The Minnesota Gophers Football team, still smarting from its 42-3 loss to Ohio State in Columbus last Saturday, comes home to play a beatable Purdue Boilermakers team that has lost its last three games. The Buckeyes took Minnesota to school in the game, with the nation’s number one defense completely shutting down P.J. Fleck’s offense. And Ohio State, with its two pro-ready wideouts, gave the Gophers’ secondary fits all game long.

On the other hand, Purdue is a team that has struggled to stop opponents’ offenses this year, giving up an average of 33 points a game. They have an exciting mobile quarterback and a couple of outstanding wide receivers, but it will be a tall order for the Boilermakers to defeat the Gophers with the state of their defense.

Gophers Offense vs. Boilermakers Defense

Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey is the real deal, but he, like the rest of his teammates, learned a hard lesson last week against the number one Buckeyes. However, Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said it was an important lesson for him learning how to be a leader during challenging times. His job will be much easier with star running back Darius Taylor on the field. He is a threat on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield. The Gophers use a plethora of wide receivers, but some patterns are starting to emerge.

Senior Le’Meke Brockington has become Lindsey’s favorite short-to-medium range receiver. If he is throwing the long ball, look in the direction of redshirt freshman Jalen Smith. As Drake runs through his progressions, additional opportunities will be created for tight end Jameson Geers. The offensive line positions saw a shakeup before the Ohio State game; the strength of the Gophers’ line begins with tackles Greg Johnson and redshirt freshman Nathan Roy. And the o-line is anchored by their heady center, Ashton Beers.

Unfortunately for Purdue, there are few positives to mention when the conversation turns to their defense. Their secondary has been scorched for several long pass plays, and their front seven has been unable to corral opposing running backs. The Boilermakers will need some big plays on defense to keep this one close. A strip and fumble recovery by linebacker Charles Correa, or a clutch sack or two from defensive end CJ Madden, are the types of plays that could turn the tide in Purdue’s favor.

Boilermakers Offense vs. Gophers Defense

The Boilermakers’ offense is run by their mobile, strong-armed starting quarterback, Ryan Browne. He is 107-172 for 1,338 yards and seven touchdown passes for the season. Browne scored a touchdown on a broken play against Illinois last week, showing his mobility. He throws to two very capable receivers in Michael Jackson III and Nitro Tuggle, who have combined for 27 receptions, 529 yards, and four touchdowns.

Running back Devin Mockobee has found the going rough this season as he’s averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. But in the past, he’s played his best against the Gophers, amassing 265 rushing yards and two touchdowns in two previous contests. The Boilermakers’ offensive line has struggled all season, opening up holes for Mockobee. The best of the bunch is left tackle Joey Tanona.

The Gophers’ defense has been tough against the run all season. Defensive tackles Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding have provided stiff resistance, allowing linebackers Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams to get clean hits on opposing running backs.

The Minnesota secondary had a rough game last Saturday as Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin burned them for 326 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Minnesota was caught in some safety blitzes, but cornerbacks Mike Gerald, John Nestor, and Za’Quan Bryan have to tighten up their coverage.

Comments From Gophers’ Coaches and Players

At a press event on Wednesday, I asked Minnesota’s coordinators and players their thoughts on the upcoming game against Purdue. Here are some excerpts from those interviews.

New Leaf News: Looking at Purdue, they stunt a lot. They run an occasional blitz. They started in a zone coverage last week, got beat in the seams, and went to man-to-man. What have you seen from them?

Gophers Offensive Coordinator Greg Harbaugh: “They’ve done multiple different things. When they played Illinois and when they played USC, they played a little bit of what we would call three-down nickel. They put multiple DBs out there. They’re used a three-down front. They’ve kind of gone in between. They can sub in and out of a four-down front and a three-down front. They like to play some zone defense, but they also have the ability to play man.

I think that it’s one of those games where it goes back to Ohio State. Ohio State was a game where you go in and out of things, and you have to be prepared for it. You have to have a game plan for a certain type. If they are in a four-down front, the quarterback has to goes through his progressions to find the open receiver.

You’re starting off with this one defender. On third down, you’re starting off with this one defender. We have to be able to figure that out. I like where we’re at this week, with how we executed yesterday and then how we got off the field today. I think it’s clean. I like the way the guys practiced. I think you make a great point where you said it’s understanding what they can do out of these particular fronts, and then what they can do out of these particular coverage structures, and then how do we attack it and how we execute.”

NLN: Jalen, you talk often about being in the moment when you’re out on the field. When you run into a difficult game like Ohio State, what do you do to keep in the moment and keep going?

Wide Receiver Jalen Smith: “You just have to stay focused. You can’t focus too much on a logo or ranking. You still have the same objective every game, and that’s to execute what you do. I think just staying focused and staying true to yourself. Understanding what got you there and why you’re there helps keep you in that. Not focused on what the other team is doing.”

NLN: I asked Max Brosmer this last year. How did he deal with the pressure of people relying on him to be the person out there to lead the team? He actually said that his nature was such that he really welcomed it and liked the responsibility and the accountability that was put on him. Are you feeling that?

Quarterback Drake Lindsey: “I think I’ve always been kind of the same. I feel like I’m very relaxed and calm, and I really do enjoy all that. I like having the ball in my hands in challenging situations or hard situations. People would say I enjoy the close games, like the Rutgers games. I love being in that situation where you have to go win the game on offense, and then the defense has to get a good stop. But where the balls in your hand to go take command and take charge, I’ve always enjoyed that role.”

Prediction

This is a game the Gophers should win, but I think the Boilermakers’ offense keeps it close in the first half. But Taylor has a big second half, exploiting the weak Purdue defense, and Minnesota eventually prevails in a 35-21 homecoming victory.