The Gopher football team begins practice today and coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners on Saturday that his defense “without question” will be improved. Brewster has said repeatedly since becoming the Gopher coach that Minnesota must have a championship level defense to contend in the Big Ten Conference, but minimal personnel last season allowed opponents to average 36.7 points and almost 520 yards per game.
Whether it’s added athleticism, improved experience, or the coaching of new defensive coordinator Red Roof, the Gophers have optimism they will be better on defense in 2008 than last season when six times other teams scored 40 or more points against them. Brewster said Roof, the former head coach at Duke who is Minnesota’s third defensive coordinator in three years, stresses fundamentals. “We want to be a great tackling football team,” Brewster said.
Ask Brewster who his impact players on defense could be this season and he mentions several names, a mix of new players and returnees. He listed junior college transfers Tramaine Brock (safety), Traye Simmons (cornerback) and Simoni Lawrence (linebacker-safety), plus junior Eric Small (defensive tackle) and senior linebacker Steve Davis.
Brewster spoke about Brock, Simmons and Lawrence having the kind of athleticism a Big Ten defense needs to compete at a “high level.” He described Lawrence as a “hybrid” player who can contribute at linebacker and safety, with his assets expected to include being a mobile, fast pass rusher.
Small, a junior college transfer a year ago, now weighs over 300 pounds. “He’s done a better job with his body, improving size, strength and speed than any player I’ve ever been around,” said Brewster whose coaching resume includes jobs as an assistant at Texas and North Carolina.
Davis made a name for himself in the Big Ten his first two seasons as a speed rushing defensive end. But a year ago the new Gopher coaching staff decided Davis didn’t have the size for the position and switched him to linebacker. It wasn’t always an easy transition. “He was like a fish out of water,” Brewster said.
This year Davis may swim with the sharks of the Big Ten. Brewster said Davis has “become a student of the game” and he expects leadership from Davis and other seniors, on offense and defense, including defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg. VanDeSteeg hurt his wrist last year after a productive sophomore season.
Brewster hosted the annual dinner for Gopher seniors on Saturday night. His message? “It’s time for us to win.”
The Gophers, 1-11 a year ago and characterized by that infamous defense, plan to start winning with the first game on August 30 at home against Northern Illinois.