Can anyone give me an objective scouting report on Minnesota?
- Thread starter soybean
- Start date
I have seen them play twice. They have several capable, young wide receivers. Virtually no running game, and a decent, but young QB. Their defense looks to be suspect up the middle for sure and we should be able to get some serious rushing yardage. Hawks should handle this team fairly easily.
The defense looked solid when I watched against Fresno, obviously they struggled against Maryland. They have two freshmen running backs who have some talent, but Iowa should be able to shut their run game down, in my opinion. They might be the youngest team in the country, I think they start 8 freshmen? They have a solid WR Tyler Johnson. A true freshmen WR Bateman who looks good. Iowa should be able to put pressure on the young QB, Maryland did and I'd say the Hawkeyes pass rushers are better. They have a couple solid LBs. I think Iowa will handle them pretty well in the second half.
big mistake to undervalue this Minnesota Gopher team...
last year Iowa only wins by 7 at Kinnick...
last year Minnesota walloped Nebraska.... scoring over 50 points against them... so the potential is there.
this game is at Minnesota.. its a trophy game.. and they hate Iowa.
when you consider how lacking our Special Teams has been... this will in all likelihood be a very close game from beginning to end.
that is, if Iowa doesn't get blown out from the very get go.
if Iowa is gonna win.. imo, they have to get up early... and then stretch it to a two score game... their inability to do that against Wisconsin is what effectively cost them that game.
last year Iowa only wins by 7 at Kinnick...
last year Minnesota walloped Nebraska.... scoring over 50 points against them... so the potential is there.
this game is at Minnesota.. its a trophy game.. and they hate Iowa.
when you consider how lacking our Special Teams has been... this will in all likelihood be a very close game from beginning to end.
that is, if Iowa doesn't get blown out from the very get go.
if Iowa is gonna win.. imo, they have to get up early... and then stretch it to a two score game... their inability to do that against Wisconsin is what effectively cost them that game.
Historically proper rivalry analysis except everybody scored 50 against Nebraska last year.
This will again be a typical B10 slugfest where line play will probably once again be a major factor in the outcome. My trying-to-be-unbiased assessment
Iowa OL vs. Gopher DL - even/slight advantage Iowa
Gopher OL vs. Iowa DL - advantage Iowa
Individual Units
QB - Iowa (MN plays a walk-on true frosh … and yet they upgraded here)
RB - Iowa (injuries to Brooks and Smith is a major hit for MN)
WR - MN (talented, somewhat inexperienced. TJohnson had 5/97 vs IA last year)
TE - Iowa (MN uses TE Green in a wildcat and he has several rushing TDs)
LB - MN (their best overall unit IMO, very strong)
DB - IA (slight advantage only because their star DB Winfield is injured)
Maryland had 436 yards of total offense vs. the Gophers last week but I believe that game was an aberration. They have a salty defense even without Winfield. MN LB Carter Coughlin is a Josey Jewell type player - smart, hits hard, will be All B10. On offense, Iowa will need to grind out 1st downs on the ground and take a few chances against their young DBs.
The key on defense is to pressure their young QB Annexstad. He has a strong arm and decent accuracy (Maryland aside). If he gets time, they will move the ball and probably score because their WRs are dangerous. I do believe that Iowa should be able to stuff the Gopher run game where a another frosh has stepped-in to replace one of the best RBs in Gopher history in Rodney Smith who suffered a season ending injury two weeks ago.
I've seen a lot of predictions of an Iowa blowout in this forum. I doubt it. I think the spread is a little low but not far off. I anticipate an Iowa win by 9-10, something like 27-17, but it could get ugly if the TOs continue.
Iowa OL vs. Gopher DL - even/slight advantage Iowa
Gopher OL vs. Iowa DL - advantage Iowa
Individual Units
QB - Iowa (MN plays a walk-on true frosh … and yet they upgraded here)
RB - Iowa (injuries to Brooks and Smith is a major hit for MN)
WR - MN (talented, somewhat inexperienced. TJohnson had 5/97 vs IA last year)
TE - Iowa (MN uses TE Green in a wildcat and he has several rushing TDs)
LB - MN (their best overall unit IMO, very strong)
DB - IA (slight advantage only because their star DB Winfield is injured)
Maryland had 436 yards of total offense vs. the Gophers last week but I believe that game was an aberration. They have a salty defense even without Winfield. MN LB Carter Coughlin is a Josey Jewell type player - smart, hits hard, will be All B10. On offense, Iowa will need to grind out 1st downs on the ground and take a few chances against their young DBs.
The key on defense is to pressure their young QB Annexstad. He has a strong arm and decent accuracy (Maryland aside). If he gets time, they will move the ball and probably score because their WRs are dangerous. I do believe that Iowa should be able to stuff the Gopher run game where a another frosh has stepped-in to replace one of the best RBs in Gopher history in Rodney Smith who suffered a season ending injury two weeks ago.
I've seen a lot of predictions of an Iowa blowout in this forum. I doubt it. I think the spread is a little low but not far off. I anticipate an Iowa win by 9-10, something like 27-17, but it could get ugly if the TOs continue.
RELEASE THE EPPY AND THEN PUNISH, PUNISH, PUNISH!!!
EVERY TIME THEY CHANT "WHO HATES IOWA?" BRING OUT THE INNER BOB SANDERS/MARSHALL YANDA AND LAY THE SUCKERS OUT COLD AND THEN THEY WILL REMEMBER WHY THEY HATE US!
EVERY TIME THEY CHANT "WHO HATES IOWA?" BRING OUT THE INNER BOB SANDERS/MARSHALL YANDA AND LAY THE SUCKERS OUT COLD AND THEN THEY WILL REMEMBER WHY THEY HATE US!
I watch one goofer game per year and it's only because I have to.
They have struggled offensively especially protecting the QB. Their front seven on defense is a veteran unit though and fairly solid although they were expolited by Maryland as others mentioned.
I think they will have a hard time moving the ball on us as our d-line will be too much. I think our offense will struggle a bit to get their footing but end up pulling away in a 24-7 type of win.
I think they will have a hard time moving the ball on us as our d-line will be too much. I think our offense will struggle a bit to get their footing but end up pulling away in a 24-7 type of win.
In the north there are many many trees and lakes. In the south there is much much corn.
They replaced their starting three DL from last year. They are now big (320, 300, and 290) and SLOW. They will blitz often and play action on O should work for us. Coughlin and Barber both LB's are all big ten types. If our OL plays well, we should be able to keep pounding them. Their starting strong safety is a true freshman walk on at 185 pounds. If we don't turn it over, we win 24-10.
I am not optimistic about pounding them on the ground. I think their LBs will neutralize any run deficiencies of their DL. I'll be watching first down runs, a key to Iowa's overall run success IMO. Hawks need to crank out 4 or more on 1st downs.
Winfield's replacement, I believe. There's your downfield target if you are Brian Ferentz. I don't know much about this player but it would be malpractice to not draw up a couple plays to test him.Their starting strong safety is a true freshman walk on at 185 pounds. If we don't turn it over, we win 24-10.
Please for the sake of the Hawkeyes who live and work in and around Minneapolis PLEASE don't under estimate the golden goffers----they are young and excited for this trophy game and have wild dreams about Floyd---they will be ready---the question in my mind is will our Hawkeyes? Don't under estimate the boat rowers PLEASE
I watched the highlights of the Maryland game. Their D is not good, Maryland got good pressure on QB with a 4 man rush, and didn’t see much of a running game. Couple completed passes downfield for Minny were in traffic and could have easily been picked.
The big question for the Gophers is whether the Maryland game was a defense outlier or not.
Minnesota's defense has yielded 69 total points through 4 games - that's one of the lowest points allowed total among all B10 teams..... and 42 were scored by Maryland alone. Some of that might be a reflection of their non-conference opponents. The loss of Winfield was huge and that was their first road game. Could also be that Maryland is better than they are given credit for even though they are 3-1.
I think its way too early to say that Minnesota's defense is bad. IMO they have a couple of All B10 players on that side. I think you will see a different Minnesota defense than what they displayed at Maryland. Maybe not. Should be interesting.
I agree 100 percent. As a hawk fan who lives in MN it is a damn long year when the Hawks lose to the goofs in football.
Agreed ... the Gophers are capable of pretty darn solid play. However, a lot goes along with the flow of the game. Having Winfield go down against Maryland likely deflated the D to some degree ... and to make matters worse, that was a game in a hostile environment.
The Gophers have quality WRs and a QB who can throw it ... so it will still be critical that Iowa's DBs can prevent the big play and play sound team football.
Even if Iowa might be the better team ... if they give up easy points and if they don't play smart, tough, and physical ball ... then it still could be anybody's game.
If you asked me last year ... I would have told you that there was little chance for the Hawks to lose at home on senior day to Purdue ... and yet the Hawks put up a monstrous turd in that game. If you don't "bring it" ... then you open up the door for the other team to surprise you and win. My impression of the Gopher D is that they're definitely capable of playing really solid defensive football ... and if they do that ... they can keep the game close enough to put themselves in a position to win.
Fleck estimates Annexatad is at 80-90% heading into Saturday. Glen Mason interpreted that as 75% today on KFAN.
A true freshman quarterback with a porous offensive line isn’t going to beat us. A Gopher defense without their top player doesn’t scare anyone.
Limit turnovers and Iowa wins this game by 20.
That's a primary thing that leads me to like Iowa's chances ... I think that the Hawk D has a chance to put some pressure on Annexstad. However, that said ... I had that expectation last year when the Hawks faced Purdue's young QB, Sindelair ... and that kid even had a lower-leg injury and still led them to victory against us.
Furthermore, the Hawk D is a little "up in the air" as it relates to the back-seven. All the juggling has given me some reasons for concern.
Similar threads
