Gophers offensive line gets boost in return of Burris, Bunders

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

(left to right) Minnesota Gophers #60 Ryan Wynn and #68 Chris Bunders during first day of football practice.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: August 19, 2008 - 6:13 AM

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Usually, as preseason camp goes on, injuries start chipping away at a team's depth chart. Not so much with the University of Minnesota football team.

As the Gophers started full-scale preparation for Northern Illinois, their opponent for the Aug. 30 season opener, coach Tim Brewster welcomed back two key members of the offensive line.

Left guard D.J. Burris has been out since late in the first week of camp because of a sore knee. Right guard Chris Bunders had a minor arthroscopic procedure done on his right knee on Aug. 11. But both were back at practice Monday and will be going full-out today.

Burris, for one, was amazed at how quickly Bunders returned. "It seems he didn't have any swelling or anything coming out of surgery," Burris said.

And although Brewster plans on using several linemen this season, it is important that the starting five get some experience working together. That group -- which includes Dom Alford at left tackle, Burris at left guard, Jeff Tow-Arnett at center, Bunders at right guard and Ryan Wynn at right tackle -- will now have two weeks' worth of time together.

"We're getting to the point where we need to have everybody on the field," Brewster said. "We're downhill, the way I look at it, in our preparation towards Northern Illinois. We have a lot of work to do, and it was good to have a couple guys back."

Wide receiver David Pittman (hamstring) also practiced, though he is not yet quite 100 percent.

Passing muster

Is patience finally paying off for Mike Maciejowski?

The 6-3 senior has played well enough during camp to become a serious contender -- along with senior Tony Mortensen -- for the job of backup quarterback.

Maciejowski completed his first five passes in Saturday's scrimmage, which didn't surprise Brewster.

"He's a guy who can transfer information from the classroom to the field without many reps and execute the offense," Brewster said of Maciejowski, who has appeared in two games in three seasons. "He's a very bright kid. And that ability to execute with limited reps, for a backup quarterback, is a good commodity to have."

Another good commodity to have in Maciejowski's case is patience. He has needed it.

"It's hard sometimes," he said. "It's a tough job. But you never know. With Big Ten football, sometimes you need three, four quarterbacks."

Brewster has made it clear he would prefer to redshirt highly-touted freshman MarQueis Gray, though he reiterated Monday that no decision has been made. Indeed, Brewster said he talked with Gray about not letting up just because a redshirt year could be looming.

Meanwhile seniors Maciejoeski and Mortensen are competing to be Adam Weber's backup.

"The key is paying attention during the meetings," Maciejoeski said. "[Offensive coordinator Mike] Dunbar does a great job of giving us all the information. Yes, it helps to get reps. But if you pay attention during meetings, you can learn through osmosis, in a way."

Etc.

• Wide receiver Tray Herndon, granted a release from his scholarship by the Gophers in May, has transferred to Vanderbilt.

• Former Gophers player Dominic Jones, convicted of sexual assault in April, did not address the team Monday after all. "We got a phone call saying he wouldn't be speaking [Monday]," Brewster said.

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