Author: David Shama

Preseason NFL games often provide minimal entertainment but the Percy Harvin factor offers appeal as the Vikings prepare for their 2009 opener on Friday against the Colts in Indianapolis. The No. 1 draft choice from Florida will debut his speed package, and where he will be positioned is a major part of the intrigue.

Harvin is listed on the roster as a wide receiver and his play-making ability there potentially fills a need.  Bernard Berrian, the best at the position, has been labeled inconsistent, and past production by other wide receivers hasn’t always been so impressive.  Harvin and Berrian give the Vikings deep threats on the field at the same time.

Harvin, though, could also contribute returning kickoffs or punts, but likely not both, as the two assignments demand different skills and increase potential for injury.  Then, too, Harvin is expected to line up this season at running back, and where things could be particularly interesting is seeing him featured in the wildcat formation.

How much or little the Vikings run out of the wildcat in Indy and during their other three preseason games might be a tip-off to the extent which coach Brad Childress intends to use Harvin in that scheme.  Minimal use in preseason (under-exposing the wildcat to future opponents) may signal plans for much more during the season.

The wildcat is a variation of the stone-age single wing formation where the running back takes a direct snap from the center and has the options of running, throwing or handing off the ball.  At Florida Harvin ran the wildcat in an explosive college offense that also featured Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Tim Tebow.  (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knv9wR0M5m4).

With consistency and production in doubt from the quarterback position, the Vikings potentially could benefit from a wildcat package each game.  Perhaps a half dozen plays out of the scheme will throw defenses off enough that the Vikings could benefit more than usual from the passing out of the west coast offense by quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels. Then, too, the wildcat is a potential distraction to benefit Adrian Peterson in the run game.

But Childress and his coaches must be convinced that the Vikings, including Harvin, can run the wildcat with minimal mistakes.  Team training camp priorities include orienting Harvin, partially rebuilding the offensive line (center, right tackle) and developing a starting quarterback.

No doubt Childress will keep the wildcat in mind.  “You have to be able to hurt people (with the wildcat),” he said. “You cannot line up in it just to say you are in it.  It is whether you can be productive in it, whether it is run or pass.”

Starting on Friday night we may be able to start grading the production and speculate on what’s coming.

Former Gophers and NFL receiver Ron Johnson is working with the Colts and helping coach the wide receivers.

NFL players, past and present, who have already been in TCF Bank Stadium, praise the new facility at https://www.play4brew.com/umFinal.html.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster said NFL legend Jerry Rice told him the FieldTurf playing surface at the stadium is the best in America.

Freshman quarterback MarQueis Gray dazzled at the spring game and Brewster said the Gophers will have a package of plays for him in each of their 12 games this season.  But junior Adam Weber is definitely the starter.  “We’ve got no quarterback controversy,” Brewster said.

Randy Ruiz, who played briefly with the Twins in 2008, is second in home runs (25) while playing for Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast League.

Trent Oeltjen, a 27-year-old outfielder from Australia who originally signed with the Twins, was called up from the minors last week by Arizona and hit a home run in his first game.

Boston Celtics assistant general manager Dave Wohl and former Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak (fan chatter, Wolves website) are names mentioned for assistants to Kurt Rambis as the Wolves new head coach.

Based partially on summer play, DeLaSalle High School could have an exceptional team next season with a roster expected to include guards Jalen Jaspers and Bretson McNeal (son of former North High star and Mr. Basketball Brett McNeal).

Dennis Alfton, director of operations for the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, is one of 12 employees being permanently laid off due to the departure of the Twins and Gophers from the Metrodome.  Their employment ends next February.  Alfton has been with the commission for 33 years and wants to continue working in the event industry.

Is it time to give up on the 2009 Twins?  Depends on the goal.  American League pennant? Yup.  Central Division title?  Not yet.

Even Norman Vincent Peale would be challenged to cheerlead the Twins’ pennant prospects.  The pre-season concerns about the starting pitching and middle inning relievers not being experienced and proven were justified.  The team ERA is 4.63, 10^th among 14 AL teams.  Collectively the staff (18 pitchers have been on the roster) has given up 126 home runs, third most in the league.

A troubled situation has been made worse by the season ending loss of starter Kevin Slowey.  The remaining starting staff of Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Francisco Liriano, Glen Perkins and Anthony Swarzak could wear the same “name” on the back of their jerseys: “Mr. Inconsistent.”

The front office couldn’t acquire pitching help prior to the July 31 trade deadline.  It appears the Twins are waiting for reinforcements next spring when recovery from injuries is expected to allow the return of starters Slowey and Boof Bonser, and eighth inning set-up reliever Pat Neshek.

The Twins are 4.5 games back of first place Detroit in the Central Division, and 2.5      behind Chicago.  It requires optimism to see the Twins winning the division but they do have all-stars in catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau and closer Joe Nathan, and solid help from players like newly acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera, and also outfielder Michael Cuddyer and designated hitter Jason Kubel.  Plus, the coaching staff is proven and capable, led by manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson.

Then, too, the Twins have 10 of their 54 remaining games against Detroit (starting tonight in Motown) and six with the White Sox.  The Twins are 6-2 against the Tigers so far.  They’re 7-5 versus the White Sox.

The Twins have nine games left against Cleveland (46-62) and even that doesn’t look so good after losing two out of three with the Indians earlier this week.  The Twins are 5-4 versus Cleveland this year.

But the pennant? That will require a mega dose of optimism to predict a league title because the Twins don’t compare on paper and on the field with the AL’s finest.  The Yankees and Red Sox are the best in the East.  The Twins are a combined 2-11 against those two clubs.  The West Division leading Angels produced 35 runs in a three game sweep in Minneapolis last weekend.  For the season the Angels won the series, 6-4.