While the game was yawn-inducing at times, the National Funding Holiday Bowl did give us some insight into what the Gophers might look like in 2017. Here’s what we learned about Minnesota from the Holiday Bowl:
1. The Defensive Line and Linebacker Groups Are In Good Shape
The Gophers were getting to Washington State quarterback Luke Falk easily and often, and times rushing only four guys. Losing both Ekpe brothers will be tough, but there is depth at the position. Freshman Winston DeLattiboudere played very well in spot duty this season. Andrew Stelter is an experienced junior who could move into a starting role. The big “if” up front is junior Steven Richardson, who had an excellent season and could declare for the NFL Draft if he so chooses. Should Richardson return for his senior year, this has the potential to be an excellent defensive line.
Linebacker may be the deepest position the Gophers have. Losing starter Jack Lynn and excellent backup Nick Rallis will hurt, but juniors Cody Poock and Jonathan Celestin will presumably be back. Sophomore Julian Huff has been outstanding when called upon, and highly-touted freshman Carter Coughlin will likely see more action next season.
I’m not going to go into detail as far as the secondary, because there are simply too many unknowns. This is the unit hit hardest by the suspensions, and until those players have their hearings (and until we know if any of them are going to follow through on statements about transferring), it’s impossible to predict what this unit will look like in the fall. I will say this- whatever happens with the suspensions, the team will miss seniors Jalen Myrick and Damarius Travis.
I do want to mention, since penalties have been a big issue for the Gophers this season, that the defense wasn’t called for a penalty in the bowl game until the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. However, that brings me to my next takeaway…
2. Targeting Fouls Are Still A Problem
Minnesota led the country in targeting penalties this season. Aside from one against Nick Rallis that I still cannot believe was upheld after review, all were merited. Duke McGhee received the team’s eighth- and his third- in the bowl game. This is an problem, and it needs serious attention during spring and fall camp. It’s a safety issue for opposing players, and it’s a team issue too. The Gophers cannot consistently be playing without defenders who have been needlessly ejected.
3. Special Teams Are Excellent
Ryan Santoso had a good first season as the team’s punter and capped it off with a fantastic effort in the bowl game. Emmit Carpenter has proven to be an excellent kicker, going 22 of 24 on field goals and 43 of 44 on PATs. Carpenter nailed field goals from 52 and 53 yards in the Purdue game, something you don’t see every day from college kickers. The return game will look different next season as Jalen Myrick is graduating, and KiAnte Hardin is one of the players whose future at U of M is unclear. Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks each had a chance to return kicks in the bowl game, but I can’t imagine coach Tracy Claeys wanting either of them doing so on a regular basis. The risk of injury is too great.
4. Running Game and O-Line Will Be Fine
Let’s start with the offensive line. They didn’t have a great bowl game- each player, aside from stalwart Jonah Pirsig, committed a false start. However, they were playing with a backup center, so that’s somewhat understandable. The good news up front is that four of this year’s starters should be back for 2017. The bad news is that Pirsig, the best of the bunch this season, will not. The returning players have enough experience that this unit should be decent, but they will miss Pirsig.
I won’t spend much time on the running game, because it’s clearly in good hands. Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks are both sophomores who will be back for at least one more season. Third-string Kobe McCrary is one of the players currently suspended, but it’s unlikely he would have seen substantial playing time.
5. Questions In The Passing Game
The passing game is very much up in the air. Senior quarterback Mitch Leidner is gone, and it’s unclear who will replace him. Junior Conor Rhoda, who played while Leidner was injured, is one possibility. Sophomore Demry Croft is another. Two of the suspended players, Seth Green and Mark Williams, are freshman quarterbacks who red-shirted this season. Could they come into play as well? Leading receiver Drew Wolitarsky is graduating, but there are several underclassmen at the position who were highly thought of as recruits. In addition, Eric Carter and Rashad Still will be back. Tight end Brandon Lingen is a junior who’s a weapon when healthy, and it seems like the offense should be able to take better advantage of 6’10” tight end Nate Wozniak.
6. Coach Claeys and Staff Know What They’re Doing
Keeping Tracy Claeys as the head coach after Jerry Kill stepped down was not a lock. There were plenty of fans who wanted a full head coaching search done after last season. One bowl game does not a career make, but Minnesota had an excellent game plan for the Holiday Bowl. Their short-handed defense stifled a very good Cougar offense. This was a fantastic job by Claeys and his staff.
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