P.J. FLECK – Page 59 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Leber: Need More from Vikings Defense

Posted on December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 by David Shama

A Thursday notes column starting with candid quotes from Ben Leber, the former Vikings linebacker who offers expert analysis during games on the team’s radio network.

Minnesota is 9-4 with intentions of winning its last three regular season games and advancing to the playoffs. With quarterback Kirk Cousins and others either meeting or exceeding expectations on offense, Leber is most concerned about the defense. “I just think they got to start generating more difference-making plays,” Leber said.

Leber wants the defense to force more turnovers and even turn those mistakes by opponents into points. Minnesota hasn’t been consistent enough with that this year and in the recent past, per Leber.

The defense is yielding 19.2 points per game, with only six of 31 other NFL teams doing better. The Vikings have given up only five rushing touchdowns but allowed 22 passing. Leber has a concern with the defensive secondary, not the line or other defenders.

The Vikings have to stop playing what he calls “safe” pass defense. “They need to go out there and take control of the pass defense and get their hands on the football,” Leber said. “Then it’s up to the offense to score some points off the turnovers.”

A focal point in the secondary remains cornerback Xavier Rhodes who is paid like an All-Pro but has been inconsistent this season and last. His misjudgments have placed him in hot water with head coach Mike Zimmer. As of late, Rhodes has sometimes been subbed out during games.

In the locker room yesterday Rhodes told reporters he doesn’t know how much he will play in Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Chargers. “I just gotta make plays when I’m in games,” he said. “That’s my mindset.”

Leber thinks the 29-year-old Rhodes can still play at a high level as the schedule closes but isn’t sure he will. “He has the ability to do it,” Leber said. “I’m guessing that taking some reps off of him (during games) will help him play a little bit faster.”

Rhodes has contended with an ankle injury this fall. He doesn’t expect the ankle will keep him out Sunday. “The ankle is pretty good,” he said. “It’s getting better day to day.”

Since week five of the NFL season Cousin has an NFL best 120.0 passer rating and he’s thrown a league high 21 touchdown passes. The nine-year veteran’s passing is in sharp contrast to what he has done in much of his pro career including a disappointing first season with the Vikings in 2018.

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema, a close observer of the team, praises the work of the coaches including assistant head coach Gary Kubiak who was added to the staff during the last offseason. Lurtsema believes a change in philosophy has caused a Cousins turnaround, with the offense adjusted to prioritize the quarterback’s strengths. Lurtsema said he’s never seen the 31-year-old Cousins play so relaxed.

“I must give the coaches a lot of credit because they are coaching to the strength of the player and a lot of coaches coach to the strength of their system,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “They are giving Cousins the flexibility to play to his strengths. “

Lurtsema also praised Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter for not only his physical skills but saying “his work ethic is second to none.” Hunter’s long arms enable the 25-year-old to keep blockers at a distance. “He plays the game smartly but more importantly he’s got a motor on him,” Lurtsema said.

Hunter was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week yesterday for his performance last Sunday against the Lions in Minnesota’s 20-7 win. He had three sacks and seven total tackles. He is the youngest player to reach 50 career sacks since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

Chargers special teams coordinator and assistant head coach George Stewart was the Vikings wide receivers coach from 2007-2016.

Regis Eller, son of legendary former Vikings defensive end Carl Eller, is assistant director of pro scouting for the Chargers.

Steve and Dorothy Erban’s Stillwater-based Creative Charters has sold out two Boeing airplanes for the Outback Bowl in Tampa and is looking at adding another plane based on demand.

No word from sources yet on which, if any, senior Gophers football players may sit out the Outback Bowl game against Auburn to protect their health and professional prospects. Linebacker Blake Cashman skipped Minnesota’s Quick Lane Bowl game last year.

Not many coaches can put on their resumes the achievement of taking teams to January bowl games prior to turning 40 years old. Among those who can is Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck who has Minnesota in the January 1 Outback Bowl and three years ago led Western Michigan to the Cotton Bowl.

ESPN.com’s ranking this week, of the 150 greatest college football coaches ever, listed former Gopher player Bud Wilkinson No. 6 for the dynasty he built at Oklahoma. The Minneapolis native was listed after Paul Bear Bryant and Nick Saban, both from Alabama, Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne, Nebraska’s Tom Osborne and Grambling’s Eddie Robinson.

An ESPN panel of media, administrators, and former coaches and players, ranked St. John’s coach John Gagliardi No. 16, with Lou Holtz (multiple schools including Minnesota and Notre Dame) No. 23, Fritz Crisler (Minnesota, Princeton and Michigan) No 42. Former Gopher player Biggie Munn, who gained coaching fame at Michigan State, ranked No. 47, and Minneapolis native Sid Gillman (Miami of Ohio and Cincinnati) No. 54.

Bernie Bierman (multiple schools including Minnesota) was ranked No. 65. He won five national championships at Minnesota and his ranking is too low. Henry Williams, for whom Williams Arena is named, is No. 106 based on his coaching career at Army and Minnesota. Left off the list was former Gophers coach Murray Warmath, who had a career record at Minnesota of 87-78-7, but won a national championship and had two co-Big Ten title teams. He was also a pioneer in his commitment to using black players in big time college football.

Jashon Cornell, the Minnesota native from Cretin-Derham Hall and fifth-year Ohio State defensive tackle, was named Big Ten honorable mention last week in voting from league coaches.

ESPN’s Sunday night baseball schedule for the first half of next season not only didn’t include the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins but also passed on the World Series champion Washington Nationals.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli got engaged to girl friend Allie Genoa this fall at Yosemite National Park.

Although seven schools in the 10-member men’s Western Conference Hockey Association plan to form a new league to start play in two years, it’s possible the WCHA may reorganize with new teams, perhaps including St. Thomas if the Tommies are successful in gaining approval of Division I status in athletics.

Illinois remains a possibility to some day join the Big Ten in hockey.

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Wild Close on 2021 NHL Winter Classic

Posted on December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 by David Shama

Target Field could be the playing site for the 2021 NHL Winter Classic. The Twins and Wild would host the prestigious annual game that has never been played in Minnesota, and a January 1, 2021 date could help commemorate the 20th anniversary of the local NHL team.

Wild owner Craig Leipold acknowledged to Sports Headliners yesterday that his franchise is competing with one other NHL city for the Winter Classic, but the league has yet to inform him of its decision. An announcement of the 2021 playing site for the outdoor game is likely to come January 1, 2020.

Known as the “State of Hockey,” the NHL Winter Classic seems overdue for a Minnesota date. “It should be us,” Leipold said. “We think that we’ve got exciting players. We think that we have a good team, and a very competitive team, and we have a great market. No one will ever question that. Our fans are fantastic. So I think we check most of the boxes, and…we hope it’s our time.”

Local interest in attracting the nationally televised event has been ongoing for a long time by the Twins and Wild. Twins president Dave St. Peter spoke of his interest in the game as recently as August of this year. The Wild hosted a successful NHL Stadium Series game at TCF Bank Stadium in 2016, but that event is less coveted than the Winter Classic that last January was played at Notre Dame Stadium, and January 1, 2020 lands in the Cotton Bowl.

The Winter Classic was first played in 2008 to evoke the outdoor roots of hockey. The event uses football and baseball stadiums, with one game drawing over 100,000 fans to Michigan Stadium. A Sports Headliners hockey source said the NHL and TV rights holder NBC prefer historic league teams from the United States like the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Planners also want winning teams that can attract a large TV audience.

The Wild has been a mediocre team for years and that’s been a factor in the NHL not granting the Winter Classic to Minnesota. But the team has been impressive of late and with the franchise’s 20th anniversary looming since its inception for the 2000-2001 season, and the fact so many other cities have already hosted the game, Minnesota’s lobbying efforts could finally pay off.

The Wild’s opponent might be the Blackhawks because of the rivalry between the two teams and the size of the huge Chicago TV market. The Dallas Stars, the team once based in Minnesota as the North Stars, may well be another possibility. Activities surrounding a Minneapolis Winter Classic could include an alumni game between former Wild and Blackhawks or Stars players.

The Wild is undefeated in its last 10 games, going 7-0-3. Leipold said the team is showing skill and depth, referring to the third and fourth lines as playing “fantastic.” With three goalies and a sound defense, he is excited after the Wild had a slow start to the season. “We don’t have any weaknesses,” he said.

New general manager Bill Guerin has had time to evaluate the personnel but Leipold doesn’t think there are any trades in the works right now. “But I think the next month, and month-and-a-half, is going to tell a lot as to where we think this team can go,” Leipold said.

Worth Noting

It will be interesting to see if Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle is rewarded with increased compensation this month, or shortly after the first of the year. Coyle’s work since being hired in 2016 is highly regarded, but his annual compensation of $850,000 remains unchanged from the original contract—although he did receive a three-year extension last October taking his deal through 2024.

There are many major college athletic directors earning well over $1 million including some of Coyle’s colleagues in the Big Ten. An increase of $150,000, taking Coyle to $1 million, could make sense to new University of Minnesota president Joan Gabel after the breakthrough season in football under the direction of coach P.J. Fleck who Coyle hired in 2017.

The University regents meet December 12 and 13 in Minneapolis but the agenda for the meeting is as yet unknown. Possibly blocking a Coyle increase is this week’s announcement of faculty layoffs at UMD. Although Coyle’s compensation comes from the largely self-supporting Gophers athletic department, a University system perception problem could arise because of the fiscal challenges at UMD.

Coyle’s success at Minnesota, including popular hires of hockey coach Bob Motzko and basketball coach Lindsay Whalen, is noticed by other universities. There was speculation earlier this fall USC was interested in Coyle for its AD opening. Coyle, an Iowa native who first worked for the U athletic department about 18 years ago before taking AD jobs at Boise State and Syracuse, has often expressed his liking for working at Minnesota and living in the Twin Cities with his family.

Sid Hartman’s 100th birthday will be March 15 of next year, and that day just happens to be a Sunday. It’s perfect timing to celebrate the milestone on WCCO Radio where Hartman has been heard for decades on the Sunday morning “Sports Huddle” program.

Show co-host Dave Mona told Sports Headliners the station will do a “Sidtennial” celebration. A list of about 50 potential celebrity guests for telephone interviews is being reviewed to reach a smaller total. The Sid salute March 15, Mona said, will continue during a WCCO Radio Twins spring training broadcast in the afternoon and on into the evening with more interviews, stories and tributes to the legendary radio personality and Minneapolis newspaper columnist.

The Twin Cities Dunkers organization that supports Minnesota professional and amateur sports has provided $690,500 in combined gifts to the athletic departments of the Minneapolis and St. Paul high schools over the past eight years. The organization was originally known as the Minneapolis Dunkers and dates back to 1948.

Gophers wide receiver Rashod Bateman was named the Big Ten’s wide receiver of the year Wednesday (Richter-Howard Award). Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck raved about Bateman recently, describing him as “incredibly talented.” But Fleck also praised the sophomore for his work ethic and selflessness. “When you start combining the skill with that, that’s an inferno, that’s a bonfire, instead of the fire in your fireplace with one log,” Fleck said.

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Rhodes 2020 Vikes Status Appears Iffy

Posted on December 3, 2019December 3, 2019 by David Shama

A Tuesday notes column including commentary on the Vikings following last night’s loss to the Seahawks in Seattle.

It seems probable this will be cornerback Xavier Rhodes’ last season with the Vikings. He had a glaringly inconsistent performance last night that included an apparent communications mix up leading to a Seahawks touchdown in the 37-30 loss. He also clearly showed poor judgment in committing a personal foul leading to a first half Seattle touchdown. He lost his temper on the sidelines during the game and for awhile was replaced by Mike Hughes.

The 29-year-old Rhodes is paid like one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks with a reported $70 million deal he signed in 2017. He had a disappointing season in 2018 and has been inconsistent this year, including some poor moments. He has obviously tested the patience of head coach Mike Zimmer.

The Vikings will enter the 2020 offseason with challenging salary cap numbers. At Rhodes’ age, and with his sizeable contract and recent performances, he looks like an easy cut from next season’s payroll.

A couple of team stats stand out from last night’s game. The Seahawks’ time of possession was 39:45, the Vikings’ 20:15. It’s difficult to win when one team is so in dominant controlling the football.

The game officials allowed an aggressive style of play. Each team had just 30 yards in penalties, with Vikings fans not happy with the officiating.

With an 8-4 record the Vikings face a favorable remaining schedule that could see them win their final four games. “I kind of think they will,” former Viking Matt Birk told Sports Headliners this morning.

Three of the last four games are at home, with the Green Bay Packers appearing to be the only team who might be favored against Minnesota.

The Seattle loss was costly, though, because even if the Vikings make the playoffs they may not have home field advantage. Right now several NFC teams, including the Packers who lead the NFC North, have better records than Minnesota.

The Vikings need to have key players heal up soon from injuries including wide receiver Adam Thielen who missed last night’s game, and running back Dalvin Cook who was injured in the second half. Left tackle Riley Reiff was injured in the first half and replaced by Rashod Hill who appeared to struggle in his performance.

Zimmer could provide injury updates at his 4 p.m. news conference today.

Zimmer refers to Cook as a “model citizen” in the December 2 issue of Sports Illustrated. A feature story on the star running back looks back at Cook’s off the field problems as a teen and how his “rap sheet” deterred teams from taking him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In the pre-draft interview process Vikings GM Rick Spielman became confident enough in Cook’s character to select him in the early second round.

“I can’t even fathom a time when there has been a question about this kid’s dedication to what we are trying to do,” offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski told S.I. “There’s been no prodding with Dalvin Cook.”

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is now 0-7 in his NFL career playing in Monday night games.

Renaissance man Matt Birk is the latest guest on “Behind the Game,” the Twin Cities cable TV program co-hosted by Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson. Birk, the former All-Pro NFL center, has led a varied life since retiring as a player. He has worked for the NFL, started a Catholic High School in Burnsville, done standup comedy, written a book, spoken to groups as a corporate speaker, and been linked to a possible future in politics. He and wife Adrianna have eight children. “Behind the Game” episodes can also be viewed on YouTube.

A popular projection is the Gophers will play in the January 1 Outback Bowl in Tampa. That’s a desirable destination because the Gophers have never been to the Outback Bowl, Tampa is an easy direct flight from Minneapolis, many retired Minnesotans live on the Gulf Coast and a prestigious SEC opponent awaits. As do sun-splashed beaches.

Via email former Gopher Scott Mullen on the possibility SEC powerhouse Alabama could be the bowl opponent: “If that’s the case, best ditch the oars and get an outboard motor for the boat.”

Mike Nealy, a Roseville native and University of Minnesota alum, is executive director of the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona that hosts a College Football Playoff semifinal game December 28. The Fiesta Bowl could be a Gophers destination in future years, as might the Arizona-based Cheez-It Bowl that Nealy is also executive director for.

Nealy was in Minneapolis last weekend and owns four Gopher football season tickets.

The Gophers finished with a 10-2 regular season record and had good fortune with keeping most of their key players healthy and available to play. Head coach P.J. Fleck labels his Dan Nichol “the best strength coach in America.”

The Gophers value strength and conditioning, but there’s more in their pursuit to stay healthy. “I also think it has a lot to do with the mental health as well,” Fleck said. “It’s not just the physical health. It’s the mental health, emotional health of your football team. Are they in the right place mentally, emotionally, to be able to perform at a high level? A lot of times that keeps players out almost more than the physical injuries these days.”

With Minnesota’s season ending loss to Wisconsin, Fleck didn’t get the birthday present he wanted when turning 39 last week.

Big Ten football teams played 96 home games this season but only 32 were sellouts. The Gophers had two sellouts at TCF Bank Stadium, reflecting the Big Ten and major college football status of struggling to fill seats.

With the Minnesota Twins not bringing back C.J. Cron, they could move Miguel Sano from third to first base and potentially tighten infield defense.

The new Minnesota Timberwolves City Edition uniforms may seem a little familiar to those who watched the Minneapolis Lakers play in the early years of the NBA. The uniform is baby blue and bears the letters MSP on the front. “The design pays homage to the Lakers but is done indirectly,” Wolves executive Ted Johnson wrote via email. “That is because the Minnesota Timberwolves do not have the rights to the Lakers logos, colors or historical uniform designs. All of that belongs to the current franchise located in Los Angeles.”

Wolves ticket marketers have been aggressive in recent days with a full page Star Tribune newspaper ad Thursday promoting 50 percent off single game tickets and a Cyber Monday offering of 25 to 50 percent discounts for December game tickets.

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