P.J. FLECK – Page 12 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Despite Injury, Favored Status Remains for J.J. McCarthy

Posted on August 15, 2024August 16, 2024 by David Shama

Despite right knee meniscus surgery on Wednesday that will end his season, rookie J.J. McCarthy apparently remains the quarterback in waiting for the Vikings. This is part of what head coach Kevin O’Connell said yesterday when he reported on McCarthy following surgery:

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

“As our fans either have already come to find out or will in the future, this guy is so motivated and so dialed in. As excited as I was to draft him, he’s confirmed everything that I hope to see not only early on through training camp, but through his performance last Saturday (preseason opening game). Our fan base and everyone should just be excited about the fact that we’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building.”

At the news conference KOC didn’t speculate 27-year-old Sam Darnold, who the Vikings signed as a free agent in the offseason, could become the team’s long-term quarterback.

Darnold and the 21-year-old McCarthy, who the Vikings took at No. 10 in the first round of last spring’s NFL Draft, might have been in a quarterback battle during the coming season. The two had been taking most of the reps at training camp this summer.

Speculation had a couple of scenarios about the competition including Darnold starting the season and McCarthy moving in at No. 1 after several games. Another path was holding McCarthy out for the entire season to let him learn and more fully develop—remaining on the bench no matter how Darnold performed.

Darnold will likely one day remember 2024 as the season that defined his pro football career. The opportunity to become an established starter was evident last winter when he reportedly signed a $10 million one-year contract to likely replace the departed Kirk Cousins, but now with the absence of McCarthy it’s even more likely he’s at a fork in the road regarding his career.

It appears Darnold will need to stage one of the more amazing comeback stories in recent NFL history to change the likelihood of McCarthy taking over the team next year. McCarthy has youth, talent and commitment on his side while Darnold’s track record is one of mostly disappointment after being drafted third overall by the Jets in 2018.

The grandson of Marlboro man Dick Hammer, McCarthy didn’t get off to a smoking start with the Jets where in three seasons he threw 39 interceptions, and 45 touchdown passes. Then he played two unproductive seasons with the woeful Carolina Panthers. Last season, he started one game as a backup for the 49ers.

Darnold, though, is intriguing. He has a quick release throwing the football and good arm strength. He is athletic enough to move around in the pocket like a teenager playing backyard football. With McCarthy’s injury, Darnold can play in a more relaxed environment and know the boo-birds in the stands, and perhaps even his own coaches, won’t pull a quick “trigger” and bludgeon his career.

Darnold’s reputation is that of a gun-slinger quarterback. He can make observers scream, “Oh, no!” Or yell, “Oh, yes!” as he fits passes into tight spaces.

The truth is Darnold has never been in a situation so ripe for success as in Minnesota. He is in a quarterback friendly system led by O’Connell. His gifted offensive teammates include wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, elusive running back Aaron Jones, and formidable pass blockers Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. This is an elite NFL offensive environment that Darnold is integrating with.

No one, including O’Connell, can know for sure whether there is a transformation coming from the former USC quarterback who many thought might be the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2018 instead of Baker Mayfield. He is intriguing enough to believe if he gives the Vikings sustained production the club can have playoff aspirations and thoughts of winning 9 games or more.

If not, thoughts of the “Golden Boy” and 2025 will come quickly to mind.

Worth Noting

Congratulations to sports icon Dave Mona who is back for his 50th year as the press box voice at Vikings games, working games over the years at Met Stadium, the Metrodome and U.S. Bank Stadium. Asked about his age, Mona quipped, “More than 50.”

On game days Mona is continually providing information to the media. Asked about the future, he joked again and said: “Yeah, just a year at a time. Have been for about 48 years.

“I enjoy it. It’s a fun thing to do. I love working with a group of guys being part of the stats crew. I think people would be fascinated to see what goes on statistically as part of the game and how calm it is in there—despite all the information being tossed back and forth.”

Max Johnson, the son of former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson, wears jersey No. 14 just like his father. Max, who previously played collegiately at LSU and Texas A&M, is in a starting team quarterback competition for North Carolina to see who leads the Tar Heels in their August 29 opener against the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. Max has two seasons of remaining eligibility.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck talking about the competitiveness of the 2024 team: “I just think they’re ultra-competitive. They really are. And I think good teams know they’re really good. They act that way. They walk that way. They talk that way. They work that way.

“And look, we don’t know what kind of team we’re going to be…that story is yet to be told. But they come to practice every day like they feel they’re a really good football team. And I love that about them. …

“But right now, I mean competing with each other, is as good as we’ve ever had. With iron sharpening iron. I think it’s really productive for us.”

Fleck talking about prize freshman Koi Perich, who arrived on campus in June, and the Esko native’s possible playing time: “I think it’s really early when you talk about true freshmen. I think it’s all about how their bodies handle the next few weeks.

“It’s really difficult coming here in June and making a huge impact as a true freshman. It’s just hard at any level at any position, but we love what he does. We love how hard he plays. He’s really smart and if he continues to take the next right step, then you could see him being in the mix as we go forward. Not only just safety, but special teams and other certain parts of the game.”

Veteran teammate and defensive lineman Danny Striggow on Perich: “Koi is a fun guy to be around. I didn’t really hear him talk for the first couple of weeks that he was here. He was a little quiet but now he’s starting to open it up…to get in with a lot of the guys.

“It’s really cool to see him come in and be explosive right away. Kind of see him work into his role and really take control of the positions that he is in and the reps that he is getting. To be able to go out there and really take advantage of what he’s getting for reps.”

Veteran linebacker Cody Lindenberg has been impressed with Perich’s energy and instincts. The former 4-star recruit, who was the MVP of the January All-American Bowl, is a playmaker at safety or special teams including returning punts. “…Whatever it is, he’s going to make a play somehow, some way. It’s been great to see him grow, too. It’s a short while since he’s been here but he’s gotten a ton better.”

Gopher senior Quinn Carroll, who has switched from right tackle to right guard, likes playing more inside where a player is “more influential” in the run game and “that’s my strength” right now.

Condolences to family and the many friends of Scott Buss, age 50, who died unexpectedly several days ago. The Eden Prairie resident was a personal favorite. We were scheduled to be part of a foursome at Dwan Golf Course in Bloomington on Sunday. Scott was chosen by sportswriter John Sherman from the Sun-Current for Edina’s all-time high school baseball team. In his senior spring at Edina in 1993 the Star Tribune named him the all-state first baseman. Kind and soft spoken, with a passion for people and sports, Scott leaves a void that will never be filled for those who loved him.

Tom Kelly, who managed the Twins to two World Series championships and whose statue is outside Target Field, turns 74 today (August 15).

Bailey Ober, 12-5 with a 3.52 ERA, can extend his career best winning streak (now at four) when he starts for the Twins tonight against the Rangers in Texas.

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Collective Makes Significant Impact on Gopher Football

Posted on August 11, 2024August 11, 2024 by David Shama

Dinkytown Athletes, the official Golden Gophers collective involved with Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for University of Minnesota athletes, launched in July of 2022 and sold its first memberships to the public in September of that year. DA, led by Derek Burns and Robert Gag, faced a skeptical Minnesota sports public but interest in boosting the coffers of the collective is documented in a report shared recently with Sports Headliners.

Active paying members were up 156 percent year-over-year in the spring of 2023 and 180 percent in the fall of last year, per “The Dinkytown Difference Football Case Study.” The document doesn’t specify dollar amounts, but the opinion here is DA has become competitive with other collectives supporting major college football programs including many in the Big Ten. (Editor’s note: DA is a Sports Headliners advertiser.)

Darius Taylor photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Without the growth in financial support for DA from contributors, the Gophers wouldn’t be returning 16 starters from last season’s team. Among returnees are standouts including sophomore running back Darius Taylor whose 799 yards rushing last season was fifth best in school history for a true freshman despite missed playing time when he was injured. Taylor’s NIL earnings are estimated at six-figures. For sure being rewarded, too, with NIL earnings are other Gophers including Aireontae Ersery, rated the best returning offensive tackle in college football by Pro Football Focus.

In a new era where players on the existing rosters of college football teams have to be re-recruited, the transfer portal window is an anxiety producing time as programs look to both retain and add personnel. For the 2023-2024 portal period the Gophers coaching staff led by P.J. Fleck lost three transfers to Power Five programs including starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. Minnesota gained eight transfers, giving the Gophers a net gain of 94 games in playing experience, according to the Dinkytown difference document.

Rivals.com gave Minnesota the second highest grade among Big Ten teams last spring for its work in acquiring talent in the transfer portal. Minnesota’s B grade was surpassed only by Washington’s B+.

Minnesota’s eight transfers include promising running back Marcus Major from Oklahoma, former state No. 1 recruit and edge rusher Jaxon Howard from LSU, plus needed help at wide receiver where Cristian Driver from Penn State and Tyler Williams from Georgia. The biggest transfer prize looks like FCS transfer Max Brosmer from New Hampshire.

As a startup, founders Burns and Gag learned money needs to be in place before the transfer portal opens. In the 2022-2023 portal the Gophers lost 10 transfers to Power Five programs. Minnesota gained two transfers during that period resulting in a net loss of 115 games in Power Five playing experience, according to the document.

Among the players leaving the Gophers was cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., who became a 2023 All-American at West Virginia. Austin Booker made all-Big 12 as a defensive lineman for Kansas. Defensive lineman Trill Carter was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year playing for Texas.

Worth Noting

Steve Erban said his company will be taking about 600 Gopher football fans to Minnesota’s October 12 UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. Creative Charters has almost sold out its availability.

Just added to the football fan travel lineup is a trip to the November 9 Rutgers game. Erban said the trip experience will include a visit to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey.

Speculation is Viking safety Lewis Cine, the team’s top draft choice in 2022, will not be a member of the team when roster cuts are made later this summer. Cine, selected last in the first round with the No. 32 pick, has been a disappointment during his career and appears to be way down on the safety roster in training camp.

In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Cine played in three and seven games respectively, and started in none. It now appears that Cine, and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., who was the team’s second player taken in the 2022 draft, will be draft busts. Booth Jr. was traded last week to the Cowboys for cornerback Nashon Wright.

The most important performance yesterday in the Vikings’ 24-23 closing seconds victory over the Raiders may have been the winning field goal by rookie kicker Will Reichard. In the opening preseason game for both teams the Vikings got a clutch 38-yard boot by Reichard who is trying to win the kicking job after Minnesota released veteran Greg Joseph in the offseason.

Adding to the drama at U.S. Bank Stadium yesterday, Reichard had his first field goal attempt as a pro blocked, and Raider kicker Daniel Carlson kicked three field goals including a 56-yarder. Carlson was released by the Vikings after his first two games as a rookie in 2018. He’s been with the Raiders ever since where he’s become one of the NFL’s best, and the hasty decision by the Vikings to cut ties remains among the worst in recent years for the franchise.

An interesting individual matchup in Viking training camp is rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner going against stud offensive left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Turner, a first-round selection, had a sack yesterday and looks like a game-changer.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game his top two quarterbacks, newcomers Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, are “ahead of where I thought they would be at this point.” It’s believed that Darnold, an NFL vet going into his seventh season, is almost certainly the starter for the regular season opener at the Giants September 8.

Rookie McCarthy made a couple of underwhelming throws in the first half, including an interception. In the second half, he threw two touchdown passes with velocity and touch on the football. Darnold played only one series, the opening drive of the game.

The Twins finish their four-game series today against the Guardians who have lost two of the first three games against Minnesota at Target Field. Cleveland holds a 2.5 games lead in the AL Central Division but has lost seven of its last eight games and is 17-23 since June 26.

The Guardians are the smart choice to win today with ace starter Tanner Bibee going against Minnesota rookie David Festa. Last Monday, though, Festa impressed in a win over the Cubs, giving up two hits and no runs in five innings.

Twins president Dave St. Peter is a college football fan and will attend his first game at Michigan Stadium when Texas plays Michigan September 7. “Excited about it,” St. Peter said. “Never been to the ‘Big House’ so it will be a fun experience. I am certain of that.”

This will be the 14^th trip he and friends have made to well-known college football venues.

Target Field has a history of hosting college football games with regional teams and interest remains in future bookings, but St. Peter told Sports Headliners nothing is on the “calendar for the next few years.”

Look for Twins games to be on cable/satellite next season, plus directly to the consumer via streaming. Comcast viewers who finally have the Twins back on cable this summer by paying a higher monthly fee may have to pay more of the same for Timberwolves and Wild telecasts.

Owen Presthus, grandson of former Golden Gophers basketball captain Paul Presthus, is an outstanding soccer player and a few days ago was signed by Columbus Crew 2 to an MLS Next Pro contract.

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P.J. Fleck Makes Case for Better Gopher Pass Game in 2024

Posted on July 25, 2024 by David Shama

In 13 games last season the Golden Gophers football team averaged 20.3 points per game, ranking 12^th in the 14-team Big Ten. Minnesota was mediocre running the football and had a dismal passing game, adding up to an offense averaging 300.9 yards per game—again 12^th in the league.

“When you have the Big Ten kicker of the Year, you’re probably not very good on offense,” head coach P.J. Fleck said today at Big Ten media days in Indianapolis. Fleck is a big fan of returning kicker Dragan Kesich and his proficiency for kicking field goals but knows his offense must produce in 2024 to improve on last season’s 6-7 record.

Fleck said personnel limitations and injuries dictated what the offense could do last season. “We want that to be better. We want that (offense) to be way more balanced,” Fleck told reporters in Indy at a news conference televised on BTN. “We also have to have the personnel to do that, which I think we have.

“We’re deeper at wideout, we’re deeper at tight end. We’ve basically got our whole line coming back. We’ve got a really good quarterback who is really consistent. …We’ve got a running back room that’s really deep. And if we can stay healthy, we can be balanced and be consistent on a daily basis on the offensive side of the ball.”

At the most important position in football, Minnesota has newcomer Max Brosmer. The transfer from New Hampshire was a second team FCS All-American last season.

Fleck said the Gophers were committed to finding a portal quarterback for 2024 who would be the starter. Someone with talent and a match for the program’s culture that stresses teamwork, academics and citizenship. Fleck tells his players to work at being better people than players, believing if you’re a better person you will become a better player.

Brosmer will have just one season of eligibility with the Gophers, but his leadership has already been so apparent to the coaches and players. “He’s a meticulous ‘why’ seeker and he’s a very, curious, curious individual. And anytime you have a curious leader, you can accomplish a lot.

“The quote that he is a coach on the field gets thrown around a lot, but he truly is. He could be a doctor and a surgeon which he probably will be, but he’ll be a phenomenal coach if he decides (to be) that one day after he’s done playing.”

Adam Weber, the former Gopher quarterback who still holds school records for career passing yards and career touchdown passes, has spent time with Brosmer. “He’s very impressive,” Weber told Sports Headliners Tuesday.

Worth Noting

Fleck, entering his eighth season with the Gophers, said he and athletic director Mark Coyle have worked together longer than any head football coach-athletic director duo in the Big Ten. Fleck emphasizes the importance of sustainability in a program’s culture that comes about when leadership is in place for a long time. Minnesota had four different head coaches between 1997 and 2016.

An example, he said, of how culture translates into sustainability is the Gophers return 16 of 17 eligible starters from last season’s team.

None of those starters has received more preseason hype than offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery. Ersery is a member of the latest EA Sports College Football 25. Not only ranked at No. 24, but he is also the highest rated offensive lineman in the Big Ten.

Fleck reiterated he “loves Minnesota” and said he and wife Heather have been building a new home for more than two years and it will be completed in two weeks.

Thirteen Golden Gophers have been named as candidates to play in the January 30, 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl in Arlington, Texas. That’s more than defending national champion Michigan has with nine on the watch list for the postseason all-star game.

Gophers are: Max Brosmer, Quinn Carroll, Tyler Cooper, Aireontae Ersery, Jack Henderson, Daniel Jackson, Jah Joyner, Dragan Kesich, Cody Lindenberg, Jalen Logan-Redding, Elijah Spencer, Danny Striggow, Justin Walley. https://shrinebowl.com/shrine-bowl-1000/

Former Gophers defensive back Brock Vereen, along with Rick Pizzo, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith, will host a new 30-minute B1G Countdown to Kickoff show on BTN this summer and fall to prepare fans for the Big Ten games of the day.

Condolences to family and friends of Rochester native and Gophers’ swimming great Steve Jackman, 83, who died last month. Once referred to as “the fastest man in the world” after twice winning the NCAA 50-yard free style races, Jackman was an 11-time All-American at Minnesota. Jackman graduated in 1968 from the University of Minnesota Medical school and practiced radiology at the Mayo Clinic and Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois, according to the Springfield-based State Journal Register website.

Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards is the youngest player at age 22 on the men’s Olympic basketball roster. Wolves coach Chris Finch sees another opportunity for Edwards to grow from the opportunity, watching how some of the world’s greatest players prepare and handle themselves as professionals.

Edwards has predicted he can contribute in big moments for the U.S. team. “His confidence is something that fuels him, to be quite honest with you,” Finch told Sports Headliners earlier this month.

The team’s opening game in the Paris Olympics is Sunday against Serbia. Start time is 10:15 a.m. CDT with NBC televising.

The Summer Olympics begin tomorrow and cybersecurity company AVG has a warning: phishing and scam attacks rise during the summer and winter games. Attacks were up 280 percent during the 2021 summer Olympics and 238 percent for the 2022 winter games, per AVG.

Hollis Cavner has been a golf trailblazer here for more than 30 years. His efforts began with the Burnet Senior Classic in 1993, then the Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic and 3M Championship and now the 3M Open, Minnesota’s PGA Tour stop in its sixth year and going on this week at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.

Cavner, his employees and volunteers have put high quality golf on the map in Minnesota while raising millions of dollars for local charities and boosting the economy. With the objective of growing interest in the game, kids 16 and under are admitted free to the tournament.

Cavner excels in building relationships including with young golfers such as Sahith Theegala who turned pro in 2020 and is now ranked No. 11 in the world. He will be at the 3M Open as will young players granted an exemption to participate including former Gopher Ben Warian.

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