The Minnesota Gophers season started on a tough note after dropping a home game to North Carolina . Max Brosmer then had a coming out party against Rhode Island . P.J. Fleck wrapped up his 2024 non-conference schedule with another victory and there were plenty of takeaways.
Minnesota Gophers defense doesn’t miss Joe Rossi
Nevada came into Huntington Bank Stadium with a better offensive identity than defense. They put up nearly 400 yards per game , and despite the 1-2 record, find themselves in the top 70 nationally. Minnesota certainly did not care.
Quarterback Brendon Lewis was able to escape the pressure a couple of times, but Minnesota’s defense had him searching for answers. He took a pair of sacks, and four more hits, during the first half. Kerry Brown recorded his first career interception and then very quickly doubled the effort.
The Gophers allowed Nevada to move the ball into field goal position, but they continued to buckle down in front of their end zone. A blocked kick was the only scoring opportunity in the first half.
Koi Perich took over punt return duties, and while he didn’t see a defensive snap in the first half, he showed his athleticism one 16-yard return, but didn’t get any other opportunities. Nevada was in long-yardage situations all afternoon, and Minnesota never let their foot off the gas pedal.
Nevada found the red zone for the first time with less than 10 minutes to go in the game. Benson went to the end zone and Ethan Robinson, a transfer from Bucknell, picked off his first pass for the Gophers.
Cory Hetherman’s depth on defense allows the unit to stay fresh. At least through three weeks, the Minnesota Gophers defense doesn’t seem to miss its longtime defensive coordinator, Joe Rossi, who left for Michigan State in the offseason.
Max Brosmer has completely changed PJ Fleck’s offense
For far too long we have seen P.J. Fleck teams struggle to pass the football. Talented running backs have been forced to shoulder the load. At no point has the passing game been a focal point. That has changed. Max Brosmer looks like the real deal, and the transfer can make all of the throws.
Nevada came in with a putrid pass defense. The Wolfpack allow more than 250 yards per game , ranking 103rd in the nation. Brosmer immediately took advantage of that and picked apart the secondary. Elijah Spencer put up 40 yards
“>during the game’s opening drive . By
halftime the quarterback had completed 14-of-20 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. He could have had a second touchdown (that instead wound up being intercepted) if wide receiver Cristian Driver got his head around to the football.
Related: What Should Gophers Fans Expect vs Nevada? More Max Brosmer.
Nevada certainly isn’t the defensive stalwart that Iowa will be next week for the Gophers, but Brosmer has passed the early test. He looked calm in the pocket, and moved to open space. It was an ideal marriage of the footwork and positioning shown between his first two starts for Minnesota.
Darius Taylor is still him
It was a s urprise when Darius Taylor returned to the field against Rhode Island. He was back in action against Nevada and remained every bit the weapon he appeared to be as a freshman. Running room wasn’t plentiful early for Taylor, but that didn’t stop Fleck from finding ways to get his playmaker the football.
Although Taylor had just 23 yards on the ground with his first six carries , he added 35 more on five receptions. Both of the Gophers first half touchdowns came from Taylor. He punched one in on the ground, and another on a Brosmer pass. Then the half turned over and the superstar broke out. His 80-yard rush made it a 27-0 game and he eclipsed the century mark for the first time this year.
As Big Ten opponents look to shut down Taylor, they will be forced to look at him as a dual-threat back. Taylor being more involved in the receiving game opens up other pass-catching options as well. Brosmer was often able to work through his progressions and cycle back to the running back if need be.
How Taylor fares against the Big Ten schedule will be the focal point, but he certainly made it work in year one.
Additional areas of focus for Fleck’s Gophers
The game got off to something of a cute start. Rather than go for it on 4th-and-2, Fleck decided to call upon kicker Dragan Kesich for a 52-yard field goal. The big leg came through for a record-setting fifth career 50+ yarder. He later hit from 21 but missed a 50 yard try wide right. The power is definitely there, but the accuracy still needs to be dialed in.
Marcus Major is a serious threat on his own. Minnesota transferred him in from Oklahoma to provide depth. He produced 73 yards in the season-opening start against North Carolina. Major sprinkled in nicely for the Gophers on Saturday and had a nice 18-yard run.
Jack Henderson picked off a pass against Rhode Island last week . Against Nevada it was his ability to bring down the passer that stood out. The Gophers defensive back had 1.5 sacks as well as a quarterback hit. Jah Joyner didn’t get home, but he did hit Benson three times.
More must-reads:
Local News
Comments / 0