Minnesota 2007 Preview

When Tim Brewster was named the new head football coach at Minnesota, the initial reaction among Gophers fans was “Who?” His anonymity didn’t last long.

Brewster, a long-time college and NFL assistant who was hired to replace the ousted Glen Mason, created an immediate buzz around the program with his non-stop enthusiasm and willingness to sell the program and connect with the fan base (which are areas where Mason fell considerably short). Brewster, most recently the tight ends coach with the Denver Broncos, used a number of motivational tactics to inspire his team this offseason, going so far as to have a section of the Rose Bowl turf cut out and delivered to his team following a spring practice. (The turf is being kept in the locker room.)

It remains to be seen whether Brewster’s energy and enthusiasm will translate into more victories and better bowl trips. Recruiting took a major slide under Mason in recent years, leaving the Gophers thin in talent at certain positions. And it’s hard to know how Brewster, a rookie head coach, and his staff will handle themselves once games start.

The Gophers showed signs this spring that their maligned defense could be better, but the team will have a new quarterback and a new offense. Judging by the mood since Brewster’s arrival, the program also has a new attitude after becoming stale in Mason’s final seasons.

The Gophers, however, will need more than a new attitude to make a move in the Big Ten this season.
Minnesota fans have grown accustomed to their team playing in the postseason, but Gopher Nation, as Brewster calls it, desperately wants a trip to a New Year’s Day bowl game, something that hasn’t happened since the 1961 season. Brewster went a step further and promised a trip to Pasadena during his introductory press conference. “That’s my dream, that’s my goal and that’s my belief,” he said. “It will happen here sooner rather than later.”

Quarterbacks
This is the biggest question mark. Gone is three-year starter Bryan Cupito, the school’s all-time leading passer. The favorites to replace him are junior Tony Mortensen and redshirt freshman Adam Weber. Both had their moments in spring as they incorporated offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar’s spread offense and should continue the competition in fall two-a-days. Mortensen has the most experience, although his playing time has been scarce and in a different system. Weber is a terrific athlete with a strong arm. He also is the most elusive of the quarterbacks. One wildcard is Brewster’s son, Clint, an incoming freshman and a highly regarded prospect. Clint initially committed to Illinois but changed his mind after visiting Minnesota a few days before Signing Day. The coach has told the quarterbacks that the competition is wide open and will be fair.

Running Backs
Minnesota has had terrific running back tandems in recent years, and they have another solid one this year with senior Amir Pinnix and sophomore Jay Thomas. Pinnix, after a slow start last season, emerged as the No. 1 tailback and finished with 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns. Thomas, arguably the team’s fastest player, was a non-factor until the final month as he recovered from offseason knee surgery. He gives the offense big-play capability because of his speed. It will be interesting to see how Dunbar uses his running backs in his spread offense. He promised to continue the Gopher tradition of having a stellar rushing attack. Opposing defenses will likely blitz more, so the running backs also must use their blocking skills.

Receivers
Depth is a major concern now that the Gophers will operate the spread. The Gophers lost their top two receivers in Logan Payne and tight end Matt Spaeth and don’t have enough depth. Ernie Wheelwright, a two-year starter, needs to live up to his hype. Wheelwright has been wildly inconsistent but possesses plenty of talent. Brewster has repeatedly challenged him to elevate his game. Eric Decker has a chance to be a standout, especially in this new offense. He caught 26 passes last season, but his numbers should jump considerably this year. The Gophers are counting on sophomore Mike Chambers, junior college transfer Marc Cheatham and a few true freshmen to make contributions. The coaching staff is high on freshmen Tray Herndon and Harold Howell, both of whom should see immediate playing time. Sure-handed tight end Jack Simmons replaces Spaeth, the John Mackey Award winner last season, and gives the offense another weapon down the field.

2007 Schedule
S. 1	Bowling Green	W
S. 8	Miami (Ohio)	W
S. 15	#Florida Atlantic	W
S. 22	Purdue	L
S. 29	Ohio State	L
O. 6	at Indiana	L
O. 13	at Northwestern	*
O. 20	North Dakota State	W
O. 27	at Michigan	L
N. 3	Illinois	*
N. 10	at Iowa	L
N. 17	Wisconsin	L
	#Miami, FL
Games in bold represent swing games. W or L indicates a projected win or loss.

Offensive Linemen
The Gophers typically are strong up front, and that should be no different this season once the unit jells. Senior center Tony Brinkhaus is all-conference caliber and a strong leader. Tackle Steve Shidell and guard Ned Tavale are returning starters. Brewster raves about redshirt freshman tackle Dominic Alford, who the staff believes can become a star. Depth, however, is a serious concern. The second team is filled with guys with little or no experience, which could be a problem if the line suffers an injury bug.

Defensive Linemen
For the first time in years the Gophers appear to have a solid two-deep, led by honorable mention all-conference end Willie VanDeSteeg, who blossomed as a pass rusher last season (10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for a loss). The Gophers also added junior college transfer Eric Small at tackle and Raymond Henderson at end. Henderson sat out the 2006 season after transferring from Tennessee. The coaches also have high hopes for ends Willie Dyson and Alex Daniels. Dyson is still a little light at 235 pounds but plays with lots of energy. Daniels, a junior, has been an enigma. A gifted athlete, he was moved from linebacker to tailback to defensive end by the previous staff. He appears to have finally found a home at end. That depth will be critical in defensive coordinator Everett Withers’ scheme, which features more movement and aggressiveness at the line of scrimmage.

Linebackers
The coaching staff tinkered with this position in an attempt to upgrade the speed and athleticism. Junior Steve Davis, a two-year starter at defensive end, moved to linebacker. Senior John Shevlin, who has battled injuries the past few seasons, brings an emotional spark when he’s on the field. Senior captain Mike Sherels was the team’s top tackler (104) last fall, and junior Deon Hightower made huge strides in his first season as a starter in 2006. The team is also counting on junior college transfer Logan U’u for depth.

Defensive Backs
The secondary needed major changes after finishing 117th in pass defense in 2006. The coaching staff has tinkered with personnel and schemes in an effort to maximize the unit’s talent and build up its confidence. Junior cornerback Dominic Jones might be the team’s best player. He is a terrific cover guy, a big hitter and a solid leader in the locker room. He has a knack for making big plays. Safety Dominique Barber, brother of Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber III, was arguably the defense’s most improved player last season. He led the team in interceptions (4) and finished fifth in tackles. The Gophers must find a strong safety, another starting cornerback and some depth while upgrading the overall speed and athleticism. It won’t be surprising if true freshman Curtis Thomas is in the mix at safety.

Specialists
Brewster made it clear the Gophers have to get better consistency from their kicking game, which has produced far too many missed kicks the last two seasons. Jason Giannini and Joel Monroe have alternated as the No. 1 placekicker the past few seasons, and Brewster hopes one will step up and win the job outright. Minnesota has the potential to be dynamic in the return game. Jones finished 19th nationally in punt returns and 27th in kickoff returns. The staff is excited about the potential of Howell, a speedster who had seven touchdowns on returns as a senior at Mandarin (Fla.) High.

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