Minnesota has become an explosive offensive team that has been victorious in three straight bowl games.

Still, the Gophers have a long way to go before they become a complete football team. Take what happened last year. Minnesota got out of the gate with three straight non-conference wins by significant margins. Par for the course.

The Gophers then opened the Big Ten season with wins over Northwestern and Penn State. Minnesota overpowered the Wildcats with a powerful offense and then used defense to shut down the punchless Nittany Lions. They were 5-0 headed into the Michigan game.

For the third straight year, the Gophers led in the fourth quarter against the Wolverines. For the third straight year, they left the field hanging their heads as they were tagged with another painful defeat. Minnesota went on to lose four of the next five games.

Minnesota should once again have a game-breaking offense. RB Laurence Maroney could find himself in contention for major postseason awards now that running mate Marion Barber III has moved on to the NFL (Dallas). Maroney will no longer have to split time and a 1,800-2,000-yard season appears within his reach. Maroney has explosive speed and will hit the home run on a regular basis. However, he can also go inside and pick up the tough yards if Mason asks him to.

Junior QB Bryan Cupito should be ready for a big year now that he has a full season behind him. Cupito moves well and can buy time with his feet. He completed just 47.1 percent of his passes for 2,071 yards last year, but Mason asks his quarterback to go deep with some frequency. Cupito had a 14-7 TD-interception ratio and that figure is more indicative of his all-around talent than his completion percentage.

The receiving crew has a lot of versatility. Ernie Wheelwright, Jared Ellerson and Jakari Wallace give Cupito receivers who can stretch the field and challenge the defense. Wheelwright caught 30-654-7 as a freshman last year and his confidence level is high. Ellerson was a star in 2003 but he slumped in 2004 to 37-521-3. He seemed to struggle after Wheelwright became the team's deep threat and he was asked to run more inside routes. Wallace is tiny at 5-8 and 170 pounds, but he is extremely tough and willing to pay the price to make the catch.

Three returning starters should make the offensive line a solid group. The best of the unit is C Greg Eslinger, who should be playing in the NFL a year from now. Eslinger may be the best center in the nation and Mark Setterstrom is extremely productive at left guard. Setterstrom is a sensational run blocker and Maroney is fortunate to have this duo providing many of his running lanes. OLT Joe Ainslie is another solid run blocker, but he needs to show more development as a pass blocker.

The Gophers have major questions on the defense with the departure of DL Darrell Reid and LB Dominique Sims. Reid was the unit's leader who would rally the team verbally and then make plays. Senior DE Dan Lipka will be given a chance to become the key playmaker on the defensive line.

Strongside LB Kyle McKenzie makes excellent reads and is aggressive. He may be the most instinctive of the linebackers. Weakside LB John Shevlin showed promise in the Music City Bowl win over Oregon and much will be expected.

FS John Pawielski will direct the secondary. Pawielski is not the fastest player, but he is smart, aggressive and a sure tackler who finished with 70 stops last year. CB Trumaine Banks is Mason's best cover man. He has great confidence and will often gamble that he can make the interception. That tendency leads to big plays for the Gophers - and their opponents.

With Rhys Lloyd moving on, Jason Giannini gets a shot at the PK position. The coaching staff believes that Giannini has a strong leg, but they have concerns about his accuracy.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAME: vs. Purdue, Sept. 24 -- After opening the season with three extremely winnable non-conference games, the Gophers start the Big Ten portion of the season with a home game against the Boilermakers. Joe Tiller will have a new quarterback in Brandon Kirsch and if he can make the adjustment to full-time starter Purdue will tough to beat.

THE GOPHERS WILL GO 9-2 IF: The defense steps up, QB Bryan Cupito continues to improve and Minnesota find a way to beat Michigan, Ohio State or Iowa. They probably have the best chance of beating the Buckeyes, since that game will be at the Metrodome.

THE GOPHERS WILL GO 5-6 IF: There is no increase in the maturity level. The Gophers have to learn how to handle adversity and respond better after a key loss. Rallying a team has not been one of Glen Mason's strengths.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's one of those guys I love because he doesn't talk tough. He doesn't act tough. I'm just telling you he is one tough sucker. " -- Mason on OLG Mark Setterstrom.

HEAD COACH: Glen Mason, 9th year at Minnesota, 51-45; 19 years overall, 110-109-1.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: RB Laurence Maroney -- He could be the best running back in the Big Ten - and perhaps the nation. Maroney rushed for 1,348 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry while splitting time with Marion Barber III last year. He could put incredible numbers on the board as the go-to guy this year.

BREAKOUT STAR: FS John Pawielski -- He has been a smart and solid performer for a unit that does not have an overabundance of either characteristic. As Pawielski moves into his senior year he needs to step up even more and become a leader for the unit.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: CB Dominic Jones -- The Gophers lack an established cover guy, so the freshman from Columbus, Ohio has a chance to become an important player if he makes a good show during the summer. Jones is small -- 5-9 and 180 pounds -- but he has solid techniques and has the confidence to become a star.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: Offense - QB Bryan Cupito, RB Laurence Maroney, FB Justin Valentine, WR Ernie Wheelwright, WR Jared Ellerson, TE Matt Spaeth, OLT Joe Ainslie, OLG Mark Setterstrom, C Greg Eslinger, ORG Mike Nicholson, ORT Tony Brinkhaus

Defense -- DE Eric Clark, DT Mark Losli, DT Anthony Montgomery, DE Keith Lipka, WLB John Shevlin, MLB Mike Sherels, SLB Kyle McKenzie, CB Jamal Harris, CB Trumaine Banks, SS Brandon Owens, FS John Pawielski

ROSTER REPORT: The Gophers should be healthy going into summer practice.