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University of Minnesota Athletics
WEAR GOLD: Gophers Battle Michigan for Jug
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota Football Notes - vs. Michigan
GOPHERS, WOLVERINES TO BATTLE FOR JUG SATURDAY
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will host Michigan in the battle for the Little Brown Jug Saturday at the Metrodome. Minnesota and Michigan are both coming off last-second losses. The Gophers are encouraging all their fans to wear gold for a “Solid Gold” Saturday at the Dome.
The Gophers were tied with Northwestern 17-17 and trying to drive for the winning score in the final minute last week. But Adam Weber’s pass for Eric Decker near midfield pinballed off Decker and a Wildcat defender. It was intercepted by Brendan Smith, who returned it 48 yards for a TD with 12 seconds left. Meanwhile, Michigan saw Purdue’s Desmond Tardy score on a 28-yard hook-and-lateral touchdown with 26 seconds remaining to break a 42-42 tie and hand the Wolverines a 48-42 loss.
This week’s game will be broadcast on ESPN. Pam Ward will call the play-by-play. Former professional football player Ray Bentley will be the analyst in the booth.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota is now 7-2 on the season and 3-2 in the Big Ten after falling to Northwestern 24-17 last week. The Gophers are No. 2 in the nation in turnover margin and were even in that category against the Wildcats last week.
Adam Weber has taken nearly every snap for Minnesota at quarterback and has thrown 294 of the Gophers’ 296 passes this season. He has passed for 2,151 yards and 11 TDs through nine games. Weber tied a career-high with 31 completions last week, throwing for a season-best 327 yards. Eric Decker has been the main beneficiary of Weber’s aerials. Decker ranks No. 3 in the nation with 8.11 catches per game and No. 8 with 99.4 receiving yards per game. Decker has caught six TD passes this season. Leading the way on the ground is true freshman DeLeon Eskridge. Despite limited carries in the first two games, Eskridge has rushed for 535 yards on 146 carries.
Defensively, junior middle linebacker Lee Campbell is the team’s top tackler with 56 stops. Safeties Kyle Theret and Tramaine Brock have 52 and 50 tackles, respectively. Junior transfer cornerback Traye Simmons is No. 2 in the nation in passes defended, averaging 1.78 per game. Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg has 15.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, ranking seventh and 15th in the nation, respectively.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
With Saturday’s loss at Purdue, Michigan has been guaranteed a losing season and the Wolverines will not attend a bowl game for the first time in 33 years.
Offensively, Michigan is led by running back Sam McGuffie. He has rushed for 470 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 58.8 yards per game. Quarterback Steven Threet has seen action in nine games. He has passed for 1,083 yards (98-of-193) with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Martavious Odoms is the Wolverines’ top receiver with 36 receptions for 355 yards.
Defensively, Obi Ezeh leads Michigan with 79 total tackles. Brandon Graham has 14.5 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks to lead the defensive line. Trent Morgan is the top secondary man, with two interceptions and two pass break-ups.
QUICK HITTERS
> The Golden Gophers are the No. 2 team in the nation in turnover margin. The Gophers, who took two and gave two vs. Northwestern, have an average turnover margin of +1.67.
> Northwestern was just the third team this year to score a first-quarter touchdown against Minnesota.
> Minnesota ranks 20th in the NCAA in scoring defense (17.89 points allowed per game).
> The Gophers are No. 35 in the NCAA in red zone efficiency (.870, 27-of-31).
> Gopher WR Eric Decker is No. 3 in the nation in receptions and No. 8 in receiving yards.
> Decker set a new school record for single-season receptions (73) last week.
> Minnesota CB Traye Simmons is No. 2 in the nation in passes defended.
TASTY TURNOVERS
Minnesota defenders have been busier than pastry chefs this season. The Gopher defense has baked up 26 turnovers so far this season, which is tied for No. 1 in the nation. Meanwhile, Minnesota has been pretty good at maintaining possession of the ball. The Gophers have only coughed it up 11 times (tied for No. 18 nationally). All that leads to an average turnover margin of +1.67 per game, which is No. 2 in the nation.
Of Minnesota’s 26 takeaways, the Gophers have converted 17 into points, for a success rate of 59.3 percent. Twelve of those scores have been touchdowns. Minnesota scored 41 points off just 14 turnovers during the entire 2007 campaign. The Gophers already have 99 points off takeaways in nine games this season.
STACKING THE DECK
Junior wide receiver Eric Decker is leading the Big Ten in receptions per contest (8.11) and receiving yards per game (99.4). He ranks No. 3 and No. 8, respectively, in those categories nationally. Decker tied his own record for single-season receptions with a second-quarter TD reception last week. With 73 catches for 895 yards, he is on pace for 97 receptions and 1,193 yards, which would also be a Gopher record. He grabbed seven aerials for 62 yards and a TD lat week. He has scored in seven of Minnesota’s nine games this season. Decker is doing all this after missing spring football to play baseball. He was the Gophers’ starter in left field and batted .329 with 11 doubles, four triples and three home runs last season. Despite making clubs aware that he had no intention of signing a baseball contract, he was picked by Milwaukee in the 39th round of last year’s MLB Draft.
WOW, WILLIE!
Senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg is showing what he can do when healthy. VanDeSteeg struggled in 2007, playing with a broken wrist. But he has been a regular presence in the opposition’s backfield all season. VanDeSteeg had three tackles for loss last week. He currently ranks No. 7 in the nation in tackles for loss and No. 15 in sacks. VanDeSteeg is just 2.5 away from the Minnesota career record for tackles for loss.
-UM-
