactly where it needed to be. Damn impressive. He was a bit more erratic in the second half, but continued to make good decisions (I can only recall one questionable throw) and showed some mobility.

And while I still haven't had a good look at the fumble, my first impression was to lay that one at the center's feet. Looked like Annexstad had to reach way to his left for it, and was unable to one-hand it. Perhaps a catchable snap, but certainly not where you want it.

JTG

 

[cncmin]

As the game begun, just as in past, recent years, it happened too often where when the QB made a good throw, the receivers didn't make the plays. Only this time around our QB was actually making a lot of good throws.

There is far more talent at receiver this year than in the past, and Annexstad appeared to be more accurate in throwing the ball than Gopher QBs in a long time. We are seeing the evolution from the Gophers being a run-only offense to a balanced offense, and I'm excited about it.

 

[rockford]

As the game begun, just as in past, recent years, it happened too often where when the QB made a good throw, the receivers didn't make the plays. Only this time around our QB was actually making a lot of good throws.

There is far more talent at receiver this year than in the past, and Annexstad appeared to be more accurate in throwing the ball than Gopher QBs in a long time. We are seeing the evolution from the Gophers being a run-only offense to a balanced offense, and I'm excited about it.

I'm with you on that. I know, small sample size, yada yada yada, but it looks like there's plenty of young talent at QB and WR. Looking forward to seeing more!

JTG