Gopher Football
While Minnesota’s offense is a juggernaut this year, the Northwestern offense is no slouch either. Given the past history between these teams when playing in Minneapolis, the Gopher defense will have to step it up a notch to avoid a Wildcat upset.
Like Minnesota, Northwestern’s offense can move the ball. The Wildcats rank 13th in the nation and 3rd in the Big Ten in total offense, gaining an average of 479 yards per game — 168 yards rushing (47th nationally, 7th in conference) and 311 yards passing (10th nationally, 2nd in conference). However, those high total yardage numbers haven’t always translated into high point totals. Northwestern ranks 42nd in the nation and 7th in the conference in scoring offense, putting up an average of 28.7 points per game.
After what appeared to be an impressive display of defense against Toledo, Minnesota has not been as stout defensively as Glen Mason had hoped they would be. The Gophers rank 94th in the nation and 10th in the Big Ten in total defense, yielding just over 436 total yards per game — 109 yards rushing (42nd nationally, 6th in conference) and 327 yards passing (113th nationally, last in conference). The Gopher defense has fared somewhat better on the scoreboard: Minnesota ranks 43rd in the nation and 6th in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing 19.3 points per game.
Northwestern O-Line vs. Minnesota D-Line
At least one preseason publication rated the Northwestern offensive line as the best in the Big Ten. While that prediction has not necessarily been borne out in the first three games of the season, it is clear that the Wildcat o-line is talented. Northwestern starts senior LT Trai Essex (6’4″, 315 lbs.), senior LG Ikechuku Ndukwe (6’4″, 320 lbs.), sophomore C Trevor Rees (6’2″, 280 lbs.), senior RG Matt Ulrich (6’2″, 310 lbs.), and junior RT Zach Strief (6’7″, 335 lbs.). All five return as starters from last season, in which Northwestern had great success running the ball, and the line appears to be bigger and stronger this year. Strief is a preseason all-conference selection and All-American candidate this year, and Essex is an All-Big Ten candidate as well.
The Gophers start slimmed-down junior Anthony Montgomery (6’5″, 300 lbs.) at nose tackle, junior Mark Losli (6’6″, 290 lbs.) alongside Montgomery at defensive tackle, fifth-year senior Darrell Reid (6’2″, 275 lbs.) at defensive end, and sophomore Eric Clark (6’4″, 265 lbs.) at rush end. Montgomery leads the d-line with 14 tackles, including four tackles for loss (one sack). Reid has 10 tackles, including three for loss (one sack). Losli and Clark, as well as sophomore and reserve DE Mario Reese (6’3″, 230 lbs.), each has a sack as well. In last week’s game against Colorado State, Montgomery’s improved athleticism paid off, as he made his first career interception.
The Achilles’ Heel of NU’s offensive line is lack of depth. While the ‘Cats have a veteran group of starters, the experience drops off quickly in the second string. Minnesota suffers from the same problem on the defensive line. Accordingly, any injury could have a big effect on this match-up. Although Minnesota’s quarterback pressure has improved incrementally from last season, it hasn’t been enough of an improvement, and opposing quarterbacks generally still have too much time to throw. Against a line as talented as Northwestern’s and an experienced QB in junior Brett Basanez, that could mean trouble for the Gophers. The Gophers shouldn’t give up hope, though, since the Wildcats have allowed five sacks so far this year, a surprising number for a line that’s supposed to be as good as they are.
Advantage: Wildcats
Northwestern Backfield vs. Minnesota Linebackers
Last year, as the backup to the talented Jason Wright, running back Noah Herron had an average of 6.9 yards per carry, tops among all Big Ten backs other than Laurence Maroney. The yards-per-carry number is lower this season (4.5 ypc) with defenses focusing on him, but the senior is averaging 95 rushing yards and a touchdown per game despite missing parts of two games with a concussion. Herron also is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield, and he is second on the team and ninth in the Big Ten in all-purpose yardage (112 ypg). Junior Terrell Jordan has emerged as a dependable second running back and averages 5.9 yards per carry. Herron is more of a power rusher who runs very well between the tackles, while Jordan is more of a speedster who likes to hit the corners. Sophomore Erryn Cobb is the starting fullback. He hasn’t seen a lot of collegiate action, but is employed in NU’s two-back sets. Brett Basanez is one of the better running quarterbacks in the Big Ten. He averages 24 rushing yards per game (3.1 yards per carry), and has scored two rushing touchdowns. Basanez is much better known for his arm, however. He appears to have shrugged off last year’s sophomore slump and reverted to the form that earned him Freshman All-American honors two years ago. Basanez ranks first in the Big Ten in total offense (335 ypg), passing yards (311 ypg) and completions per game (26.7), and is second, fifth, and third in the nation in those respective categories. The Wildcats have two talented but untested freshmen, Chris Malleo and C.J. Bacher, to back up Basanez if need be.
Minnesota’s linebacking corps has been solid if unspectacular. Junior OLB (Will) Terrance Campbell is leading the team in tackles (22 total, 21 solo), and junior MLB (Mike) Kyle McKenzie (who was a starter last year but missed the Northwestern game) is second on the team with 18 tackles. Senior Dominique Sims is the starter at drop linebacker, but sophomore Brandon Owens has been seeing considerable playing time in that position as well and looks like a superstar in the making. Owens has forced two fumbles so far this season. The Gophers have more overall speed and athleticism in this unit than they did a year ago
Northwestern’s running game has not been as dominant as it was last year, but that can be explained in large part by the emergence of the suddenly potent Wildcat passing attack. NU’s backs are still quite dangerous, however. While Minnesota’s linebackers have been up and down this season (mostly up), they must play nearly mistake-free football this Saturday in order to contain the multi-faceted Northwestern offense.
Advantage: Wildcats
Northwestern Receivers vs. Minnesota Secondary
As noted previously, Northwestern’s passing game has picked up the pace quite a bit this year. As part of that expanded passing attack, Basanez spreads the ball around to a number of receivers, and in each game so far, seven different players caught passes. The Wildcats’ most consistent receiver is junior WR Mark Philmore, who ranks second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in receptions per game (8.3). Ironically, while Philmore is averaging 112 receiving yards per game and is NU’s top go-to receiver, he has zero career touchdown receptions. Junior WR Jonathan Fields, in contrast, caught three touchdown passes and racked up over 200 receiving yards in his first collegiate start. Largely on the strength of that first game at TCU, Fields averages 79 receiving yards per game. Senior Ashton Aikens, sophomore Shaun Herbert, and junior Brandon Horn, along with running back Noah Herron, are the main targets in the field.
While Northwestern’s pass offense has been at the top of the conference and among the best in the nation, Minnesota’s pass defense has been last in the Big Ten and among the worst in the nation through three games. This is somewhat odd considering that the Gophers’ starting cornerbacks, senior Ukee Dozier and sophomore Trumaine Banks, each has plenty of starting experience and each has two interceptions already this year. Junior free safety John Pawielski and senior strong safety Justin Fraley both are hard hitters but are adjusting to being the starters at their respect positions. Fraley, Pawielski, and Dozier are tied for third on the team with 16 tackles, and Banks is right behind with 15 stops. That means that, as with Northwestern, four of Minnesota’s top six tacklers are in the secondary.
The Gophers’ coverage has been somewhat soft, as in “bend-but-don’t-break.” Note, though, that Basanez sliced and diced the Minnesota secondary for a quarter last year in what was otherwise a disappointing season for the Wildcat quarterback. The Gophers will have to be careful about the size of the cushions they give the NU receivers.
Advantage: Wildcats
Summary
Looking ahead at the schedule, Northwestern could very well have the best offense the Gophers will face the rest of the regular season. That means that if Minnesota can handle the ‘Cats, they should be in good shape the rest of the way. On the other hand, even if the ‘Cats run wild and pass all over the Minnesota defense, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Gophers are doomed going forward. Minnesota hasn’t shown that it can stop the short passing game generally but has gotten out of some jams by creating turnovers, something they didn’t do much last year. Behind a good o-line, Basanez, Herron, Philmore, et al. are almost certain to put up some points. The question is how many.
Overall Advantage: Wildcats
Special Teams Notes
Northwestern has had some much-publicized kicking problems, highlighted by the double-overtime loss at TCU, in which senior Brian Huffman missed five of six field goals, including two in overtime. To his credit, Huffman has hit a couple of field goals since, and is a perfect 11-11 on extra points. Minnesota’s senior kicker Rhys Lloyd has not been called upon to kick many field goals but has made three out of five attempts. He is 17-18 on extra point attempts. In an unusual circumstance, Huffman and Lloyd both are also their teams’ respective punters. Huffman is averaging 38.4 yards per punt, and Lloyd averages 36.1 yards per punt. Mark Philmore is Northwestern’s punt returner and averages 8.8 yards per punt return. Cornerbacks Derell Jenkins and Jeff Backes are the Wildcats’ kick returners and average 19 and 19.7 yards per return, respectively. Minnesota’s return game has not been as impressive as last season. Marion Barber III is the Gophers’ primary punt returner and is averaging 7.7 yards per punt return. Four different players have returned kickoffs for Minnesota, including Barber, fellow running backs Amir Pinnix and Laurence Maroney, as well as fullback Jason Lamers. Minnesota averages 16.6 yards per kickoff return. Northwestern allows an average of 10.9 yards on punt returns and 21.4 yards on kick returns. Minnesota allows an average of only 2.5 yards on punt returns and 14.6 yards on kick returns.
Advantage: Gophers
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