Lack of big plays keeps defense backpedaling

By Chip Scoggins, Star Tribune

Last update: October 6, 2007 - 6:37 PM

BLOOMINGTON, IND. - On the fifth play of the game, Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis lobbed a deep pass to James Hardy down the sideline for a 51-yard catch.

Gophers freshman cornerback Ryan Collado was in position, but he failed to break up or pick off the pass.

"[Collado] is in great position," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said. "He's right there. And we're in a three-deep zone coverage. We weren't playing man. You've just got to make a play."

He didn't, and the Hoosiers scored a touchdown three plays later. The Gophers defense hasn't made many plays -- or at least big plays -- this season, which is why they made the wrong kind of history Saturday in a 40-20 loss to Indiana at Memorial Stadium.

Minnesota has allowed at least 30 points in seven consecutive games, dating to a 44-41 loss to Texas Tech in the Insight Bowl last season. That is the longest stretch of 30-point games in Gophers football history.

The Gophers gave up 30 or more points in six consecutive games at the end of the 1995 season.

Minnesota's offense certainly didn't help its defense Saturday, but the defense allowed 14 points and 199 total yards in the first quarter alone. Indiana finished with 463 total yards, the eighth consecutive team to roll up at least 400 yards against the Gophers.

"We don't have enough big plays out there," said freshman safety Kyle Theret, who had an interception in the third quarter.

The Gophers allowed 228 yards rushing, including a 48-yard touchdown run by Bryan Payton, who went untouched through the middle of the Gophers line in the first quarter. Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis also passed for 235 yards.

Lewis' numbers should have been better, but the Hoosiers dropped four passes, including one in the end zone and another at the 3-yard line. Those drops forced Indiana to kick field goals, which was little consolation.

"We have to start getting stops where they have to punt the ball, not [give up] field goals," defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg said.

Injury report

The Gophers ended the game pretty banged up.

Freshman tailback Duane Bennett watched the second half from the sideline with a protective boot on his right leg. He limped off the field after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Senior tailback Amir Pinnix is still less than 100 percent because of a turf toe and managed only 26 rushing yards on six carries.

That opened the door for third tailback Jay Thomas, who rushed for 58 yards on eight carries.

Brewster said Bennett's injury does not appear to be too serious. Middle linebacker Mike Sherels has a hamstring injury and was walking gingerly as he left the field.

Brewster said backup linebacker Nate Triplett suffered a shoulder stinger at the end of the game.

Respectable protection

Indiana entered the game leading Division I-A with 27 sacks but managed only two against the Gophers. That's a decent showing, considering Minnesota had allowed only three sacks in its first five games.

The Gophers also collected two sacks. They entered the game with only three sacks.

Chip Scoggins • ascoggins@startribune.com

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