While the Gophers offensive line has often been a source of frustration this season, the man who coaches the unit receives high praise from head coach Tim Brewster.  The Gophers rank last in the Big Ten Conference in both total offense and rushing, and eighth in passing.  False starts, off sides and other mistakes have characterized a line that frequently has been unable to open holes for runners and at times provided minimal protection for quarterback Adam Weber when passing.

Brewster, though, expressed confidence earlier this week about offensive line coach Tim Davis who joined his staff late last year.  The Davis resume includes coaching the Dolphins’ offensive line in the NFL and the same job at USC.  “He’s as good a line coach as I have been around, and I’ve been around some great ones,” Brewster told Sports Headliners.

Like Davis, Brewster has coached in both the pros and college.  The man Brewster regards as the absolute best in working with offensive lines is Hudson Houck, with the NFL Cowboys.  Davis, Brewster said, learned from Houck.

The experience of Davis allows him to teach the complexities of offensive line play, according to Brewster.  “It’s extremely technical work in teaching an offensive lineman, and he’s (Davis) had such a vast amount of experience in coaching at a very high level,” Brewster said.  “Coaching the best offensive linemen in college football when he was at USC.  Won a national championship.  Coached the best offensive linemen in the world at Miami with the Dolphins.  He’s got tremendous energy. There’s no substitute for passion and energy in coaching, and he’s got a bunch of it.”

Why the problems for the Gophers’ offensive line?  Brewster acknowledges that the talent, experience and depth could be better.  “I certainly believe that Tim has done the absolute best job he can in helping our offensive line grow,” Brewster said. “And I think our offensive line has improved in areas.  They’ve done some good things this season.

“Our group has had three centers.  That’s not a great thing for the offensive line to have the bell cow of the line be injured, and going to a second center, and now we’re on a third center. I think that obviously the continued development with Tim with our offensive line, we’re going to reap huge dividends as we move forward.”

The Gophers lost senior center Jeff Tow-Arnett for the season with a broken leg.  He was the starter earlier in the year.  Trey Davis, his replacement, hurt his ankle and was replaced by D.J. Burris.

Burris is a junior, Davis a sophomore.  Their experience will help them in spring practice next season and even if one or both were switched to a different line position they will be able to compete for starting jobs.  All starting positions will be open for competition in the spring, Brewster said.

Brewster is intrigued by the potential of two offensive linemen who are red shirting this fall as freshmen.  Ed Olson and Brooks Michel figure to be in the competition next spring.  The Gophers also have verbal commitments for their 2010 recruiting class from six offensive linemen (among 21 players), according to https://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2010&School=46.

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Brewster’s 2010 recruiting class is ranked No. 31 by Rivals.com.  Players can’t formally commit until February of next season.

“The name of the game is recruiting and we’ve done it at a very high level,” Brewster said. “This class that we’re bringing in this year will be another outstanding class. And what it’s going to do is, it’s going to allow us to again continue to create competition (for playing time).”

Adam Weber, who has been a starter since 2007 and remains the Gophers first team quarterback, has no problem with MarQueis Gray receiving more playing time at that position if it helps the team.  “It’s all about winning,” Weber said.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said he’s not aware of any University plans to lobby the legislature next year to allow alcohol in premium seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena.

Long-time followers of the Packers-Vikings rivalry recall former St. Paul newspaper columnist Don Riley.  He loved to agitate Packers fans everywhere, habitually referring to “Green Bush.”

Former sports writing colleague Gregg Wong said Riley agitated the Packers fandom for more than fun.  Riley’s playful insults about Green Bay helped sell newspapers in nearby western Wisconsin.  Riley’s columns were profitable for him too. “He made a fortune speaking at banquets in western Wisconsin,” Wong said.

Riley was a character and nobody knew it better than his sports writing brethren at the Pioneer Press and Dispatch.  Wong recalled that one night Riley phoned the sports department and spoke with Mike Augustin.  Riley sensed that he had a speaking engagement but couldn’t remember where and what time that evening.

Augustin confirmed the time and place.  Riley, who was calling form a pay phone, requested directions.  Augustin asked Riley where exactly he was calling from.  Riley replied he didn’t know and Augustin wondered aloud how he could possibly provide directions.  “Augie, my boy, put a trace on this call,” Riley said.

Augsburg’s football team has experienced dramatic finishes in its last three games, all victories. The Auggies rallied in the fourth quarter for a 31-28 win over Carleton on October 10, and withstood a late Concordia comeback for a 27-20 overtime win a week later. Then last Saturday Augsburg scored the game-winning touchdown with 46 seconds left for a 28-21 win over Gustavus.  Wide receiver Mike Nourie won MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, the third straight week that Augsburg had an MIAC Player of the Week.  Nourie had a nine-catch, 129-yard performance, including the game-winning touchdown reception against the Gusties.

Kevin Love told Sports Headliners he could be back playing for the Wolves within four weeks.  In about 10 days he will receive more medical input about his injured left hand.

Harrison Barnes, the Ames, Iowa, high school basketball player considered by many as the top recruit in the country, wrote about his recent recruiting visit to Kansas at https://www.highschoolhoop.com/high-school-stories/2009/10/the-harrison-barnes-diary-official-visit-to-kansas/,

The 2009 MIAC Hockey Showcase is today through Sunday at the Bloomington Ice Gardens. All nine MIAC men’s hockey teams will play two non-conference games over the weekend. Game times are 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. all three days.

The Rangers Marian Gaborik isn’t expected to play tonight in his first game against the Wild since leaving during the off-season.  He has what’s been described as a lower body injury.  A knowledgeable hockey source said the following about Gaborik’s time here: “He was a very nice person who learned the English language on his own while playing for the Wild because he wanted to communicate with players, fans, sponsors and the media.  He was a good teammate and was generally liked in the locker room by other players.

“The team was better when he did perform on the ice.  He did not always see eye to eye with (general manager) Doug Risebrough and (coach) Jacques Lemaire, but remained a team-oriented player and performer.  He did leave on decent terms with the Wild organization, who did offer him a long-term deal in 2008 that Gaborik and his agent turned down last year.”

Niklas Backstrom was unbeaten in 15 straight decisions at Xcel Energy Center until the Wild lost on Wednesday night to Nashville.  His streak was a franchise record for a goalie.

Former Gustavus tennis player Eric Butorac continues to have success on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour, winning two doubles titles recently.  Butorac teamed with Rajeev Ram to win the Thailand Open on September 28 and then he partnered with Lovro Zovko to win at Rennes, France on October 12.  Butorac, No. 37 in the ATP doubles rankings, has won three ATP doubles titles this year and seven in his career.

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A former NFL coach, who still follows the league closely, was asked if the Vikings personnel area that is most suspect is the secondary.  “I still say the offensive line is not where it needs to be,” he responded.

The Vikings have improved by replacing last year’s starter at right tackle, Ryan Cook, with rookie Phil Loadholt, said a source who asked that his name not be used.  He considers right guard Anthony Herrera a so-so talent and second year center John Sullivan is a downgrade from veteran center Matt Birk who left the Vikings during the off-season.  The left side of the line, with guard Steve Hutchinson (ranked with the best linemen in the NFL) and tackle Bryant McKinnie, is the strength of the unit.

With franchise cornerback Antoine Winfield injured and unable to play last Sunday against the Steelers, a visitor had asked the former coach on Saturday if the secondary wasn’t the most suspect area.  The secondary has been part of the problem with a defense that has given up a lot of fourth quarter points including 21 against the Ravens on October 18 when the Vikings almost lost (33-31).  The secondary played okay against the Steelers and Winfield could return for Sunday’s game in Green Bay.

The Vikings offensive line at times couldn’t block the Steelers and Minnesota only rushed for 83 yards in the 27-17 loss, the Purple’s first defeat of the year (6-1).  A strong Steelers pass rush sometimes pressured quarterback Brett Favre.  In the fourth quarter the Vikings, trailing 13-10, were driving for the go ahead touchdown when Favre had the ball stripped from his right hand.  The Steelers LaMarr Woodley, coming through the left side of the Vikings line, recovered the fumble and ran 77 yards for a touchdown.

Favre was sacked four times in the game, matching a season high against the Browns.  For the year he has been sacked 18 times.  Not all sacks can be blamed on an offensive line because running backs can fail to block and quarterbacks may hold onto the ball too long, but the Vikings’ Super Bowl goal may end up being determined by the big guys in front of Favre.

The Packers have allowed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be sacked 25 times, highest among NFC North teams.  The Vikings defense, which leads the NFL in sacks with 24, sacked Rodgers eight times in Minnesota’s 30-23 win at the Metrodome earlier this month.  The Packers’ offensive line has been even more of a project than the Vikings and those two units will play major roles in determining who wins on Sunday when Green Bay (4-2) could move closer to first place in the NFC North.  The only question will be the size of the role.

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