The Vikings’ offense struggled today in the team’s NFL regular season opener but head coach Mike Zimmer didn’t turn to Sam Bradford for help. That might have surprised the casual football fan but it was likely too soon to use Bradford who joined the team nine days ago and is still acclimating to his situation.
Learning a new offensive system and adjusting to teammates is a major transition for an NFL quarterback. Bradford probably wasn’t ready to play today and there’s no guarantee he will be ready next Sunday when the Vikings open their home season. The learning process is complicated and the Vikings don’t need to repeat the disaster of a few years ago when they rushed newly acquired Josh Freeman into a game only days after he joined the team. It was an embarrassing performance by Freeman and loss by the Vikings against the Giants before a national TV audience.
The Vikings’ offense didn’t score a touchdown today in a 25-16 win over the Titans in Nashville. Shaun Hill, the 36-year-old quarterback who has taken over for injured starter Teddy Bridgewater, completed 18 of 33 passes for 236 yards. He missed two throws that could have been touchdowns but he avoided turnovers.
Hill might be the starting quarterback for awhile. Bradford, 29, is a more highly regarded passer but he must do well with his learning curve and if the team keeps winning Zimmer might stay with Hill indefinitely. Hill is looked at by Zimmer as a game manager, and while the Vikings will have to start scoring touchdowns they don’t want to give them away, either, like the Titans did.
Minnesota’s defense used two Titans’ turnovers on read-options by quarterback Marcus Mariota to score second half touchdowns. Linebacker Eric Kendricks made a third quarter interception and ran the ball 77 yards for a touchdown that gave the Vikings their first lead of the game, 12-10. In the fourth quarter another read-option mistake led to a fumble recovery and 24-yard run for a touchdown by Vikings’ defensive end Danielle Hunter.
The Vikings had trailed at halftime 10-0 before Blair Walsh kicked two third quarter field goals to narrow the score. The first field goal was set up by a 61-yard kickoff return by Cordarrelle Patterson to begin the third quarter. Big plays like that fueled the Vikings’ comeback on a day when All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson rushed 19 times for 31 yards.
Peterson didn’t have many holes to run through as the Vikings try to develop their offensive line with new starters in guard Alex Boone and tackle Andre Smith. To the line’s credit, though, the pass protection was often solid, particularly in the second half.
Regardless of how soon—or if—Bradford plays, the Vikings will need to get their run game going. In the offseason the Vikings made red zone offense a priority. Today the offense hardly had a sniff inside the Titans’ 20 yard line. Pass receivers, particularly in the first half, had difficulty getting open from defenders and Hill missed some throws. The run game, mostly led by Peterson, was a flop.
With Hill, or Bradford, the Vikings need to get some touchdowns from their offense but for today they had enough other options to win against a Titans team that was 3-13 last season and might not be improved.
Worth Noting
Fans attending the first-ever regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium next Sunday between the Vikings and Packers can expect a memorable night for more reasons than football. Vikings executive Lester Bagley told Sports Headliners the event atmosphere and entertainment—including a “Super Bowl quality halftime”—will be special. “The building will be rocking and it will be electric,” Bagley said.
A video will recognize key figures that helped support and obtain the votes to make funding for the stadium a reality. Leaders include governor Mark Dayton, former Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak and the late David Olson who for years was president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “He was one of the most important people in getting votes for the stadium,” Bagley said of Olson who died from cancer in 2014.
Former Gophers coach Jerry Kill was in town Friday and Saturday signing copies of his new book Chasing Dreams: Living My Life One Yard at a Time. A VIP signing Friday morning raised about $200,000 to assist the fight against epilepsy, the coach told Sports Headliners.
Kill was introduced to the crowd during the Gophers-Indiana State game Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium and received a standing ovation as fans chanted, “Jerry!, Jerry!” Kill, who now works administratively with the football program at Kansas State, was able to be in Minneapolis because the Wildcats had a bye in their schedule on Saturday.
The Gophers might have several true freshmen who eventually become impact players and difference-makers this season and in the years ahead. Receiving playing time already and worth watching are linebacker Carter Coughlin, defensive end Tai’yon Devers, linebacker Kamal Martin and wide receiver Tyler Johnson.
Minnesota used six freshmen, either true first-year players or redshirts, on kickoffs during the 58-28 win over Indiana State.
With franchises in Major League Baseball, the NBA, NFL, NHL and WNBA, plus Gophers basketball, football and hockey, the competition for attention and revenues in this marketplace is intense and about to become fiercer with the arrival of Minnesota’s new Major League Soccer franchise and stadium. Glen Taylor, who owns the NBA Timberwolves and WNBA Lynx, told Sports Headliners he isn’t that concerned about soccer splitting the sports revenue pie in too many pieces.
Taylor sees the soccer audience as having large segments that aren’t necessarily passionate fans—or fans at all—of the other teams in town. The pro soccer crowd in Minnesota is expected to include immigrants new to the state and younger patrons such as college students. For individuals and families, the affordability of tickets compared to the major pro sports teams could make the Minnesota soccer franchise a popular alternative.
Taylor analyzed factors like those mentioned above—and that soccer is the most popular game in the world—and decided to buy 15 percent of the new franchise that is led by majority owner Bill McGuire, and begins play next year. Taylor, who also owns the Star Tribune, said his ownership stake was motivated by a desire to add diversity to Minnesota’s sports offerings.
“That’s my most important one (reason for involvement),” he said. “No. 2, I think, it would be an event (sport) that will grow in the future. It just appears to me it is going to be more dominant in the United States. …I hope it will be somewhat similar to the Timberwolves, that as the league evolves the value of the franchise increases and it will be a good investment for my family.”
San Diego State is searching for a new athletic director but the eventual hire won’t change the status of Bloomington, Minnesota native Brian Dutcher who carries the title of assistant coach and “head coach in waiting” for the men’s basketball program. Brian’s father, Jim Dutcher, said that his son has been assured the promise to succeed head coach Steve Fisher remains in place. Fisher’s son Mark Fisher has been struggling with ALS for years but continues to be an assistant coach.
U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III will announce three of his four Ryder Cup Captain’s picks tomorrow at 10 a.m. from Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska. The Golf Channel will televise the news conference.
how about the vikings play selection on first down, 8 -10 guys in the box and we continually run peterson when he has no chance of getting free!!!!!
that is either stupidity on play calling by norv turner or being bull headed
maybe if they played peterson in a preseason game so he could get his feet under him would help too
people will blame peterson but that was on the coaches!!!!!!!!