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98 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED basically the only question mark in my mind for 2015: What the offense is going to look like." Good question. Here are the numbers: Cobb rushed for 1,626 yards on 314 car- ries in '14, with the next highest non-quarterback total being 30 at- tempts; Williams had 569 receiving yards on 36 receptions, 170 more yards and 18 more receptions than the No. 2. That will leave a bulk of the pres- sure on returning quarterback Mitch Leidner. As a game manager last sea- son, his first as a full-time starter, the junior had 1,540 yards passing, with another 462 on the ground, and 20 total touchdowns (10 passing, 10 rushing). "He can make plays with his run- ning ability," Johnson said. "But if I'm a defensive coordinator in the Big Ten, I'm saying (to him) 'Go ahead and try to beat us' and see what happens." Unproven players will try to help out. The top candidate at running back is Roderick Williams Jr., a se- nior who took most of the carries during the spring. He did so after trimming down, shedding about 20 pounds to get to a more manageable 230 pounds from the bowling ball- like 250 he had weighed before. "That's one thing they challenged him to do, lose weight and to get more explosive and become more of an every-down guy," Johnson said. Williams should run behind an experienced line, where three start- ers return, including All-Big Ten left tackle Josh Campion, and two oth- ers who've had significant snaps as backups. Minnesota recruited a slew of wide receivers a year ago, but only KJ Maya saw the field significantly. One, or more, will have to step up now if the Gophers are to have any chance at balance. "It all comes down to Mitch Leid- ner," Johnson said. "Can he devel- op? Can he find himself consistent weapons?" The defense is far less question- able. The Gophers had a solid group a year ago because they were able to generate turnovers — their 30 take- aways were the third-highest in the league — and they made opponents one-dimensional. Minnesota's pass defense allowed less than 200 yards per game, and three of its four start- ers in the secondary return: Eric Murray, Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Jalen Myrick, all three garnering All- Big Ten mention in 2014. A deep defensive line returns in- tact, led by Theiren Cockran, but hopes to generate a better pass rush; Cockran's four sacks were a team- high in '14, as the Gophers had 27 spread across 12 players. Minnesota must replace its mid- dle linebacker, but it feels it has op- tions in Everette Williams, who was a backup as a freshman last season, and Cody Poock, who missed the season with a knee injury. The D also benefits from punter Peter Mortell, who was first-team All-Big Ten last season. If Minnesota is to exceed last season's win total, which included victories over Michigan, Iowa and Nebraska, plus earning a trip to a January bowl game, then the de- fense will have to carry the load. But the offense has to show something, as well. "Defense is solid," Johnson said. "Offense is where you're going to be looking to prove you're capable of heading down to Indianapolis to play for a title." — Kyle Charters G O L D A N D B L AC K 'S E A R LY L I N E : P U R D U E - 2 2002: 28-15, W 2006: 27-21, W 2008: 6-17, L 2010: 28-17, W 2011: 45-17, W Welcome to Ross-Ade Stadium Since the turn of the century, Purdue has outscored Minnesota 134-87 in their last five meetings at Ross-Ade Stadium with four resulting in Boilermaker wins.