P.J. FLECK – Page 4 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Don’t Bet on Seeing a Lot of QB J.J. McCarthy in Preseason

Posted on August 3, 2025August 3, 2025 by David Shama

The Vikings play their first of three preseason games starting Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Then they have joint practices August 13 and 14 in Eagan against the Patriots before playing them in an exhibition game August 16 in Minneapolis. The Vikings finish up with a preseason game August 22 in Nashville against the Titans.

What fans are salivating over is when they can watch quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The short answer is not much.

That’s a popular view including from a valued Sports Headliners source whose background includes front office assignments with NFL teams. Speaking on condition of anonymity he said via text: “I expect him to play a couple series at most in (the) preseason opener vs Texans, then after their joint practices with Patriots, he won’t play in preseason #2…or the last preseason game when no starters play.”

McCarthy talking about rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, the former Golden Gopher: “Max is the man. Just super detail oriented, works his butt off. I can’t say enough good things about that guy. He is just an awesome human being, and he can sing pretty well, too. He’s got a song out there: Old Jack Daniels. You can check it out…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Will Reichard, the Vikings rookie kicker who last season made all of his extra points and converted 24 of 30 field goal attempts including eight from over 50 yards, is hitting the ball well in training camp, per special teams coach Matt Daniels. Noting that the Vikings will face adverse weather conditions on the road, Daniels said the “biggest thing is handling” the elements at camp which can include stiff winds.

Worth Noting

The Big Ten Network airs its football training camp show on the Gophers today at multiple times including 6 to 7 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. The BTN crew was in town last night to attend the practice open to the public and media.

Interesting take: background music was played throughout the evening’s practice including the Iowa fight song. Surprisingly, no boo-birds or even murmurs surfaced from the crowd of perhaps 2,000 people.

The players were limited in contact with an emphasis on passing and new starting quarterback Drake Lindsey, the redshirt freshman, threw some nice balls. The wide receiver corps, as advertised, was impressive including redshirt freshman Jalen Smith from Mankato who could emerge as a star before his four seasons of eligibility are done.

The Gophers showed a goal line power offense with tight end Frank Bierman lined up in front of the tailback. The pecking order at tailback looked like Darius Taylor and transfers A.J. Turner (Marshall) and Cam Davis (Washington).

The speedy and elusive Turner, who in 2024 averaged a nation’s best 8.3 yards per carry for runners with over 100 rushing attempts, returned kickoffs at last night’s practice.

Daniel Jackson, the true freshman from Alexandria, Minnesota, showed a strong leg on field goal attempts. Brady Denaburg, the senior transfer from Syracuse, flashed perhaps even a stronger leg. He made 13 of 22 career field goals at Syracuse and recorded 156 touchbacks on 198 kickoffs.

BetMGM has the Gophers as 16.5 point favorites playing at home to defeat Buffalo in the season opener for both teams on August 28. It appears to be a large point spread against a Buffalo team that is among the favorites to win the Mid-American.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck loves to play golf but his increasingly busy schedule limits times on the links. He usually plays with his buddy Cal Simmons at Interlachen Country Club, and Simmons said the two have been out about six times this year and play either early in the day or late.

Twins president Derek Falvey sent out a letter via email Friday to ticket purchasers. It said in part: “This week, we made a clear and deliberate decision to strengthen the next chapter of championship-caliber baseball for the Minnesota Twins. ..

“We know moves like this spark reactions. That’s natural. It reflects how much you care.

“That’s why we’re positioning the Twins to compete at a higher level, not just in the short term, but in a way that can endure the ups and downs of a long season. That’s the kind of team you deserve.

“The mission hasn’t changed. We’re here to build a team that can win a World Series. …”

A Sports Headliners reader points out that since the Twins won the 1991 World Series all their rivals in the American League Central Division have been to the big show. The Guardians have been to three World Series, the Royals and Tigers two, and the White Sox one. The Royals and White Sox won titles.

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Brian Flores Likes What He Sees in Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column.

All eyes seemingly are on first-year Vikings starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy at training camp. Among those most qualified to give an opinion about the 22-year-old is defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Flores said yesterday part of the strategy in preparing the inexperienced quarterback is “giving him a lot of different looks” from the defense. “I think J.J. has done a great job. I really do. I think he’s got real good command of the offense. I think he’s throwing the ball really well. I think he’s doing a lot of nice things and I’ve liked watching him improve. That’s good for everybody.”

Seems like when, not if, Flores will leave from his successful run here and accept an NFL head coaching position elsewhere. As in past seasons, it appears likely Flores will hear his name speculated on for openings in the fall and early winter.

Flores had a head coaching job previously, leading the Dolphins from 2019-2021. That tenure didn’t end well with a 24-25 record and negative feelings about his dismissal.

Flores has flourished in two previous seasons as leader of the Vikings defense. In his first two seasons leading the defense (2023-24), Minnesota had 53 total takeaways, the third most in the NFL trailing only Buffalo (59) and Pittsburgh (57). The Vikings have also held foes to an average of 96.1 rushing yards per game under Flores. That’s the third-fewest rushing yards per game over the past two seasons, behind only Detroit (93.6) and Baltimore (94.7).

Flores, who was a finalist for the Associated Press Assistant Coach of the Year for 2024, has not only polished his resume here, but also assimilated the offensive wisdom and coaching prowess of head coach Kevin O’Connell. In three seasons O’Connell has dazzled as a quarterback developer and offensive strategist.

Flores praises the way the offense goes about its business, from leadership to how the unit practices. He is comfortable going into the boss’s office and “picking his brain” on things like pass protection or route concepts. He describes O’Connell’s relationships with others as a “super power.”

“My time with him has been incredible these last two years and this year as well,” Flores said. “I think I am pretty good in some areas. Areas I am not as good in, he’s really good in. So just kind of naturally I get better in those areas. …”

Flores describes a “bit of a chess match” between the Vikings offense and defense as both units work on details to improve themselves and each other. Flores knows O’Connell is loaded with football smarts. “X’s and O’s wise, he’s as good as they get,” Flores said.

No word on who will be replacing recently retired Joe Schmit as sports director at KSTP TV. If the successor comes internally, seems likely the choice could be Chris Long who was the No. 2 behind Schmit.

George Schauer, the point man on the Golden Gophers famous Harlem Globetrotters-like warmup show in the early 1970s, died earlier this month in Dallas. Coach Bill Musselman put Schauer on scholarship strictly because of his ballhandling skills and trickery as he led his teammates through a pre-game show set to music that packed Williams Arena and had fans roaring with delight.

Former Gophers assistant coach Kevin Wilson told Sports Headliners Schauer scored two points in his four-year career and that Schauer and the Williams Arena faithful went bonkers when he made his field goal.

Schauer entertained with his basketball wizardry after college with his most recent gig as an ambassador for the Frisco, Texas based Texas Legends of the G League. That’s the official minor league of the NBA.

New coach Niko Medved’s 2025 Gophers have their last day of summer practice Thursday. Medved meets with the media that day to provide an evaluation.

Cody Nagel from Cbssports.com ranked the 18 Big Ten football coaches last week and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck is at No. 8. Coaches above Fleck starting at No. 1 are Ryan Day, Ohio State; Dan Lanning, Oregon; James Franklin, Penn State; Lincoln Riley, USC; Kirk Ferentz, Iowa; Curt Cignetti, Indiana; Bret Bielema, Illinois.

Pioneer League football coaches voted St. Thomas to finish third in the standings this fall behind San Diego and Drake. In four previous seasons in the league, head coach Glenn Caruso’s Tommies have finished top three each year including a championship in 2022.

Twins infielder Luke Keaschall (right forearm) remains on rehab assignment with the Saints after having only 19 at bats with Minnesota this season. Pitcher Bailey Ober (left hip impingement) is also rehabbing with the Saints and has a 1.00 ERA in nine innings and two starts.

Don’t look now but while Twins pitching ace Pablo Lopez is sidelined the man traded to obtain Lopez, infielder Luis Arraez, is hitting .322 in his last 30 games and lifted his season average to .292.

Twins legends and hall of famers Jim Kaat and Rod Carew speak to the Twin Cities Dunkers on August 15.

Congratulations to Jeff Maday on being inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame. The track’s media relations manager has been with the racing facility for more than 30 years and started as a groom.

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Perich on Potential Path to Be Most Decorated Gopher Ever

Posted on July 27, 2025July 27, 2025 by David Shama

Koi Perich could become the most decorated player in the history of University of Minnesota football, a program that dates back to 1882. The Golden Gophers safety and return specialist earned numerous honors as a freshman in 2024 and he is identified by many sources this summer as a national player to watch during the coming season.

His 2024 recognition included:

Sporting News Second Team All-American
FWAA Freshman All-American
All-Big Ten First Team, Defensive Back
All-Big Ten Second Team, Return Specialist
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Shaun Alexander (National) Freshman of the Year Award Finalist

This summer college football magazines are touting Perich as a 2025 preseason All-American safety. One of the magazines, Phil Steele Publications, also named Perich as a third team All-Big Ten punt returner.

Perich is included on the recently announced Big Ten football Honors List of the top 16 players for the coming season. He is also on the watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy Award, presented annually to a defensive player for his character and athletic abilities. He is also expected to be on the watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s premier defensive back.

Perich presumably will play this season and next for the Gophers before entering the NFL Draft. He could become the all-time aggregator of football awards in Dinkytown, partially because of his excellence and also because through the decades more and more honors have been created for college football players to win.

Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

No football freshman at the U ever had the decorated season that Perich earned. Looks like he will rule the sophomore category, too. Center Greg Eslinger, who would go on to win the prestigious Outland Trophy and Remington Award later on in his career, was named All-Big Ten as a sophomore in 2003, but based on pre-season hype Perich could do more than that.

The legendary Paul Giel had some serious hardware in his possession, but the great halfback earned his major honors as a junior and senior in the 1950s. The two-time All-American was also twice named the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player. Despite playing on a mediocre team, Giel was runner-up for the 1953 Heisman Trophy in possibly the closest vote ever for the award.

The intrigue about Perich, who could become Minnesota’s first three-time All-American, certainly goes beyond what he showed last season. Yes, his athleticism and heady play helped him lead the Big Ten in interceptions with five. And, yes, he had a mesmerizing 82-yard punt return against defending national champion Michigan in the “Big House.” But this year coach P.J. Fleck is making it known his versatile star will be asked to be a playmaker on offense, too.

Expectation is that while Perich won’t be an every down player on offense, he could have numerous touches in each game as a receiver and runner. “Koi is very explosive,” said first-year quarterback Drake Lindsey.

Lindsey and Perich have been working together in the offseason. Lindsey, an Arkansas native, has become close friends with Perich. The two were down in Arkansas during the offseason where Lindsey threw to Perich.

It’s been apparent to Lindsey that Perich’s football gifts include his sure hands. He has also seen Perich’s successful assimilation of the formations and nuances of the Gopher offense. “He’s really smart,” Lindsey said.

If Perich, who is about 6-1 and 215 pounds, takes to offense like he has defense and returning punts and kicks, he could follow a similar path to Travis Hunter who won the Heisman Trophy after last season. In the almost unheard-of age of players contributing on both offense and defense, Hunter was elite playing cornerback and wide receiver for Colorado.

It’s premature and irresponsible to make comparisons between Perich and Hunter. But Perich, the small-town kid from near Duluth, has already put his name on the national stage.

And it looks like he will bring fame to not only the Gophers but to Esko, Minnesota, population of about 2,000. Esko came up in a recent interview with Big Ten Network host Dave Revsine who asked what he should see in the small town if he had a week there.

“Oh, not much,” Perich quipped.

Revsine then said what if he had just a “few hours” to check out the town.

“Hey, that’s all you need,” Perich replied. “Got one stop light. Go check out the school. We got Tequilla Town (restaurant). I think that’s what it’s called now. …”

Indeed, that’s what the restaurant name is. Perich recalled that the Mexican cuisine restaurant replaced the pizza place in town. He usually gets things right on and off the field.

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