The Elite, The Meh & The Ugly – North Carolina

Searching for reasons to keep watching

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-1) dropped their season opener in a 19-17 loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0), announcing yet another season of the same old Gophers.

The Ugly

Dragan Kesich. College kickers, man. The reigning Big Ten Kicker of the Year made clear he will not be defending his title. His first missed field goal was inexcusable, doinking a 27-yard attempt off the right upright in the first quarter. But most will remember his 47-yard attempt that went wide right as time expired, sealing the season-opening loss for Minnesota. Kesich was 1-for-3 on the night with his lone successful attempt coming on a 30-yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter. If P.J. Fleck can’t rely on Kesich this year, this team is in real trouble.

Penalties. The Gophers finished the night with six penalties and at least four of them had a significant impact on the outcome of the game:

1. After Kesich’s first missed field goal, safety Jai’Onte McMillan sacked and stripped North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson, and the fumble was recovered by linebacker Cody Lindenberg at the 10-yard line. But instead of a game-changing turnover, it was a 10-yard penalty in favor of the Tar Heels after safety Aidan Gousby was flagged for defensive.
2. Later in that same drive, the Gopher defense forced an incompletion on 2nd & 8 from the Minnesota 20. But instead of third and long, the Tar Heels were gifted a fresh set of downs at the 10-yard line after an illegal hands to the face penalty against defensive tackle Deven Eastern. North Carolina would score a touchdown three plays later to take a 7-0 lead.
3. On 3rd & 10 from the North Carolina 33, the Gopher defense once again forced an incompletion. But there would be no punt on fourth down, as the Tar Heels were gifted a fresh set of downs courtesy of a defensive holding penalty against cornerback Za’Quan Bryan. That drive would end in a field goal, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 14-13.
4. On the final drive of the game, Marcus Major was sprung for a 14-yard gain to the North Carolina 18-yard line, but it was negated by a Tyler Cooper holding penalty. The Gophers could only get it to back to the 29-yard line for a potential game-winning field goal attempt.

Special teams. Speaking of penalties, Minnesota was flagged for illegal formation on two of their first three punts, marking an inauspicious start to the tenure of new special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky. Punter Mark Crawford was able to pin the Tar Heels deep a couple times, but the procedural penalties and Kesich’s struggles are not a good sign.

The debut of Max Brosmer. The former FCS signal caller was 13-of-21 for 166 passing yards. I don’t think that was the kind of performance anyone was hoping for. I thought Brosmer showed flashes of what he can do, but he missed on a couple of timing passes, didn’t always look poised in the pocket, and his fourth quarter fumble just can’t happen. His offensive line did him no favors, surrendering five sacks to a North Carolina defensive line that was giving them fits up front. But to be honest, I have more questions about offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr.’s schemes than I do about Brosmer’s abilities at this point.

More of the same from P.J. Fleck. If I can be completely honest with you right now, my interest in college football is waning. Candidly, it has been on the decline for a couple years now. I’m not excited about an 18-team Big Ten Conference. A 12-team College Football Playoff doesn’t do much for me. I support players being able to profit off their Name, Image, and Likeness, but I find it depressing the way NIL has reshaped the sport. I need a reason to keep watching. It’s safe to say I didn’t find one Thursday night. Fleck’s brand of football is painful to watch. And if you’re going to play ugly, then you have to win ugly. Otherwise, what’s the point of watching?

The Meh

The Minnesota defense. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s unit was far from perfect. Sloppy tackling, poor run fits, and the aforementioned penalties plagued them all night. Omarion Hampton was the Tar Heels’ only effective offensive weapon and he rushed for 129 yards on 30 carries. But the Gopher defense did limit North Carolina to one touchdown and four field goals. The Tar Heels were also never able to get anything going through the air, passing for 105 yards and surrendering a couple of sacks.

The Gopher ground game. Oklahoma transfer running back Marcus Major was a pleasant surprise starting in place of the injured Darius Taylor. He carried the ball 20 times for 73 rushing yards and one touchdown. But where were Ohio transfer Sieh Bangura and Michigan State transfer Jaren Mangham? Neither of them saw the field. Jordan Nubin was Major’s primary back-up and he only had two carries for a sum total of three yards. What was the point of stockpiling transfer portal running backs if you’re not going to use any of them?

The Elite

Justin Walley’s 70-yard interception return. A great play that changed the game, sparking the Gophers in the second quarter en route to a 14-7 halftime lead.