2010 Minnesota Golden Gophers Football Preview

2009 Results: 6-7, Lost Insight Bowl vs. Iowa State

Head Coach: Tim Brewster (4th year @ Minny, 14-24 Overall)

Home Venue: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805), Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minnesota was absolutely discombobulated in 2009. While their defense finished 5th in the league in points allowed, their offense fell apart with a new scheme and finished dead last in the Big Ten in scoring. Even their beautiful new stadium, the first built in the Big Ten since the 1950s, wasn’t enough to springboard them to success as they posted a middling 4-3 home record. With a 3rd loss in the Insight Bowl in the last four seasons that came in excruciating fashion, 2009 turned out to be a losing campaign.

Head Coach Tim Brewster has gained a reputation as a strong recruiter but his results on the field have fallen below those of his predecessor, Glen Mason. Seeing how Mason was fired for failing to win more than eight games in all but one season (Brewster has never won eight games in any year), this fall will go a long way towards determining Brewster’s future at Minnesota. Can all of the talent that he has accumulated live up to expectations and get the Golden Gophers back into the Big Ten race?

OFFENSE

2009 was the worst season of quarterback Adam Weber’s career (2,582 yards, 13 TDs, 15 INT). Weber had thrown 39 touchdowns during the 2007 & 2008 seasons and he clearly didn’t perform well in last season’s pro-style scheme. Things will be a bit simpler in his 4 th season starting under center and that could propel him back into the upper echelon of Big Ten quarterbacks.

Unfortunately, the wide receivers are extremely inexperienced. Juniors Da’Jon Knight (17 catches, 311 yards), Troy Stoudermire (26 catches, 306 yards, 2 TDs) and Brandon Green (21 catches, 293 yards, 1 TD) are expected to start after failing to produce last fall despite extensive playing time. While this group should improve with Weber back into his comfort zone, they’re far below last season’s talented unit that was led by 3rd round pick Eric Decker.

Another reason for concern is the running game, which has ranked 104th and 111th nationally in the last two seasons. Juniors Duane Bennett (376 yards, 6 TDs) and DeLeon Eskridge (394 yards, 3 TDs) are expected to split the load and they have to be significantly better if this offense is going to improve. The good news is that the O-Line appears to have taken to the new blocking schemes during the spring. With four seniors up front that are finally in a set that can take advantage of their massive size, I fully expect a much better running game.

Overall, there is no way that Minnesota finishes last in the league in scoring again. While their receivers are a big concern, the running game will be significantly better and the O-Line should have a much more productive season. Meanwhile, Weber has started more games than any active quarterback in the entire country and the adversity of last season will only make him better. Expect a more balanced attack from this veteran unit and they will put up a lot more points in 2010.

DEFENSE

The return of a productive offense has to be music to Minnesota’s ears, because they have the least experienced defense in the entire Big Ten. In fact, senior safeties Kim Royston (86 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Kyle Theret (73 tackles, 3 INT) are the only two starters back from the Big Ten’s 5th ranked scoring defense last fall. To make things worse, Royston is recovering from a broken leg and Theret was suspended during the offseason after being arrested for drunk driving. However, both players are expected to be on the field during camp and that’s a great sign for success through the air. With talented sophomore Michael Carter (11 tackles, 1 sack) stepping into the starting lineup at cornerback after playing the final two games last season, the Gopher DBs should have a good season.

The rest of the defense is a major concern as the line has to be completely rebuilt because junior DE Anthony Jacobs (19 tackles, 2 sacks) is the only player who has started a game in his career. However, sophomore D.L. Wilhite (3 sacks) showed some playmaking flair in limited action last year and is considered by many to be a breakout candidate. The interior of the line will also be interesting to watch as juniors Jewhan Edwards and Brandon Kirksey (16 tackles) will be relied upon to control the middle. Edwards is nearly 350 pounds, so perhaps he’ll be a force against the run. But even the most optimistic outlook for this group can’t overcome a lack of depth and experience and they’re a liability until proven otherwise.

Luckily, the linebackers look a little stronger this fall. Sophomore Keanon Cooper (43 tackles, 1 sack) saw the field extensively last fall and junior Gary Tinsley (21 tackles, 1 sack) could be a productive player as well. However, this group lost highly touted ‘backer Sam Maresh to grade woes in the offseason and they also suffer from a lack of depth. With so little experience, it will be difficult to match last season’s strong production.

Overall, Minnesota could be in for a tough season on defense. Their front seven is a major concern since they have no experience and it will be difficult to replace the solid production of one of the Big Ten’s better units from ‘09. Even their bright spot in the secondary is a major worry because of Royston’s leg and Theret’s suspension. With so many factors going against them, 2010 will be a big step back for the Gopher defense.

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SCHEDULE

The Golden Gophers also have one of the toughest schedules in the entire country. The marquee game outside of Big Ten play is a September visit from Southern California but that’s not the only game that will be tough in the season’s first month. Minnesota opens up the year on a Thursday night at Sun Belt favorite Middle Tennessee State, a game that could start the season on a major down note if MTSU’s playmaking quarterback, Dwight Dasher, gets loose.

The Big Ten schedule also does them zero favors. The two teams that are not on the schedule this season are Indiana and Little Brown Jug rival Michigan; seeing how both are expected to finish in the bottom of the league, their omission makes conference play significantly more difficult. Finally, their toughest league games come at home against Ohio State, Penn State and Iowa, meaning that the Gophers will have to succeed on the road if they hope to be bowl eligible for the 3rd straight season. With so many tough opponents, this is easily one of the ten toughest schedules in college football.

OUTLOOK

This team could turn out to be the polar opposite of 2009 as the offense is going to have to carry the defense for Minnesota to get back to a bowl game. The good news is that the attack might have enough firepower to get the job done thanks to a 4th year starter at quarterback, an improved running game and a simplified scheme. But the defense is going to take some time to gel with so many new starters and I’m just not confident that their front seven is going to hold up against the run in a league known for smash mouth football.

In the end, Minnesota is talented enough to make a bowl game but they’re not going to compete for the Big Ten title. Furthermore, their schedule is going to make things extremely difficult to earn their 3rd straight trip to the Insight Bowl. If the Gophers beat USC it will be a shocker of epic proportions and their home Big Ten schedule is one of the toughest in the conference. Minnesota has to post a winning road record this fall if they want to get to six wins but that seems unlikely with Brewster’s 5-10 career record outside of Minneapolis. I’m afraid that he’ll head into the 2011 season on the hot seat because I think his team’s defensive woes will be enough to prevent them from going bowling this fall. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are my choice to finish tied for 7th in the Big Ten Conference in 2010.

PREDICTED RESULT: 5-7 (2-6 Big Ten)