P.J. Fleck made the pitch Tuesday on the Big Ten Network: Minnesota is the only Big Ten team bringing back its offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and starting quarterback from last season.
That kind of continuity sounds comforting on the surface. It’s a clean talking point. But for the Gophers, keeping Greg Harbaugh Jr. and Danny Collins in place is not automatically a sign that everything is lining up the right way.
Collins, to his credit, had a respectable first year running the defense. Minnesota finished 34th nationally in total defense at 331.6 yards allowed per game, 27th against the run at 121.1 yards per game, 51st against the pass at 210.5 yards per game and 50th in scoring defense at 22.9 points allowed per game.
Those numbers look solid enough until you dig into the schedule. Only three opponents finished in the Top 50 in total offense: Oregon at 17th, Ohio State at 26th and Rutgers at 44th.
Even against weaker teams, the unit had some rough stretches. Northwestern, which ranked 96th in total offense, put up 525 yards and 38 points.
Michigan State, 97th in total offense, rolled for 467 yards and 20 points. Purdue, 100th in total offense, gained 456 yards and scored 20 points.
Minnesota won two of those three games, but the tape still left questions.
There were issues at cornerback beyond John Nestor, especially in zone coverage. The pass rush also faded in all five losses, even with All-Big Ten defensive end Anthony Smith drawing attention. The rest of the line never consistently made opponents pay for focusing on him.
Minnesota has tried to address some of that. Michigan State transfer Aydan West joins Nestor at corner, though the depth there is still uncertain.
Cal transfer rush end T.J. Bush adds another edge threat, and Karter Menz is coming off a breakout season.
Still, the Gophers have work to do at defensive tackle and at safety after Koi Perich departed for Oregon.
So Collins gets another year, and maybe that matters. He has a season of Big Ten play under his belt now, and the defense should be a little more complete. That said, he still has to prove he can turn a decent-looking stat line into something sturdier against real resistance.
Harbaugh’s side of the ledger is harder to defend.
He has been Minnesota’s offensive coordinator for three seasons, and the results have been underwhelming. 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 at 20.9 points per game.
Year 2 brought some improvement with Max Brosmer at quarterback. Minnesota moved up to 107th in total offense, 109th in rushing offense, 76th in passing offense and 80th in scoring offense at 26.2 points per game.
That was progress. It still wasn’t enough.
The biggest issue has been the ground game, which used to be Minnesota’s calling card under Fleck. Instead, it has become a problem area, even with Darius Taylor at running back, though injuries have limited him at times. Last season, the Gophers ranked 126th in rushing offense at 103.2 yards per game, the lowest number of the Fleck era.
That drop has gone hand in hand with problems up front. The Minnesota Moving Co. appears to have shifted away from sheer power and toward more athletic linemen, and the tradeoff has shown up in short-yardage situations, where the Gophers have struggled to push the ball forward on the ground.
Maybe that’s a recruiting issue. Maybe it’s a philosophical one. Maybe it’s both.
There is some hope on offense. Drake Lindsey showed promise in his debut at quarterback last season.
Taylor remains part of the picture. So do wide receivers Jalen Smith, Javon Tracy and Noah Jennings.
The offensive line also looks solid, though there are questions on the right side.
Even with that, Harbaugh’s track record makes it hard to fully trust the upside until the production actually follows.
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Taylor has used his opportunities to make some big purchases, including a Corvette and his grandmothers home, while Smith said he has put his money toward a speed boat and helped his mother with home improvements. Baranowski has taken a simpler route, enjoying dinners out without having to watch every dollar, and Lindsey has leaned toward saving while also making a donation to a nonprofit in his hometown. For a program trying to stay competitive in the NIL landscape, the range in choices says as much about the players as it does about the moment they are navigating. [Read more 🡒]