Fall scrimmage reveals need for improvement

The Gophers football team has two weeks remaining until its season opener, and after watching the only scrimmage of fall camp Saturday, first-year coach Tim Brewster breathed a sigh of relief.

"We're not ready yet," he said.

Probably neither are 99.9 percent of the teams in college football. At least no coach thinks his team is ahead of schedule right now.

Predictably, the Gophers scrimmage -- held indoors because of rain -- offered a mixed bag. The offense started slow but came to life, the quarterbacks were inconsistent in the passing game, the defense played fast and aggressive and a group of true freshmen showed why they will have significant roles this season. Not much different than the first two weeks of camp.

About the only surprise was Cretin-Derham Hall star wide receiver Michael Floyd making an unannounced visit wearing a Gophers sweatshirt and hat. Brewster and his staff hope Floyd is wearing the same attire in early February.

Overall, Brewster was mostly pleased with the performance, but it's clear he wants to see the Gophers' passing game start to click.

"We've got to be able to throw the football better," he said. "I think that's evident."

The quarterback competition remains the biggest question, as redshirt freshman Adam Weber and junior Tony Mortensen are still fighting for the job. As has been the case this week, Weber worked with the first-team offense and Mortensen the second team, but Brewster has made it clear he likely won't name his starter until right before the opener.

Both quarterbacks struggled early on Saturday before finding some rhythm in the second half of the scrimmage. Weber completed 15 of 33 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Mortensen completed 7 of 14 passes for 77 yards, a touchdown and one interception.

Their numbers could have been better if not for a few drops. Both also led the offense on late scoring drives, including a 15-play, 80-yard drive under Weber's direction. But accuracy continues to be an issue, particularly when they are under pressure.

The coaching staff has adjusted the practice plan to help the quarterbacks get a better feel for game-like conditions. They eliminated some of the 7-on-7 work in favor of 11-on-11 team passing drills because it forces the quarterbacks to face pressure. That is critical because the Gophers can count on seeing a heavy dose of blitz packages this season.

The quarterbacks offer different styles and strengths. Weber is a good athlete with a strong arm. He has the ability to make something happen when the play breaks down and can be valuable with the option. Mortensen is a steady, calming presence. He doesn't get rattled easily.

Without the benefit of seeing the tape, both quarterbacks felt reasonably upbeat about their performance. They made some mistakes but showed improvement as the scrimmage wore on.

"I feel good, but there's still a whole world of improvement to do," Weber said. "We're not there yet, but the potential is there."

The good news is the Gophers have 14 days left before the opener. The bad news is the Gophers have 14 days left before the opener.

That reality causes both excitement and anxiety for any coach, not just one trying to identify a starting quarterback.

Chip Scoggins • ascoggins@startribune.com