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Category: P.J. FLECK

Seven Takeaways about Struggling Gopher Football Program

Posted on September 22, 2024September 22, 2024 by David Shama

 

Minnesota, a 2.5 points underdog to Iowa, collapsed in the second half against Iowa last night.  Here are seven takeaways about the game and the program.

1. Minnesota’s 31-14 loss to Iowa was a thud with Gophers fans and unleashed critics of the program now in its eighth year under head coach P.J. Fleck.  Sellout crowds at Huntington Bank Stadium don’t happen every game but twice now in less than 30 days Fleck’s team has disappointed the fanbase.  Last night’s atmosphere before an over capacity announced stadium crowd of 52,048 was electric.

Just like the North Carolina game on August 31, the Gophers couldn’t hold on to a 14-7 halftime lead.  Only last night’s second half was much worse than the 19-17 loss to a North Carolina team that James Madison defeated 70-50 yesterday! The Gophers missed a significant marketing boost for their program in the rivalry game loss to the Hawkeyes.

2. Tackling continues to be a major issue for Minnesota.  The Gophers missed 22 tackles in the North Carolina game and Iowa ran at will against the Minnesota defense in the second half. The Hawkeyes put up three scores on their first three drives in the third quarter including 15 and 40-yard touchdown runs by running back Kaleb Johnson.

Iowa’s offensive line manhandled the Gophers with their zone blocking.  Beyond the line of scrimmage, Gopher defenders took the wrong angles or were out of position to make tackles. It was evident Minnesota missed injured defensive backs Justin Walley and Aidan Gousby.

3. It was Iowa, not unexpectedly, that made the successful halftime adjustments last night.  The Hawkeyes not only figured out how to move the ball and score but defensively found an answer to Minnesota’s passing game that produced two second quarter touchdowns.

The Iowa defense turned up the pressure in the second half on Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer and covered his receivers.  When the game was being decided in the third quarter, Brosmer completed one pass for six yards.  The fourth quarter he was four of five for 38 yards.

4. Fleck’s program, long built on a high production run game, has lost its mojo. The Gophers ran for 79 net yards against North Carolina.  Last night they totaled 79 net yards again.

Darius Taylor photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

The blocking by the offensive line on run plays has been disappointing.  This is an experienced unit, but it hasn’t jelled.  And there has been more of a commitment to a pass-run balance, which sounds great if it works.  Part of that strategy is based on limiting Darius Taylor’s run attempts. He’s the team’s only elite running back and the hope is to keep him healthy after he missed seven games last season.

5. The program is trending in the wrong direction.  Coming off of a 6-7 record last year, Minnesota is 0-2 so far against its only Power Four opponents in 2024.

Minnesota’s Big Ten record dating back to the end of the 2022 season is 8-11.  Fleck is 1-7 against Iowa. The Gopher program has the potential to do better than those kinds of numbers.

6. It’s fair to wonder whether the team’s offensive and defensive coordinators (Greg Harbaugh Jr. and Corey Hetherman) are as capable as their predecessors.  Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca was on board during two stints when the Gophers had some of their best success.  He left for Rutgers in January of 2023.

Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi also earned a lot of praise while he was in charge for several years. He had top 10 national defenses at Minnesota. He left after last season for Michigan State.

7. The schedule looked formidable before the season.  Now it appears more imposing.

Minnesota is at Michigan next Saturday and then back home for a October 5 game against another national power, USC.  The most winnable game on the schedule could be October 12 on the road at UCLA in the Rose Bowl. If the Gophers aren’t favored in that game, they might not be in the rest of their games: Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers, Penn State and Wisconsin.

Time to surprise the critics and change the program’s trend has to be the mantra now in Dinkytown.

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Koi Perich Adds Intrigue to Minnesota-Iowa Rivalry Game

Posted on September 18, 2024September 18, 2024 by David Shama

 

The unexpected comes to mind this week as Minnesota and Iowa prepare for their 118th  football game.  Why? Because both teams and their fans had no idea last year’s game in Iowa City would end with such drama.

With less than two minutes remaining in the game, Iowa’s Cooper DeJean fielded a punt and ran 54 yards for an apparent touchdown to give his No. 24 ranked team a 16-12 lead.  However, the go-ahead score was negated after officials determined that before fielding the football, DeJean signaled an illegal fair catch.

Emotions always run high in rivalry games but the replay ruling that wiped the touchdown off the scoreboard took things to a higher level. Iowa fans reportedly threw bottles, cans, and food onto the field.  The Minnesota bench was targeted with debris, forcing the players to move out of their sideline area.

The Golden Gophers hung on to their 12-10 lead, winning for the first time in Iowa City since 2000 and taking home the famous rivalry trophy, Floyd of Rosedale. Minnesota’s other four wins this century all came in Minneapolis where Saturday’s game will be played.

The 2023 game was a bitter defeat for the Hawkeyes, including for DeJean who now is in the NFL playing for the Eagles.  DeJean is only 21 years old, but he will be remembered as a legendary player for Iowa.  He has a charming backstory with origins in Odebolt, Iowa, a small town with less than 1,000 people.

As a high school player, the scholarship offers were modest coming from the likes of North and South Dakota schools.  But like a movie character DeJean had a passion for the home-state Hawkeyes and, boy, did he make their fans happy soon after he accepted an Iowa scholarship.  It was the only Power Five offer he received.

A superb cornerback and punt returner, he played three seasons at Iowa and the results were the kind of stuff that gets your uniform number retired and name on a short list of program legends.  In 2022 he set a school single season record by returning three pass interceptions for touchdowns. He was a unanimous cornerback All-American last season on a who’s who of All-American teams. He was also named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and Return Specialist of the Year after dazzling on punt returns including a 70-yard TD against Michigan State—and the score that wasn’t against the Gophers.

On Saturday, the Gophers will introduce Iowa to—just maybe—their own version of Cooper DeJean.  Minnesota’s nominee, of course, is prized freshman recruit Koi Perich, a substitute safety for now but already the team’s punt returner.

Perich has that small town background, too, coming from Esko, Minnesota, with a population of about 2,000.  Unlike DeJean coming out of high school, the college football world coveted Perich including mighty Ohio State who he turned down at the last minute.

After signing with the Gophers in December, Perich showed what he could do in a high school all-star game in San Antonio. Playing in the All-American Bowl against some of the better prep talent in the country last January, Perich was named MVP.  He had an interception, broke up two passes, made a tackle for a loss, and blocked and recovered a punt.

As a high school senior last fall Perich played defense, offense and special teams while leading Esko to a 10-1 record.  He accounted for 27 touchdowns, including five on defense, along with three scores on punt returns and one on a kickoff return.

Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

In Perich’s brief career with the Gophers, he’s played special teams and also spot minutes as a defensive back and has an interception.  But it’s been as punt returner that he has mostly caused a stir.  Replacing regular returner Quentin Redding who is injured and out for the year, Perich already has a 28-yard return. He has returned three punts for an average of 16.67 yards (in 2023 DeJean averaged 11.5 for the season).               .

The moxie and athleticism are so evident when Perich is on the field that his presence makes observers watch in anticipation of what he will do.  He has inspired confidence in Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck who is quick to point out that Perich, unlike some freshmen who enrolled in January, has only been in the program since June.

Perich has had some catching up to do with all there is to learn in college football, but Fleck said the freshman can handle the process by the “shovels.”  Talented, intelligent and confident, Perich has inspired trust in Fleck—something a freshman doesn’t easily earn.

“He’s a heck of a football player,” said Fleck who talks about the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Perich as a player who prompts anticipation that something good is going to happen when he is on the field.

Perhaps like a punt return or interception to beat the hated Hawkeyes on Saturday, or next year, or the year after?

Minnesota, with a 2-1 record, is about a 2.5-point underdog to Iowa, also 2-1.  For the Gophers to win they likely will need sophomore running back Darius Taylor’s big play ability.

Taylor, who is one of Minnesota’s top Name, Image and Likeness earners, missed the North Carolina opener because of a hamstring issue.  The Gophers probably win that game, a 19-17 loss, if Taylor had played.

Taylor, who averaged 133.2 yards rushing in 2023 (third best in program history), had a hamstring injury that caused him to miss seven games last season.  Darrell Thompson, the record setting former Gopher running back and now color analyst on the Gopher Radio Network, acknowledged how hamstring injuries can be re-occurring.

Thompson said hamstring prevention and maintenance are challenging because “you gotta really take care of it and rehab it and never forget about it.”  He added: “…It’s a big delicate muscle, especially when you’re a running back, receiver, defensive back, where you gotta…(track) the problem like all the time.”

Thompson told Sports Headliners fingers are crossed regarding Taylor.  “Absolutely.  We need him.  He’s a very integral part of the offense.  He’s the straw that stirs the drink, so we need him to be in one piece.”

Thompson believes Taylor’s production can go to a new level this fall for a couple of reasons. His workload will be shared with other backs, mostly Oklahoma transfer Marcus Major.  Odds are that a “pitch count” can reduce his vulnerability to injury.

Another positive is it looks like Taylor will be targeted more as a pass receiver. In two games he already has nine receptions after a total of 11 in six games last year.

Fleck, of course, knows what he’s got in Taylor who had a 80-yard touchdown run last Saturday in Minnesota’s win over Nevada.  “I think he’s one of the best players on this football team, and maybe in the country. …He’s really important to our team, not only on the field, but off the field. The type of person he is, the leader he is. How he’s developing as a man.

“There’s so many things that I love about Darius, but yeah, we missed him (against North Carolina). I mean you can’t sit there and say you don’t miss your best players when they’re not in there. …”

Thompson, BTW, was expected on Monday to start his annual routine of eating bacon each day leading up to the Iowa game.  His plan is to “eat as much bacon as possible” during the week, although he confessed there are limits. There was a year when he had nine pieces in one day and he didn’t feel so “great” after gobbling all that down.  The news, he said, didn’t go over well with his cardiologist.

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Making the Case for Trading Viking WR Jordan Addison

Posted on August 27, 2024August 27, 2024 by David Shama

 

It’s interesting to consider the Vikings could trade second-year star wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Multiple factors make a trade plausible.  The Vikings appear deep in wide receivers starting with 25-year-old superstar Justin Jefferson and moving through other players who impressed during training camp.

The list includes Jalen Nailor, “Speedy,” who lived up to his nickname in three preseason games as Minnesota went 3-0.  Nailor, 25, caught four passes for 94 yards, an average per reception of 23.5 yards.

When the Vikings trim their roster to 53 today, the club could list three other wide receivers including Trishton Jackson, 26, who caught touchdown passes in all three preseason games—tops in the NFL. He totaled nine receptions for 154 yards in the games.

Brandon Powell, 28, is small at 5-8, 181 pounds but he is a physical player. The Vikings saw his production last year when he received increased playing time with Jefferson sidelined.  He started two games, played in all 17 regular season games and caught 29 passes for 324 yards.

Trent Sherfield, 28, is another physical player and the coaches have to love his willingness and skill blocking, traits not all wideouts possess.  The 6-1, 210-pound NFL veteran had one touchdown among his seven preseason receptions.

Jordan Addison image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings need draft choices in 2025 and an early round selection, preferably a first, could come in return for moving on from Addison. Minnesota has three selections for next year, a first-round pick and two fifth rounders. Expected bottom feeders like the Panthers and Patriots need wide receiver talent.  It’s possible the Vikings might get creative and be able to make a trade involving Addison that returns a valued player and draft choice.  The club could have needs at cornerback and interior offensive line not only this season but next when the Vikings will be well positioned with salary cap space to pursue free agents.

Addison’s two road incidents within 13 months of each other raise “red flags” about his judgment. He was cited for speeding and reckless driving at 140 MPH on Interstate 94 in St. Paul over a year ago.  He later pled guilty to a misdemeanor speeding charge, $686 fine and had his license suspended for six months.

Last month Addison was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of driving under the influence.  His car was reportedly found blocking traffic on I-105 near Los Angeles International Airport while he was asleep in the driver’s seat.

If there is another incident this year or not too long after, that figures to diminish Addison’s trade value. Rather than gamble on future problems, the Vikings might test trade interest in Addison who could miss games this fall because of disciplinary action from the NFL. The Vikings find themselves in a position of apparent strength with their wide receiver corps and have other offensive playmakers including gifted tight end T.J. Hockenson and potential 1,000-yard rusher Aaron Jones.

There seemingly are always other teams willing to take on a talented player who has had off-field issues.  Addison produced 70 receptions, 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season.  The Pro Football Writers Association named him to its All-Rookie team.

Addison and Jefferson form one of the best and explosive pass catching duos in the NFL. The Vikings might have an ego issue about trading Addison after having spent a first-round draft selection on him in 2023 and seeing his importance to the team.  A former NFL executive with two clubs cautioned Sports Headliners earlier this summer when he said: “The reality is a first-round pick is different.  And a first-round pick that plays well like he did last year—and we presume he will this year—it’s just different.”

The NFL trade deadline is November 5. The Vikings have time to work on an Addison trade if they choose to.

Worth Noting

Vikings reserve quarterback Jaren Hall led the NFL in preseason touchdown passes with four. Trey Lance, the Marshall, Minnesota native, led all the quarterbacks with 662 passing yards and topped rushers with 168 yards while playing for the Cowboys.

Dinkytown Athletes, the official Golden Gophers collective, reports for the most recent fiscal year it bettered the goal of 85 percent revenue going to student-athletes.  That means an additional $150,000 will be provided to Gopher athletes for name, image and likeness opportunities.

Casey O’Brien, the former Golden Gophers football player who has inspired so many, is battling cancer again. O’Brien, a six-time cancer survivor dating back to age 13 when he was first diagnosed with bone cancer, is pursuing funds to pay for an alternative therapy not covered by insurance.  A graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, he is known for the courage and optimism he has displayed facing his health challenges—a message he has shared in speaking engagements, conversations and fundraising.  Now battling cancer in his lung, liver and low back, he has established a GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-casey-obriens-fight-against-cancer

Jim Brunzell reports Kevin Hamm, his friend and former Gopher football teammate in 1969 and 1970, has been battling leukemia for seven months.  https://www.caringbridge.org/site/ac4809a5-5805-11ef-9ac3-53c8c09873a4

The Golden Gophers and North Carolina game Thursday night will be seen across the country on Fox.  Jason Benetti, a familiar voice from his work on the Big Ten Network, will do play-by-play.  Former Washington Huskies quarterback Brock Huard will offer analysis.

This will be the season opener for both teams, with the Gophers likely to be about a two point underdog.  The outcome could turn on a couple of things depending on whose new quarterback plays better, and how the defenses contain the star running backs—North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Minnesota’s Darius Taylor.

As of Tuesday, tickets remained for the game with Gophersports.com reporting “low availability” in many sections at Huntington Bank Stadium.

My prediction for the Gophers’ season record: 8-5 including another bowl win running their streak to eight in a row.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck starts the season as the third fastest coach in Gopher history to win 50 games.  Fleck, 50-34, needed 84 games to reach his total while Henry Williams did it in 58 and Bernie Bierman in 67.

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown’s birthday is today, August 27.  At 73 he is the only Division I head coach in his 70s.

The Nevada team the Gophers play in their third game of the season opened its schedule last Saturday with a close loss, 27-24, to SMU.  Nevada, playing on its home field and nearly a four-touchdown underdog, led 24-13 going into the fourth quarter.  Preseason expectations were for Nevada to be among the worst FBS teams in the country.

Coach Dwight Lundeen goes for his 400th career victory Thursday night when his Becker football team hosts Hill-Murray.  After the 2023 season, his record was 399-167-3, ranking second all-time in state prep coaching history, and trailing Verndale’s Mike Mahlen at 432-132-3.  Brainerd’s Ron Stolski and Delano’s Merrill Pavlovich, both retired, rank third and fifth respectively on the all-time wins list, with Eden Prairie’s Mike Grant, 388-80, fourth.

As of this morning the Twins’ biggest stars, Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton, had missed a total of 177 games.  Here’s how it breaks down: Lewis 67 with a right quad strain and 20 with a right adductor strain; Correa 22 with a right intercostal strain and 35 with right plantar fasciitis; Buxton 20 with right knee inflammation and 13 with right hip inflammation.

Yesterday (August 26th) was the anniversary date of the first no-hitter by a Twins pitcher. In 1962 Jack Kralick threw a near perfect game except for a walk as the Twins defeated the Athletics 1-0 at Metropolitan Stadium

The MIAC Sports Network can be found and installed free at various sources such as Apple TV as well as the web at https://miacsportsnetwork.com/.

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