Author: David Shama

Adrian Peterson has yet to finish his second season in pro football but former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners that Peterson is the “best runner in the National Football League.”

In 23 NFL games the 23-year-old running back has become the identity of the Vikings’ offense, a franchise player.  Peterson, who leads the league in rushing yards with 1,015, was Rookie of the Year last season and finished second among NFL runners in total yards despite missing two games.  Last Sunday his 29-yard touchdown run with about two minutes to play was the difference in a 28-27 win over Green Bay.

“He’s a special, special talent,” Dalton said. “A special player with the rare combination of speed, power and vision, as well as just an attitude when he plays the game.  He has a certain nastiness.  He runs with a little bit of violence to his game.  Finishes all his runs square, with power, and he runs through tackles that would bring regular National Football League backs down. …I hope he stays healthy because he sure is fun to watch play football.”

Dalton, who still lives here and attends Vikings games, said Peterson reminds him of legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown, regarded by some historians as the best runner ever.  Brown was probably a stronger runner, Peterson likely faster, but both played with that nasty running style Dalton described.

Dalton was a running backs coach but never had a talent like Peterson in his years with the Vikings earlier this decade.  The prospect of coaching Peterson stirs passion in Dalton and he has an opinion on how best to use him.  “I would love to coach Peterson,” he said. “I would highly encourage my offensive coordinator and head coach to get (Peterson) more single back work because they’re (the Vikings) more productive when they have him in a single back and spread formation. …

“When they add that fullback in the mix right now it seems to congest things. They’re a lot more productive when they open it up with Adrian.  Get him the ball deeper in the backfield.  Let him find the creases.  And then I’d also do a little bit more man blocking than zone blocking. …He makes your scheme work no matter what it is.”

Coach Brad Childress has watched Peterson score seven of the offense’s 20 touchdowns this season.  He has learned to appreciate Peterson for multiple qualities including work ethic and attitude. “…He’s a great, great worker,” Childress said recently.  “He comes to work with a smile on his face everyday.  He’s not a diva.  He’s not a prima donna.  He gets right with it.  He’s a million mile an hour guy, whether we’re in a walk through or we’re practicing.”

Looks like he’s one-in-a-million, too.

The Gophers have lost two straight and the offense has produced just one touchdown in those games but coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners not to expect trick plays or other gimmicks when Minnesota plays Wisconsin in Madison on Saturday.  “It’s not about creativity, it’s about blocking and tackling,” Brewster said.

Quarterback Adam Weber has been sacked six times in the last two games.  He’s been under pressure many other times.  The “wrinkle” for Saturday needs to be protecting the quarterback, Brewster said.

The Gophers’ offense needs improved play from the offensive line and that includes better pass and run blocking, plus eliminating penalties.  A group of 10 interior offensive linemen who have played this year consists of four redshirt freshmen, two sophomores and four juniors.

The Gophers also have inexperienced offensive players at other positions including wide receiver and running back.  Brewster is emphasizing fundamentals with them and is looking forward to working with all his players at the extra practices that a post-season bowl game will provide.

He said the Gophers may recruit a junior college offensive tackle to help next year’s line.  Notre Dame transfer Matt Carfuel, who will either play tackle or guard as a redshirt junior, is also expected to help.

While the results of the last two weeks have been losses, the Gophers are 7-3 on the season and recently received verbal commitments from highly rated prospects including Washburn tight end Ra’Shede Hageman and junior college wide receiver Hayo Carpenter.  Hageman drew interest from some of the nation’s best programs including Ohio State, and Carpenter is reportedly among the top junior college players in the country.  And for the first time in a long while, it looks like the Gophers may get everyone of the top in-state prep players.

The Gophers have lost six straight at Wisconsin and the Badgers (5-5 overall, 2-5 in the Big Ten Conference) have won two of their last three games, but look for the Gophers to play an inspired game on Saturday.  Brewster said yesterday that wide receiver Eric Decker, who has 892 yards in receptions in 10 games, will not play on Saturday and will rest his high ankle sprain (right ankle).

Viking defensive end Jared Allen played with a harness on his injured right shoulder against Green Bay last Sunday. Teammate Ellis Wyms, a reserved defensive tackle, told Sports Headliners he wasn’t a doubter about Allen playing.  “Always expect Jared to play,” Wyms said.  “He’s one of the toughest guys in this league.  I never doubted for a minute.  …The type of person he is, his arm would have to be falling off for him not to be out there helping us win today.”

Bud Grant, 82, remains an active outdoorsman, still hunting in Minnesota and elsewhere.  The former Viking coach has 22 grandchildren including Ryan Grant who is a redshirt linebacker with the Gophers.  Long passionate about ice cream, Grant still eats it for dessert every night.

Ralph Sampson II and Bill Walton are the only men to have won the Naismith award as national player of the year three times in college.  Sampson’s son, Ralph III, is a freshman with the Gophers and dad has been at both Minnesota games this season.  The 7-foot-4 former Virginia center told Sports Headliners that when he was in high school Gopher coach Tubby Smith, then an assistant at Virginia Commonwealth, tried to recruit him.  Sampson lives in Atlanta and said he will attend as many Gopher games as “possible.”

Congratulations to Gopher associate athletics director Phil Esten and wife Dani on the birth of son Cooper, their second child.  Cooper, born Sunday, was 21 inches long, nine pounds, six ounces.

A Timberwolves spokesman reported via e-mail that about 2,000 tickets remain for the November 21 game at Target Center against NBA champion Boston.  The Wolves marketers recently announced a “Star Studded Six Game Package” that includes Boston (Kevin Garnett), the Lakers (Kobe Bryant), Orlando (Dwight Howard), Portland (Greg Oden), Phoenix (Shaquille O’Neal) and New York (Zach Randolph). Starting at $108 for upper level tickets, fans can save up to 10 percent off the price of individual tickets by purchasing the package.

Phoenix is in St. Paul to play the Wild tomorrow night and the Coyotes’ roster includes rookie center Kevin Porter, the 2008 Hobey Baker award winner from Michigan.  Porter has four points on one goal and three assists in 11 games.

The Wild (tied for third in the Northwest Division) has won the last eight games against Phoenix (third in the Pacific Division), including five straight at Xcel Energy Center.

Former Gopher Thomas Vanek, playing with Buffalo, leads the NHL in goals with 12.