What Brohm said about Minnesota during his Monday press conference.
Overall thoughts on Minnesota:
"We're excited to get on the road and play a good football team that is currently ranked in Minnesota. No one has really come close to them. They've dominated in four games. When people have scored, it's been against backups that have been in the game. This team is playing efficient football right now. Great running game. Big offensive linemen. Big running back. Big tight ends. Sixth or seventh-year quarterback that runs their offense very, very well. Defensively, they are very sound and physical up front. Experience in the secondary. Really good linebackers. They are definitely doing a very good job. Gotta give credit to their team right now. Really solid football in Big Ten fashion with a great defense and solid running game."
"We understand this is a tough matchup. We are going to have to do a lot of things right. We're gonna have to find ways to get scores and take advantage of possessions. Get some stops on defense. Once again, the key is can we find a way to get a lead and take them out of what they really want to do will be important. Our guys will work hard. We understand the challenge, but that is Big Ten football."
On Tanner Morgan:
"He does a great job in their system. He's very smart. He can throw an accurate football. He knows how to run their offense which is let's be big and physical in the run game and run them against the looks that we can and then when defense start to cheat they run enough run, pass options that it allows him time to make throws. The key to play that is you have to figure out how to make him uncomfortable. You have to figure out a way to create pressure. You have to put them in more passing situations than they would like because if you don't, they are in control of the game. They have been very, very effective doing that."
"They are back this year with their new offensive coordinator and doing even more so what they did in the past which has been very effective. He's got really big linemen and big tight ends and a running game and they make you bleed. They make you bleed. And if you don't find a way to bandage it up or do something to strike back, it could be a long death."
On slowing down Mo Ibrahim:
"You have to have the perfect balance of making the right calls and getting enough guys down in there. We went back and watched out game last year against them and we did a good job against the run and they hit two wide-open, play-action passes that crushed us off of that because we were too low with our safeties and too aggressive. So there has to be that fine line. There has to be that fine balance. In obvious run situations, they brought in seven linemen and multiple tight ends and then we load the box with everybody and bigger personnel and find a way to stop them. That's the challenge is you have to give your players a chance by your calls. You also have to understand that max-protect, play-action is what they are good at. They hit us at least three times last year, one time for a touchdown and two times for 40 or 50-yard chunks, that we can't allow."
"For him to come back this fast and playing at the level after being hurt last year speaks for the type of football player he is. He's tough. He's physical. He runs hard. Their offense relies on him. I think he's a tough son of a guy who plays very, very well and fits their system great."
On matching up against Minnesota's offense:
"It's going to be a tremendous challenge. This is the best team we've played to date in my opinion. They are hot. They are confident. No one has come close to them. They went to Michigan State and it was a shutout until the last offensive play of Michigan State's game, just a go-route down the sidelines versus backups. So, that's pretty doggone good. Like is said, they have a sound running game. Once you start to wanna commit more guys, they'll get you on a deep pass over-the-top. If they are allowed to do that, then they are just gonna continue to roll. At the same time, people underestimate their defense. Their defense has been lights out shutting people down. I think they understand what they are being coached to do and they've done a great job. So, this is a quality football team that's playing at a high level that we are going to have to really, really execute and have a few things go our way to get ahead of the eight-ball because we are going to have to get ahead of the eight-ball in order to win the game."
Other notes:
- Mentioned their cornerbacks played every snap against FAU, asked them to do a lot in 1-on-1 coverage and could tell they were getting tired. Have some injury issues there.
- Said if O'Connell doesn't go against Minnesota, Austin Burton will obviously be the main guy but might get Michael Alaimo in on a series or two as well.
- LB/S Jalen Graham continues to be out, same situation as O'Connell where they will assess his situation later this week
- Says Charlie Jones hasn't played this much in his career and has gotten tired in games, but will obviously continue to feature him
- Confident in Austin Burton abilities, says they didn't get as many plays down the field as they would have liked against FAU, but he has the ability to make plays passing and with his feet as well
- Says their kicker, Mitchell Fineran, has been dinged up the last couple of games and hasn't performed as well as he should have. Wants him to get more "live kicks" in practice this week
- Brohm mentioned personnel-wise they are going to have to get some bigger bodies in against Minnesota at certain positions. Haven't had to use that personnel up to this point, but they will have to get them ready for this game
