No guarantees but Vikings fans are likely to see their team win its debut game in U.S. Bank Stadium next Sunday.
The Vikings will play their first ever game in the new $1.1 billion domed facility Sunday afternoon against the Chargers. It will be the third exhibition game of the season for both teams. The 2-0 Vikings are 10-1 in preseason games dating back to 2014, the best record in the 32-team NFL the last three years. During the same period the Chargers are 5-5 including 1-1 this season.
Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema, who is close to his old team, credits defense and third-year coach Mike Zimmer for Minnesota’s dominant exhibition record. “Defense, defense, defense,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “Defense is always ahead of the offense at this time of the season anyway, and that’s why you see so many low scoring games. …But he (Zimmer) has that defense playing so well together, so quickly in preseason, I think that’s the main reason for his record.”
The Vikings have given up 16 points or more only three times during their 11 preseason games in the Zimmer era. Six times opponents have scored 12 points or less against Zimmer’s teams. This preseason the Vikings have defeated the Bengals, 17-16, and Seahawks, 18-11.
The Vikings gave up the second fewest points in the National Football Conference last year when they won their first division title since 2009. Minnesota’s 302 points allowed was second only to the Seahawks’ 272.
Zimmer has impressed Lurtsema and many others with his coaching. His defensive teachings were well documented with the Bengals where he was defensive coordinator before coming to Minneapolis. As a head coach he has his imprint on the defense but he also has shaped the entire team with his no-nonsense, direct approach with all players. He doesn’t tolerate lack of effort and mental mistakes.
Lurtsema attends practices and sees a team attitude he likes. He gives Zimmer and his staff a lot of credit for what he observes in the 2016 Vikings. He raves about Zimmer and likens him to his former coach Bud Grant who led the Vikings to four Super Bowls.
Zimmer, of course, doesn’t even have a playoff win yet as a head coach but Lurtsema wouldn’t trade him for any NFL boss including those who have won Super Bowls. “Nope, and that took me almost a millionth of a second to answer that,” Lurtsema said when asked about trading Zimmer.
Worth Noting
This morning at Winter Park Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who missed last week’s preseason game with a shoulder problem, declined to say when it developed. He also didn’t comment on whether he can physically perform today as normal. The third-year quarterback said he never had arm problems while playing in college and high school.
Harrison Smith, who might be the best safety in the NFL, isn’t the only celebrity in his family. His aunt, Elaine Hendrix, is an actress who has appeared in such productions as Friends, NCIS and The Parent Trap.
Former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder seems certain to see a lot of playing time for the 49ers when they play at home against the Packers Friday night. The 28-year-old Ponder was impressive last week in leading the 49ers to a win over the Broncos, only days after being signed to a one-year contract and not knowing if he had an NFL future. Ponder’s wife, Sam Ponder, will join Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit as ESPN’s lead commenting team on college football telecasts this season.
Ron Vander Kelen, who died last week in Edina, is remembered by older football fans in this state. As undrafted NFL free agent, he played mostly as a reserve quarterback for the Vikings from 1963-1967. At Wisconsin he helped the Badgers to the 1962 Big Ten title after they defeated the Gophers in a controversial game costing Minnesota the championship. Vander Kelen, a native of Green Bay, was the Chicago Tribune’s 1962 Big Ten MVP.
The football Gophers need a breakout player at wide receiver and they may get a huge surprise. Tyler Johnson, 6-2, 185-pounds, was a quarterback and defensive back at Minneapolis North but he’s made a big impression catching footballs in August practices.
“Done a tremendous job,” said Gophers coach Tracy Claeys. “I mean, for a true freshman, it’s unbelievable. Really is, just because you’re talking about a kid who played every sport in high school, including baseball, AAU basketball, (and) hadn’t had much time in the weight room. If we wouldn’t bring in freshmen in June he probably wouldn’t have a chance because of the strength thing, but he’s added some strength, and he’s gained some weight.
“I do think that the AAU basketball has given him a mentality of competing against older kids. …It didn’t faze him to get out there and go against older kids. Tremendous hands, and he can jump and come up with the ball. He’ll definitely be a part of what we’re doing this fall.”
C.O.R.E.S. will have former Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi as its speaker Thursday, September 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Maturi was AD from 2002-2012 and during that time student-athletes improved in the classroom while teams won five national championships and more than 40 conference titles. He was a finalist for the National Athletic Director of the Year Award in 2009. C.O.R.E.S. reservations and more information are available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.
St. John’s head football coach Gary Fasching will speak to the C.O.R.E.S. group Thursday, November 10. C.O.R.E.S. is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.
Oswaldo Arcia, the former Twins outfielder who joined the Rays earlier this season, was signed off waivers by the Marlins earlier this week. With the Rays he hit .259 with two home runs and seven RBI in 54 at bats. His numbers earlier this season for Minnesota were .214 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 103 at bats.
The Gophers volleyball team is picked for second in the Big Ten behind Nebraska. The conference announced the results yesterday of a coaches poll which also voted Gophers Hannah Tapp, Paige Tapp and Samantha Seliger-Swenson preseason All-Big Ten.