Author: David Shama

Much has been written and said recently about Cretin-Derham Hall high school all-state wide receiver Michael Floyd and his potential college choice.  Conflicting information has left most everyone unsure as to whether Floyd includes the University of Minnesota among his top possibilities. 

Perhaps not even Floyd knows, for he is only a teenager and a young man who must learn day by day.  Ohio State may dazzle one morning, Notre Dame another.

No doubt the Gophers badly want Floyd, the state’s biggest recruiting prize in 2008.  He is an extraordinary receiver who fits perfectly into Minnesota’s new pass priority offense. 

Understand, though, the Gophers are going to recruit successfully with or without Floyd who last year was a USA Today all-American. Head coach Tim Brewster’s recruiting resume as a college assistant coach includes the likes of Julius Peppers and Vince Young, legendary college players from North Carolina and Texas.  Brewster is 24-7 about recruiting and he hired much of his coaching staff to follow in his footsteps.  You better believe that his highly compensated staff is expected to deliver results and that those assistants are already meeting benchmarks.

The Gophers are likely to land a top 20 or 30 national class in 2008.  Beyond that they are already targeting recruits for 2009.  Many of the very best players in the country require time to bring on board.  And to fill pressing needs the Gophers just might land one or more junior college stars. 

Twenty-five years ago it was controversial for a top in-state prospect to attend a school other than Minnesota.  Intense affection and loyalty to the Gophers was the norm in many homes and high schools.  Times and values have changed, although Sam Maresh is an exception, a throw back kid.  The Champlin Park High School linebacker gave the Gophers a verbal commitment last spring and pledged to recruit others for the class of 2008. 

Maresh is a four-star recruit on rivals.com’s five star system.  Go to rivals.com and see the best prep prospects ranked state by state.  In the Texas rankings find Eric Lair, a receiver from Houston, who has made a verbal commitment to the Gophers even though he had offers from Oklahoma and Nebraska.  Search various states and find Minnesota listed among potential college choices of outstanding prospects. 

Over the last 15 years the Gophers have often seen the state’s best prep players go elsewhere.  Chris Weinke, Larry Fitzgerald, Dominic Byrd, James Laurinaitis, John Carlson, Rafael Eubanks and others scattered south, east and west. It will take a few years but that kind of blue chip migration will be slowing, perhaps stopping.  Then combine the best of Minnesota preps with outstanding players from elsewhere and you understand the Brewster formula for future success. 

And don’t be surprised at all if Floyd stays home and takes the lead in starting a new recruiting trend in Minnesota.

In an NFC North team-by-team ranking of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, special teams and coaches, former Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton designated the Chicago Bears No. 1 five times, while the Vikings were first four times.  The Vikings, though, received only one No. 2 ranking, and were labeled with two No. 3 rankings and two No. 4 designations.  

Dalton, who now studies the NFL as a  pro football expert for local and national media, believes the Vikings will have an 8-8 record, improving on last season’s 6-10 but will finish in third place in the division behind the Bears (12-4 , Green Bay Packers (9-7) and just ahead of the fast improving Detroit Lions (7-9).  

Here’s a capsule look at Dalton’s comments about offenses, defenses, special teams and coaches: 

Quarterbacks: “Brett Favre is still the best quarterback in the NFC North and (rates) in the upper echelon in the NFL,” Dalton told Sports Headliners.  After Green Bay’s Favre, Chicago ranked No. 2 in the division followed by Detroit and Minnesota.  Tarvaris Jackson has played in four NFL games for the Vikings while Brooks Bollinger’s NFL career with two teams during four years adds up to nine starts.  Another backup, Drew Henson, has started one game in three seasons with two teams.  “That’s a total youth movement that’s completely unproven,” Dalton said. 

Running backs:  Dalton believes “Minnesota adding Adrian Peterson gives them a game breaking, game changing talent to an already very talented group of running backs….”  Chicago, led by Cedric Benson, rates No. 2 with Dalton, followed by Detroit and Green Bay.  Dalton thinks rookie Brandon Jackson could be a key to the Packer season and may become a starter. 

Wide receivers and tight ends:  Dalton said Chicago has a “little bit of everything” including depth.  He likes the potential of rookie tight end Greg Olsen who will provide a vertical threat to the offense.  Detroit, Green Bay and the Vikings rank two, three and four.  Dalton said Minnesota draws a “lot of question marks across the board.”  

Offensive line: Although Dalton thinks Chicago had the best line in the division last year, the Bears have some aging players and he ranks their unit No. 2 behind Minnesota but ahead of Green Bay and Detroit.  The Vikings have a talented offensive line led by center Matt Birk and guard Steve Hutchinson but the unit must improve after a disappointing season in 2006. 

Defensive line:  The Vikings led the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed per game last season (61.6).  “Minnesota’s two tackles are a dominant duo in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and they virtually locked down opponents’ running games (last year).  The question mark for the Vikings will be the health of Erasmus James. …”   James is recovering from a left knee injury and if healthy could give the Vikings the speed rushing defensive end they want.  Still, Dalton ranks Minnesota’s line first in the division, followed by Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay. 

Linebackers:  The Bears, led by Brian Urlacher, perhaps the best middle linebacker in the NFL, rank No. 1.   Dalton said “as a group they are tremendously productive and the class of the NFC North. …”  Next are Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit.  He likes the Packers young linebackers including A.J. Hawk, a rookie last season who “did a phenomenal job of living up to his billing and potential.” 

Secondary:  Dalton said it’s a close call but he rates Minnesota ahead of Chicago, followed by Green Bay and Detroit.  “Even though the Vikings physically gave up a lot of (passing) yardage (last season),  I think they have the most talented foursome in the NFC North with Antoine Winfield being the best tackling corner in the league, …” Dalton said.  He rates Cedric Griffin “an upgrade” over the now departed Fred Smoot at the other corner back spot.  Minnesota has veteran safeties in Darren Sharper and Dwight Smith.  Plus, Dalton said quality depth is what separates Minnesota’s secondary from division rivals. 

Special teams:  “Clearly the Bears are the best in almost all phases of special teams,” Dalton said.  Dalton described Devin Hester, who produced five touchdowns last season as a rookie returning punts and kickoffs, as “an explosive, dynamic player.”   He said Robbie Gould, 32-36 on field goals last year, is a “terrific kicker.”  Dalton added that the Bears draft players for their kickoff and punt coverage needs. Minnesota, Detroit and Green Bay rank two, three and four in special teams.  

Coaching: Dalton’s rationale for ranking the coaching staffs is to use the order of last season’s division standings, Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit.  His logic is coaches are judged on results and that’s how the teams finished last year. “Clearly the best of the bunch is Lovie Smith and his staff,” Dalton said.  He admires the improvement the Bears’ staff has made since Smith began there in 2004.  He also noted that Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy, Minnesota’s Brad Childress and Detroit’s Rod Marinelli were all first year coaches.

Dalton described the Vikings as “a winning program” when Childress took over and noted that Minnesota won four of its first six games.  But the Vikings lost their last three games and finished 6-10, the franchise’s worst record since 2002.  “We saw this group regress,” Dalton said.  “On the surface that’s a bad trend going into the off-season. … They’ve gone through a shuffling of personnel and they’re in a rebuilding mode now with a lot of young players in a lot of positions.”

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.