Written By Nicolas Hallett
With starting quarterback Mitch Leidner ruled out with injury, Saturday's game versus San Jose State was always going to be about the starting debut of redshirt freshman Chris Streveler.
The ceiling of the 2014-15 rendition of the Gophers is on the relatively low end of the spectrum this season, so seeing Streveler play his first competitive game as a starter could give great insight — and possibly hope — for the future of the Maroon and Gold.
Streveler is a three-star recruit from Crystal Lake, Ill., who enters the college game with a reputation as dual-threat quarterback. According to Rivals.com, his only other scholarship offer came from South Dakota State.
In an obscure start to his college career, Streveler threw for just seven yards but rushed for more than 150 as he led Minnesota to a 24-7 win over the Spartans. He won his first collegiate game despite completing just one of his meager seven pass attempts and throwing an interception.
"I think you always go into a game with the pass plays you like expecting to run them. But they were giving us the zone read that we were running, so if it's not broke why try to fix it?" he said. "They kept giving to us, so we kept taking it. You can't be disappointed with a win."
Head coach Jerry Kill argued Streveler didn't need to throw it as the Gophers averaged 6.6 yards per carry as a team and never trailed in the game.
"We moved the ball, and all I care about is winning," Kill said. "It doesn't matter who we play, we're going to take what they give us."
The Gophers love to run the football as is, but without the starting signal caller, any football team will rely on the ground game more heavily. The Gophers took this to the extreme, though, by waiting until 14:01 in the second quarter to even attempt their first pass.
The play wasn't anything worth waiting for either. Streveler dropped back to pass, which felt like a mirage or another vision-related mind trick at the time, and proceeded to throw it to sophomore Donovahn Jones, who never saw the ball because he was still making jukes on his elongated route. The ball fell harmlessly to the turf before he had even turned his head around.
The second pass, coming about six minutes of game time later, didn't inspire much confidence either. Streveler tried forcing the ball into Drew Wolitarsky on an outside slant, telegraphing his plan, before it was easily swatted away by the opposing cornerback.
The Gophers led the Spartans 17-7 at halftime with a grand total of zero passing yards. Watching on from the sidelines, Leidner wouldn't have been concerned his starting job was in any jeopardy.
On the day, the Gophers ran 58 running plays compared to 7 passing attempts. One of the seven was pretty, however, and wasn't even the one they completed.
Seemingly out of nowhere in the third quarter after another steady stream of run plays, Streveler unleashed a beautifully arched ball directly into the path of K.J. Maye in the endzone. The junior receiver dropped the pass, but Streveler's arm potential had finally been unveiled in impressive fashion.
I've written previously in this space that the Gophers would flounder on offense this season, majorly in part because Leidner's throwing motion is light-years behind even that of the above average college quarterback. The Gophers entered Saturday last in the Big Ten in passing yards per game.
One thing Leidner does do successfully is rush the ball, mashing defenders with his large frame and power. Streveler displayed an ability to eat up yards on the ground on Saturday, too, but with an added sense of explosiveness.
After establishing an incisive rushing attack with David Cobb, who was back to his old speedy self after playing injured against TCU last week, the Gophers used their 1,000-yard rusher from a season ago additionally as a decoy to open up holes for Streveler.
The young quarterback gained yards in bunches as a result, averaging 8.9 yards per carry on the day. Streveler's carries came almost exclusively on the read-option plays where he has the choice of giving it to the running back or faking the hand-off and taking it himself. Cobb's early success — he finished with 207 yards — ensured few defenders, if any, were awaiting Streveler when kept it and cut outside.
"He made good decisions," Kill said. "When you're playing man coverage and you try to defend option football there's no one to take the quarterback sometimes."
To the 6-foot-2, 219-pound quarterback's credit, his agility was a key factor in most of his lengthy streaks upfield and, like Leidner, he didn't shy away from contact. Streveler's 161 rushing yards bested Leidner's career-high of 151, which also came against San Jose State.
Even though Streveler's game had its ugly moments — he completed his one and only pass with 6:38 remaining in the fourth quarter — you could walk away feeling mildly optimistic about his future.
Kill said he was also impressed with Streveler's ability to run the no-huddle offense and make good reads on the defense's tendencies. "I think he did an outstanding job. He executed very well," Kill said.
If Streveler can replicate the high points of Saturday’s showing, he may unseat Leidner and, in turn, possibly give the Gophers’ offense much higher upside.
It's incredible to say given the fact Streveler had as many interceptions as he did completions on Saturday, but he may prove to be the best option Minnesota has at the most important position in football.
Other game notes:
Kill seems dead-set on running David Cobb into the ground. Among running backs, Cobb had 34 carries compared to five. Going into Saturday, Berkley Edwards was actually the team leader in yards per carry at 6.4. Cobb is prolific and should see most of the work, but when you have capable back-ups, tCobb’s current workload is just asking for an injury.
Safety Damarius Travis looked phenomenal. He had an interception in the first quarter that led to Minnesota's first points. Travis looked faster than most when he was flying all over the field. He had the hit of the game when he decked San Jose State running back Jarrod Lawson. Travis lets his mouth fly too, though, as he got an unsportsmanlike penalty afterward for talking trash. Fun player to watch, indeed.