Illinois vs. Minnesota - the quickest preview of the year

by GopherNation on Nov 6, 2009 4:30 PM CST in Gopher Football Comment 2 comments

Sorry for the lack of JG's quality preview this afternoon. Life sometimes gets in the way of blogging. I'll drop you my top 3 keys for the game and then it is your responsibility to share your predictions with world.

Running the Ball - Illinois is the only team in the conference worse at stopping the run than we are and that has to be exploited. I hope this game looks like the Northwestern and Purdue games where we finally decide to run until we are stopped. Look for Kevin Whaley to get going for his breakout game. The offensive line has improved as the season has gone along and this is the game for them to establish and own the line of scrimmage.
Big Plays and BIG receivers - The Gopher D gives up big plays and the Illini live on big plays. This could be an ugly trend. Along with that the Illini have big receivers who should tower over our smallish corners. Both of these could pose a pretty big problem. The key to all of this will be our front seven. Keep Juice contained and get a pass rush on him so he cannot get the ball to his receivers.
Keep the playbook open - This is a little contrary to the first point, but last week it looked like they had their third new offense in 12 months. We racked up tons of yards and 42 points, while I want the running game to dominate the day, I wouldn't mind seeing the offense move the ball up and down the field again.

Your thoughts?

Poll

What say you?

Illini stay hot, beat the Gophers

24 votes

Gophers win a tight one

51 votes

Illinois is terrible, Gophers dominate

36 votes

111 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I would love to see Whaley run up some big numbers

But I would also love to see Simoni have another huge game like he did last year. Don’t know why, but I’m more than a little nervous about this game.

by the accomplice on Nov 6, 2009 5:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Let me add a couple points here

I’m back on the grid:

(1) Adam Weber, meet Juice Williams – you both were being called to be benched last week. In fact, Williams was one yard from being benched. Now both QBs are coming off of awesome offensive performances.

(2) I trust Weber to keep it going more than I do Williams. Here’s why: (a) Williams, by way of the spread, took advantage of a redshirt freshman SS with 4.8 speed and who was 12 months’ removed from knee surgery, as well as a FS whose position was changed 3 games ago. Minnesota does not have that problem; (b) as for Weber, he should be able to pick apart Illinois’s secondary. Illinois gave up 5 plays of over 15 yards before it took the lead against Michigan, and gave up at least four more after taking the lead. Included in this are two plays of over 65 yards, one in which a WR got behind the safeties when Illinois was up two touchdowns. Bottom line: Weber should feast on this defensive secondary.

(3) Minnesota, however, has got to watch the run. Juice Williams may be the best spread read QB, ever, as it pertains to his ball-fakes. You can expect 3-4 times tomorrow for the camera man to “lose contain” as he tries to decide who has the ball. Williams is normally pretty effective with his spread decision – Illinois is 25th nationally in rushing offense with almost 200 ypg. The team averages 5 yards per rush, and Mikel LeShoure has had a 50 yard rush or longer the past two weeks, both for touchdowns. Campbell, Triplett and the safeties must play disciplined against Williams – in that sense, their experience from the Air Force game will be key.

Prediction: Minnesota 34 – Illinois 16. Book your plane tickets somewhere warm, Minnesota’s going bowling.

by JG2112 on Nov 6, 2009 6:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs