O-Line Shines For Gophers in Opener
It’s not every day a team replaces four of its starters on the offensive line without missing a beat, but that’s exactly what Minnesota did. Sixth-year center John-Michael Schmitz anchored a rebuilt group in the dominant 38-0 win over New Mexico State. Aireonte Ersery appears to have locked up the new left tackle role in his third year with the team. Notre Dame transfer Quinn Carroll played well on the right. Michigan transfer Chuck Filiaga and returning senior Axel Ruschmeyer look to have won the battles to start at guard. (Ruschmeyer left with an injury in the second half but remained on the sideline).
Speaking of not missing a beat, running backs Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts didn’t either. You’ll remember that Ibrahim tore his Achilles tendon in last year’s opener, and Potts suffered an undisclosed injury in week five that required nearly a week in the hospital. The offensive line was opening some major holes for them last night, and both took full advantage. Ibrahim carried for 132 yards (his 10th straight 100-yard game), and two touchdowns; Potts for 89 yards and a score. Even quarterback Tanner Morgan, who’s not exactly Michael Vick, got in on the action with two short-yardage rushing touchdowns and a 14-yard scamper for a first down. The o-line shines for the Gophers, and every team, when the ground game does.
We’d be remiss not to acknowledge that the quality of the opposition played a role in the rout. New Mexico State is a Group of Five team, in their first season under new coach Jerry Kill (remember him?), coming off of a season in which they won two games. Forty-five players on their roster are either new transfers (both from four-year schools and junior colleges) or freshmen. That’s almost an NFL roster’s worth of new players. While the Aggies played in week zero, it certainly takes more than two games to get that many new players, and a new coach, to gel.
Up next for the Gophers is the Western Illinois Leathernecks. (Yes, really). Presumably, this will be another good tune-up game for them, and another chance to see some of the backups play.
