Author: David Shama

The 3-5 Vikings are halfway through their 16-game regular schedule and it’s time for “report cards.”  Considered among the most talented teams in the NFC, the Vikings would be the most disappointing so far if not for the collapse of Jerry Jones’ empire in Dallas where the Cowboys have fired coach Wade Phillips following a 1-7 start.

The Vikings deserved an “A-” last year after a 12-4 record, NFC North title and near miss on their march to the Super Bowl.  This season has been characterized by close losses, lack of clutch plays, injuries, under achievement, controversy and off-field drama.

Last Sunday’s near miracle rally, coming up with two touchdowns in the closing minutes to send the game into overtime and then winning 27-24 against Arizona, takes some sting out of the report card, but not enough to approach even “B” status.  Sports Headliners gives the Vikings a “D+” grade after eight games.

For more detailed grading a former NFL coach agreed to pass out report cards if his name wasn’t used.  Here are the grades starting with the Vikings coaches.

Head coach Brad Childress.  Ouch! Our source gives Childress an “F.”  “There’s too much talent on the roster to be struggling,” he said.  The ex-coach said there have been too many distractions including the (Randy) “Moss debacle” and clashes with top players.

Assistant coaches: “B+.”  His evaluation improved after the Vikings rallied to beat Arizona last Sunday using a hurry-up offense and blitzes on defense. “The assistant coaches have helped keep the ship together,” the source said.

Quarterbacks: “B-.”  Prior to Sunday he would have handed out a “near failing grade.”  The ex-coach said Brett Favre helped rejuvenate teammates and fans with two late fourth quarter touchdown passes.  (He looked more like the Favre of old than the quarterback who has often struggled this season with his accuracy.)  “T-Jack (Tarvaris Jackson) and (rookie) Joe Webb have proven they’re not ready,” the source said.

Tight ends and fullbacks: “B-.”  He lumps these players together because of their role as blockers.  He questions having the fullback position because of the limited opportunities the offense provides Naufahu Tahi for running and receiving.  Tight ends Visanthe Shiancoe, Jeff Dugan and Jim Kleinsasser win praise.  He particularly likes Shiancoe’s “productivity and explosiveness.”

Receivers: “C.”  Percy Harvin has the former coach’s admiration. This is a player who continues to improve in his second season and who shows explosiveness, making him one of the NFL’s most dangerous wide receivers.  The absence of Sidney Rice has been “impactful” and Moss wasn’t here long enough to make much of a contribution but the source said extra coverage on Moss created opportunities for others. Bernard Berrian had a breakout game last Sunday catching nine passes but before that was a “really negative contributor.”

Running backs: “B-.”  The ex-coach said Adrian Peterson has had an “excellent” season.  What concerns him, though, is rookie running back Toby Gerhart hasn’t given the team depth and replaced the highly regarded Chester Taylor who left for Chicago during the off-season.  If Taylor were still here he would give this unit an “A” grade.  “What makes me scratch my head is when they substitute for Peterson after a big play,” the source said. “Let him get a rhythm.”

Offensive line: “D.”  “The line has had a bad year (and) not lived up to its capabilities,” the source said.  “The tackle play has been awful.  The guard play has been solid with (Steve) Hutchinson and (Anthony) Herrera.  The center position is a mess, not playing well.”

Kicking game: “A.”  Punter Chris Kluwe has “added control” to his distance, according to the former coach.  Place kicker Ryan Longwell is “rock solid.”  Fans seldom hear about Cullen Loeffler and that’s the best testimony to a long snapper’s reliability.

Special teams coverage and returns: “C”.  Coverage has ranged from “brilliance” to “awful,” according to our evaluator.  He likes the “big plays” of Harvin on kickoff returns.

Defensive line: “B” to “B+.”  This is still an “upper echelon” group, although the sack production has often been missing and sometimes the unit hasn’t stopped the run when it most needed to.  But remember, the ex-coach said, the line has had its moments including earlier in the season when it was the defense that kept the Vikings in games.

Linebackers: “B+” or “A-.”  The unit is one of the best and most underrated in the NFL, the source said.  E.J. Henderson has had a “miraculous turnaround,” after missing time last season because of a broken leg.  He said Chad Greenway is a “tremendous athlete.”

The safeties grade out at a “D” while the cornerbacks earn a “B-.”  “The safety play has been average at best (in the past) and been slipping even further,” according to our evaluator.  Players have been in and out with injuries.  He is critical of the preseason trade where the Vikings gave up defensive back Benny Sapp, a good contributor in the past, for wide receiver Greg Camarillo.

The Gophers open their regular season tonight at Williams Arena against Wofford College, a program that made the NCAA tournament last winter.  Gophers coach Tubby Smith told Sports Headliners last week before his team had won two exhibition games that “we could be pretty good” this season.

What does that mean? “For me it means reaching our maximum potential,” he answered.  “What that is no one knows. …”

Smith said “our goal” is to win the Big Ten championship.  He believes his team is a title contender in a league that many consider the best in the country.

Vital to success will be each player accepting his role, according to the coach who has had 20-win seasons in his first three years at Minnesota.  Players must play for the team, not themselves.  “Forget yourself for others and you’ll never be forgotten,” he said.

Among the Gophers leaders will be point guard Al Nolen, a senior who missed much of the last conference season because he was academically ineligible.  Nolen has struggled his entire career with outside shooting.  But Smith isn’t “concerned” about the outside shot, insisting that Nolen’s exceptional defense, plus ball distribution, penetrating and free throws is what he’s looking for.

“If he knocks down open shots that’s a real plus,” Smith said.  “That’s a big time bonus.  I am looking for him to do the things he does best.”

The Gophers freshmen class of Maverick Ahanmisi, Chip Armelin, Elliott Eliason, Austin Hollins, Oto Osenieks and Maurice Walker has impressed Smith.  He respects their work ethic and other character traits more than any freshmen group he’s coached during his long career.  “They’re a special group,” he said.  “…Just the right kind of people.”

Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell, along with Steve Hutchinson and Jared Allen, flew down to Mississippi in August to encourage Brett Favre to play another season.  Longwell talked about the 41-year-old quarterback who rallied the Vikings to an overtime win on Sunday after trailing by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. “It’s exactly why you get on a plane and go try to talk him back into coming (here), because with him at quarterback you always have a chance to win a game no matter what the scoreboard says,” Longwell said.

Vikings rookie running back Toby Gerhart said he couldn’t explain why he fell to the turf last Sunday when no tackler was between him and a short run to the end zone.  Gerhart talked about playing against the Bears and Chester Taylor this Sunday, the man he replaced as the backup to Adrian Peterson, and admitted there might be a “little added pressure.”

The Vikings haven’t won in Chicago since 2007.  The Bears, 5-3, already have NFC North wins over Detroit and Green Bay.  The Vikings, 3-5, have lost to Green Bay and defeated Detroit.

Former Vikings head coach Mike Tice, now coaching Chicago’s offensive line, would enjoy a Bears win on Sunday. Tice, who was fired shortly after Red McCombs sold the team to Zygi Wilf and partners, is considered one of the NFL’s best offensive line coaches.

Gophers interim coach Jeff Horton was asked about the talent gap between the Gophers, winless in the Big Ten, versus teams just ahead of them that have won about half their conference games.  “I don’t think it’s as big as some people think,” he said.  “I think there’s some key areas that need to be filled in here that you can do.  I don’t know if it will happen overnight. …

Horton said the Gophers have some “good young players” but not much depth.  The 2011 freshman class will be important for filling needs.

Horton, who has yet to win a game at Minnesota, talking about a 19-game losing streak for him that dates back to when he was head coach at UNLV: “I think we need to win for them (the 1-9 Gophers).  Who cares about me?… Coaches come and go.  They (Gophers players) need something good to happen to them.”

Horton expects MarQueis Gray to receive increased playing time at quarterback in the team’s final two games starting tomorrow at Illinois.

GOP governor candidate Tom Emmer played hockey at Alaska Fairbanks when Gophers coach Don Lucia was coaching there.

The latest issue of the The Fischler Report says former Gopher Paul Martin is still adjusting offensively with his new team, Pittsburgh.  The publication also says Edina native and Toronto general manager Brian Burke challenges the media covering his Maple Leafs to be more critical of the players and less so of coach Ron Wilson.

New Wild assistant coach Rick Wilson is earning compliments for his impact so far this season.  He’s a leader and his calm approach has won praise for upgrading the team’s defensive performance.

Wild draft picks Erik Haula (seventh round, 182^nd overall, 2009 draft) and Jason Zucker (second round, 59^th overall, 2010 draft) are being noticed in their freshmen WCHA seasons.  At Minnesota Haula is second among WCHA freshmen and fifth overall in assists (nine), while Denver’s Zucker is second among league frosh and fifth overall in goals (seven).

Augsburg sophomore Chad Gilmer is the MIAC Men’s Soccer Player-of-the-Year and his head coach, Greg Holker, is Coach-of-the-Year.  Carleton junior forward Niki Tomita is the Women’s Soccer Player-of-the-Year and her head coach, Keren Gudeman, is Coach-of-the-Year.  All winners were determined by a vote of league coaches.