Gophers football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners that Adam Weber will be the starting quarterback for the Iowa game on Saturday, as well as the bowl game, and will enter spring practice next year No. 1 at his position. Weber has been the starter all season for an inconsistent Gophers offense that ranks No. 11 in Big Ten Conference rushing and No. 7 in passing.
The redshirt junior is seventh among conference quarterbacks in passing yards per game (197.1) and 10th in total offense (186.5). The offense has at times been precise but often ineffective. Weber and the Gophers produced 505 yards of total offense in the 42-34 victory over Michigan State on October 31. Against Illinois the next week Minnesota managed only seven first half points and lost 35-32. Last week against small school South Dakota State the Gophers managed just 231 total yards and no offensive touchdowns in a 16-13 win.
Freshman quarterback MarQueis Gray has frequently been on the field for one play in a series. Brewster said going forward Gray might be in for an entire series but don’t expect a surprise move of Gray being the starter against Iowa, or in the coming weeks for the bowl game (destination and date to be determined).
While certain positions on the team will be wide open in spring practice next year, Weber will enter that period as the No. 1 quarterback. However, Brewster said that doesn’t mean Weber won’t have competition to retain his status.
It’s evident Brewster believes Weber, who has been the Gophers starter since his redshirt freshman season of 2007, is the best choice to quarterback the team. Weber’s problems have included at times throwing the ball short of intended receivers. It’s a difficulty caused by being off balance and rushing throws, according to offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch. Asked if this will be corrected, Fisch said, “Oh, yeah.”
While Weber, the offensive line, receivers and running backs have been critiqued this fall, so too has the coaching staff including Fisch, 33, who is in his first season as offensive coordinator. Play calling has been questioned but earlier this week Brewster had no criticism of the coaching. He has insisted that the Gophers’ problems rest with lack of execution, and he expects improvement going forward including next year when experience and some new players presumably will give the offensive unit a lift.