Can The University of Minnesota's Adam Weber Keep It Up?

Following the Gophers crushing loss at Ohio State, several observers (myself included) thought that the University of Minnesota's football season was basically over.  We'd seen this script before.  It appeared as Gopher fans would be in for a repeat of 2008.

All the parallels were there.  The Gophers were very much in the ballgame with the Buckeyes.  Trailing by seven points at the half, they were unable to recover a short kick to begin the second half.  OSU recovers, scores.  Game is pretty much over.  It reminded me of the Northwestern game in 2008.  Tight ballgame, Gopher turnover.  Ended the game and sent the team into a tailspin that they never recovered from.  I started to wonder if this team would suffer the same fate in 2009.

Factor in the fact that the Gophers lost their best player, WR Eric Decker, against Northwestern in 2008 and never regained their offensive groove and it's easy to see why Gopher fans would be pessimistic after Decker was lost for the season against Ohio State.  The offense sputtered to end 2008, would they suffer the same fate in 2009?

QB Adam Weber was coming off two terrible games.  The Gophers were shutout against Penn State and managed one touchdown against Ohio State, but that touchdown wasn't due to Weber's play, it was back-up QB Marquis Gray.  Coach Tim Brewster wouldn't hear of a quarterback controversy though.  Brewster emphatically stated that Weber was his starting QB, despite all of his recent struggles.

Weber had been mired in quite a slump.  His numbers weren't awful, but it's indisputable that Weber's stats were helped by his favorite target, Eric Decker.  In fact, before the Michigan State game, Weber had thrown only one TD pass all season that didn't go to Decker, and that play came in the season opener against Syracuse to slot receiver Troy Stoudemire.  It's no secret that Weber looked to Decker first and foremost.  If he struggled with a heathly Decker, how would he perform with Eric on the sidelines, hobbling on crutches?

Weber had an answer for all the critics on Saturday night.  TE Nick Tow-Arnett and RB Duane Bennett both caught two TD passes.  Decker's replacement, Sophomore WR Da'Jon McKnight, totalled 90+ yards in receiving.  All Weber did was throw for 400+ yards and five TDs.  Not a bad night for a struggling QB.  Critics silenced.  For now.

Weber needs to build on this game for the Gophers to continue to have success.  Illinois had been brutal all season, but snapped out of their funk at home against Michigan.  A win over the Illini makes the Gophers bowl-eligible and assures the team of at least a .500 record in the Big Ten.  Illinois needs a win to keep their slim bowl hopes alive.

If Weber can continue to work the ball around, the Gophers should have a legitimate chance to beat Illinois at home.  A date with FCS school South Dakota State at TCF Bank Stadium is set for the following weekend.  There's a realistic chance that the Gophers could be 7-4 heading into the season finale with Iowa.  Win or lose, the Gophers would be headed to a bowl.  All things considered, if the Gophers can get to a decent bowl game with all the adversity they've faced this season, Gopher fans should be happy with the progress the program has made.