Bleacher Report - Articles by Ellis Beck

Minnesota Golden Gophers: What Did We Learn in 2008? (Part 2)

Ellis Beck — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:49:13 -0500

This is the second part of a series where I look back on the 2008 Golden Gophers and try to see what fans can expect in the future. This part will hopefully shed some light on an offense that seemed to define erratic play.

Let's start with the good news.

Throughout the first eight games of the season, the Gophers seemed to get any yardage they needed, when they needed it.

Fourth-and-goal in the closing moments of the Northern Illinois game? Check. A 28-point second half against a feisty Bowling Green team? Check. Game-clinching drives against Indiana, Illinois, and Purdue? Check, check. check.

Looking back on the Gophers' seven wins, it seems like someone stepped up every night. Against Northern Illinois, it was Duane Bennett. For Bowling Green, it was Adam Weber and Eric Decker. Come to think about it, it was usually Weber and Decker that stepped up huge.

Seriously though, there were moments where the Gophers offense looked like a unit that was ready to become elite.

Then reality set in.

17, 6, 32, 0.

Those are the scoring totals for the Gophers over the last four games, all losses. Granted, two of those games were basically played without All-Big Ten wide receiver Eric Decker, but there were more troubling trends that developed.

False Starts

First-and-10, second-and-1, third-and-35, it didn't matter. It seemed like over those last four games, the Gopher offensive linemen would take any excuse to jerk a shoulder, lift a head, anything.

It grew to the point in the Wisconsin game that the TV announcers were left feeling bad for the guy (names will not be named, even I feel bad for the guy) who kept jumping up.

Erratic Weber

In those last four games, Adam Weber seemed to go through periods of overthrows, underthrows, or just plain bad throws.

I don't want to point a finger at the quarterback (after all, he was still second-team All-Big Ten), but there seemed to be times when he would press a bit. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of the Adam Weber we saw last year. Of course, that may have something to do with...

Being Dominated on the Line of Scrimmage

Against the superior competition the Gophers faced in the last four games, this clearly became their biggest problem. Against Northwestern, they gained 68 yards rushing. Against Michigan, 83. For Wisconsin, 99, and in a big game against Iowa, a grand total of 7.

The lack of a run option allowed teams to drop back in coverage. The fact that the Gophers knew they couldn't run forced Weber to throw more. Naturally, this led to...

Turnovers!

During the 7-1 start, the offense did not turn the ball over. Well, they did, but it never seemed to be at a big time, and it never caused them to lose.

Once they got sloppy in the last four games, the turnover numbers went to 2 (including the game-losing pick-6), 1, 3 (in a three-point game), and 3.

As the Golden Gophers showed in 2007, you just can't win when you turn over the ball that often.

In the words of Martin Luther, what does this mean?

The Gophers were a terribly young team on offense. The only two players that put points on the board for the team that will not return are Jack Simmons and Joel Monroe. Frankly, the youth showed. While the young players seem to be developing, the Big Ten presents a steep learning curve.

Take, for example Brandon Green. As a freshman, he had 18 catches for 260 yards. Not a bad start, right? At times he looked great (Purdue and the first half at Wisconsin). At times he looked hopeless. (Did he even play against Michigan?)

In a lot of ways, this can serve as a microcosm for the Golden Gophers' offense in 2008. At times great, at times miserable. More often than not, it depended on the quality of the opponent, which is not terribly unusual for a young unit in a tough conference.

What can we expect in 2009?

I expect this offense to continue evolving into a pretty good unit. No one from the offensive line leaves (and you have to expect some recruiting help there). Let's face it, this unit can't get too much worse in 2009.

The receivers remain intact, and I think we can expect more excellence from Decker, more consistency from Kuznia, and a lot of improvement from Green and Brodrick Smith.

The loss of Jack Simmons will hurt, but Nick Tow-Arnett proved he can be a clutch receiver and steady blocker, and the addition of Ra'Shede Hageman (Scout, Inc. No. 12 TE) will keep part of the offense humming.

I truly believe that people in Minnesota will be talking about Adam Weber for a long time. This guy can simply play ball. He has the ability to throw the deep ball, dive for a first down, and he has the smarts to throw the ball away.

His transformation from a source of constant worry to a source of confidence is the main reason (on offense) that the Gophers went from 1-11 to 7-5.

I believe that this unit will keep improving steadily. They are still two years away from being a top offense nationally, but next year I totally expect them to be one of the top offensive teams in the Big Ten.

2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers: What Did We Learn? (Part One)

Ellis Beck — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:24:13 -0500

Here is the first part of a series where I try my hardest to break down the 2008 Gophers. It's a look back at a season of ups and downs, and a look ahead to a new start on campus.

Let's start with the good news.

The 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team started out 7-1. They beat Bowling Green on the road, spoiled Illinois' Homecoming week, and finally vanquished the demons of West Lafayette. Their only loss before November came to an Ohio State team that was finally finding their offensive identity.

At best, the Gophers were going to their first Rose Bowl since 1961. At worst, at least they had a bowl berth. On top of this, the team was playing out it's final season in the HHH Metrodome, a stadium that became synonymous for uneven and disappointing play.

Then, reality set in.

Minnesota started off November by blowing a trap game against Northwestern on a fluke misplay by their most consistent player, Eric Decker. As an encore, they were completely dominated in a game they should have been fired up to play against a (then) 2-7 Michigan team.

Without Decker, they fought to a 21-7 lead on the road at Wisconsin, only to give up 28 points in the second half and lose 35-32. Coming home for the final game in the Metrodome, with Floyd of Rosedale on the line against Iowa, a great rivalry game was expected. Quickly, it became clear that this was not in order, as the Hawkeyes outrushed the Gophers 222-7 and won 55-0.

In the cooling-off period that comes between the regular season and the bowl weeks, several things become clear about the 2008 Golden Gophers. As usual, feel free to express you accolades or curses towards my opinion...

-The wins just are not that impressive.

At the time they were played, a number of early victories looked good, or at least encouraging. Naturally, the Northern Illinois and Montana State games were not ever going to be considered program-changing contests, but Florida Atlantic was expected to compete for a Sun Belt title, and Bowling Green was treated like the Red River Shootout by ESPN, due to the 2007 outcome (a 32-31 BGSU win).

In Big Ten play, the opening loss to Ohio State was expected, and it was not as ugly as it could have been. Then came the three straight wins (my parenthesis show the reaction of the media).

-Home vs. Indiana 16-7 (Holy hell, the Gophers just beat a Big Ten bowl team from last year!!! Sure, they were 2-2, but we beat them! This team might have a shot at respectability!)

-At Illinois 27-20 (Holy Hell, we just beat the Rose Bowl team from last year! On the road! At their homecoming! Boy, that Tim Brewster is a Maverick, isn't he? And how about that defense?! Oh wait, this always happens...Just wait until we lose at Purdue again.)

-At Purdue 17-6 (HOLY HELL!!!!!!!! WE JUST WON AT PURDUE!!!! Nevermind that the team couldn't move the ball against a 2-5 team that gave up 38 points to Notre Dame, this team is Rose Bowl bound!!!!)

Ok, so it was a bit much, but you get the point. Those wins simply do not look as good as they did.

-The losses were bad, but not terrible.

When it was all said and done, the Gophers lost five games to teams with a combined 37-23. Take out the Michigan game (which was the definition of a young team falling apart), and that number goes to 34-14.

They lost to teams that were better than them, and they lost bad. The last four games hurt and were tough to watch, but the results were not terribly shocking.

-In the words of Martin Luther, what does this mean?

Well, it can be looked at a few different ways.

The "boys will be boys" Theory

This was a young team with a spotty offensive line, only one dependable receiver, and a sophomore quarterback. The defense was the worst in the nation last year, and was filled with freshmen and JC stopgaps. As the season wore on, they wore out. They lost confidence after the Northwestern game, and as the opponents toughened up, the Gophers either gave up or pressed to hard. Either way, it spelled disaster.

The "Glass Ceiling" Theory

As we all remember from the Glen Mason era, this team has a habit of fast starts and awful endings. For one reason or another, Minnesota can not beat Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, and sometimes Northwestern. This is our fate. Much like being a Cubs fan, a Gopher Football fan must accept mediocrity, and be happy when they beat Indiana.

Tim Brewster is just like Glen Mason, who was just like Jim Wacker. New imaginative system, promising start...then nothing. But wait 'til hockey season!

The "Stepping Stone" Theory

This is my personal choice, so allow me to defend it. Anytime a 1-11 team wins seven games, it is time for optimism, not sadness. This is not like Mason's 2003 team, which squandered away a Rose Bowl trip on a fateful Friday night against Michigan. That team was led by seniors, and it was a disappointment that they could only get a Sun Bowl berth.

The 2008 Gophers were led by a sophomore quarterback, a junior stud receiver, an extremely young offensive line, and two freshman tailbacks. It will get better. The defense is getting faster, and is well coached under Ted Roof.

A bowl is a huge blessing, as it guarantees another five weeks of practice that showed it needs it (if I see another false start penalty after a big gain, I cannot be held accountable for my actions).

The recruiting looks good, and the on-campus stadium may mean that the Gophers will never have to hear another I...O...W...A cheer after a 3-and-out on their home field.

As of right now, regardless of how the team performs in a "YourNameHere.com" bowl game, this team is pointed in the right direction. In order to continue this, the University needs to hold on to Brewster (which will only get harder if his alma mater, Illinois, has another bad year), and make TCF Bank stadium THE Saturday afternoon destination for our state's hammered undergrads.

Brewster needs to continue his used car salesman act, and sell this program to players, high school coaches, the University, the state, ESPN, and anyone who will listen.

On the field, the team needs to gel. They need to get that swagger that all good Big Ten teams have. This will come with quality wins, national exposure, and a packed home stadium.

Is any of this guaranteed to happen? Absolutely not. But, with Brewster, the young team, and the new stadium, it is closer than it has been in a long time.

As a Golden Gopher fan, that sounds pretty good after that dismal 2007 season.

Twins Keep Building: Will Project Ever Be Finished?

Ellis Beck — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:30:28 -0400

It is becoming clear that there are two very separate ways to judge the 2008 edition of the Minnesota Twins. One side delights in Carlos Gomez flying around the bases, Delmon Young spraying doubles to the gaps, Joe Mauer finding holes in the infield, and Justin Morneau pounding pitcher's mistakes over the baggie.

The other half tends to cringe when the Mets trot out Johan Santana for another sure win, see Torii Hunter rob a home run, hear the guys on "Baseball Tonight" rave about David Ortiz, or even watch Casey Blake hit what seems like .450 against the Twins.

The first group can't wait for warm Minnesota nights, the smell of the grass, the taste of Walleye tacos, and the beauty of the Minneapolis skyline.

The second group dreads the freezing Midwestern Aprils and Septembers, the smell of the trash plant next to the new park, and the feeling that all of this new stadium business is too little, too late because the Twins missed that all-important "window" that small-market teams get to succeed.

So who is correct? Is it obvious homer-ism to be excited about the new flow of youth that graces the carpet of the cavernous Metrodome every spring? Is it good enough to be a fan of arguably the best small market team of the young 2000's?

While it is clear that the management of the Twins lacks the willingness to pry open the collective wallet of the team in terms of free-agent signings or monster contract renewals, the team has taken steps to build towards a future that may finally be in sight.

When the club locked up Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer through at least the 2011 season (with multiple options on both) and decided to keep closer Joe Nathan until 2012, they showed a interest in finally completing the building project that has been essentially going since the mid-1990's.

All Twins fans know the previous routine: The Twins draft well, teach well, and coach well. They always have a stable of young arms, a young and fast lineup, a limited amount of power...and about three players too few to compete in the postseason. When their players get too expensive, or are pushed aside by yet another top prospect, they are shipped out to the big-market teams for, you guessed it, more young arms and fast legs. It's a cycle that has been played out constantly and includes names dear the the Minnesota heart, like Milton, Loshe, Guzman, Rivas, Jones, Bartlett, Tiffee, and even the notorious Matt Lecroy. At best it produces 90-win seasons and first round playoff exits, at worst it gives the Twins something Pirates fans would be embarrassed to watch.

However, in the words of another famous Minnesotan, "The times, they are a-changin'". With the money that the new ballpark will bring in, the Twins will not become a big-market team. They will not have a nation, or a country, the South side or the North side. They will never have these things. But they will have pocket change, and they realize that. The steps they made in the long and cold winter of 2007-2008 may have seemed like more of the same, and all the more reason to cheer a little harder for the ex-Twins than the real deal, but this was just the final cut before the big push the A.M. (After Metrodome) era.

Twins fans have been here before and if there are not changes made to baseball's pay structure, they will be there again. But, for the first time in almost two decades, there just might be a end to this construction project, an end that will bring more than a few reasons to go out and watch the Twins compete with the big boys.