Here’s a guess that the Gophers will try to establish a solid running game and play more physical offensive football than in recent weeks in tomorrow’s game at Wisconsin. Earlier this week tackle Jason Meinke talked about the offensive line being more physical, and running back DeLeon Eskridge voiced his opinion about passion.
Meinke was expecting practice to be more intense this week as the Gophers attempt to end a two-game losing streak. Eskridge and quarterback Adam Weber believe the offense needs to start Saturday’s game more effectively than in recent games.
‘We can come out with a little more passion,” Eskridge said. “At least to start the games out with more enthusiasm and not come out flat. …Play our game. Play hard. Play aggressive.”
Weber wants to establish momentum early on Saturday, playing against a Badger team that has won two of its last three games and in front of a capacity crowd in Madison where the Gophers haven’t won since 1994. “You have to come up solid,” he said. “You have to come out with a good attitude. You can’t let the game get out of hand in the first quarter. And that’s obviously been our problem, these two losses we’ve had, especially Michigan (last Saturday). …
“As an offensive squad we have to come out and have a couple of solid drives right off the bat. I don’t know if we have to score. Obviously, that’s our goal. But move the ball, get some first downs. Get some momentum going and take the crowd out of the game and I think we’ll be just fine.”
The Gophers had one first down in the first half against Michigan. They had two field goals in the 29-6 loss and haven’t scored a touchdown for six quarters. In their last three games (Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan) the Gophers have only four scoring drives of over 48 yards.
Wide receiver Eric Decker, a candidate for the prestigious Biletnikoff Award given to the nation’s best receiver, will not play tomorrow because of a high ankle sprain. A healthier Decker presumably will play in the season finale at home against Iowa a week from Saturday and that will increase Minnesota’s likelihood of a win but it doesn’t brighten prospects in Madison. That’s why the Gopher game plan might be to run more than in the past, trying to establish a physical presence on the line of scrimmage that can also protect Weber when he passes.
The Gophers (7-3 overall, 3-3 in the Big Ten Conference) rank last in the league in rushing offense at 116.4 yards per game. Their rankings in passing yards per game and scoring are second and seventh (226.8 and 24.9). The Badgers (5-5, 2-5 in the league) are No. 1 in the conference in rushing per game at 224.4. Their rankings in passing yards per game and scoring are ninth and fourth (182.6 and 27.3).
Despite the statistics, the offensive players and coach Tim Brewster believe they can be effective on Saturday in a game where they will be about a two touchdown underdog. “We’ll take a team that believes they can win to Wisconsin,” Brewster said.