Row Row Row the boat

Gently down the stream

Minnesota (4-1) at Illinois (5-1) 11AM central kickoff BTN

Illini injury update-Defensive back Taz Nicholson, wide receiver Isaiah Williams, linebacker Isaac Darkangelo all 'expected' to play vs. the Gophers Saturday....quarterback Tommy DeVito questionable at last 'report'.

Gopher notes-Four Gopher wins were against either under-manned programs (New Mexico State/Western Illinois) or bum teams (Michigan State/Colorado).....Purdue loss they were behind majority of the game played without their top offense threat running back Ibrahim, top returning wide receiver Autman-Bell out for season ....hard to get a good read on Minnesota after five games cause their only 'test' lost to the Boilermakers at home.

*Minnesota on offense...

Quarterback Tanner Morgan (#2) back for his sixth year with the Gophers.....all you need to know about Morgan....Gophers want to play with the lead cause they know Morgan struggles to throw his team to a win coming from behind.....not as many RPO's/slants this year Minnesota...had been a staple of that offense but with injuries/lack of big physical receivers vs. a good defense.....not as effective.....hit him a few times, see how much he wants to stay in the pocket.

Gophers run majority of offense out of 11 personnel, one back one tight end three wide receivers....Mo Ibrahim (#24) expected back against the Illini after missing the Purdue loss with injury....when healthy quick to the hole, runs with power but does get nicked up quite a bit cause of all his inside running.

After the issues the Illini 'D' had covering Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta last week...expect Gophers will make an effort to get their tight end 6-foot-7, 270-pound senior Brevyn Spann-Ford (#88) more involved in the passing game.....junior wide receiver Daniel Jackson (#9) seems to be Morgan's security blanket pass catcher....like 5-foot-7, 150-pound redshirt freshman Quentin Redding (#81) as a return guy.

Gophers up front run a man-gap power blocking scheme/mass kicks ass types.....sixth year senior center John Michael Schmitz (#60) line leader/good player.....Illini 'D' should be able to do business putting pressure on Gopher tackles Aireontae Ersery (#69) /Matt Carroll (#77) run and pass....neither real mobile both struggle one on one pass pro.....vs. Purdue Gophers left a back in or chipped Boilermakers pass rushers to help the pair out.....Gophers tried to pull/trap vs. Purdue and the Boilers d-front too fast for them beating puller to hole blowing up running plays....Illini have a faster front than Purdue so expect Minnesota to run straight ahead using their size/bulk to wear the defense down.

Gophers offense all about ball control/pace of play, get the lead, run the ball, bleed the clock.

*Minnesota on defense...

Not as good of a 'D' as Iowa but close......Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi impressive group of defenders.....don't have a 'star' that side of the ball but plenty of athletic 'parts' that play well together/stay in their lanes 'do their job' ....would expect Fossi to load the box with seven defenders force Illinois to throw them out of that look....Gophers play majority of cover two back end don't give up a lot of chunk plays defensively....will force Illinois in the passing game to dink and dunk their way down the field throwing the ball/again this week like last sustain long drives without making a mistake.

Illinois possibly without starting QB DeVito....head coach Bret Bielema/offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. going to have to 'coach' the Illini to a win with strategy/game management/grind it out like they did vs. Iowa....no 7-on-7 game this week vs. the Gophers.

*Prediction-Another defensive battle.....First team to score a touchdown wins?.....which QB makes the critical mistake?....Just don't have a good feel for this game....will put it in the 'toss up' category....without DeVito...how much do you trust quarterback Art Sitkowski/OC Lunney Jr. to 'win' this game with their play/play calling?...another contest going to come down to how game called....Gophers do a lot of grabbing on the offensive line....Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck has taught Gophers wide receivers well using his technique to beat man coverage...Fleck playing at Northern Illinois would engage man coverage than at his break, push off to get separation (so sneaky)...either got the separation or a holding call on the cornerback....Illini defensive backs do a lot of 'hand fighting' man coverage so keep an eye on how that part of the game is called.

*Rumor mill...

Hearing 'strong' possibility Illini tackle Julian Pearl heads to the NFL after this fall/giving up his senior season.....why junior college offensive linemen like Dez'Mond Schuster of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College Izavion Miller Southwestern Mississippi JC and Keyshawn Blackstock Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College such high recruiting priorities....work last spring/this fall Illini offensive line coach Bart Miller has done with JC transfers Zy Crisler and Isaiah Adams...amazing especially Crisler so 'trust the process' Miller hopefully can do the same next fall with a few top JC o-line recruits.

Bielema and company very aware Illini defensive linemen like Gabe Jacas Johnny Newton will be highly sought after especially by schools in the south to 'play closer to home' after 2022....why attractive NIL deals for both 'a must' to keep them in Champaign....would not be surprised if Illinois again goes to the transfer portal for a 'veteran' quarterback.....d-line portal priority.

*Things that make me laugh...

Speaking to boosters recently......one of Illini AD's 'insiders' said, 'well after the Lovie hire, Josh (Whitman) re-evaluated how he does hiring, his hiring process' in securing Bielema.....think that means Whitman stopped taking 'advice' who to hire from his old college coach Ron Turner.

Way back when first started covering the Illini...Champaign News-Gazette sportswriter bragged about how 'we (News Gazette personnel) don't take anything from the Illinois athletic department, we don't eat their snacks at the game, we don't participate in any of their promotions totally separate we don't get compromised.... that's how it's supposed to be'...which cracked me up...guy is 'still covering' Illini sports by the way...Tuesday Illini athletic department took their 'media' in a private plane to Minneapolis with the hoops coaching staff(s)/players for Big Ten media day....and who is in the picture of those taking that plane ride? Two News Gazette sports staffers that I counted...both with big shit-eating grins on their mugs....so much for 'we don't take anything' from the Illini athletic department’ I guess.....hey if Ron Guenther did that stunt, the old AD would make the media work the refreshment cart/carry his bags on and off the plane....drop grapes into his mouth on the flight....I kid I kid....kinda.