Expectations hiked for Gophers offensive line

Football games are won and lost along the offensive and defensive lines, two areas that turned into glaring weaknesses last season for the 6-7 Gophers.

Injuries played a big part, but coach Tracy Claeys knew the team wasn't strong enough in the trenches. His staff's effort to change this is growing evident heading into the final week of spring practice.

Saturday's scrimmage was another heavy-hitting affair, with the first-team offensive and defensive lines squaring off to mixed success.

Afterward, senior right tackle Jonah Pirsig explained the difference playing for new offensive line coach Bart Miller, as opposed to his predecessor, Matt Limegrover.

"It's just a lot more intense," Pirsig said. "[Miller] expects a lot more. He doesn't allow you to take a play off — ever. He's all about finishing. From what we've seen on tape, a lot more guys on the ground on defense, which is a good thing for us."

The Gophers' problems up front were most evident in last year's regular-season finale against Wisconsin. With the offensive line barely mounting a push, the Gophers rushed for just 53 yards.

Meanwhile, the Badgers rushed for 257 yards — 106 above their season average. This, despite being beset by their own injuries, which forced them to start four redshirt freshmen along the offensive line.

Now, Richardson and Ekpe are both healthy. Behind them are Merrick Jackson (a 320-pound junior college transfer), Andrew Stelter, Yoshoub Timms and Gary Moore, who redshirted last year after playing sparingly as a true freshman in 2014.

"The decision to redshirt Gary was probably one of the best ones we made," defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel said. "You look at that position, and it feels like a strength right now."

At defensive end, the Gophers lost Theiren Cockran but return junior Gaelin Elmore and senior Hank Ekpe. The 6-6 Elmore made his presence felt Saturday with a blocked pass and multiple sacks.

"They're getting a lot better," Pirsig said of the defensive line. "Gary [Moore] — he's a guy that sticks out right away. He's playing with a motor, you can tell. Steve [Richardson] — he's always been tough. Gaelin's gotten a lot better."

The Gophers are strong enough and deep enough at linebacker to compensate for some lingering concerns with the defensive line, namely the pass rush.

Yes, there's a new offensive coordinator, Jay Johnson. But the skill position players are mostly the same — Mitch Leidner, Shannon Brooks, Rodney Smith and all the top pass-catching targets except KJ Maye.

Claeys tasked the 30-year-old Miller with making the offensive line more ferocious. Pirsig and center Tyler Moore are the two returning starters. Junior Connor Mayes is working at left guard, with two junior college transfers filling the other two starting spots — Garrison Wright (left tackle) and Vincent Calhoun (right guard).

"They're really impressive," Pirsig said of the two transfers. "Just looking at them, they've got huge frames. They're going to put their guy on their back, so it's really cool to watch them on film. They've got that mentality instilled in them already, whereas we kind of have to change it, the guys that have been here."

• Leidner said he expects to be fully recovered from foot surgery, with no restrictions, by mid-April. He plans to attend the three-day Manning Passing Academy in late June after making his first trip there last summer.

• Former Gophers coach Jerry Kill attended practice after being honored with a courage award at the Minnesota Football Coaches Association's annual convention.