As good as Eric Decker has been for Minnesota the last three years -- and he's been very good, the best receiver in the Big Ten, better statistically and lately in reputation than the more hyped Arrelious Benn at Illinois -- the best measure of his value to the Gophers is to try to watch the offense when he's not on the field.

During Minnesota's surprising 6-1 start last year, Decker had 66 catches for almost 1,200 yards and six touchdowns; after he came up gimpy against Northwestern in the seventh game, the Gophers flopped down the stretch, losing their last three in the regular season, including a six-point effort against Michigan and a home shutout at the hands of Iowa, games in which a half-speed Decker combined for just three catches and no scores. Going into Saturday's date with Ohio State, Decker had twice as many catches and yards for scrimmage as the next-best Gophers in either category, and the operation descended into chaos after he left the game in the first half, and would have ended with Minny suffering its second straight shutout if not for a late garbage-time touchdown.

So word of his permanent absence today is kind of bad news:

The Gophers will play the remainder of their 2009 regular season without Eric Decker, the school’s all-time leader in receptions (227). The senior suffered a sprained foot in Saturday’s loss at Ohio State, and has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season.
[...]
He’s being examined by doctors to see whether surgery is the best option. "What we hope is we can possibly get Eric back for a bowl game," [coach Tim] Brewster said. The coach described the injury as "a sprain in his arch."

On the bright side, Coach Brew, at least there's no way to blame the coach for this. (What's that? Some Gopher partisans are blaming the coach for this? That seems slightly ... unfair. Inevitable, but unfair.)

The mention of "a bowl game" brings a hearty round of guffaws from commenters in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. With Decker out, Minnesota's new offensive philosophy officially becomes "MarQuies Gray runs around." Senior quarterback Adam Weber has been a respectable starter with Decker as a primary target, but the Gophers' complete lack of playmaking talent outside of the occasional Gray scamper from the Wildcat (he was the only offensive threat with 81 yards rushing against the Buckeyes, plus) begs for the touted freshman to begin assuming the reins full-time.

With that sobering thought, it's not even a lock that the Gophers will beat hopeless Illinois or I-AA South Dakota State to earn an obligatory bid to the Little Caesar's Bowl, which will only be notable if Decker is able to return for one last go-round before taking his show to the draft.

In other critical Big Ten injury news, Iowa has lost two key cogs in its running game, leading rusher Adam Robinson and journeyman offensive line starter Dace Richardson. Along with fellow freshman Brandon Wegher,Robinson was only in the lineup to begin with thanks to a season-ending injury to projected starter Jewel Hampton.

Coach Kirk Ferentz is the master of understatement: “We’re not doing well." At least the Hawkeye-loving BCS computers don't take injuries into account, either.