In an interview with the Big Ten Network’s Dave Revsine on Tuesday, head coach P.J. Fleck touted Minnesota as the only Big Ten team that returns its offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and starting quarterback from last season.
There is certainly value in continuity, especially at the coordinator level. But I’m not so sure I share Fleck’s belief that bringing back both Greg Harbaugh Jr. and Danny Collins sets up the Gophers for success.
Danny Collins can build off a solid debut
Collins wasn’t a disaster in his first year as defensive
coordinator, but there is cause for concern.
Minnesota finished the season ranked 34th nationally in total defense (331.6 total yards allowed per game), 27th in run defense (121.1 rushing yards allowed per game), 51st in pass defense (210.5 passing yards allowed per game), and 50th in scoring defense (22.9 points allowed per game).
Not bad on paper, right?
Context is important, though. Only three of the Gophers’ opponents finished the year in the Top 50 in total offense: Oregon (17th), Ohio State (26th), and Rutgers (44th).
But even against “lesser” competition, the Minnesota defense looked lost at times.
Against Northwestern (96th in total offense), the Gophers surrendered 525 yards of total offense and 38 points.
Against Michigan State (97th), the Gophers surrendered 467 yards of total offense and 20 points
Against Purdue (100th), the Gophers surrendered 456 yards of total offense and 20 points.
To be fair, Minnesota won two of those three games. But the process raises red flags.
In terms of personnel last season, all cornerbacks not named John Nestor frequently struggled in coverage, especially in their zone drops. And the pass rush, led by All-Big Ten defensive end Anthony Smith, disappeared in all five of their losses, with the rest of the defensive line failing to take advantage of the attention on Smith.
This season, the Gophers have brought in Michigan State transfer cornerback Aydan West to pair with Nestor, though depth at the position remains a question mark. Cal transfer rush end T.J. Bush gives Minnesota another formidable edge rusher, as does Karter Menz after a breakout season last year.
The Gophers have holes to fill at defensive tackle and at safety with Koi Perich departing for Oregon.
I’m not sold on Collins as a Big Ten defensive coordinator yet, but I’m willing to wait and see what he can do now that he has a year of experience under his belt and, hopefully, a more well-rounded unit.
Greg Harbaugh is what he is at this point
Harbaugh has been Minnesota’s offensive coordinator for the past three seasons now.
The results aren’t great.
Statistically, they’re actually quite bad.
In his first year calling plays, the Gophers ranked 122nd in total offense, 65th in rushing offense, 123rd in passing offense, and 108th in scoring offense (20.9 points per game).
Year 2, with Max Brosmer under center, Minnesota showed improvement, ranking 107th in total offense, 109th in rushing offense, 76th in passing offense, and 80th in scoring offense (26.2 points per game).
Better? Yes.
But good enough? I don’t think so.
The most alarming trend under Harbaugh has been the struggle to consistently run the ball. What was once the Gophers’ bread and butter under P.J. Fleck has become a glaring weakness, even with a talent like Darius Taylor at running back (though he has been injured on and off). Last year, Minnesota ranked 126th in rushing offense, averaging 103.2 rushing yards per game. That is the lowest mark of the Fleck era.
The decline in ground production has coincided with struggles up front, as the Minnesota Moving Co. seems to have traded mass for movement, favoring more athletic offensive linemen over physical road graders. As a result, we’ve seen the Gophers struggle mightily to move the ball on the ground in short yardage situations.
Is that a recruiting failure? The result of a philosophical change? Perhaps a bit of both?
And even with Drake Lindsey making a promising debut at quarterback last season, Minnesota’s aerial attack was nothing to write home about, ranking 100th in passing offense (189.9 passing yards per game).
There are reasons to be optimistic about the offense and those reasons include Lindsey, Taylor, wide receivers Jalen Smith, Javon Tracy, and Noah Jennings, and a solid offensive line (with questions on the right side).
But with what we know about Harbaugh, I have a hard time buying into them.
