The Minnesota Golden Gophers host the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Sept. 16. The Blue Raiders have a 1-1 record after getting dumped in the season opener by Vanderbilt 28-6 and edging out Syracuse, 30-23. This game is a very favorable matchup for the Gophers and the Commodores gave them the blueprint to dominate.
Blue Raiders Offense
The running game for Middle Tennessee has been atrocious, with Maurice Gordon leading the team in rushing yards against Vanderbilt with 26 yards, and Ty Lee leading the backfield against Syracuse with 50 yards. The Blue Raiders have also had five fumbles, two of which they lost, along with two interceptions. This team has put up 36 points in two weeks and the offense is very one-sided.
Quarterback Brent Stockstill is that one side, throwing for 435 yards and four touchdowns with the two picks. The uninspiring run blocking on the offensive line has also helped Stockstill rack up six sacks on the year.
The one bright spot on the offense is wide receiver Richie James, who has 18 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns. He is a quick receiver who has sticky hands. Outside of him, the offense lacks depth, explosion and diversity. The Gophers defense should be able to handle this bunch.
Blue Raiders Defense
The defense looked flat against the Commodores, with a sack, five tackles for loss and no turnovers created. In short, the Commodores squad really did whatever they wanted. Against the Orange, however, the defense looked to have some teeth.
They racked up six sacks and 12 tackles for loss and forced a pair of turnovers along with a safety. Holding Eric Dungey to 180 passing yards was another notch on the defense’s belt in their Syracuse win. One of the standouts on defense for the Blue Raiders was linebacker Khalil Brooks, who had 1.5 of those sacks and put up 2.5 tackles for loss, with 13 total tackles on the year. He is a force up front and with players like fellow linebacker D.J. Sanders or defensive tackle Malik Manciel in the front seven, the group can generate some stops and offer this team an edge. Of the two sides of this team, the defense is the one that will show up to play ball over the weekend.
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