When Mitch Leidner dropped back to pass on the first play of the winning drive in Saturday's 27-24 win over Ohio, Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover saw something he rarely saw last season.
Up in the coaches' box at TCF Bank Stadium, Limegrover watched Leidner look to his left for an open receiver, then switch to his second option in the flat. The junior quarterback threw a short completion to running back Rodney Smith, who ran 13 more yards for a first down.
"I'm not sure Mitch checked it down to the back maybe eight or ten times all year last year," Limegrover said.