Steve Hutchinson is not happy with the way the Vikings offense has operated, having scored only 63 points compared to 118 points last year through the first four games. Instead of being 4-0 as they were in 2009, they are 1-3, the same as the Cowboys, who the Vikings play on Sunday at the Metrodome.

"Absolutely, I think we just need to -- it's kind of cliché, but everybody needs to, offensively speaking anyway -- needs to get on the same page," Hutchinson said. "You know, it's usually one thing here or there that's kind of killing drives, or a mistake here or there, but it seems like a different person on every play.

"We just need to get in a rhythm and have some good things happen and build it off of that. We've got to continue and it all goes hand-in-hand and eliminate the mistakes and keep going."

Birk is missed There is no doubt that the Vikings miss center Matt Birk as much as any free agent they have lost, but John Sullivan did a decent job last year and he has been battling injuries.

"When you don't have your starting center in there and you have guys playing that haven't really had much experience playing that position in game situations -- it goes at any position, but the center -- you know Ryan Cook did a great job in there when he was in there and I think you've got two different types of players with [Jon] Cooper and with Cook," Hutchinson said. Cook started last week against the Jets, but he was replaced by Cooper during the game. "So Coop went in there and did a good job during the second half as well. It's just when you have somebody go down with an injury, you have to have the next guy ready to go."

Hutchinson, being the person he is, wasn't going to be critical of either Cook or Cooper even if they did deserve it.

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Steve Hutchinson

Cooper will start against the Cowboys if Sullivan is not ready to go.

Speaking of Birk, now with the Ravens, Hutchinson said: "Matt hasn't been here for a couple years now. Matt's a great player and everybody knows that, but he's not here. John Sullivan's done a great job last year stepping in, but he's injured now and we're trying to find somebody new."

But Hutchinson did say that all the offensive players can do better than they have done.

"We've got to improve in some parts of our game," said Hutchinson, who is healthy after having shoulder surgery, an operation similar to the one that offensive tackle Phil Loadholt had in the offseason.

"We've got to improve in pretty good strides, but in other areas we're doing OK," Hutchinson said. "We just have to keep going and everybody has to detail their work and keep trying to improve. We just have to be in sync as a line and communicate and make sure we're on the same page."

Hutchinson added: "It's really more communicating and making sure everybody is together. Not the scheme, it's just making sure we're all in the same place and on the same page."

No doubt the Vikings did everything they could to keep Birk, but he was determined to leave.

The center position is so important -- I remember the great Paul Brown, who coached and ran the Bengals when they were given an expansion franchise, took center Bob Johnson of Tennessee as his first pick, the second selection in the entire 1968 draft.

Gophers self-destruct While many in the media are calling for the head of coach Tim Brewster, and reports began circulating Saturday night that he would officially be fired as soon as Sunday, I don't think Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi would have been involved in a 50th birthday party for the Gophers coach on Thursday if he had any notion of firing the coach in midseason.

Maturi has been very supportive of Brewster and no doubt was hoping the Gophers could beat Purdue on Saturday to take off some of the heat.

But the Gophers continue to beat themselves, and lost 28-17 to make their record 1-5 by making one mistake after another.

A huge play was Gary Tinsley's interception that became a touchback for Purdue. Tinsley was running for a touchdown and wound up fumbling out of bounds on the 2, with the officials making a questionable call on the play. Purdue was awarded the ball and proceeded to march to an 80-yard touchdown drive on 13 plays.

There was a bad snap on a Gophers punt that led to another Purdue touchdown and a couple of other penalties in crucial situations had put Purdue in good field position.

The Gophers had no defense for Boilermakers running back Dan Dierking, who rushed 12 times for 129 yards, or quarterback Rob Henry, who scored three touchdowns and rushed 17 times for 64 yards.

Like I've said a number of times: It's been 43 years since the Gophers won a Big Ten title, and during that period, six of the seven coaches hired have been fired. So there has to be some other reasons for the Gophers' inability to win football games.

Jottings Vikings receiver Randy Moss talking about things not going well at New England before being traded here: "There were a lot of things that transpired over the last couple of months. I had an understanding of the direction that the team was going to move in and I was uncertain about the plans and how things were going. I really didn't feel I was in the plans of the Patriots. There was a little anger about my fate there. I'm glad they didn't trade me to a team I didn't want to go to. To be able to bring me back to Minnesota [was good], and hopefully it will work out for the best."

Dallas coach Wade Phillips is upset with NBC commentator Tony Dungy, who was very critical of Tony Romo after the quarterback threw three interceptions last week against Tennessee. Dungy said a quarterback has to avoid turnovers to be a team leader.

Former Gophers running back Marion Barber will continue to start Sunday against the Vikings, even though after the first play last Sunday, played mostly as a third-down back.

Mark Trestman, former Gophers player and NFL assistant coach and now head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, who won the Grey Cup last year is 10-4 to date and has clinched a playoff spot. The St. Louis Park High School alum is very happy at Montreal and has turned down chances to go back to the NFL.

Gene Washington, a great wide receiver for the Vikings, is a good example of how many former pro athletes remain residents here and do well. After working 11 years as an executive for Target Co. and 22 years with 3M, the two-time pro Bowler is retiring.

Corey Frazier, son of Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, is a starting safety for Rice University.

Sid Hartman can be heard weekdays on WCCO AM-830 at 6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 a.m. • shartman@startribune.com