It doesn’t feel much like spring practice right now with the weather, and you have to wonder if the Gophers are going to be able to practice outside at all this spring.

Anyway, Gophers coach Tim Brewster was not real happy with the focus and effort today. It sounds like this was the worst practice of the spring. Here is some of what Brewster talked about in his post-practice update:

– Brewster took the pads off today because the team is scrimmaging on Friday and he didn’t feel like his players responded well. “I wanted a little energy and speed and we didn’t get what I wanted,” he said. “I’m going to reserve total judgment until I look at the tape, but I didn’t feel like we practiced with the urgency, speed and tempo that we had in earlier practices.”

– Brewster clearly wanted his veterans to step forward and show more leadership in that situation. “It’s disappointing to me that I asked the leadership of this team to take charge and I didn’t sense that we got what we needed. The leadership has to take over on a day like today and I”m not sure that we’ve defined eactly who our leaders are.”

– Brewster said he would like to get between 80-100 plays in the scrimmage. They are going to work on all phases but special teams will be first and not part of the scrimmage. “We need to get a lot of work,” he said.

– Brewster said he is eager to see his quarterbacks, particularly the backups. We talked a lot about QBs today. Adam Weber is the clear starter. It is his job. That’s no surprise. Brewster said the real competition is for the backup.

“I think Adam is really coming along nicely. What we have to do is figure out behind him,” Brewster said. “I think we have a fairly good idea about what we can get out of Tony Mortensen. To me, what I’m really interested in tomorrow’s scrimmage and the next couple of scrimmages is what we get out of David Pittman and Clint Brewster. See exactly where they’re at in this thing.

“Right now, Adam has established himself as the starter and we’ve got to figure out who will be that guy if Adam were to go down.”

– Brewster likes Pittman’s maturity, athleticism and intelligence. Pittman doesn’t have a huge arm, but Brewster said he throws a “catchable ball.” He said the coaching staff feels comfortable with him making every throw.

– Brewster on Clint: “I want to see what Clint can do when the bullets are flying around him,” he said.

– Brewster said the team has tackled as many days as the NCAA allows. He said he feels his team will be better tacklers because they will have more speed and athleticism. “In a lot of instances, we weren’t athletic enough to get in position to tackle properly,” he said. “We would get in position to reach or lunge or grab. That’s not how you tackle. To me, you tackle with your feet. Your feet put you in position so that you can tackle.” At that point Brewster jumped out of his chair to demonstrate what he was talking about.

– Brewster and his staff are really high on incoming walk-on linebacker Mike Rallis of Edina. He’s mentioned Rallis several times lately without prompting.

– Here is my early, early prediction for starting secondary: cornerbacks Traye Simmons and Troy Stoudermire, Tramaine Brock at free safety and Keanon Cooper at strong safety.

– Had a chance to talk to Notre Dame transfer Matt Carufel, the former All-American O-lineman from Cretin-Derham Hall. He said he is very happy that he is back home and is going to use this season to get stronger and better at his craft while he sits out.

– Scrimmage reminder: Friday’s scrimmage is closed to media and public. Brewster said they are expecting 500 high school coaches to attend.Â

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