Author: David Shama

Two games away from the halfway mark of the season, the Minnesota Vikings’ record is a below average 2-4.  With the “first semester” ending soon, Sports Headliners interviewed a former NFL personnel evaluator who was asked to grade the Vikings’ offense, defense and special teams.  Here’s a detailed breakdown by the expert who requested that his name not be used:

Quarterbacks: D-  Tarvaris Jackson has completed only 45.9 percent of his passes and thrown five interceptions and just two touchdown passes in four games.  The evaluator likes Jackson’s “skill set” but said the 24–year-old quarterback’s performance hasn’t matched his potential.  “The development hasn’t kept up with the amount of preparation that’s gone into it,” he said.  The quarterback situation has placed the season in jeopardy.

Running backs: A  Chester Taylor has been productive and my source said rookie Adrian Peterson “is a super star in the making.”  Peterson, who leads the NFL in rushing, is under utilized.  “He should touch the ball 25 to 30 times including carries, receptions and kickoffs,” the source said.

Receivers, including tight ends: C- The evaluator said the grade is “gracious” considering how under utilized wide receiver Bobby Wade and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe have been.  No one has emerged at wide receiver as a deep threat.  “The wide receiver down field blocking is exceptional, and a credit to George Stewart (wide receivers coach),” the evaluator said.

Offensive line: C+  Overall, the run blocking has been encouraging, and the source praised center Matt Birk and left guard Steve Hutchinson, said the right side of the line is “a work in progress,” and added that right tackle Ryan Cook at times is in “over his head.”

Defensive line: A-  Tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams are the “best duo in the NFL,” according to the evaluator.  Defensive end “production” has improved significantly from last season because of Ray Edwards, Kenechi Udeze and rookie Brian Robison. “They (the unit) still need to bring more pass rushing production,” the source said.

Linebackers: A-  The move of E.J. Henderson to middle linebacker (“explosive tackler”) has been a success, Ben Leber is versatile and effective, and 24-year-old Chad Greenway has “shown flashes of his upside,” the evaluator said.  All three can play effectively against the run and pass.

Secondary: C+  The source said “there have been some breakdowns” in the secondary including confusion last Sunday on a touchdown reception by Terrell Owens of Dallas.  Inexperience and match up problems have been part of the difficulty.  As expected, teams have picked on rookie cornerback Marcus McCAuley and second year corner Cedric Griffin.

Special teams: B  Punter Chris Kluwe is averaging 44.2 yards and has “been exceptional.”  Long snapper Cullen Loeffler is as good as ever and “never gets enough credit,” the evaluator said.  Veteran place kicker Ryan Longwell who won the Chicago game with a last play field goal is “very good.”  Blocking by the field goal unit needs to improve, but the return and coverage teams are solid.  However, the source is “shocked” that the Vikings aren’t using Mewelde Moore to return punts instead of Wade.  Moore had 71 yard touchdown returns in both 2005 and 2006.

Although Gopher seniors Dan Coleman, Lawrence McKenzie and Spencer Tollackson may emerge as Big Ten Conference stars this season, the biggest storyline for 2007-08 will be new head coach Tubby Smith.  The Minnesota “triplets” are beyond comparison as the team’s best players.  But Smith, the former NCAA champion coach at Kentucky, is a national story now that he’s in Minneapolis.

The Gopher season starts next week with a home exhibition game against Minnesota State University Mankato on Thursday.   Last season the Gophers were 9-22 overall, 3-13 in the Big Ten and lost their last nine games.  If the Gophers make improvements, Smith will be lauded.  A poor season will be explained away by most observers as not Smith’s fault because the roster lacks talent and depth.

Wanting to embrace Smith, this town is impressed by his 1998 national title, four elite eight NCAA teams, three national coach of the year awards, five SEC regular season championships and 14 consecutive 20-win seasons.  The Smith personality endears him to people quickly, too. Particularly one-on-one, Smith is friendly, engaging and more like a next door neighbor than a high powered college basketball coach.

But talking to the media earlier this week Smith provided a glimpse of the intensity and determination that his players see everyday in practice.  “There’s a lot of question marks about what we’re capable of doing but I expect us to be very competitive,” he said.

Make no mistake, Smith is in charge of the Gophers and he expects his players to be disciplined and grateful.  He said players who are too questioning of how they fit in as individuals will receive a direct answer. “Be grateful” to be on the team because there are others on the outside who want the opportunity.

Smith wasn’t specific about predicting wins and losses for the coming season, and offered some humor on the subject. “I am not Nostradamus,” he said.

His team is sorting out who the starters will be beyond the “triplets.”  Most challenging is the point guard position where McKenzie, freshman Al Nolen, and sophomore Kevin Payton are candidates.  Ball handling is a top priority, Smith said, as the Gophers work on limiting turnovers that helped spoil their last season.

The “triplets” are the highest returning scoring trio in the Big Ten.  McKenzie averaged 14.9 points per game, Coleman 14.2 and Tollackson 12.0.  McKenzie and Coleman made honorable mention all-conference, but there’s plenty of potential for improvement from all three as they try to help the Gophers to the post-season world of the NCAA or even NIT.

Smith wants McKenzie, more a shooter than a playmaker, to make his teammates better, too.  He refers to Coleman as a “workaholic” and mentioned that his 6-9 forward arrives at practice 30 minutes early to start work.  Smith said Tollackson, the 6-9 center, has a “ton of talent” and is a leader.

The Vikings, 2-4, play six of their last 10 games at home, starting with Sunday’s noon game with Philadelphia.  Three of the next four games are here, with the only road date in Green Bay on November 11.

Vikings’ coach Brad Childress spent seven seasons with the Eagles, including four as offensive coordinator.  Vikings’ defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was the defensive backfield coach for the Eagles from 1999-2002.  Former Gophers’ fullback Thomas Tapeh, now with the Eagles, has rushed 12 times for 42 yards this season.

Speculation is that Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb could end up in the NFC North next year, either with Chicago or the Vikings.

Adrian Peterson not only leads the NFL in rushing yards with 670, but his 6.2 yards per attempt is best in the league.

The Vikings’ defense is tied for first in takeaways (16) with Detroit, Seattle and Tennessee.

Gophers’ basketball coach Tubby Smith wants a practice facility other than Williams Arena.  Athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners the project must wait until fundraising is completed for the new TCF Bank Stadium.  The facility’s cost is unknown since details of the building plan haven’t started.

Hockey coach Don Lucia is interested in facility enhancements, too, including a players’ lounge at Mariucci Arena.  Maturi said an alumni lounge is another possibility and that expanding the team’s training table to beyond once per week is desirable.  Maturi also said both the basketball and hockey enhancements must be paid for through fundraising rather than the athletic department budget.

There’s been talk about expanding the Big Ten Conference football schedule from eight to nine games but Maturi said he doesn’t think it will happen.  There are “too many” issues with an unbalanced schedule.

Nothing has changed so far amidst speculation that the Twins won’t have the budget to sign both Johan Santana and Torii Hunter to new contracts.

It was 30 years ago this fall that the Gophers beat then No. 1 ranked Michigan 16-0 at Memorial Stadium.  Tomorrow the Gophers are at Michigan and they have defeated the Wolverines only twice (1986 and 2005) since their dramatic win in 1977.

The defending national champion Gopher wrestling team begins its season on Saturday, November 10 at the Bison Open in Fargo.  Seven times Big Ten Coach of the Year J Robinson has outstanding returnees including two-time national champion and potential Olympian Cole Konrad.

St. Thomas tries for its first win in Collegeville since 1986 when the Tommies play at Saint John’s on Saturday.  An overflow Clemens Stadium crowd of more than 10,000 (capacity 7,500) is expected to watch one of small college football’s better rivalries.  The Tommies (2-5 overall, 2-3 in the MIAC) haven’t defeated the Johnnies (8-0 and 6-0) and legendary coach John Gagliardi since 1997 in the Metrodome.  Two Rocori High School grads start at quarterback, SJU senior Alex Kofoed and Tommie junior David Sauer.