Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
As Ohio State prepares to open its season at Minnesota on Thursday, we sent some questions to Randy Johnson, who covers the Gophers for the Star Tribune, to get the lowdown on why Minnesota took a step back last season, how good the Gophers could be this year, which players Ohio State fans should know about entering the matchup, how much excitement there is in Minneapolis for the season opener and whether the Gophers are good enough to pull off an upset.
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8 P.M. – THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 HUNTINGTON BANK STADIUM MINNEAPOLIS |
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FOX FOX SPORTS GO |
After an 11-2 season in 2019, Minnesota went just 3-4 in 2020. What led to that drop-off in performance?
Johnson: Plenty went wrong with the Gophers in 2020, from COVID-19 absences hitting the special teams hard to injuries, but the biggest problem was a defense that lost four draft picks to the NFL: Antoine Winfield Jr., Kamal Martin, Carter Coughlin and Chris Williamson. The talent and experience level just wasn’t there early in the season, especially at linebacker, where Mariano Sori-Marin had to take on a big role and often was trying to cover for others. The defense did improve late in the season, and reinforcements via transfers should help.
Going into the 2021 season, what are your expectations for the Gophers? Do you think they can contend in the Big Ten West?
Johnson: My expectations are a much better team, one that has the potential to win eight or nine games if things go well and to repeat that 10-2 regular season of 2019 if things go perfectly. The offense should be better with players having a full offseason to acclimate themselves to second-year offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. I expect a better season from QB Tanner Morgan, whose TD passes dropped off from 30 in 2019 to seven last year. He won’t have wideouts like Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman, but Chris Autman-Bell, when healthy, is a good target and there’s young talent at wideout, too.
Mohamed Ibrahim ranked second among all FBS players with 153.7 rushing yards per game last season. What makes him such an effective runner?
Johnson: Mainly, tenacity and vision. He’s not the biggest or fastest back at 5-10 and 210 pounds, but P.J. Fleck has described Ibrahim as a “bowling ball going downhill with razor blades on it.”
Who are some of the other Minnesota players that Ohio State fans should know about entering this game?
Johnson: On offense, Brevyn Spann-Ford, a 6-6 tight end, is intriguing because of his athleticism. RB Trey Potts provides a change of pace from Ibrahim and is a decent receiver. The return of massive offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Curtis Dunlap Jr. gives that veteran group a boost.
On defense, Clemson transfer Nyles Pinckney on the interior line is intriguing, and rush end Boye Mafe is an athletic freak. Linebacker Jack Gibbens, a grad transfer from Abilene Christian, has been impressive in training camp.
Pass-rusher Boye Mafe is among the players to watch on Minnesota's defense. (Photo: Douglas DeFelice – USA TODAY Sports)
The Golden Gophers struggled defensively last year, allowing more than 30 points and 415 yards per game. Where do they need to be better to have a chance to slow down Ohio State on Thursday night?
Johnson: The Gophers secondary, with Coney Durr and Terell Smith at cornerback, faces a tremendous challenge from Ohio State’s deep group of receivers, but the run defense, which was shredded early last season, needs to keep Master Teague and Co. from taking over the game.
How much excitement is there within the Minnesota program and fanbase for the opportunity to kick off the season with a Thursday night home game in the national spotlight?
Johnson: People are pretty pumped up about this game, which should be the team’s third consecutive sellout following the Penn State and Wisconsin games in 2019. The fans realize that an upset likely is a long shot, but they’re hoping for a competitive game with maybe a chance to steal one. If the Gophers can beat the odds, they’d have a great chance to take center stage in this market with the Vikings not looking great in the preseason and the Twins enduring a losing season.
For Ohio State fans who are making the trip to Minneapolis, where else would you recommend going during their visit?
Johnson: There are a lot of great breweries in the Twin Cities, and Surly Brewing Co., which has a huge facility, is only a few blocks away from the stadium. The Minnesota State Fair, one of the biggest in the nation, is located in nearby Falcon Heights and runs through Labor Day. The people-watching at the Fair is off the charts, as are the food-on-a-stick options.
Ohio State enters this game as a 14-point favorite. How do you see it playing out?
Johnson: I think the Gophers will keep it close for most of the game, but I see Ohio State just having too much talent in the end. Buckeyes 30, Gophers 23
