Author: David Shama

Vikings head coach Brad Childress is back from vacationing on the New Jersey Shore and in Aruba. 

Wild president and general manager Doug Risebrough talking about re-signing Derek Boogaard, 25, to a new multi-year contract earlier this week:  “Derek’s development is a testament to his dedication, discipline and the emphasis he places on team above individual.  Through his style of play and his personality he has made himself a valued player and person in the organization.”   (The 6-foot-7, 254-pound forward led the Wild in penalty minutes for a second consecutive season).

Starting next week the Wild will hold a seven day development camp in the Twin Cities for 31 of its prospects with participants including No. 1 draft choices from 2007 (Colton Gillies), 2006 (James Sheppard) and 2005 (Benoit Pouliot).

When Minnesota goes to Saint John’s in Collegeville next month for several days of pre-season practice, head coach Tim Brewster will have legendary Johnnies coach John Gagliardi, college football’s all-time winningest coach, talk to the Gophers.

Michael Cuddyer tied a career high with four hits last night in the Twins’ 3-2 loss to Detroit. Relief pitcher Pat Neshek hasn’t allowed a run in 36 of his last 40 appearances.  He struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning last night and now has 58 strikeouts in 47.1 innings.

Former Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton now follows the NFL while working for national and local media.  In an interview with Sports Headliners, he predicted the 2007 Vikings will have an 8-8 record, improving on last season’s 6-10 but will finish in third place in the NFC North behind the Chicago Bears (12-4), Green Bay Packers (9-7) and just ahead of the fast improving Detroit Lions (7-9).   Last season the records of those teams were 13-3, 8-8 and 3-13.

The Bears, who lost to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl, are superior or compare favorably to their division rivals in all elements that make up a football team, including coaching, according to Dalton.  Questions about running backs, defensive line and special teams moderate optimism about the Packers who did close the season with momentum winning four straight games.  Dalton likes a lot of the Vikings personnel but has concerns about the quarterbacks and wide receivers.  He likes the Lions’ wide receivers and the potential of the defensive line, sees Detroit as on “the bubble” for a winning season and closing the gap between themselves, the Packers and Vikings.

Although the NFC North is certainly not the best of the NFL’s divisions, and the Bears are the “class of the North,” according to Dalton, the competition will be intense.  Dalton identified potential key developments important to the success of the division’s four teams.

With a new defensive coordinator in Bob Babich and an off-season contract hassle involving linebacker Lance Briggs, Dalton will watch the Bears’ defense to see if it continues the high level of play that helped Chicago rank fifth in fewest NFL yards per game.  Then, too, there is the “erratic play” of quarterback Rex Grossman.  “The Bears don’t need him to win games,” Dalton said. “They just need him not to put them in bad positions.  He has the capability of being a playmaker at the quarterback position but he’s also showed a lot of inexperience and poor decision making last year that cost his team. ….” 

The Vikings? “The key is going to be the maturation and productivity of Tarvaris Jackson, without a doubt,” Dalton answered.  Jackson will be in his second season having played in four late games in 2006.  His numbers looked like this: 81 pass attempts, 47 completions, two touchdown passes and four interceptions.  

Dalton is an admirer of rookie running back Adrian Peterson and expects him to “help take pressure off” Jackson, allowing the young quarterback not to be responsible for so much of the team’s offensive production.  Dalton also said the“talented offensive line” needs to be “much better” in pass protection and run blocking.

Rookie running back Brandon Jackson could be a key to the Packer season.  He will compete with Vernand Morency to replace the now departed Ahman Green.  Dalton said the Packers need to run the ball effectively to complement the team’s No. 1 asset, the passing and leadership of quarterback Brett Favre.

Wide receiver Calvin Johnson was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and is expected to perform spectacularly for the Lions.  However, Dalton said the key to the team’s offensive production will also be the line “which was horrific last year.”   A better performance by the line will also help another need area, the running game, according to Dalton.

Dalton was asked who he believes are the most valuable players on each of the division’s teams.   He said the Bears’ Brian Urlacher is “arguably the best middle linebacker” in the NFL and his choice as Chicago’s MVP.  No surprise either is Dalton’s pick in Green Bay, Favre.  “How Favre goes, so go the Packers, and he should have an improved year,” Dalton said. “His line will be much better. …”

Kevin Williams, 26, has emerged as one of the two or three best defensive tackles in the NFL, according to Dalton.  He had a major impact last season as the Vikings performed as the best defense against the run in the league.  Dalton describes the 6-5, 311 pound Williams as a “force” inside.

Detroit’s Mike Furrey, a converted safety, is an interesting choice as team MVP.  He emerged as a productive wide receiver last year catching six touchdown passes and Dalton sees important work ahead for the 30-year-old journeyman.  “He will be a big contributor to helping Calvin Johnson, their new top draft pick who they want to be the franchise MVP,” Dalton said. “By Furrey being so productive it opened things up for wide receiver Roy Williams on the other side last year.“

Dalton will detail NFC North team-by-team ranking of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, special teams and coaches in the next Sports Headliners.

There’s plenty to look forward to when MIAC football begins later this summer. From outstanding players to predicted standings, here’s a capsule look: 

Senior quarterbacks Alex Kofoed, Saint John’s, Matt Penz, St. Olaf, and Ben Wetzell, Bethel, will lead three of the best teams in the conference.  Kofoed has been a first team all-conference choice the last two years and was a second team selection as a freshman. Penz led the MIAC in passing last year and returns the majority of his offensive helpers including senior wide outs Horace Gant and Andrew Schmiesing (baseball outfielder and 11^th round pick of the Minnesota Twins last spring).  Wetzell led Bethel to a MIAC co-title with Saint John’s and was third in the conference in rushing and fifth in total offense, but he will be without all-American running back Phil Porta who graduated.

Protecting those three star quarterbacks will be three senior linemen who were first team all-MIAC last year. They are Bethel center Tommy Davis, 6-2, 280, Saint John’s center Andrew Salvato, 6-1, 290, and St. Olaf guard Eric Yuen, 6-1, 305.  The trio will again be three of the best in the conference, region, and could possibly end up on some all-American teams.

Conference defensive players attracting notice include St. Olaf defensive end James Bechdol, Saint John’s junior lineman Nick Gunderson, Gustavus senior linebacker Jared Sieling, and Bethel senior safety Brandon Carr. All four were first team all-MIAC last season and NCAA Division III all-region selections. Bechdol led St. Olaf and was fourth in the conference in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (14). Gunderson was second in sacks (9.5) and first in the conference in tackles for loss (18.5).  Sieling was fourth in the MIAC in tackles (63).  Carr led the conference in interceptions (seven) and was second in passes defended (13).

All-region last season, St. Olaf senior kicker and punter Paul Fortman could be an all-American in 2007. Fortman led the conference in punting (40.2 yards) and in scoring among kickers with 51 points ( second place had 27).

Here’s my predicted order of finish in the conference: St. Olaf, Saint John’s, Bethel, Concordia, St. Thomas, Carleton, Gustavus, Hamline, Augsburg.