Author: David Shama

Will the Vikings surprise the Packers with offensive changes on Sunday?  The stagnant Vikings offense has produced no touchdowns in its last two games and for the season quarterback Brad Johnson has thrown four touchdown passes and the Vikings have rushed for two scores (both by Chester Taylor).  The ineptness has been a team effort with mistakes and below average performance in multiple positions. 

Sometimes a coaching staff will respond with “out of the box” thinking.  Like what?  Maybe a no-huddle offense to speed up momentum and give the defense less time to prepare for the next play.  Perhaps a new offensive formation, unbalanced line or different blocking schemes.  Try a change in quarterbacks, or rotating two quarterbacks during the game, capitalizing on the skill sets of both, including ability to run or scramble for extra yards.  Even a trick play or two can help get a team out of its funk (Johnson passing to Taylor who passes to Johnson?)

And then if you want to talk way “out of the box,” how about inserting safety Darran Sharper at quarterback for one or two plays?  He was a high school quarterback with a 20-9 record in Richmond, Virginia. 

Whether the Vikings offer some surprises or just execute their standard stuff a lot better, they know Sunday’s game is more than a “border battle.”  Lose and the Vikings and Packers both have 4-5 records and are tied for second place in the NFC North Division.  Win and the Vikings take advantage of a home field game against an inferior team.   

It might be time to draw up a few plays “in the sand.”

In an interview earlier this week Adam Weber didn’t try to avoid questions about his feelings during a season that has at times seen criticism directed his way but also praise and recognition.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster said his quarterback was “lights out” in his superb performance against Michigan State, a 42-34 Minnesota win.  Weber, who has been inconsistent in his passing this season, is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after becoming the first Minnesota quarterback to surpass 400 passing yards in more than a decade, throwing for a career-best 416 yards and matching a career high with five touchdown passes.

“He played as well as a quarterback can play,” Brewster said.

Does Weber feel better about himself now than a week ago?  “Yeah, definitely,” he answered.  “You try not to get too down.  You try to be a leader on the team and you don’t let your personal performances, or expectations, bring down…other people.”

Weber is a mature 22-year-old who has 34 career starts for the Gophers.  The redshirt junior is the Gophers best offensive player, making plays with his arm, feet and head.  He ranks sixth among Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yards per game at 205.9.

Weber is recognized by teammates and coaches as a leader and player vital to the team’s success but that, of course, doesn’t stop the less informed from criticizing him.  Frequently this season the plays that didn’t turn out successfully were because team execution failed.

Weber was asked if he’s heard and feels the criticism.  “Yeah, sure, definitely,” Weber said. “But I think what Bryan Cupito has taught me and a lot of people have taught me is you take things with a grain of salt.”

Cupito is the former Gopher quarterback who was Minnesota’s career passing leader for yardage.  Weber broke his record last Saturday and now has 7,509 yards.  Cupito proceeded Weber as the team’s starting quarterback.

Weber said he’s more concerned about his family’s reaction to criticism than he is for himself.  “I feel more worried about my family and my mom,” he said.  “I tell my mom all the time you can’t be reading any of that stuff, or you can’t be hearing any of that stuff.”

The win over Michigan State left the Gophers with a 5-4 record.  On Saturday the Gophers play Illinois at home.  “Illinois is another step for us to overcome to get to the best bowl game we can,” Weber said.

Often in the past the Gophers have stumbled the following week after a win against a quality team like Michigan State.  The Gophers had an extraordinary week of practice last week and played well in the Michigan State game.   Weber said that standard is much more important than past history.

The announcement earlier this week that junior forward Trevor Mbakwe will not play for the Gophers basketball team until his pending legal matter has been resolved means Minnesota is less capable of contending for the Big Ten championship.  According to earlier news reports, a woman alleges Mbakwe attacked her earlier this year in Florida.  A trial is anticipated regarding a felony aggravated battery charge to further address the allegation.

Mbakwe is a junior college transfer who will be allowed to continue practicing with the team but not play in games, according to an announcement made by athletics director Joel Maturi.  That means Mbakwe won’t be able to fill the role of rebounder, inside defender and scorer needed to make the Gophers a better team.

The road to the Big Ten title goes through Michigan State, the defending conference champion and a preseason top five team nationally. The Spartans rough house teams on the boards and the Gophers, not a strong rebounding team last year, will miss Mbakwe.  He was one of the best rebounding junior college players in the country last year playing for Miami Dade College.

The need for rebounding and inside defense and scoring is potentially a larger problem now with news of Royce White’s indefinite suspension for violation of team rules.  White’s maturity and judgment dating back to high school has previously been questioned, making for speculation about his career contributions to the Gophers.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith didn’t say on Tuesday how long White will be suspended, possibly two to six games.  It’s apparently up to Smith to decide, just as it is with another suspension, that of senior guard Devron Bostick.

The Gophers, who start the season tonight with a home exhibition game against the University of Minnesota Duluth, will try filling the power forward position with players other than Mbakwe and White.  The problem, though, is no one else on the roster matches the power and mold of those two at about 6-8, 250 pounds each.  Both could be among the most physical and strongest post players in the Big Ten.