David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Defense May Thrive on Rookie QB Mistakes

Posted on December 10, 2023December 10, 2023 by David Shama

The eyes of Vikings pass defenders could be wide-eyed today against the Raiders in Las Vegas. That’s because players like Minnesota cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. will be facing a rookie quarterback in Aidan O’Connell who didn’t take over the starting assignment until early November. When matched up against an inexperienced QB, Murphy told Sports Headliners a defender can think “this week I gotta go get more picks.”

O’Connell took over from George Clooney look-a-like Jimmy Garoppolo for the November 5 Raiders game against the Giants. Vegas is 2-2 since, with wins over the Giants and Jets, and losses to the Dolphins and Chiefs.

The 25-year-old fourth round draft choice from Purdue played sparingly until given the starting assignment against the Giants. Now the Raiders are committed to him this season—although not unexpectedly he has been inconsistent throwing six interceptions (three against the Dolphins) and four touchdown passes to receivers who include elite WR Davante Adams.

“Playing a younger quarterback, they’re trying to make everything perfect, and obviously trying to get the ball to their top guys,” Murphy said. “So that kind of gives you a tell (clue) where the ball is going. Where you need to be on that type of play.”

The Vikings will try to confuse O’Connell with their defensive looks and blitz-happy scheme. That will challenge his QB IQ and poise but there is a feeling in Vegas the rookie is improving.

Vincent Bonsignore, writing for the Las Vegas Review-Journal Friday, noted that in O’Connell’s last game (against the Chiefs) he had no fumbles or interceptions. Among those impressed was Raiders coach Antonio Pierce.

“That last game (against the Chiefs), that kid played well,” Pierce said in the Journal’s story. “He gave us a chance to win, took care of the football, made the adjustments, made the corrections that we needed to, was poised … that’s what we want to see.”

Worth Noting

Murphy is in his first season with the Vikings after four years with the Cardinals. The Vikings, under second-year coach Kevin O’Connell are known for their culture, and Murphy is a believer saying “the support system around this place is just amazing.”

During the team’s bye week Murphy went home to Arizona and spent time with his six-year-old son. The most exciting development, however, was learning he will be the father of a baby girl due in April.

Justin Jefferson image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings’ own elite receiver, Justin Jefferson, returns to the lineup today after missing seven games because of his hamstring injury. “I mean It’s huge (having him back),” WR K.J. Osborn said. “It will change the way teams defend us, give us another playmaker.”

Osborn and Jefferson are close so he knows how frustrated his friend was. “He’s a competitor. He wanted to get back out there. I know it was killing him. …”

Osborn talking about Jefferson’s personality and make up: “He’s a great guy. The same guy that you guys (media) see is how he is. Very personable. Funny, always wants to have fun. Smile on his face. Nice guy that comes from a great family.”

Jefferson has 5,396 career receiving yards and needs 117 receiving yards to surpass Michael Thomas (5,512 receiving yards) for the most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history.

Osborn will be a free agent after this season but said nothing is happening now regarding a contract extension with the Vikings.

Just like the Raiders, the future of the Vikings’ QB situation is unsettled both short and long term. Joshua Dobbs was named the starter for today after there was anticipation Nick Mullens would get the call. However things to turn out today, there will be many fans who will say, “I told you so.”

Vikings’ left guard Dalton Risner, now in his fifth NFL season, knows the public is fickle. “You can’t focus too much on the outside (noise),” he said. “They’re gonna love you when you’re up. They’re gonna hate you when you’re down.”

Dobbs does provide a running threat that Mullens can’t offer, and Osborn has been impressed. “Cause I didn’t even know he was that athletic. I think it surprised a lot of us. But he goes out there, and when he has to, he’s able to extend plays with his legs and help us out that way.”

Risner doesn’t anticipate a quarterback controversy inside the Vikings’ locker room. “This is a strong locker room. From what I’ve taken it’s a locker room that supports whatever the coaches are doing and whatever the organization chooses. “

Risner joined the Vikings two games into the season. He became a starter on October 23 and while some on the outside may be so-so on his performance he isn’t. “I’ve had a really good year. I haven’t even given up a sack yet.”

The Vikings’ other starting guard, Ed Ingram, was maligned last season as a rookie but he’s improved now. Ingram told Sports Headliners that as a rookie playing next to standout tackle Brian O’Neill, he was nervous and “I didn’t want to mess him up.”

Ingram said the coaches have told him his “level of play has elevated since last season.” He now believes he and O’Neill complement each other.

Vivid Seat’s Fan Forecast is 54 percent of the patrons at today’s game at Allegiant Stadium will be Vikings fans.

Maxwell Woods, the running back / defensive back from Chanhassen High School, was today named Mr. Football for 2023 by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA). In a news release Chanhassen coach Cullen Nelson said:

“Maxwell Woods is the hardest worker I have ever coached and his drive to win is unmatched. He is an ambassador for our football program and school. He is the ultimate competitor and teammate. He isn’t a stats guy; he is a team guy. He gets just as excited when his teammates score as when he does. I will never coach a player better than Maxwell Woods. He is the total package. Maxwell is committed to North Dakota State University to play running back next year.”

The Mr. Football Award is co-sponsored by the MFCA and the Vikings. The two organizations also annually collaborate on the All-Star football game matching high school seniors from the state in a North-South rivalry. With its varied activities to benefit high school football, the MFCA lives by the mantra “The Keepers of the Game.”

Audra Martin, the Twins sideline reporter, and Wild studio host, is the latest guest on “Behind the Game” with hosts Patrick Klinger and Dave Boden. A Chicago native and graduate of Central Florida, Martin has worked in this market since 2015. The show is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW-LqbyoZhI

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Basketball Authority Thinks U Can Avoid Big Ten Cellar

Posted on December 5, 2023December 5, 2023 by David Shama

Jim Dutcher coached the 1982 University of Minnesota basketball team to the Big Ten Conference regular season championship, and he remains an authority on college hoops watching a lot of Big Ten and national games. He believes five programs are among the most likely to finish last in the 14-team conference: Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Rutgers. Many prognosticators have the Gophers finishing in the cellar.

Coach Ben Johnson’s first two Minnesota teams placed last in the standings, but this season’s roster could be built to avoid a third consecutive embarrassment. When Dutcher was asked about impressions of the 5-3 (overall record) Golden Gophers, he referred to the past and said: “I think (the) talent (is) much better, particularly up front. Their front line when they have (Dawson) Garcia and (Pharrel) Payne and (Joshua) Ola-Joseph is pretty impressive. Still have some trouble with guard play, turning the ball over too much, but there is some talent there.”

The three big men mentioned haven’t been starting together, with Payne coming off the bench, but that could be changing. More on the starting lineup later.

Dawson, the junior forward-center from Savage, is tied for second in scoring among Big Ten players. He and Tyson Walker of Michigan State are averaging 20.5 points per game.

Dawson had a career-high 36 points in Sunday night’s opening Big Ten game against Ohio State in Columbus. Dawson was particularly effective inside the lane, scoring on nifty moves near the rim. Now he could be poised for another big game Wednesday night in the conference home opener against Nebraska.

Dutcher told Sports Headliners coach Fred Hoiberg’s Cornhuskers, who were 9-11 in the Big Ten last season, have improved but he identified a flaw that could work in Dawson’s favor. “Their weakness is still their inside defense and that is certainly a strength of Minnesota. Garcia is as good as I’ve seen there in a while. He’s not only good, he’s real good.”

Dutcher thinks Minnesota and Nebraska are competitively matched. The Huskers are 7-1 on the season but haven’t played a formidable schedule as is true for most Big Ten teams at this time in the fall. In their biggest test, they lost 89-60 to nationally-ranked Creighton in Omaha on Sunday. “I’ll pick us here (in Minneapolis) and I would have taken Nebraska at Nebraska,” Dutcher said.

Circling back to Minnesota’s front line, Dutcher sees improvement in sophomores Payne and Ola-Joseph. Their athleticism is evident every time they step on the court and both have the potential to impact the game in Minnesota’s favor offensively and defensively.

The Gopher backcourt, however, is problematic too much of the time. “As the year goes on, you’ll see some improvement in their guard play,” Dutcher said. “Right now, it’s just the case of too many turnovers at crucial times that keeps them in hot water.”

The Gophers are averaging a conference worst 14.1 turnovers per game. Their turnover margin per game against opponents is -3.00. Those numbers, BTW, have been compiled against mediocre, or worse, competition. Dutcher’s view: if the Gophers solve their turnover issues “they could be very competitive.”

Another offensive issue is lack of ball movement. “Their point guard (Elijah Hawkins) over dribbles the ball,” Dutcher said. “Anytime the guard is dribbling around, everyone else is standing. So a little bit better ball movement (is needed). Ben knows that and their staff knows that and they’re working to improve it.”

It’s not just been Hawkins (the starter) who hasn’t given the Gophers enough playmaking at guard. Mike Mitchell Jr., a transfer like Hawkins, and Braeden Carrington haven’t’ excelled in playmaking either.

The Gophers need improvement defensively, too. In their 84-74 loss to Ohio State, they trailed 42-28 at halftime and while they played better in the second half the Gophers couldn’t make the big defensive stops when needed.

Minnesota is 11^th in the conference giving up 68.8 points per game. In their three losses (including Missouri and San Francisco) the Gophers have yielded 70 points or more.

Johnson shortened his rotation in the second half Sunday night, and it helped. More playing time for his better players seems likely Wednesday night. There also could be a starting lineup change with Payne or freshman Cam Christie replacing forward Isaiah Ihnen who is scoreless in the last three games and twice has finished with no rebounds and no assists. He also struggled defensively in the Ohio State game.

Worth Noting

Want to see textbook defense? Watch last Saturday’s Virginia-Syracuse game and the performance of former St. Thomas star Andrew Rohde. The 6-6 guard was superb in individual and team defense for Virginia, consistently moving his feet to maintain position and using his arms and body correctly while having ball awareness.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin native has started all eight games for Virginia and is fifth on the team in scoring at 7.4 points per game. A sophomore, he leads the Cavs in assists with 22.

A reminder came yesterday that there have been a lot of unsuccessful seasons for the Timberwolves when Chris Finch was honored as the NBA’s Western Conference Coach of the Month for October and November—the first Wolves coach to be so recognized since Kevin McHale in 2009. Finch got the Wolves off to a 14-4 start in the first two months of the season.

Gophers football fans who want to attend Minnesota’s Quick Lane Bowl game in Detroit against Bowling Green on December 26 don’t have to miss Christmas at home. Steve and Dorothy Erban’s Creative Charters is offering a same day round-trip for $329 per person that includes flight and ground transportation. Anyone who does comparative shopping will see that’s a real bargain.

What’s the “over-under” for the number of Vikings fans who will attend Sunday’s game in Las Vegas between Minnesota and the Raiders? I’ll go with 7,000 in Sin City.

Season grades so far for Vikings’ starting offensive linemen by Pro Football Focus: left tackle Christian Darrisaw, 85; right tackle Brian O’Neill, 74.7; center Garrett Bradbury, 65.1; right guard Ed Ingram, 61.4; left guard Dalton Risner, 53.

Congratulations to St. Thomas athletics director Phil Esten for being named by Twin Cities Business as one of the “100 people to know in 2024.” The list recognizes achievers in the state expected to be newsmakers and change leaders during the coming year.

CBS ended its telecast schedule of SEC football games last Saturday, an association that started in 1996. Legendary play-by-play voices through the years were both native Minnesotans, Verne Lundquist and Brad Nessler. Two of the best, along with Keith Jackson, to ever call college football games.

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The Bet Here: A Nick Mullens Start at QB in Las Vegas

Posted on December 3, 2023December 3, 2023 by David Shama

It will be surprising if Nick Mullens isn’t named the starting quarterback for the Vikings in their next game, December 10 in Las Vegas against the Raiders. Head coach Kevin O’Connell declined to name a starter during last week’s bye period, but Josh Dobbs is 2-2 in leading the offense and is coming off a four interception performance against the Bears November 27.

Mullens’ back injury likely prevented him from being the starter after Kirk Cousins suffered his torn Achilles season-ending injury against the Packers October 29. Mullens has the best understanding of the offense on a quarterback roster that also includes rookie Jaren Hall.

Dobbs was acquired in an October 31 trade with the Cardinals. Mullens came to Minnesota in a trade with the Raiders in August of 2022. Both he and Dobbs are 28 years old, have been with multiple NFL teams and are considered journeymen.

Nick Mullens image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Mullens’ experience with the offensive system could give the Vikings the best outcome in getting the ball to superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson in Vegas and for the rest of the season. Jefferson is expected to play next Sunday after being sidelined with a hamstring injury for almost two months. The whole offense is predicated on passing success with other superb targets in rookie WR Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Likeable and soft spoken, Mullens has been a supportive backup to Cousins. If he starts next Sunday it will be his first for the Vikings during the regular season. In 24 previous games in the NFL, including 17 starts, he has thrown 27 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions.

The future status of the Vikings quarterback leadership beyond this season is muddled. The club seems almost certain to take a quarterback in the first round. Minnesota could be on pace to draft around No. 20 and the best available then might be J.J. McCarthy of Michigan. He not only has passing skills but has the mobility to add another option to O’Connell’s creative schemes and play calling. He is young (turns 21 in January) and will need developmental time.

The Vikings and Cousins have to determine if they can figure out a new contract. Cousins is a free agent and a proven top 12 NFL quarterback but his bargaining power will be diminished coming off such a severe injury. Still, he would be valuable to the Vikings for a season or two while they groom a McCarthy.

But how do the Vikings determine their salary cap and budget challenges in 2024 with expensive new contracts that could start with Cousins at $35 million, Jefferson at $30 million and pass rushing whiz Danielle Hunter at $25 million.

Worth Noting

McCarthy’s coach at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh, is likely to leave the controversies of college coaching behind and take an NFL job in the coming weeks. Harbaugh interviewed with the Vikings two years ago with a resume that included taking a so-so 49ers team to the Super Bowl. Last week Yardbarker was quoting 5-1 odds he will be the next coach of the NFL Panthers.

Speaking of quarterbacks, a lot of fans have to be rooting for Cole Kramer to have a successful game leading the Gophers in their bowl game. The former Eden Prairie star enrolled at Minnesota in January of 2019 and has seen minimal playing time during his career including brief appearances in two games this season. He’s been the definition of the “loyal trooper” and it will be interesting to see if with starter Athan Kaliakmanis in the transfer pool he chooses to use his last year of eligibility at Minnesota in 2024.

The Gophers are targeting FCS passing leader Max Brosmer, the quarterback from New Hampshire who has entered the transfer portal. He was the team’s captain and is originally from Georgia. Brosmer was a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy recognizing the best football scholar-athlete in the nation for academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule told reporters recently “a good quarterback” costs $1 million to $2 million in NIL money. Presumably he’s talking FBS, not FCS, because the Gophers can’t afford that kind of money.

Dinkytown Athletes, the official collective of Gopher athletics, is making progress in generating NIL money including with creative ideas partnering with businesses. It’s believed NIL money will first be a priority here in retaining players on the roster.

Quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who once had an interest in the Gophers, is in the transfer portal and leaving Louisiana Tech. Coming out of high school in California in 2019, Bachmeier was one of the nation’s top ranked pro style quarterbacks and chose Boise State.

The Gophers haven’t played in the Rose Bowl since January of 1962 when they defeated UCLA in the “grandaddy” of all bowl games. That changes next year when Minnesota plays at UCLA on the Bruins’ home field, the Rose Bowl. Stillwater-based Creative Charters is already promoting a fan-trip to Southern California October 9-13.

Bill Guerin has fired two head coaches since becoming the Wild’s GM, Bruce Boudreau in 2020 and Dean Evason last week. If new hire John Hynes doesn’t last at least a few years, scrutiny will focus on Guerin who has yet to see one of his Wild teams make a deep playoff run.

After last night’s win over the Hornets in Charlotte, the Timberwolves are 15-4, the best record through the first 19 games of a season in franchise history.

Cleveland.com reports former Gopher and Minnesota native Jamison Battle is making a career high 38.6 percent of his three-point shots. Stephen Means of the website predicts Battle’s new team, the Ohio State Buckeyes, will win 73-61 against the Gophers tonight in Columbus in the first Big Ten game for both teams on the 2023-2024 schedule.

Popular emcee and former Gophers public address announcer Dick Jonckowski had a checkup last month and continues to be cancer free from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dick was told he won’t need another checkup for a year.

David Mackay produced and directed a movie he filmed in Norway and Ireland titled “My Norwegian Holiday” which debuted Friday night on the Hallmark Channel. David is the son of Minnesota icon Harvey Mackay who has been a prominent booster of local sports and confidant to Gophers sports leaders over the years.

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