We've seen the potential. Three fourth-quarter touchdown passes against Michigan State. A promising first quarter against Michigan. A 64-yard touchdown dash against Oregon State.
And we've seen the struggles. Five-for-15 with two interceptions against Illinois. Nine-for-29 against Iowa. A 38.2 completion percentage over the past four games.
For Demry Croft, and his Gophers, the season hasn't played out as hoped. The team is treading water at 4-5, having lost five of six Big Ten games. And Croft, given the chance to start, has failed to seize control of the quarterback job.
But beginning Saturday against Nebraska (4-5, 3-3 Big Ten) at TCF Bank Stadium and continuing through season's end, Croft will try to show what we have yet to see: distinct development, clear improvement, resolve.
"We're going to respond in a good way this week," the sophomore said. "After you take something like that this past weekend, you come back a little hungry. And I feel we'll be hungry this week."
Last week in the 33-10 loss at Michigan, Croft showed promise early. His first pass went for 25 yards to Phillip Howard. His second was an 8-yard connection to Rodney Smith. After a third-down incompletion ended the Gophers' first drive, Croft led a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown march by hooking up with Howard for a 16-yard gain, converting a third-and-6 with an 8-yard run and rushing for 12 yards to the Michigan 17. Suddenly, the Gophers and Wolverines were tied 7-7, and Croft had completed three of his first four passes for 49 yards.
"He looked very confident out there, very comfortable in what he was seeing against Michigan, which is a great sign," offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca said.
That success against Michigan was short-lived, however, because the Wolverines adjusted and started to dominate the line of scrimmage. They sacked Croft five times, including a strip sack by Khaleke Hudson with the Gophers at Michigan's 42 midway through the third quarter. After that 3-for-4 start, Croft was 2-for-8 the rest of the game as his receivers got little separation from Michigan speedy and physical defenders.