Minnesota Football: Three keys to beating Purdue

Well last week was last week and it is time to move ahead. The Gophers resume Big Ten play and will hit the road to face Purdue.

3 KEYS

• EXECUTE - We may have issues with the game plan and lack of creativity last week against Bowling Green, but it is also undeniable that there was a severe lack of execution on the field. Regardless of the game plan, the Gophers should have been able to put more than 10 points in that game. At Purdue, they need to be more focused and clean in their offensive execution at all levels.
• Make Purdue one-dimensional - The ground game isn’t great and if David Bell is out it would be ideal to shut down the rush completely and make the Boilermakers one-dimensional. Plummer has no picks this year and I’d love to see a ton of pressure on him that leads to that stat changing.
• Nothing is personal - There is a weird dynamic between Fleck and Purdue’s Jeff Brohm. Don’t let this game get personal in any way. The Gophers need to execute their game plan and not get caught up in anything extra. Honestly, this feels like more of an issue on the Purdue side, but this is still a bit of a mystery.

OPPOSING PLAYERS TO WATCH

• #13 QB - Jack Plummer - Hasn’t thrown an interception yet this year, but this isn’t a great rushing team and they will win or lose on the arm or Plummer or Aidan O’Connell.
• #5 DE - George Karlaftis - Clearly the team’s top pass rusher and quarterback hurrier. The Gopher OL has been great at times and really struggled at others. Must keep Karlaftis neutralized.

PREDICTION

This one has the feeling like the Colorado game. Struggled last week, going on the road to a decent team and then they surprise us with a great game. I want to see more consistency with this team, but I feel like their true identity is closer to Colorado than it was to Bowling Green.

I see the passing game getting going and the offense puts up a lot of yards and points.

Minnesota - 31
Purdue - 21