Quick Hitters

Quick hitters
PUBLISHED: 2011-11-03
ADAM RICHARD arichard@mndaily.com
Minnesota had its most effective passing game in completion rate (64.7) and yards per attempt (11.4) last week against Iowa.
MarQueis Gray showed improvements last week as a player and a leader.

“I’m not used to being [a vocal leader],” Gray said. “It worked Saturday, so I’m going to have to keep doing it.”

Gray will face a tough Michigan State defense that is ranked second in the nation overall and first in passing defense.
Spartans safety Isaiah Lewis leads the Big Ten with four interceptions, and has returned two of those for touchdowns. He is familiar with Gray, as they were teammates at Ben Davis high school in Indiana.
Minnesota had three sacks last week and has eight on the year. Michigan State has 25 sacks this season for a total of 180 yards lost.
The Gophers’ offensive line has been a hodgepodge of players because of numerous injuries. It will face a stout Spartans defensive line led by All-American defensive tackle Jerel Worthy.
“It’s a challenge,” offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. “They’re very good. If you try to spend your whole day trying to solo up on those guys, you’ll be in for a long day,”

Michigan State has relied primarily on its passing game for offense. It ranks last in the Big Ten in rushing with 133 yards per game.
Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins is ranked third in the Big Ten in passing offense.

“That kid alone is worth six or seven victories just because of who he is,” Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill said.

Michigan State receiver B.J. Cunningham ranks third in the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.0) and receiving yards per game (90.4), but failed to register a single reception last week against Nebraska. That broke his streak of 41 consecutive games with at least one catch.

Minnesota’s defense decreased its opponent’s third-down conversion rate for the fifth- straight week. The Gophers held Iowa to a 36 percent success rate on third down.
4Jordan Wettstein will get his second- straight start kicking for Minnesota. Chris Hawthorne is still nursing a muscle strain and will miss Saturday’s game.
4Michigan State linebacker William Gholston had a career-high 15 tackles last week against Nebraska and is third on the team in sacks. He is the cousin of former Big Ten standout Vernon Gholston.
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