The Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-4) had safe flights to and from Oregon this week and played a game in between, dropping a minor 42-13 setback to the No. 8-ranked Oregon Ducks (9-1) on Friday night.
The Elite
Minnesota scored a touchdown on the road. Dating back to the fourth quarter against Cal, the Gophers had been held out of the end zone for 11 straight quarters on the road before Drake Lindsey connected with Javon Tracy for a 10-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter at Autzen Stadium on Friday. It was
a triumphant moment for an offense averaging 8.3 points per game on the road this season.
The Gophers started fast. Credit where credit is due, Minnesota wasted no time establishing itself in this game. The defense set the tone on the opening drive, allowing coverage to bust on back-to-back plays that allowed two passes to pick up 61 yards combined and set up the Ducks’ first touchdown. The Gopher offense played complementary football, losing 8 yards on their opening drive and going three-and-out after a false start penalty, an incomplete screen pass, and Lindsey falling down untouched in the pocket on third down.
Minnesota didn’t make things too easy for the Ducks’ ground game. I understand that Oregon running backs Noah Whittington and Jordon Davison combined for 129 rushing yards on 15 carries, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. But at least the Gopher defense made them fight through tackles. For example, Whittington had multiple defenders draped on him before he escaped like Houdini for a 40-yard touchdown run. That counts for something. Imagine if he had run 39 yards untouched for a touchdown like Davison earlier in the game.
The two-minute defense got off the field. The Ducks’ offense needed less than two minutes to drive 75 yards for a touchdown before halftime. It may have taken the wind out of the sails for Minnesota after their offense drove 67 yards in 7 minutes just to settle for a chip-shot field goal, but the defense knew they needed to get to the locker room to regroup, and they got it done in brisk fashion.
Brady Denaburg. He was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, including a 46-yarder in the second quarter.
Both coordinators had a game plan. Neither game plan worked, but let’s not focus on the negative.
Time of possession. Minnesota won the time of possession battle, edging Oregon by 48 seconds.
No turnovers. Minnesota did not turn the ball over against Oregon. Can you imagine if they had thrown an interception or fumbled the ball away? 42-13 looks so much better than 49-13 or 56-6.
The Meh
Dante Moore’s three incompletions. I understand that Moore was without wide receivers Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. — two of the Ducks’ top four pass catchers — but I found his final stat line to be underwhelming. The Ducks quarterback finished 27-of-30 for 306 passing yards and two touchdowns. Against this Minnesota secondary, three incompletions seems inconceivable. I just hope it doesn’t cost him the Heisman.
The Ugly
Anthony Smith’s sack. I thought it was rude, to be completely honest with you. You don’t come into another man’s house and throw him to the ground. I know it’s part of the game, but still.
Robert Griffin III. My ears are still bleeding from listening to him.
