Well here we are midway through the season, bye week is done, and as bad as the Gophers season has gone, it can still be salvaged. But it all starts this Saturday against the hated Iowa Hawkeyes, a team who has some big-time injuries on offense but still has a dominate defense. The Hawkeyes are 6-1 with a horrible offense, so how can Minnesota take advantage? Here are my quick takes on what Minnesota must do (W)right to get the upset in Iowa City.
The Gopher Defense Must Show Up & Show Out!
Led by Tyler Nubin, it’s time for the Gopher defense to show up and dominate. Iowa lost their awesome tight end Luke Lachey to a season-ending ankle injury, also throw in tight end Erick All has also been lost to a torn ACL injury. Those two players are almost half of the Hawkeyes receptions, and with no real threat at wide receiver, Nico Ragaini Iowa’s only receiver with double-digit receptions, 10 catches for 83 yards. Their quarterback, Deacon Hill, scares nobody, and if Minnesota allows him to shine in anyway, well then, they just may deserve to lose. We need our best defensive players to play their best game. Jalen Logan-Redding, Kyler Baugh, Justin Walley, Tre’Von Jones and Tyler Nubin all have to ball out. The Gopher Defense has a stellar opportunity to make a new start against a pitiful Iowa offense. And again, no Cody Lindenberg, the Gophers top linebacker will miss another game with an injury we don’t know much about. Minnesota’s defense is missing him.
Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis Will Have To Complete Some Big Passes
OK, so far Athan hasn’t been what we thought we were going to be getting at quarterback. Despite all the physical tools, it’s just not been working so far this season for the Gopher QB. I don’t know what the scenario will be, but Kaliakmanis will have to hit 3-6 big passes in this game to win. Passes to extend drives and a couple big play throws of more than 30 yards to get a good Iowa defense on their heels. Can Minnesota run the ball? If Minnesota can find hints of yesteryear and control the line of scrimmage, maybe the Gopher running backs can finally set the pace and help Minnesota control the clock. Zach Evans, Bryce Williams, and Sean Tyler will platoon and maybe we finally see Minnesota dominate while running the ball again. But Minnesota must have some semblance of a passing game Saturday in Iowa. Minnesota must find the end zone also, while the oddsmakers are predicting a low score, I see the winning score for either team around 21-17 or something like that.
The West Title Is Still in Play, With A Win At Iowa
Gopher Nation, The West can still be won, but it all depends on beating Iowa and bringing Floyd of Rosedale back to Minnesota. It’s been forever since we had the trophy back here, Minnesota has not won in Iowa City since 1999. And despite the Gopher losing streak in Iowa City, they have another chance to take out a very mediocre Hawkeye team. And its time to just win the game, find a way, make it happen, no excuses!! If Minnesota loses this game, the road to bowl eligibility gets very tight, and I wonder if fan apathy will set in. It’s just time for Minnesota to do it on the field and beat the Iowa Hawkeyes. A team that has kept Minnesota out of a couple of Big 10 Championship games in Indianapolis, its time to get revenge and salvage their season. The West division is still there for the taking, lets see if the bye week, besides a much-needed week off, brings some new schemes and play calls from PJ Fleck and his staff, a main criticism of PJ is that he doesn’t take chances, and their play calling has become predictable. Let’s see if PJ and his crew come up with something new.
Vince Wright is a GopherHole contributor and host of The Sports Done Wright Podcast
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