"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results" - Gophers give up over 500 yards to Northwestern in 3-point loss

I have been a PJ Fleck defender for much of his tenure here at Minnesota. Yeah, he leaves some meat on the bone each season that leaves fans dissatisfied, but I have appreciated the fact that Minnesota at it's worst is a bowl team under Fleck. He gets players like Koi Perch, Rashod Bateman, and Darius Taylor who normally wouldn't go to Minnesota and keeps them. He's getting guys to the NFL. He runs a clean program. And he's created a lot of memorable moments for the fans.

But to me and I think many Gopher fans, today's loss to Northwestern is alarming, and I pit much of it on the coaching.

Northwestern came into the game having not scored more than 22 points in a Big Ten game this season. They ranked 104th in total offense. 116th in passing offense. And what does Minnesota's defense do?.

Allow 525 yards of total offense to a team that has struggled offensively all year.

Let their quarterback go 15/15(!!) passing in the second half.

Allow their offense to possess the ball for 40+ minutes all game.

This feels like a defense that started the season out okay, has changed absolutely nothing since then, and teams have figured out how to pick them apart. I get our secondary is not great, but the zone defense was not working. And why we kept running it over and over is baffling. Yes, maybe we don't have the talent to run man-to-man, but why not try? After their 8th or 9th easy completion in a row, what do you have to lose?

And if you are going to run zone, can you at least make them work for a first down? 3rd and 10 after the two minute warning, one of the biggest plays of the game, and our pass defenders are playing zone a couple yards behind the first down marker. All Northwestern has to do is run to the first down marker, turn around and catch the ball without anyone within a few yards.

We continually are making it way too easy for other teams to move the ball. This "HAVOC" defense looks more like a bland and subdued defense to me.

And right now, I don't think it's a guarantee we beat Wisconsin next week. And if that's the case... oh boy.

P.S.- every Gopher fan knew the kick at the end of the game wasn't going in.