It is hard to not be a fan of Jerry Kill and his accomplishments? The journey he has made in advancing to become a Power 5 head football coach is not a typical one. However, as a head coach at the school that is Iowa's oldest football rival, it is a little hard to wish him high success.
Take note as to which corporation sponsors the Minnesota Football program up North?
I have always have thought Iowa State should play Minnesota regularly in football. The battle of the McDonald's mascot would be a worthy trophy for the two programs to battle for?
Jerry Kill has a veteran coaching staff around him. Of course, his health issue has lead them stepping up and leading the team at times. Coach Kill was on the sideline throughout the 2014 season finishing 5-3 in the B1G.
Glen Mason accomplished 5-3 seasons twice, in his 10 seasons leading Minnesota. The 2003 team was the last to beat Wisconsin and won a bowl game over Oregon.
Clearly, 2014 was the best season Kill has enjoyed at Minnesota. However, the senior class has departed and the Golden Gophers play both Michigan and Ohio State in cross-division games in 2015. Minnesota hasn't beat Wisconsin, since the 2003 season.
Last year's win over Iowa was the most impressive win in the series, since Glen Mason's second season at the helm, when the Golden Gophers hammered Iowa, in Hayden Fry's final game as head coach, in 1998. Both games were up North, with the win over Fry being the most impressive in the Dome. Iowa has not been smoked by Minnesota, in the Kirk Ferentz era, including the early years, until last year.
Back then, Minnesota had a strong secondary and also a very good RB. The formula was used again in 2014.
Minnesota's strongest unit in 2015 will likely be the secondary again. However, two key play-makers are gone in RB David Cobb and TE Maxx Williams on offense.
Does Minnesota simply reboot, with QB Mitch Leidner leading the offense?
The offensive line must replace two solid starters, and the defensive line has one side missing, as well. MLB Damien Wilson must be replaced. Athlon Sports is projecting Top 7 lines on both sides of the ball for the Golden Gophers.
Jerry Kill has never lead a FBS school to a bowl win. Not at NIU nor Minnesota, so will 2015 be a breakout season again for the Golden Gophers?
The schedule will be challenging, lead right off the bat, with a prime-time game on Thursday night vs. TCU at TCF Bank One Stadium. The following game is on the road at Colorado State. In the OOC, Jerry Kill and Minnesota often struggle winning on the road.
Two MAC programs visit TCF Bank One to close out the OOC. Kent State and Ohio U will finish out September for the Golden Gophers.
Like with Iowa, the B1G schedule opens on the road. Unlike Madison for Iowa, the Golden Gophers head to Evanston to face Northwestern, which the Golden Gophers have back to back wins over the Wildcats. The Wildcats have been home for the holidays the past two seasons, with both Iowa and Minnesota sweeping Pat Fitzgerald's teams.
at Northwestern
at Purdue
Nebraska
Michigan
at Ohio State
at Iowa
Illinois
Wisconsin
Do you really see 5-3 Athlon Sports for 2015, with QB Mitch Leidner leading last year's 119th ranked passing offense, now without RB Cobb and TE Williams?
Former Iowa prospect Jeff Jones is penciled in as the rising star at RB. Senior Rodrick Williams and freshman Rodney Smith are 1-2 on the depth chart. Neither were in the Top 4 rushing the ball in 2014.
Maxx Williams caught 8 TD receptions of the 12 TD passes thrown by the 1-2 punch at QB for Minnesota.
Last year, Michigan opened on the B1G road at Michigan. The follow-up game was home vs. Northwestern. Both games vs. Northwestern have been very close the past two seasons.
Like the successful teams at Northwestern, Minnesota's defense created tackles for loss, forced fumbles and passes well defended. An interesting stat for Minnesota is opponents ran the ball 40% on passing downs last year.
Iowa prep, sophomore Cody Poock is penciled in at MLB for the Golden Gophers in 2015.
Kill's special teams unit is projected to be very good in 2015. A good formula to have, when you are rebooting for another strong season.
Minnesota is "going to beat you with defense and ball control." That formula was popular on some of Kirk Ferentz's better teams, with Norm Parker at DC.
Iowa's biggest game of the season by some preseason writers is the game in Iowa City against the Golden Gophers. It clearly will be one of the biggest games of the season at Kinnick. The setting will be prime-time, which is the first for this series at Kinnick.
An opposing coach commented in Athlon's Big Ten preview: "The tight end {Maxx Williams}, I don't know how they'll replace him. They may have to adjust their passing game a bit and get the ball out to the perimeter a little bit more, maybe add some tempo to just to give people a different look. I don't think they're going to change what they do dramatically, but they have some guys who are capable of catching it if the quarterback can get it there ..."
The 2015 Big Ten season should be interesting. Watching Minnesota fall or rise should be part of the story to enjoy unfold ...
