MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota’s defense lived up to the hype in the season opener, smothering an explosive TCU offense, holding them under 30 points for the first time since the end of the 2013 campaign in a 23-17 loss to the No. 2-ranked team in the country.
Now the Golden Gophers need to get their offense in order. That won’t be easy in Fort Collins, Colo., in a matchup against Colorado State.
As it was against the Horned Frogs in Week 1, the spotlight will be on the Gophers offense, specifically junior quarterback Mitch Leidner.
It’s clear at this point that Minnesota’s defense should be one of the better units in the country. What Leidner can do on offense is still a question mark.
“(Leidner) did some good things. Missed two or three throws that were critical throws,” Gophers coach Jerry Kill said. “I think that when he wasn’t getting hit in the back, he threw the ball pretty well. But he got hit in the back four or five times.”
Leidner did show the good. He led a late touchdown drive, hitting on a number of nice throws, giving the Gophers hope with under two minutes remaining. He also showed his ability to pull the ball down and run, something he was adept at doing a year ago. His final numbers, 19-for-35 for 197 yards and a touchdown, were solid.
But then there was the bad. Like in 2014, Leidner struggled badly with his accuracy.
Even on his longest completion of the night, Leidner came up well short on a flea flicker in the second quarter. Senior receiver K.J. Maye had broken free in the secondary and a well-placed ball would have been an easy touchdown. Minnesota settled for a field goal on the drive.
On the first play of the final drive of the game, Maye had a step on a defender down the middle of the field, but Leidner misfired on the throw. A completion likely would have set the Gophers up with a first down near midfield with 20 seconds remaining.
And while that is far from a sure thing, one need not look far for miracle endings from midfield, as Minnesota’s Big Ten rival Nebraska dropped its season opener at the hands of BYU on a last play Hail Mary.
Perhaps the biggest question for the Gophers to answer this season was how Leidner would look coming off a full offseason as the undisputed starting quarterback. After one game, that question hasn’t been answered.
“Like the entire team, he had some ups and downs,” Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. “I think the important thing was that more than any other time he was proactive in being self-critical. He had already, before we ever got together, he had already watched the film on his own and came in prepared.
“Those are all signs of progress, signs of a guy maturing in all areas, and there were some things he wasn’t very happy with.”
GOLDEN GOPHERS TO WATCH
–RB Rodney Smith started the TCU game on the bench as the Gophers’ No. 2 running back but was on the field for much of the second half, finishing with 16 carries for 88 yards and his first collegiate touchdown. The freshman looked decisive and explosive and if he hasn’t already wrestled the starting gig away from senior Rodrick Williams, who fumbled going in for a score in the first half, a change could soon be coming.
–WR K.J. Maye hauled in four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, a solid performance in his first game as the de-facto No. 1 receiver’s role. Among Maye’s highlights; a late touchdown 22-yard touchdown grab that pulled Minnesota within six and a 36-yard reception on a flea flicker in the first half that set up a Gopher field goal.
–TE Brandon Lingen got the start at tight end as the Gophers look to find a replacement for All-American Maxx Williams, who declared early for the NFL Draft. Lingen caught one ball for 16 yards and senior Nate Wozniak had one grab for five yards. Those were the only two completions to a tight end.
–P Peter Mortell was outstanding in the first game, averaging over 45 yards per punt on seven kicks with a long of 58 yards. Often punting in his own territory, Mortell was helpful in switching field position; the only time TCU had a short field was following a Gopher turnover.
–CB Eric Murray finished with eight tackles, forced a fumble and an interception in the season opener. For Murray, the interception was the second of his career, and helped stall a TCU drive deep in Minnesota territory. His forced fumble also came close to the Gopher goal line.
SERIES HISTORY: Minnesota leads the all-time series 2-0, including a 34-16 win at Hughes Stadium in 2004.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “They’re explosive. There’s a reason they were 10-3 a year ago.” –Gophers coach Jerry Kill on Colorado State