The Gopher football team’s offense is unproductive and if the status quo continues, losses in the last three games of the season are likely. On Saturday the offense had an 80-yard touchdown drive and a 76-yard drive that produced a field goal in a Big Ten Conference loss to Northwestern. The Gophers, 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the league, have just two scoring drives of over 50 yards in each of their last four conference games.
A turnover-causing Gopher defense has been helping the offense. Last Saturday, for example, cornerback Traye Simmons’ interception and 23-yard run produced Minnesota’s second touchdown of the game in a 24-17 loss. But the Gophers can’t predict that every Saturday the defense will come up with a touchdown or even give the offense the ball near the goal line.
What’s the problem? Simple answer. Beyond quarterback Adam Weber and wide receiver Eric Decker, two of the Big Ten’s best at their positions, the offense lacks playmakers. By conference standards, the offensive line is average at best. Too many times in recent games the line has committed untimely holding and false start penalties. Even more often Weber is scrambling to avoid being sacked, or there’s no hole for Gopher runners.
No doubt the running game would look better if the Gophers had explosive or powerful runners. Where have you gone, Marion Barber, Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell? Duane Bennett isn’t as good as those former Gophers but he’s a quality runner who is injured and out for the season. Playmaking speedsters are a missing element at receiver, too, where the Gophers are almost one-dimensional with only Decker.
The offense might find some life against Michigan on Saturday. The Wolverines have given up 129 points in their last three games and are on a four-game losing streak. But Wisconsin and Iowa, the last two teams on the regular season schedule, are much better defensively.
It’s evident that in the off-season coach Tim Brewster and his staff will need to upgrade the talent on offense with perhaps a combination of improvement by underclassmen, and the addition of junior college and freshmen playmakers.