Minnesota Gopher football concluded the first half of its season on a high note with significant victories over #11 USC at their home stadium, prompting fans to rush the field for the first time in years. They finished their dominance over the Los Angeles Big Ten teams on Saturday night by rallying to defeat UCLA in the Rose Bowl Stadium.
The second part of the season will include additional away games, more evenly matched games, and the challenge of maintaining focus and playing a full 60 minutes of cohesive football, something PJ Fleck’s team has had difficulty achieving in 2024.
The first six months in Minnesota have been eventful, as no game has been flawless for any player, yet the team has displayed periods of superiority against well-suited opponents.
Which iteration of the Gophers will unite next? Nobody possesses a Crystal Ball. Which performances and individuals were notable during the initial seven weeks? Looking back, hindsight always wins and here are your top superlatives for the first half of 2024:
Top offensive performance of the year so far.
There are alternative choices, but to include more people, we won’t repeat any names. This brings us to Elijah Spencer. The figures may not be striking, but the surrounding circumstances are crucial. Following his move to Minnesota from Charlotte before the 2023 season, he only managed to catch nine passes for 65 yards, with the quarterback’s passer rating at 55.8 when targeting him.
In 2024, he has caught 22 passes, gained 255 receiving yards (almost four times more than last season), and when targeted by Max Brosmer, he has a passer rating of 124.9 after seven games.
As more teams focus on Daniel Jackson, the Gophers sought another receiver to step up, and Spencer has adequately filled the role in 2024.
Top defensive team performance of the first half of the year
Freshman safety Kerry Brown has surpassed any pre-season expectations, as evidenced by both Pro Football Focus and defensive statistics. It may come as a surprise to some. He ranks third in total tackles on the team with 32, and also earned two interceptions during the game against Nevada, resulting in him being selected as Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
Kerry Brown has the second-highest overall rating on the team according to PFF, with a score of 82.1.
I was just as unsure as everyone else about the safety situation at the beginning of the year, particularly with Tyler Nubin being drafted in the second round, and considering the weak spot at strong safety last season.
However, safeties coach Danny Collins should be acknowledged with flowers, as Brown and the following individual we will discuss are a strong foundation to construct upon in the coming years.
Offensive Rookie of the Year.
What would happen to this team if Max Brosmer weren’t around? I do know it’s not 4-3.
The Gophers’ fresh starting quarterback has guided game-winning drives in consecutive weeks versus USC and UCLA, and if Minnesota had converted a field goal in their first game, that number would be three drives.
Brosmer lacks a strong arm. Although not the tallest or fastest quarterback in the Big Ten, his poise and consistency have been crucial for the success of the Gopher offense. Despite facing a highly inconsistent offensive line, he has managed to accomplish it with a pass-catching group that ranks second in the Big Ten in drops.
This off-season, offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh found a really talented player through the portal.
Defensive Player of the Year (Newcomer).
Were you anticipating a different person? Selecting Koi Perich, the Pride of Esko, as a fan favorite in Gopher Football’s recent history was an easy choice.
He is one of us, and every time he is given additional chances, he consistently delivers outstanding performances. After being on the field for just 35 defensive plays during the initial five weeks of the season, Perich has now participated in a total of 101 snaps over the past two weeks, resulting in four forced turnovers.
The young newcomer impresses with exceptional instincts for his age, and recently received the title of Big Ten defensive player of the week. Brown, Perich, and Aidan Gousby’s recent performance make for an impressive young safety group.
Primary focus for offensive improvement following the bye week.
When this unit’s offense starts to falter, the main reason can be traced back to the front line. Following six offensive line penalties last autumn, they have already accrued 16 penalties in seven games. The idea is that once those offensive line penalties happen, you can kiss goodbye any chance of keeping that drive alive.
Apart from the USC game, the Minnesota Moving Company has not maintained the level of consistency expected, as they are now on their third right guard and only four starters from last year’s team have returned.
If the offensive line doesn’t improve after the bye week, it will be difficult for the offense to score over 20 points per game. However, if they manage to achieve some level of consistency, this team has the potential to maintain their current momentum.
The largest area for improvement on defense following the bye week.
Exit the field immediately on third down.
Following a season where they had the poorest third down defense in the Big Ten, Minnesota now ranks 14th with a 48.15% conversion rate on third downs in their four conference matches. When going up against Corey Hetherman’s defense, it seems like there are three possible results.
1) A quick stop and punt
2) A change in direction.
3) A drive resulting in a 12-play scoring sequence
This Gopher defense has been inconsistent throughout the season, showing extremes of success and failure, and they need to work on finding more stability. Beginning to focus on third-down defense is a good starting point if improvements are going to be made.
The defensive team has encountered more than 24 third and short situations, with opponents frequently finding themselves in this position. Improve your performance on first and second downs to increase overall effectiveness in getting off the field quicker.
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