After Insight Bowl loss, more work for Gophers

TEMPE, ARIZ. - Yes, Adam Weber said, it will be harder.

The Gophers were hoping to use the Insight Bowl against Kansas as a way to ease the pain of a four-game losing streak to end the regular season. The ideal scenario would have been using the New Year's Eve game as a springboard into a better 2009.

Instead, in the wake of a 42-21 loss to the Jayhawks on Wednesday, the Gophers will have to wait until next fall for another chance to win. And that will be hard, the Gophers quarterback said.

"The only thing we can do is look at this as a learning experience," Weber said. "Now it's time for the young guys to step in and take over."

So what did we learn?

• The Gophers still need to get faster and more athletic on defense. A bend-but-not-break defense used a slew of turnovers to improve over the 2007 version, but there is still a ways to go. That was proven over and over by the Kansas spread offense, which scored seemingly at will against the Gophers.

"It is a combination of things," Gophers coach Tim Brewster said. "We need to add athleticism to our football team, and we will and we are. We've got to get bigger and stronger, and that's our commitment, that's what we're going to do."

• There is still a long ways to go on offense as well. A move toward more of a power attack debuted against Kansas to mixed reviews. It started off well but bogged down after two early touchdowns, and the Gophers failed to score in a first-and-goal situation late in the third quarter. In the end, forced to play catchup, Weber returned to the shotgun for most of the second half and felt the same consistent pressure he felt much of the season.

"I am pleased with what we added to our offense," Brewster said. "I think we will get better as we move forward. Our players were excited about putting their hand on the ground and coming off the ball and doing some things that way. Obviously it's very disappointing when you are fourth-and-inches on the goal line and don't get in. So, obviously, there is a lot of work to do."

Even before that work begins, there are decisions to be made.

Athletic director Joel Maturi has said Brewster has done enough to deserve a contract extension, and indications are that talks are already underway.

It remains to be seen whether more changes will be made to the coaching staff. The hiring of Tim Davis as offensive line coach/running game coordinator signaled a significant shift in offensive philosophy. Will offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar, a spread offense specialist, be comfortable with more of a combined approach? Dunbar is entering the final year of his contract.

But, in terms of personnel, there is reason to believe the Gophers are going in the right direction.

Every starter on offense will be back. That speaks to both the youth the Gophers were dealing with this season and the potential for growth. But Brewster knows that, in itself, won't be enough.

There might be help coming.

The Gophers have received 18 commitments from players for the upcoming recruiting class. On that list is a number of offensive linemen, including 6-7, 350-pound junior college tackle Jeff Wills. Also on that list is four-star wide receiver Hayo Carpenter, four-star running back Hasan Lipscomb and Minneapolis Washburn tight end Ra'shede Hageman.

Defensively, the Gophers will return two starting linebackers -- Lee Campbell and Simoni Lawrence -- as well as all four defensive backs. Among the commitments are Eastview defensive linemen Matt Garin and Joey Searcy, both ranked three-star players by Rivals.com.

And that's before the upcoming announcements by heavily recruited players such as Breck wide receiver Bryce McNeal and Florida cornerback Michael Carter, both of whom have the Gophers among their final schools. McNeal appears to be leaning toward Oregon.

Add to that the return of linebackers Sam Maresh and Spencer Reeves and quarterback MarQueis Gray and the addition of transfers Matt Carufel (offensive line) and Kim Royston (cornerback). The Gophers should be deeper along the offensive line and at running back and wide receiver, and quicker at linebacker.

But there will be holes to fill, too. Defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg leaves with the most tackles for loss in school history. Linebackers Deon High-tower and Steve Davis will be missed, as will tight end Jack Simmons, punter Justin Kucek and placekicker Joel Monroe.