The University of Minnesota football team went through its first scrimmage of spring practice Saturday afternoon at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex Saturday. The Gophers worked their way through nearly 100 plays at the indoor practice facility.
As has been the case through the first five practices, the defense had a bit of an upper hand in Saturday’s scrimmage. The Minnesota defensive unit was successful forcing a few turnovers early in the scrimmage and also notched some three-and-out stands.
The offense eventually moved the ball and put a couple scores on the board. But even head coach Tim Brewster gave the nod to the defense on Saturday.
“The defense is definitely still a bit ahead right now,” Brewster said. “We still have work to do on both sides of the ball. But that’s what spring ball is all about.”
Brewster said he asked just one thing of his team prior to the scrimmage and he was happy with how they responded to that request.
“I asked them to compete and we certainly saw a lot of competition out there today,” the Gopher mentor said. “There was a lot of effort and great attitude. I really like what we’re doing right now and I really like this team.”
Quarterback Adam Weber took every snap with the No. 1 offense Saturday afternoon. Freshman quarterback MarQueis Gray took all the reps with the No. 2 offense, as well. The Minnesota quarterbacks distributed the ball to 10 different receivers in the workout, distributing the ball well to the wide receivers, tight ends and running backs.
The big offensive play of the scrimmage was a long touchdown pass from Gray to wide receiver Brodrick Smith which covered more than 60 yards.
Running backs DeLeon Eskridge and Shady Salamon each recorded a few carries. But the rushing workhorse of the scrimmage was Kevin Whaley, who tallied double-digit totes of the pigskin.
Defensively, the Gophers generated a good pass rush and recorded a good number of sacks and tackles for loss. The defensive line, linebacking corps and defensive backs were all successful breaking passes up at times, as well.
Saturday’s scrimmage was conducted in front of more than 250 high school football coaches, who also toured TCF Bank Stadium as part of the Minnesota Football Coaches Clinic. The clinic wrapped up with Saturday’s scrimmage at Gibson-Nagurski.
Also on hand at Saturday’s workout were a couple high-profile coaches. Brian Billick spent a few days with the Gopher staff late this week and spoke at the Minnesota Football Coaches Clinic Friday evening. He took in much of Saturday’s practice as well. Billick led the Baltimore Ravens to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV. Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Brad Childress also took in the Gopher practice Saturday.
Minnesota practiced under the watchful eye of another former coach as well. Big Ten Network analyst Gerry Dinardo, who has been the head coach at Vanderbilt, LSU and Indiana, was in attendance Saturday. Dinardo was gathering information for the Big Ten Network's coverage of spring football.
The Gophers will resume practice Tuesday afternoon with their seventh workout of the spring. Minnesota’s spring practice sessions will wrap up with the annual Spring Game April 25. The Spring Game will be played at St. Thomas University. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. and admission is free.
-Andy Seeley
Courtesy: University of Minnesota
