USC Football 2011: 10 Things You Need to Know About Minnesota

With the Trojans 2011 season ready to open in less than a week, it is time to take stock of USC's prospects for success in the upcoming year.

For the most part, fans of the program know who the Trojans are and what they have. Some even know the "2-deeps" of the roster and the various defensive and offensive schemes each unit will employ as USC tries to wash away the stain of an 8-5 year in 2010.

But what about their opponents?

And more specifically, what about this week's opponent, the Minnesota Golden Gophers?

Beyond the fact that Minnesota wears home uniforms that closely resemble the Trojans (maroon and gold), who are these guys who venture west from the "North Star State?"

This slide show will take a peek at the new look Gophers and attempt to shed a little light on the Trojans first opponent of the 2011 season.

Along the way, we will see what--if anything--USC has to fear from their Big 10 opponent and how the Trojans can make the initial game of the season a success.

So let's get started on this preview of the 10 things you should know about the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

No. 10: Gophers Running Game Is Talented but Inexperienced

The 2011 Gophers will have a distinctly different look from the team the Trojans beat handily on the road last year.

In addition to a new coach, quarterback and scheme, the Gophers running game will also have a different complexion.

Gone is last year's leading ball carrier, Deleon Eskridge, and he will likely be replaced by Duane Bennett who rushed for 620 yards and a trio of touchdowns in 2010.

Lamonte Edwards and Donnell Kirkwood will likely back-up Bennett but the important thing to remember is that new coach Jerry Kill employs a "run first" kind of offense.

This means that the running game will be the primary focus of the 2011 Gopher offense.

Though "run first" can take on many meanings--as we will see later--the ground game is a huge component of Kill's offensive mentality.

No. 9: The Gophers Relocated Their Best Wide Receiver

For head coach Jerry Kill, the unfortunate loss of his second best receiver, MarQueis Gray, is only a hindrance to the wide receiver corps.

You see, Gray actually didn't leave the team or suffered an injury, instead he has relocated to the quarterback position.

Despite the loss of Gray's 42 catches and five touchdowns in 2010, the cupboard isn't bare.

Da'Jon McKnight is back to build on his 48 catches and 10 touchdowns from 2010 and there is other talent as well in the unit.

However, they are not deep and rotations might be a problem if Coach Kill has to go to the pass on a regular basis.

No. 8: A Suspect Offensive Line Could Spell Trouble for the Gophers

As stated before, new Gopher head coach Jerry Kill loves to run.

And in a conference known for its "grind it out" style, that mentality fits well but only if you have the "big uglies" up front to open holes for its running backs.

Therein lies the problem.

When Coach Kill looks to his offensive line, he will see a unit that is short on depth and even shorter on experience.

With only two returning starters from 2010 back, the Gophers in the trenches will have to look to a bevy of offensive linemen to gain experience on the job, which may make for a long afternoon against the Trojans whose defensive line is a strength on that side of the ball.

A tough test to be sure and one that Minnesota will have to win if they have the same aspirations for the outcome of the game.

No. 7: Look for Tight End Eric Lair to Be a Big Part of the Offense

With a suspect offensive line and a coach that will want to establish the run, tight end Eric Lair will be a big part of the Gopher offense.

Lair, whose talent in catching the ball (39 receptions for 520 yards) is matched by his blocking ability, will be a significant "comfort blanket" for new quarterback MarQueis Gray as he will likely not have the time to look downfield for completions against the Trojans.

However, if Lair goes down, there will be a void at the position, as there is a talent drop-off behind him.

No. 6: The Gophers Return Some Experience on D-Line but Little Production

Defensively, the line play is extraordinarily important to developing the personality of the unit on that side of the ball.

Unfortunately, for the Gophers, if you go by the numbers they produced in 2010, Minnesota is in some serious trouble.

After allowing an average of 33 points a game and finishing ninth in the conference in defense, Kill will have to hope that the experience gained last year will serve as a foundation to build on this year.

Of serious concern is the defensive lines inability to get to the quarterback.

After only producing nine sacks in 2010, Minnesota will be in serious trouble if they can't pressure Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley who has the talent to carve up the Gophers if given the time to do so.

No. 5: The Linebacker Unit Will Be the Strength of the Defense

If the defensive line is a weak link for the Gophers, the linebackers will certainly be their strength.

With returning middle linebacker Gary Tinsley leading the way, the Gophers are big and athletic in the unit.

Joining Tinsley will be Former Florida mega recruit Brandon Beal who is looking for a new start in Kill's system.

Joining those two could be Mike Rallis but there is also depth in the unit with Spencer Reeves and Keanon Cooper pushing for playing time.

No. 4: The Defensive Secondary Has a LOT to Prove in 2011 for Minnesota

Look, being ranked 113th against the pass is nothing to be proud of to be sure but at least the Gophers defensive secondary had an excuse.

With a defensive line that was statistically one of the worst in the nation last year, the D-backs had to hold their coverage for a ridiculous length of time and with opposing quarterbacks having all day to throw, receivers would uncover eventually.

So, it would appear, at least on the surface, that Minnesota is vulnerable to the pass and that may be true.

What is also true is the they do have talent in the unit.

Brock Vereen is expected to show big improvement from 2010 and both Troy Stoudemire and Michael Carter are super talented.

Perhaps the most talented defensive back is Kim Royster, a safety who transferred from Wisconsin but has so far been unable to stay healthy for the Gophers.

No. 3: The Gophers Special Teams Weren't That Special in 2010

The importance of special teams for a program that really doesn't excel on either side of the ball is critical to whatever success the team hopes to have.

Good special teams can help mask some of the deficiencies of both the offense and the defense by shortening (or lengthening) the field as appropriate.

Unfortunately, in 2010, the Gophers were unable to do much of either.

The punting unit was worst in the nation last year, averaging only 30 yards or so per effort and the field goal kicking wasn't much better going 11 for 17.

To make matters worse, coverage on both punts and kick-offs were poor as well.

The good news?

The Gophers should be better in 2011 but only because they can't get much worse.

No. 2: Gopher Quarterback Marqueis Gray Could Give the Trojans Fits

Going back to the infamous days of Texas quarterback Vince Young, big mobile signal callers have historically given the Trojans defense problems.

Well Trojans, say hello to Minnesota quarterback Marqueis Gray.

Gray, a former wide receiver for the Gophers is big (6'4", 230 lbs.) but his true calling card is his athleticism.

A former quarterback in high school, Gray knows the position and also knows how to exploit cracks in opposing defenses.

Jerry Kill will look to Gray to make things happen and the Trojans can't afford defensive breakdowns in assignments.

How the USC defense contains Gray will be a good barometer on how much they will need to progress as the season goes on.

No. 1: Jerry Kill Will Turn Around the Gophers but Not in 2011

Make no mistake about it, Jerry Kill will improve the Golden Gophers. That improvement will manifest itself in 2012 and beyond, not this year.

Kill, who built a solid resume while at both Southern and Northern Illinois, is a fundamentally sound coach who will emphasize the basics while embellishing the nuances of the game.

Also important, Kill will make his players responsible, both on the gridiron and in the classroom.

A good recruiter, Coach Kill will build the program the right way, from the ground up and lay a foundation that Minnesota can build on.

How does this affect the Trojans in 2011?

Not too much because this is going to be a rebuilding year for Minnesota in every sense of the word.

Make no mistake about it Trojan fans, be glad you caught the Gophers in year one of the Kill regime and not year three.

Conclusion

For the Trojans, this meeting with the Gophers is fortuitous on a few different levels.

For one, this will give USC's defense a chance to scheme against a big mobile quarterback who can do damage but not to the extent that future signal callers can.

It also allows the Trojans offense to get a handle about where it is early on, particularly in terms of the offensive lines effectiveness.

For a team with an abundance of questions marks, such as the Trojans, an opponent with even more concerns is indeed a blessing.

However, if the cardinal and gold find the going tough against Minnesota, the questions will begin anew and with even more vigor.

That bridge will be crossed on September 3.

Now all Trojan fans have to hope for is that the bridge leads to an easy victory on the road to a big 2011 season.

Fellow B/R columnist Bill N has written an excellent slide show that previews the upcoming game and offers solid analysis.