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University of Minnesota Athletics
Brewster Pleased With Gopher Scrimmage
8/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Minnesota football team held an open scrimmage Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium, as part of Gopher Fan Fest activities. Head coach Tim Brewster was pleased with the work his Golden Gopher squad put in during the nearly two-hour workout.
"I was very pleased with the scrimmage," Brewster said. The fourth-year head coach was especially pleased with the play of his first-team group.
"I thought the work that we got done with the one's was excellent work," Brewster said. "I thought the execution with the one offense and the one defense - and some of the two's - was pretty darn good. Overall, I was very pleased with what we got out of the scrimmage today. I think it puts us right on track to where we need to be in our preparation for Middle Tennessee State."
While he was pleased with much of what the first-teamers did, Brewster explained to the second-team group that they will need to continue to improve for the team to accomplish its goals.
"The two's need to improve and they need to improve considerably," Brewster said. "Guys talk about wanting to be on the field and playing. When you get an opportunity, you've got to take advantage of it. I didn't feel like some of the two's and three's took the opportunity to go play today."
Brewster was happy with his number-one quarterback Saturday, as he has been throughout fall camp. He gave plenty of praise to senior signal-caller Adam Weber.
"Adam has been outstanding this camp," Brewster said. "I thought he was excellent today and very poised today. He made some really good throws. He did a good job on the line of scrimmage, getting us in and out, getting us in the right place."
Meanwhile, Brewster had plenty of praise for MarQueis Gray, the Gophers' backup signal-caller/wide receiver. Gray saw action in the scrimmage at both positions. In the course of Saturday's action, Gray threw passes, caught a pass and even carried the ball on a reverse.
"I think most things come pretty easy to MarQueis," Brewster said. "His quarterback play has been pretty good. To see him go out and play wide receiver and not miss a beat, I think his experience at the quarterback position certainly helps him at wide receiver. He's just a natural. With MarQueis the term is unselfish. He is so willing to do whatever he can do to help our team win. He's in a great position right now. We've got great confidence in him as our number-two quarterback."
Aside from the execution and performance of the team, Brewster was also happy that the Gophers got through the practice session without any injuries. With less than two weeks remaining until the season-opening game at Middle Tennessee State, the Gophers will concentrate on becoming fresh and being as healthy as possible for the Sept. 2 contest with the Blue Raiders.
"The number-one goal is to come out of the scrimmage healthy," Brewster said. "We didn't get anybody nicked up at all in the scrimmage."
The Gophers will practice Sunday, before putting in their final two-a-day session on Monday. The squad will have workouts Tuesday and Wednesday and then have a few days off before heading into game-week preparations for Middle Tennessee State.
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