2011-2012 Football Previews – Big 10 Conference – Minnesota Golden Gophers
Glen Mason was fired from Minnesota after the epic bowl collapse against Texas Tech at the end of 2006. Tim Brewster was expected to bring in a new era of success at Minnesota, but Brewster’s team became the consistent cellar dweller in the Big Ten.
Big Ten Conference 2011-2012 Football Previews: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Head Coach: Jerry Kill
2010 Record: 3-9
Minnesota Gambling Odds from JustBet to win BCS: +15,000 (Part of Field)
Minnesota Odds from JustBet to win Big Ten Legends Division: +3,000
Minnesota Odds from JustBet to win Big Ten Conference Championship: +10,000
Minnesota Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
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Jerry Kill was wildly successful at Northern Illinois, but he has a tough task ahead of him when it comes to getting this Minnesota program back toward the top of the conference.
The Golden Gophers return five starters on both sides of the football, so there will be a lot of new faces this year. Can Minnesota build on their late-season momentum from a year ago? The Golden Gophers actually won their last two games of the season after losing nine straight.
Expectations are quite low in Minnesota this year, but most think Jerry Kill is the right guy for the job.
Team Strengths:
The secondary has a couple of very solid starters that should lead the defense this year. Troy Stoudermire was very good last season, and Kim Royston is back from an injury to start as well.
Royston is a senior who formerly played at Wisconsin, and the coaching staff is expecting him to be a leader on the field for this young defense.
MarQueis Gray has all the tools to be a solid quarterback for the Golden Gophers. Gray was a highly touted recruit a couple years ago, but he was switched to wide receiver since Minnesota had an established quarterback in Adam Weber.
Gray will likely experience a learning curve, but I think he has the potential to be a good one before he graduates.
Team Weaknesses:
The offensive line was a strength for this team five or six years ago, but in the last few years it has become a real problem. The Golden Gophers lose three starting offensive linemen from last year’s team. Kill’s system is dependent on being able to run the football well, which could be a problem with an inexperienced group on the front line. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Golden Gophers return seven of their top eight defensive linemen from last year, but is that really a good thing?
This defensive front was terrible at pressuring the quarterback last year, and they were 98th out of 120 teams in rushing defense. How bad was this unit at pressuring the quarterback?
Minnesota notched only nine sacks all of last year, which was the worst tally in all of college football.
Minnesota is short on depth at the wide receiver position. Gray was a solid wideout last year, but he’ll be under center this season. Da’Jon McKnight is a very good receiver, but it’s unclear who else this team will have on the outside.
Expect the opposition to key in on McKnight and make someone else beat them.
2011-2012 Minnesota Football Prediction: 2-10 (0-8 in the Big 10)
Minnesota has the worst team in the Big Ten on paper, so if they have any success at all then that is a huge credit to Jerry Kill and his system.
This team will try to run the ball, but the weakness on the offensive line will make that tough. On the defensive side of the ball, the front seven must improve a great deal and take some pressure off the secondary.
The Golden Gophers host New Mexico State and North Dakota State in non-conference action, but outside of those games it’s tough to see any other games that they will be expected to win.
2011 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule
9/3/11 3:30 PM ET @USC
9/10/11 12:00 PM ET NMXST
9/17/11 12:00 PM ET MIAOH
9/24/11 7:00 PM ET NDST
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET @MICH
10/8/11 12:00 PM ET @PURD
10/22/11 3:30 PM ET NEB
10/29/11 12:00 PM ET IOWA
11/5/11 12:00 PM ET @MCHST
11/12/11 12:00 PM ET WISC
11/19/11 12:00 PM ET @NWEST
11/26/11 12:00 PM ET ILL
