Penn State Football Minnesota - Penn State Summer Doldrums Preview
Written by Jeff Friday, 24 July 2009 15:42
Preview Game 7 – October 17 – Minnesota
In 2008, the Gophers took steps to turnaround their 2007 1-11 season with a 7-6 season and birth in the Insight Bowl against Kansas. However, when looking at the quality of wins, Minnesota was lacking. The Gophers had expected non-conference wins over Northern Illinois (6-7), Bowling Green (6-6), Montana State (non-IA), and Florida Atlantic (7-6). Within the Big Ten, Minnesota beat a trio of losing teams Indiana (3-9), Illinois (5-7) and Purdue (4-8).
Minnesota’s troubles came with five losses against Big Ten teams.
Ohio State: 21-34
Northwestern: 17-24
Michigan: 6-29
Wisconsin: 32-35
Iowa: 0-55
Ohio State and Iowa were predicted losses going into 2008, but the way Minnesota lost to Iowa was not. Iowa played an extremely balanced game and Minnesota had no reply to Iowa’s offense or defensive. While Penn State did not play Minnesota last year, I would think there would have been an outcome similar to the Iowa game.
Minnesota Offense vs. PSU Defense
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||||||
|
National Rankings
Category
|
Minn
Actual
|
Minn
Rank
|
PSU
Rank
|
PSU
Actual
|
National Rankings
Category
|
|
|
Scoring Offense
|
23.23
|
83
|
 |
8
|
14.38
|
Scoring Defense |
|
Total Offense
|
322.92 |
91
|
|
8
|
280.08
|
Total Defense |
|
Passing Offense
|
219.08
|
55
|
|
27
|
186.85
|
Pass Defense |
|
Passing Efficiency
|
127.92 |
50
|
|
19
|
107.79
|
Pass Efficiency Defense |
|
Rushing Offense
|
103.85
|
104 | |
8
|
93.23
|
Rushing Defense |
|
Red Zone Offense Pct
|
.88
|
25 |  |
97
|
.88
|
Red Zone Defense |
|
1st Down Offense/Game
|
16.46
|
103
|
|
9
|
15.58
|
1st Down Defense |
|
3rd Down Conversion Pct
|
34.6
|
97
|
|
15
|
32.2
|
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense |
|
4th Down Conversion Pct
|
60.0
|
28
|
|
87
|
54.2
|
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense |
|
Sacks Allowed/Game
|
2.31
|
90
|
|
24
|
2.54
|
Sacks/Game |
|
Tackles For Loss Allowed
|
5.62
|
53 | |
44
|
46.23
|
Tackles For Loss/Game |
Offensive question mark: Minnesota has a new offensive coordinator. Jedd Fisch was named the offensive coordinator on January 21, 2009. He replaces Mike Dunbar who stepped down from his duties on Jan. 6, 2009. According to Head Coach Mike Brewster, “We’ve worked this process hard and exercised a good amount of due diligence. We talked to a number of quality coaches from across the country and sought a lot of input until we were able to narrow our focus to one man and I’m thrilled we got him.”
That’s pretty quick – two weeks. It appears Fisch is very qualified and former players and coaches speak highly of him. Fisch, the man, the coach, isn’t the offensive question mark. It is the position; offensive coordinator. Anytime you have turn over at the offensive coordinator position there is a learning process for the players. A smooth transition will go nearly unnoticed. A not so smooth transition, with players having difficulties unlearning the old ways while learning the new ways will go noticed; usually negatively.
Adam Weber is the man at quarterback. Weber led the Big Ten in completion percentage at 62.2%, although his quarterback rating was fifth in the league to Penn State’s 145.3 rating. The difference is that Weber threw only 15 touchdowns to Penn State’s 24. Weber was the most sacked quarterback in the Big Ten. The responsible party for the sacks is Minnesota’s offensive line.
Minnesota’s offensive line remains relatively intact from the 2008 season. Minnesota’s offensive line was 90th in the nation in allowing sacks, and 53rd in tackles for a loss allowed. Rush blocking for Minnesota was putrid in 2008, given that the Gophers were 104th in the nation in rushing.
Weber has two returning senior wide outs, Eric Decker and Ben Kuznia. Decker led the team with 84 receptions, 1074 yards and 7 TDs. Kuznia played in all 13 games last year and had 31 receptions for 310 yards. Sophomore Brandon Green returns with 11 games experience, notching 31 catches for 306 yards and a TD. The remaining receivers for Minnesota are inexperienced sophomores.
Minnesota’s leading rusher returns. DeLeon Eskridge played in 13 games with 184 carries for 678 yards and 7 TDs. Adam Weber had the second most touches rushing with 127 attempts. Weber netted 233 yards and loss 285 yards on sacks. The lack of an adequate rushing attack makes Minnesota a one dimensional team.
Penn State will need to contain Adam Weber’s passing attack. The key to doing so is two-fold. First, Penn State needs to take advantage of Minnesota’s weak offensive line and sack Weber. Weber needs to be shell shocked from the start of the game. Second, Penn State needs to play Decker and Kunzia close to the line of scrimmage. Playing man-to-man will force Weber to hold on the ball for longer, thus allowing the defensive line to do their sacking business.
Minnesota Defense vs. PSU Offense
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||||||
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National Rankings
Category
|
Minn
Actual
|
Minn
Rank
|
PSU
Rank
|
PSU
Actual
|
National Rankings
Category
|
|
|
Scoring Defense
|
24.77
|
61
|
|
11
|
38.92
|
Scoring Offense |
|
Total Offense
|
383.62
|
80
|
|
14
|
448.92
|
Total Offense |
|
Pass Defense
|
240.31 |
93
|
|
37
|
243.08
|
Pass Offense |
|
Passing Efficiency Defense
|
131.70
|
78
|
|
19
|
145.35
|
Pass Efficiency |
|
Rushing Defense
|
143.31
|
68
|
|
17
|
205.85
|
Rushing Offense |
|
Red Zone Defense
|
.83
|
67
|
|
6
|
.92
|
Red Zone Offense |
|
1st Down Defense
|
19.46
|
69
|
|
18
|
23.08
|
1st Down Offense/Game |
|
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense
|
39.0
|
61
|
|
6
|
52.0
|
3rd Down Conversion Pct |
|
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense
|
46.2
|
54
|
|
88
|
38.5
|
4th Down Conversion Pct |
|
SacksGame
|
2.54
|
24
|
|
4
|
21.00
|
Sacks Allowed |
|
Tackles For Loss/Game
|
6.69
|
25
|
|
4
|
3.85
|
Tackles For Loss Allowed |
Defensive question mark: Defensive Coordinator. Coach Brewster has named Kevin Cosgrove as co-defensive coordinator for the 2009 season. Defensive backs coach, Ronnie Lee has been promoted to co-defensive coordinator. The co-defensive coordinators replace Ted Roof from the 2008 season. Ted Roof replaced Everett Whithers from the 2007 season. Everett Whiters replaced David Lockwood from the 2006 season. So you get the idea, there is zero consistency to Minnesota’s defensive coaching staff.
Last year, Minnesota had an average defense. They ranked 61st in scoring defense; right in the middle of NCAA D-1 rankings. Their pass defense was terrible, ranked at 93rd in the country. It appears that Penn State’s Daryll Clark is not going to miss a beat going into the 2009 season. This does not bode well for Minnesota’s pass defense. Returning tailbacks, Evan Royster and Stephfon Green will also give Minnesota’s 68th ranked rush defense fits.
If Minnesota’s last game of the 2008 was a good barometer of what happens when the Gophers meet a balanced offensive attack, the Penn State will have a field day. Iowa crushed Minnesota 55-0 with a balance attack of 222 yards rushing and 261 yards passing.
The Gophers return two starters at defensive tackle, Garrett Brown (6-2/303/Sr./13 games/34 tackles/3 sacks) and Eric Small (6-2/301/Sr./13 games/25 tackles/2 sacks). Jewhan Edwards returns (6-2/320/So./11 games/8 tackles) and Moen Barrett (6-3/275/Sr./13 Games/7 tackles).
Minnesota loses defensive ends Willie VanDeSteeg and William Brody to graduation. Derrick Onwuachi (6-5/250, Sr./11 games/16 tackles) is likely to start. DE is a pretty weak position for the Gophers, with Ray Henderson (6-5/251/Sr./4 games/1 tackle), Anthony Jacobs (6-2/288/So./10 games/7 tackles), and Cedric McKinley (6-5/260/Sr./12 games/8 tackles/3 sacks).
Minnesota has it star pile jumper linebacker, Lee Campbell as their sole returning starting linebacker. Campbell had 50 solo tackles and jumped in the pile another 30 times last year for a total of 80 tackles. When two new linebackers are combined with Minnesota’s weak defensive backfield, it doesn’t look promising for Minnesota.
Turnovers - Time of Possession - Penalties
|
||||||
|
National Rankings
Category
|
Minn
Actual
|
Minn
Rank
|
PSU
Rank
|
PSU
Actual
|
National Rankings
Category
|
|
| Turnover Margin |
.92
|
16
|
|
25
|
.54 | Turnover Margin |
|
Turnover Gained
|
31
|
11
|
|
14
|
16 | Turnovers Lost |
|
Turnovers Lost
|
19
|
27
|
|
58
|
23 | Turnovers Gained |
|
Fumbles Recovered
|
16
|
7
|
|
49
|
10
|
Fumbles Lost |
|
Fumbles Lost
|
19
|
27
|
|
97
|
7 | Fumbles Recovered |
|
Passes Intercepted
|
15 | 39 | |
4 | 6 | Passes had Intercepted |
|
Passed had Intercepted
|
8
|
13
|
|
26
|
16 | Passes Intercepted |
|
Fewest Penalties/Game
|
6.38
|
77
|
|
3
|
3.77 | Fewest Penalties/Game |
|
Fewest Yards Penalized/Game
|
53.46
|
75
|
|
3
|
31.38 | Fewest Yards Penalized/Game |
|
Time of Possession
|
30:00
|
66
|
|
16
|
31:44
|
Time of Possession |
The other thing that sticks out of Minnesota’s stats is that they are 75th in yards penalized. Compared to Penn State, they are giving away over 20 yards per game, or two first downs, to their opponents each game. For Minnesota to be competitive against Penn State they need to focus on fundamentals, good tackling, and zero mental errors.
Special Teams
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||||||
|
National Rankings
Category
|
Minn
Actual
|
Minn
Rank
|
PSU
Rank
|
PSU
Actual
|
National Rankings
Category
|
|
|
Punt Returns
|
9.94
|
46
|
|
15
|
5.33
|
Punt Return Defense |
|
Punt Return Defense
|
8.44
|
54
|
|
39
|
10.36
|
Punt Returns |
|
Net Punting
|
36.30
|
38
|
|
11
|
37.86
|
Net Punting |
|
Kickoff Returns
|
24.04
|
15
|
|
65
|
21.26
|
Kickoff Return Defense |
|
Kickoff Return Defense
|
18.54
|
13
|
|
10
|
24.54
|
Kickoff Returns |
Minnesota loses a place kicker and punter to graduation. No one on the team received any experience in 2008 at these positions. On the return side of the ball, kickoff returns are in good shape, given that all returners are back for 2009. Minnesota was 15th in the nation in kickoff returns. In the punt return category, Minnesota was a not so stellar 46th in punt returns and 38th in net punting.
Prediction
This will be the 7th win of the season for Penn State. Penn State shouldn’t be looking forward to playing scUM on the road the following week. While scUM should be improved, they still will not pose a threat to Penn State. The Minnesota game has the second greatest potential for a blowout, behind Indiana, of all the Big Ten games this season.
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