Gophers Football Mid-Season Blog

The Minnesota Footbal program has taken a giant step back in the first year of the Tim Brewster era. The team is at Indiana today and is about to lose to make them 1-5 on the season (0-3 in the Big Ten). The one win, a big victory at home against Miami of Ohio that tooke 3 OTs to achieve. A few years ago this seemed to be one of the rising programs in the Big Ten a team that Sports Illistrated picked to win the Big Ten in 2004. With star players like Marion Babrer and Laurence Maroney, the offense could outscore almost anybody. Glen Mason had this program turned around from the doormat of the Big Ten to a BCS contendet. But Mason couldnt finish out seasons, a strong start was always followed by a bad finish and a second rate bowl bid. So I agree, it was time for a change and Mason had to go.

So now the qusetion is: Did Minnesota hire the right man? Right now the answer would appear to be no. The Gophers have lost at home to non BCS schools and haven't even competed in a big ten game to this point. At least Mason could run through his cupcake nonconfrence schedule 3-0 almost every year. Barring a mircalce finish, the Gophers will finish the season without a bowl appaearance for the first time since 2001. Brewster will have to prove he can recruit and turn this team around before they open the new outdoor stadium in 2009. I certainly hope we wont be watching a losing team in a brand new beutiful stadium.

The Big Ten certainly appears to be down right now, but many teams are on the rise including Indiana, Illinois, Purdue and Michigan State. If the Gophers continue this trend they could find themselves looking up at everyone else.

Vikings slide into bye week on a 3 game skid.

The Packers, on a record breaking day for Brett Farve, beat the Vikings 23-16 on sunday. The Vikings fall to 1-3 entering their bye week. Things do not look good for the Vikes with some very tough games coming up.

A few thoughs on Sundays game.

The Vikings were in the game:

The Vikes have been in every game they have played this season, losing the first 2 by 3 and this on by 7. So they are very close to being 3-1 or even 4-0. But instead they sit at 1-3 and look to be on their way to a 3rd straight seaon with no playoffs.

Did a bad call have an effect on the outcome?

In the 4th quater the Green bay had the ball and an apparent fumble occured on a pass from Farve to RB Hall. The play was ruled an incomplete pass and if ruled a fumble would have resulted in a Vikings defensive touchdown. This play would have tied the game and stopped the drive that ultimately resulted in a Packers touchdown.

The Vikings are wasting a great talent in Adrian Peterson.

Peterson had 12 carries for 112 yards, but only 2 carries in the second half. The 2 back system with Chester Taylor is nice, but Peterson is by far their best offensive playmaker and they need to get the ball in his hands especcially in the second half. Last week against Kansas City Peterson was on the sideline for the Vikings final drive as well. Peterson has proven that every time he touches the ball has potential for a ig play so they need to get him more touches.

Is 1-8 in the near future?

What hurts most about the rough start is that the schedule now gets to "the games the Vikings are supose to lose." The next five weeks are as follows: at Chicago, at Dallas, home for Philly and San Diego and at Green Bay. So the Vikings have a lot of work to do if they expect to win any of those games. I don't believe that the season is over yet, but it could get out of hand very soon if the Vikings don't step up their play and find some betterrythem on offense.

Throwbacks

I did like the vikings throwback jerseys. I can't say I am a fan of the new uniforms installed last season, but the throwbacks looked sharp.

1st quarter wrap up.

I think the first 4 games have to be a dissapointment, I expected the Vikings to be 2-2 at this point or maybe even 3-1. They now have put themself in a whole with Detroit and Green Bay looking like the best teams in the Division.