Minnesota is in the basement of the Big Ten, but MSU will still have its hands full at 12:10 p.m. EST Saturday when the Spartans play the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis’ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
The Golden Gophers may be 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten, but Minnesota head coach Glen Mason said their last three games with Purdue, Illinois and Northwestern were close.
“I think the perception is that we’re a very poor football team,” Mason said. “I think we’re probably a little better than that. I only say that because we’ve played three teams that are in the running for this league.”
And head coach Bobby Williams said the Golden Gophers have gotten better in each of their last three losses.
“Their record doesn’t indicate the type of team that they have, and historically they have always played us very well in Minneapolis,” he said.
That was true in 1998 - the last time the two met - when MSU lost 19-18 in Minneapolis.
One reason MSU has had trouble in the Metrodome is the decibel level. The noise makes it hard for the offensive line to hear the quarterback, and it’s a problem for the defensive line too, senior defensive tackle Josh Shaw said.
“People just have to speak up and talk louder because we communicate on defense too, just like the offense does,” Shaw said. “The noise will probably be a factor.”
But this year the noise might not be MSU’s biggest problem. The team also has to cover Minnesota wide receiver Ron Johnson, a player MSU went after itself.
“We were very much involved in the recruiting process, but unfortunately we didn’t get him,” said Williams, who is friends with Johnson’s father, a former Pittsburgh Steeler. “He turned out to be a fine receiver, and he’s had an outstanding career.
“I don’t think we could ever say we can shut down a receiver with the talent of Ron Johnson. We’re just going to try and control him, know where he is and match up with him as best as we can.”
That task could turn out to be easier said than done. The Spartan secondary is still suspect despite a fair showing in its first game without senior cornerback DeMario Suggs and freshman cornerback Jason Harmon, who both have broken ankles.
This week, MSU has slightly tweaked its secondary again. Sophomore tailback Tyrell Dortch will start at cornerback instead of rotating at the position. That frees up senior safety Duron Bryan to play his original position.
The switch also takes pressure off freshman safety Robert Flagg who started last week, Douglas said.
“A guy like Flagg, you try to put him at one spot and let him soak and learn before you try to expound his knowledge,” Douglas said.
The Spartans must also pick up their running game Saturday, which suffered last week because Iowa’s defensive line was the best MSU has seen all year, senior quarterback Ryan Van Dyke said.
“It’s tough, they put eight guys in the box,” Van Dyke said. “It’s hard to grind out 4 yards per carry. Sooner or later teams are going to back off and try to cover our pass. “You’re going to have to pick your poison, because we’re a good enough football team to pound it down your throat if you play us like that, and we’re good enough to pass it too.”
Justin A. Rice can be reached at ricejust@msu.edu.
