Author: David Shama

David Shama is a former sports editor and columnist with local publications. His writing and reporting experiences include covering the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Gophers. Shama’s career experiences also include sports marketing. He is the former Marketing Director of the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He is also the former Marketing Director of the United States Tennis Association’s Northern Section. A native of Minneapolis, Shama has been part of the community his entire life. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he majored in journalism. He also has a Master’s degree in education from the University of St. Thomas. He was a member of the Governor’s NBA’s Task Force to help create interest in bringing pro basketball to town in the 1980s.

Luka Doncic’s Health May Determine Wolves Playoff Fate

Posted on May 25, 2024May 25, 2024 by David Shama

Luka Doncic’s health may determine the fate of the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks’ superstar guard has been laboring in the playoffs with a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness.

At times Doncic moves with a slight limp. He is also frequently seen bent over in apparent exhaustion from his max minutes and pain.

After last night’s heroics while making a three-point shot to defeat the Wolves 109-108 at Target Center, Doncic was asked on TNT’s postgame show about his health. He told Ernie Johnson it was good. “I will play no matter what,” said Doncic whose physical style of play sometimes has him sprawled on the floor.

That’s the uber competitor talking but there are limits to what even a superbly conditioned 25-year-old can endure. Not saying it’s gong to happen but as the Mavericks, up 2-0 in the best of seven series get ready to host Game 3 tomorrow night in Dallas, there’s no guarantee Doncic’s injuries won’t worsen—or something new may happen to prevent him from being on the court.

The Wolves’ chances in the series have come down to not only correcting their own flaws but the possibility of benefiting from an ailing Doncic who is limited in his movement or unable to play at all. Doncic has carved up the Wolves in the first two games, scoring 65 points, while totaling 16 rebounds and 21 assists (passing with shades of Magic and Pistol Pete).

Minnesota so far has no answer for the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Slovenian who finished No. 3 in NBA voting for MVP. He has scored inside and out, while frustrating the Wolves with deft passing all over the court. His alley-oops to teammates in the lane have given the Mavs consistent offense in both games, and when it’s not Doncic in action it’s fellow superstar guard Kyrie Irving doing the damage.

Doncic’s menacing presence has even shown up on defense. Not known as a standout defensively, he has a talent for anticipating passing lanes, intercepting the ball and often starting a fast break.

For all of Doncic’s heroic play and stellar contributions by teammates including the electric Irving, the Mavs have won two games by a total of four points. The Wolves entered the series as betting favorites and the close losses in the first two games are a reminder (we shouldn’t need one) the playoffs are unpredictable.

As recently as their last playoff series the Wolves jumped to a 2-0 lead by winning opening games in Denver against the defending NBA champion Nuggets. Then Minnesota lost three consecutive games only to win two straight, including their dramatic Game 7 win in Denver.

The Mavs aren’t dominating the Wolves and seem unlikely to win the next two games, even as the home court advantage moves to Dallas (Game 4 Tuesday night). The Wolves can and will make adjustments after they blew a five-point lead in the closing minutes last night in a game where they led by 18 in the second quarter. Suggestions from this “bench:”

Replace Jaden McDaniels with Anthony Edwards as the primary defender on Doncic. Daniels is a terrific defensive player, but Edwards is superlative, too, and is about 40 pounds heavier. Edwards’ strength is a better match against the muscular Doncic.

Irving has scored 50 points in the series. At 6-9, with long arms and mobility, McDaniels can cause problems for the 6-1 Irving who has scored 50 points in the series and can ignite sustained offensive runs for Dallas.

Edwards has to do better than 40 points in the first two games (making 11 of 33 field goals). One adjustment is to prioritize getting Edwards off to fast starts in the first half, bolstering his rhythm and confidence. Throughout the game the Wolves need to put the basketball more in his hands, letting him make plays for himself and others.

Towns photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns has 31 points in the two games, making 10 of 36 field goals. The world knows there’s no such thing as consistency in the playoffs from KAT, who is now in his ninth NBA season. But it would help if the Wolves regularly posted him near the basket and let him shoot over defenders, providing higher percentage scoring opportunities and drawing fouls on Dallas front court players.

If “bad” KAT shows up tomorrow night, don’t hesitate to give max minutes to NBA Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. He made seven of nine three-point attempts while scoring 23 points off the bench in Friday night’s loss, while KAT sat and watched.

Maverick centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II can be subpar free throw shooters. Hacking them in the two to five minutes period in the fourth quarter could be a targeted strategy paying off in close games for the Wolves.

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Improving U Pass Offense? Unknowns Still Lingering

Posted on May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 by David Shama

Spring practice has come and gone for the Golden Gophers football team and while there is reason for cautious optimism about the upcoming 12-game 2024 season, no personnel unit on offense and defense seems so uncertain as the roster of receivers.

Not since 2019 has Minnesota had an elite passing offense. Ryan Burns pointed out on his GopherIllustrated Website last week that “Minnesota hasn’t ranked nationally higher than 122^nd in pass attempts in the last three seasons, which is how the Gophers averaged a putrid 143 passing yards a game last year.”

Part of the blame was deservedly targeted last season at quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis who is now the presumed starter at Rutgers next fall. But Gophers receivers had their issues, too, including with route running and dropped passes. In 2024 Minnesota returns second team All-Big Ten receiver Daniel Jackson but that’s not enough to clear the murky outlook for the receiver room.

In an interview with Sports Headliners, Burns was asked if the receiver roster and production could be good in 2024. “I don’t think they’re going to have a really good room. I have a lot of questions about that room,” said Burns who has an extensive fan following because of his recruiting knowledge and analysis of the Gopher football program.

Jackson was third in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 831 yards and also in touchdowns for pass catchers with eight. “There’s just so much ambiguity behind Daniel Jackson I really don’t know what to expect,” Burns said. “I think it (the room) has the potential to be better than it has been the last few years, but I would say the bar for that isn’t exactly high considering the inconsistencies we’ve seen at receiver. …”

Burns made his point while talking about specific receivers including Eiljah Spencer, a promising transfer from Charlotte a year ago, who caught only nine passes for the Gophers in 2023 while starting five games. Spencer has struggled with dropped balls but is a potential starter along with Jackson and Lemeke Brockington who has considerable potential but missed most of last season with an injury.

Kenric Lanier is a former four-star recruit going into his 2024 redshirt freshman season after playing in just one game last season. His talent reputation is intriguing as is Georgia transfer Tyler Williams, a redshirt freshman who coming out of high school was considered among the elite prep receivers in the country.

Burns looks at Williams and talks about the Gophers polishing “his clay,” noting he believes the Florida native has different skills “than anything in that receiver room.” Williams played in two games for Georgia last season before deciding to enter the transfer portal, perhaps because of an ankle injury in the spring and prospects of not receiving as much playing time next fall as desired, per Burns.

Raising hopes about an improved passing game is the addition of Minnesota’s FCS transfer quarterback from New Hampshire. “With Max Brosmer, I think a lot of the national media is sleeping on Max Brosmer,” Ryan said about the graduate student who recently was included on the Senior Bowl watch list for quarterbacks.

In seven seasons at Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck has only once had a quarterback throw for more than 15 touchdown passes, Burns said. In 2019 Tanner Morgan threw 30 when he had All-Big Ten receivers Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman.

Burns is hoping for a “souped up Tanner Morgan” in Brosmer who was second team FCS All-American at New Hampshire last year. “Where you can be accurate, where you can be able to put the ball out on time, give your playmakers a chance to make a play, and just do that consistently. What that does for this Minnesota offense (in improvement).”

Brosmer is expected to throw more accurately than Kaliakmanis including on intermediate passes. He is also one of at least 14 anticipated new starting quarterbacks in the new 18-member Big Ten. Most of the league will be figuring out how their quarterbacks will settle in next fall, with Burns predicting if Brosmer can total 20 touchdown passes and be “under double digits in turnovers,” that will go a long way in Minnesota improving on last season’s 6-7 record including 3-6 in the Big Ten.

The anemic Minnesota passing offense produced just 16 touchdown passes in 13 games while accumulating 1,884 yards. The rush offense, usually the program’s bread and butter, was challenged by running back injuries and didn’t provide a lot more production with 2048 yards and 13 touchdowns. But the running game should be rolling in 2024 with lead back Darius Taylor and a refortified roster of quality backups for Taylor who made All-Big Ten honorable mention as a freshman.

Burns thinks the floor on next season’s record is 4-8, with the ceiling 9-3. The performances of all players and coaches, of course, will all impact outcomes and so will injuries. But Burns emphasizes (as was seen last season) without “consistent quarterback” play it’s difficult to win games.

What if Brosmer plays poorly, or is injured? Well, that’s where things become more dicey. In the spring the Gophers added Virginia Tech quarterback Dylan Wittke. He redshirted last season and didn’t see game action. He didn’t arrive here until late April so it’s difficult to assess Wittke, who was an athletic player coming out of high school in Georgia.

With more experience right now in the Gopher system than Wittke is true freshman Drake Lindsey. “Minnesota is incredibly, incredibly high on that young man after being able to work with him here this spring,” Burns said.

Lindsey, an Arkansas native, comes from a family of Razorback fans. There’s an impression here and down in Hog country the Razorbacks didn’t push hard enough to recruit the hometown quarterback. Any last minute recruiting rush, Burns said, was apparently negated by all the work and time Fleck and co-offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. had already invested on the three-star quarterback.

This spring Burns saw why Lindsey was a recruiting priority. “Drake Lindsay just looked different to me than other true freshman quarterbacks I’ve seen. He was very poised. Nothing really flustered him. Now (it’s true) he was drinking through a fire hose (learning so much). He’d make a great play one time; then the next time would not make a great play but I think his poise DNA ability to make plays is something that excites me.”

That’s good to hear because as recent history shows, the Gophers need help in a lot of places to raise the production of their passing offense.

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NFL Authority: J.J. McCarthy to Start for Vikings in 2024

Posted on May 15, 2024 by David Shama

A trusted Sports Headliners source, a former front office personnel leader with NFL teams, is optimistic about playing time in 2024 for Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy who for now is behind veteran Sam Darnold on the early depth chart.

“I expect him to be the starter, maybe not week one, but I would say certainly by October I think he’ll have taken over for Darnold, and I think he could beat him out in training camp. That they (the coaches) may just say hey, we’re going to go with the more talented guy here,” said the source who asked not to be identified.

Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Jets, has bounced around, also playing for the Panthers and 49ers without establishing himself as a key performer. The source describes Darnold, who the Vikings signed as a free agent in March, as “good insurance” until McCarthy is ready.

Darnold, who turns 27 in June, has been inconsistent in past pro stops since leaving USC. Never say never, but the source believes it’s “hard to think that things will change dramatically” for Darnold who has 63 career touchdowns and 56 interceptions.

McCarthy, 21, was the No. 10 overall pick last month in the first round of the NFL Draft. The authority refers to the former Michigan national championship QB as a potential franchise changing player. He sees a lot to like in the 6-foot-3, 219-pound McCarthy, describing him as motivated, athletic and able to “make all the throws.”

A criticism of McCarthy before the draft was he didn’t have to do all that much in Michigan’s run-focused offense that was loaded with talent. However, the insider said when McCarthy “had to make plays he did.” He added McCarthy was “very efficient on third and long, whether it was throwing or running.”

The Vikings are into spring activities and practices which will provide a first look at the QB who was 27-1 as a starter with the Wolverines. “I am excited to see him in camp. I think it was a huge move just for the excitement factor for the franchise and get…the fanbase kind of cranked up,” the source said. “Now they’ve got a guy that could be considered a future franchise quarterback and potentially make people forget about Kirk Cousins.”

What criteria will the Vikings use to evaluate their rookie and potential future leader in the immediate days and weeks ahead before training camp starts in July? The authority, who has been part of leading drafts for NFL teams, said the Vikings coaches will want to see how effectively McCarthy is learning the offense and making the right decisions on the field. “To just see where he’s at and how he’s coming along. I think he’ll progress quickly, will be my expectation for him.”

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Head coach Kevin O’Connell knows it’s a challenging learning experience for a rookie quarterback but not surprisingly is upbeat his No. 1 draft pick who will wear No. 9 just like former Viking QB Tommy Kramer. “…This guy (McCarthy) is a process-driven guy and understands that there’s a long road ahead of him. That we’re just trying to make incremental gains that will be solidified as part of how he plays quarterback for a long time. So, I’ve been really impressed with him so far and look forward to get another full day tomorrow,” O’Connell said last Friday.

Optimism about a college phenom preparing for a first season in the NFL can eventually change for varied reasons including lack of surrounding support. But McCarthy’s environment with the Vikings is part of what fuels the insider’s positivity about him finding success early on.

The offensive personnel are a roster strength. All-world Justin Jefferson leads a superb group of pass receivers. Tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are two of the best on one team in the league. Off-season signee and veteran Aaron Jones gives the Vikings a proven playmaker at running back.

O’Connell is an offensive guru and former NFL quarterback. His staff includes new quarterbacks coach Josh McCown who played 18 seasons in the league. O’Connell said McCown “has absolutely been awesome from day one,” praising his assistant for his ability to communicate information and knowledge to others.

Viking teammates and coaches—the supporting cast—are probably the best that any quarterback from the 2024 draft is going to have. It’s an environment the Sports Headliners authority said could contribute to McCarthy starting “sooner, rather than later.”

In July and August McCarthy figures to play as much or more in practice and preseason games as Darnold. Part of the process will likely involve a scrimmage or two against another NFL team and that will be an opportunity for McCarthy, too. “…That’s where he’ll get really the valuable reps against first team defenses and so forth,” the insider said.

How will the coaching staff evaluate McCarthy before the season starts in September? “They want to see progress,” the source said. “They want to see confidence. They want to see that he is going to be capable to make plays whenever they put him in the lineup whether that’s opening day, or week six, or week eight, or after the bye week. Whatever they do.”

It looks right now like a two-man race for the starting job, with no additions expected to the quarterback roster. “They’re not going to sign another quarterback,” the source said. “They need to put their money toward that interior offensive line and also I still think they could use another corner, another veteran corner.”

The authority knows predictions are often dicey, but it seems unlikely Darnold can flip a switch in his career development. “Anything is possible, but I think the likelihood is that they want J.J. to be the guy. And be the guy as soon as he’s ready.”

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