Author: David Shama

If it was his decision, Dean Dalton might take a cornerback with the No. 22 pick in Saturday’s NFL draft.  The former Vikings’ assistant coach, who will be talking about the draft next Saturday morning on his weekly Sirius Satellite Radio show, said Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins or Illinois’ Vontae Davis could be impact corners for Minnesota.

Dalton likes the secondary players on the Vikings’ roster but sees a need in the draft. “They could never have enough corners,” he told Sports Headliners.  “I think a kid with a talent to become a cover corner would be a huge asset to add to the (defensive) package and give (coordinator) Leslie Frazier the ability to really completely use a blitz package. …”

As the defending NFC North champion and likely 2009 playoff contender, Dalton said it’s important for the Vikings to improve themselves in this draft. The first two rounds are where the Vikings must take the best player available, adding impact players to the offense and/or defense.  In the later rounds the goal is to take players who can make the roster and add depth, something that separates teams once they’re in the playoffs, according to Dalton.

“Absolutely. Without a doubt I think in both the first and second rounds, you need to draft strictly the best value, the most talented player by your evaluations,” he said.  “…If you can match a value and a need that’s a perfect world scenario, the perfect storm.”

Dalton described the overall upcoming draft as “unique” because of the depth at a number of positions including offensive tackle, another Vikings need.  He said there’s no agreement on how the first round will go as to who is drafted and when.  “There’s no real natural slotting,” he said.

In addition to cornerback, speculation is the Vikings might draft a right tackle like Eben Britton from Arizona or a wide receiver such as Percy Harvin from Florida on the first round.  The Vikings seem unlikely to pick a quarterback because of their commitment to Tarvaris Jackson, 25, and Sage Rosenfels, 31.  That could also true because Dalton said this isn’t a good draft for quarterbacks.  He said junior eligibles Matthew Stafford from Georgia and Mark Sanchez from USC will go among the first 12 picks but both would have benefited from another year in college.

It didn’t take much time for new Gophers offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch to become an admirer of quarterback Adam Weber.  Fisch was hired in January and he told Sports Headliners earlier this month what he thinks of Minnesota’s redshirt junior quarterback who has been a starter for two seasons, set school records and will be on a watch list of the nation’s better quarterbacks in the fall.

How talented is Adam?  “I think Adam is really good,” Fisch said.  “Really good with the potential to get great.  The ability to have him for two (more) years is really exciting.”

All-American?  “Yeah, I think he can,” Fisch said.  “I think Adam can be anything Adam wants to be.  Right now Adam’s want to is enormous.  Right now Adam’s ability to soak up information is awesome, and his effort level is great.  So when Adam continues to work together with me on how to become a great quarterback I think that Adam will become a great quarterback, an NFL quarterback.”

Although Weber had off-season surgery on his left shoulder, coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners on Friday that his quarterback has recovered faster than anticipated and will run the first team offense in Saturday’s annual spring game (1:30 p.m. kickoff, University of St. Thomas).   Weber has practiced this spring but has worn a red jersey, meaning nobody hits him.

None of the quarterbacks in the spring game can be tackled, Brewster said.  MarQueis Gray and John Nance, both without college game experience, are the Gophers’ second and third team quarterbacks.

Field goals and kickoffs were a concern going into spring practice because last season’s kicker, Joel Monroe, used up his eligibility.  Brewster said he “couldn’t be more pleased with Eric Ellestad,” a sophomore from Armstrong High School.  He likes the way Ellestad has been responding to pressure on field goals in practice and said his exceptionally strong leg can put kickoffs into the end zone.

The Mount Olivet Church Men’s Dinner on Thursday night features Brewster and former Gopher All-American defensive tackle Bobby Bell, who played on the 1960 national championship team and two Rose Bowl teams.  Non-church members are welcome.  The cost is $10 per person with an $8 admission for those 65 and over.  Reservations need to be made by noon tomorrow.  Call 612-926-7651 for more information.

The Gophers have four players on their roster from Skyline High in Dallas and the school has several prospects for 2010 college recruiting classes.  A headliner is linebacker Corey Nelson, the No. 24 player in the country, according to Rivals.com, https://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?SID=880&Year=2010&ra_key=2369

Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson turns 26 tomorrow.

If the Vikings could make a deal giving up first and third round picks in the draft for Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin they will receive applause here.  At 25, Boldin has impressive numbers including 20 touchdown catches during the last two seasons.  He’s a surer thing than a draft choice and remember, too, that acquiring high impact receivers is no easy task.  The Vikings have been trying to replace Randy Moss and Cris Carter for years while looking at Troy Williamson and others.

Arizona’s other star receiver, Larry Fitzgerald Jr., is even better than Boldin and proved his worth helping the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.  The Minneapolis native visited troops in Iraq earlier this year, as did Vikings’ defensive end Jared Allen.

Glen Perkins won his first game of the season yesterday as the Twins beat the Angels, 3-1.  He lowered his season ERA to 1.50 and became the first Twins starter to have three straight eight inning outings since Johan Santana did it in June of 2005.

Joe Nathan, who had the save in yesterday’s win, is three-for-three in save opportunities this season.  He has given up three hits in five innings while striking out five in five appearances.

Center fielder Carlos Gomez had three infield hits yesterday and it was his first multi-hit game of the season.

A source told Sports Headliners that fan response to the Wild has been accepting of need for a change after Wild owner Craig Leipold fired general manager Doug Risebrough last week.

It will be surprising if Leipold doesn’t make hires for the general manager and coach who favor a more wide open style of play than was the standard with Risebrough and Jacques Lemaire who resigned recently.  That offensive philosophy and fresh faces might help keep superstar forward Marian Gaborik here with a new contract.

Kevin Constantine, the Wild’s minor league head coach with Houston, is probably a long shot among coaching candidates because of his defensive reputation.

Devils forward Brian Rolston talking about Lemaire whom he played for in New Jersey and here: “Jacques quite simply is the best coach I have ever had.  I am very lucky to have played for him not only when I was with the Wild, but earlier in my career. The lessons I learned from him remain invaluable to me today.  I can only wish Jacques the very best in the future.”

Fred Hoiberg told KFAN’s Paul Allen on Friday that candidates for the top executive job running the Wolves basketball operation are being given psychological tests providing insights on leadership.  Hoiberg, the Wolves assistant general manager, is an internal candidate who has been interviewed as have outside candidates.