Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey spent his media availability Tuesday centered on one theme: keeping the week steady while the opponent gets bigger.
With Mississippi State up next, Lindsey said the Gophers’ approach doesn’t need a makeover. The routine, the prep, the communication - that’s the formula he wants to keep intact.
“I think just keeping the exact same process that I did (for the previous opponent): keeping the exact same routine. Obviously we switched to the mornings now but keeping the same routine getting with my guys, going over things throughout the week. Just doing the same things, and keeping the same process that I have been doing, and with that I think we will be in a good spot.”
That steady-hand message carried through most of his answers. Lindsey talked about how his preparation has evolved from last season, saying the biggest change is how much more he asks questions now and how that has tightened his connection with the coaching staff.
“I think the biggest thing last year I had to earn a lot more things. Last year with Coach Harbaugh I said "yes" a lot more than "why".
This year we are so aligned. I ask him why we are doing this and why we are doing that, it gets on the same page with the coaches and Coach Fleck.
I think me doing that has really got me on the same page with him and all the coaches.”
That same comfort shows up in how he handles the offense at the line of scrimmage. Lindsey said Mississippi State’s defense brings plenty to sort through, and that makes communication even more important.
“They do a lot of really good things defensively. That (defensive coordinator) is really good and they have a lot of good players.
We over-communicate every single week and we have to do a great job of that this week. And just continue to do what we do.”
He also pointed to the depth Minnesota has at receiver as a major plus. Lindsey said the group gives him multiple reliable targets and opens up the offense.
“I think we have six receivers that can all play. When you have that it's a real benefit to all of the guys.
We got playmakers that can make the play and Coach Harbaugh does a great job of putting them where he wants them. But I think all of our stuff allows me to get the ball to a lot of different guys.”
Minnesota’s official account also noted Lindsey’s 79.2 completion percentage in the opener against Eastern Illinois - 19-of-24 - was the best by a Gopher quarterback in a season opener in 22 years, since Bryan Cupito’s 83.3.
Lindsey said his own growth has come from the details: watching film, talking with coaches, and putting more of his focus on lifting teammates up.
“I think watching the film, talking to my coaches and focusing on the details in practice, and then just being a great leader and teammate for my guys, just uplifting them. That is a thing I have changed this year is doing more for my teammates than for myself, and I think when you can do that for our team we are in a really good spot.”
Play action is another area where he feels the reps have added up. Lindsey said the work started back in his freshman year during bowl prep, and now it’s become a part of the offense he enjoys.
“From my freshman year to now there have been so many reps at it. Coach Harbaugh started that my freshman year in bowl prep doing so many things under center.
Obviously when they first started telling me that I was not loving it but now I am loving it from under center. I love it from shotgun making things looking like the run.
It looks all the same and I think when you do that you can be tough to defend.”
As for any Big Ten-versus-SEC framing around Saturday, Lindsey wasn’t interested in making it a bigger conversation.
“We focus on the 1-0 championship season. We focus on us more than the opponent. Just focusing on us and being the best version of ourselves will help us out a lot on Saturday.”
He described the weekly grind as demanding but useful, saying the staff keeps him learning all the way through Friday.
“I think it's challenging but it's also Coach Harbaugh preparing me super well. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are not easy days.
You are learning constantly even on Friday. Attempting to find one small detail to find to help you on every single play, and every single look on the defense.
Just getting all the way to Friday and preparing all the way through the event. Coach Harbaugh does a great job preparing me all the way through Saturday.”
Lindsey also said the communication between him and the offensive line has been strong, especially with Ashton Beers and Greg Johnson in the mix.
“We were spot on (last weekend). This is the most that me and Ashton (Beers), you all know that Greg (Johnson) played center in 2024, me, him and Ashton are always communicating.
Greg is always in those talks which a lot of people don't know. Me, Greg and Ashton are always communicating.
It's usually just me and Ashton but Greg will chime in. We let Greg does his thing because he is an experienced football player who has played center.
The communication is really high level right now and keeps getting better every week.”
And when it comes to making decisions on the fly, Lindsey said he has enough freedom to adjust both run and pass calls when the defense gives him something different.
“I definitely get some freedom in both the pass and run game. If I am seeing looks or seeing a check that we went over earlier in the week that is not on the script, I can get to whatever I want to get to.
Coach Harbaugh gives me the freedom with that. He does a great job preparing me throughout the week getting me to understand what they are doing defensively so I am allowed to do that.”
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