• TCF Bank Stadium -- With the Gophers up 10 points with under five minutes to go against the Air Force Falcons, a friend in the crowd sent me this text message: Remember, this is the Gophers. They could still lose. Gophers backers certainly have experienced some of the most heartbreaking losses of any college program in the last 20 years. Heck, the goofy, you-can't-make-this-up losses are former coach Glen Mason's legacy.
    Yet, as the clock expired, the PA announcer proclaimed that the first TCF Bank Stadium victory was locked up in "The Vault". The atmosphere: Electric. The Gophers' play: So-so. It's becoming painfully obvious that the transition to the pro-style offense is like Peter Vecsey's Hall of Fame speech (read all about it -- it's worth it) -- something that desperately needs a do-over. In fact, when QB Adam Weber started to have success, he was in the shotgun most of the time -- an element of the Spread Coast offense they allegedly went away from. Anyone who reads this blog semi-regularly knows how I feel about Weber. He's one of the most underappreciated athletes in recent Minnesota sports history. But, he doesn't appear to be comfortable, even a little bit, taking the snap from under center.
    The stadium yes, but it's hard to say the Gophers' offensive play has fans in a tizzy. Head coach Tim Brewster said before the win over Air Force that teams generally make their biggest leap from week 1 to week 2. Defensively, they're fine, but offensively that leap would be comparable to John Goodman's vertical. Brewster: "The potential for our offense is excellent." So, when will that offense reach its potential? Will it ever? That is one of a few issues.
    Negatives:
    The penalties. A week after being flagged ten times, the Gophers committed eight penalties on Saturday night. Many of the dumb variety. Brewster noted that three or four first downs were called back on penalties. To beat better teams than Air Force, and everyone remaining on the schedule is better but South Dakota State, they have to stop making boneheaded plays. And yes, Northwestern and Purdue are better than the Falcons. When you are as one-dimensional as Air Force is, you're just average. It's 2009, not 1985. You have to be able to pass the ball in today's game to be semi-good.
  • The third-and-short offense. We saw it in the Syracuse game and tonight. The Gophers' inability to convert a 3rd&1, not once, but twice.
  • Personnel choices. After a great opening takeback by WR Troy Stoudermire who's the best return man in the Big Ten, why was WR Bryant Allen the choice to return punts with CB Marcus Sherels out and why was WR Hayo Carpenter allowed to return a kick? Stoudermire needs to handle every kick return, no argument, and if Sherels is hurt, punts as well.
  • Let QB MarQueis Gray throw it. I saw him, in limited time, in many spring practices. He's not Jay Cutler, but Gray can deliver the ball. If he's allowed to take some snaps, like we saw tonight, let him air it out a bit.
  • Let Weber run it more. He is nimble enough where there should be some designed runs. We did see him take off once tonight, but according to Brewster from his Tuesday news conference, there are no options in the playbook that allow Weber just to take off.
  • The lack of depth at safety. Kim Royston missed all but a couple plays of the first half and his absence was extremely noticeable.
  • Positives:
    Brewster and his staff sure know how to recruit D-linemen. Brandon Kirksey (forced the fumble that resulted in the TD) and Jewhan Edwards are really good. I am starting to understand the idea of taking Eric Small and Garrett Brown out as much as they do. D.L. Wilhite also looks like he has a chance to be an impact player.
  • Eric Decker. Best receiver in the Big Ten. Not the best pro prospect. That's the Illini's Arrelious Benn. But, Decker is the better overall college player. His penalties tonight aside, he's an automatic for at least 100-yards. Brewster: "He's a catalyst. He was inspiring our defense. Tremendous leadership." Typing that reminds me of a fun drinking game: Every time Brewster says "tremendous", you take a shot. You'll be like Jeff the Drunk from The Howard Stern Show in no time.
  • The linebackers. This will be worth a long entry on its own with detailed, OK, half-hearted research at some point, but off the top of my head, I can't recall a better set of LBs at the "U" in a long time. Nate Triplett, challenged by Keanon Cooper in the spring and summer for his starting job, has gotten a lot better. Simoni Lawrence should play on Sundays, granted as a safety and Lee Campbell is very trustworthy in the middle.

Eric Ellestad. Brewster said he gave serious thought to going for it on the 4th&1 w/ 5:13 remaining in the game. He pointed out that Ellestad approached him and said that he would make the 40-yad field goal. Brewster elected to take Ellestad's advice and he came through to give them a 10 point lead. I would've accepted the 15-yard penalty and automatic first down on the kick and tried to run the clock out, but considering the amount of dumb penalties and Air Force's slow-moving offense, going up two scores is not a rippable offense.
Final thoughts:
I'm on record saying that offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch has that "it" factor, but so far we haven't seen any of it. Eventually, we'll need to. I can't get all giddy over beating just an OK Air Force team. I do expect this much: Improvements to happen and a 4-1 record heading into the Purdue game. In other words, with a .000000005 percent chance to beat California next week, that means wins over Northwestern in its stadium and at home against Wisconsin. Watching the Badgers today beat Fresno St., their defense, which finished 9th in the Big Ten last year in points allowed, could be worse. This has to be the year that Brewster finally beats Wisconsin or Iowa. The O-line and running game are still works in progress, and could be until early November, or worse, all season. If that's the case, six wins maximum in a not so strong Big Ten. I say they come around enough to reach my April prediction of seven wins. Is seven wins enough to satisfy the masses? Feedback would be greatly appreciated. I know we must have some passionate college football fans that can relate with me.