Gophers Football – Page 213 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Linval Joseph, D-Line Get MVP Vote

Posted on November 20, 2015November 20, 2015 by David Shama

A lengthy list of notes including an unofficial vote for the Vikings midseason MVP, and also the Gophers “revenge” game tomorrow against Illinois.

Ex-Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema remains close to the team and was asked to name a MVP after nine games. “Linval Joseph right now is leading the pack, but if you answer the question straight out, I would say the defensive line entirely,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “…They do so many things, and now they’re coming together as a group.”

Joseph, a 27-year-old defensive tackle in his second season with the Vikings, is having a career year. Joseph has 31 solo tackles through nine starts, after totaling 28 in 16 games last season. He has 43 combined tackles, with seven games remaining in the regular schedule. His career-best for solo tackles in one season is 34, and it’s 59 for combined tackles.

Joseph was announced as NFC Defensive Player of the Week a couple days after his performance on November 8 against the Rams. In that overtime win he had 10 tackles, including seven solo.

Linval Joseph (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings.)

Joseph was a starter with the Giants before coming to the Vikings as a free agent prior to the 2014 season. The six-year pro told Sports Headliners that for consistency this is his best season. “I feel like things are just working out well for me right now. Everybody is playing team ball. Everybody is just happy for one another when they make plays. I just like the atmosphere that’s going on in this locker room. I just can’t wait to play Green Bay this week.”

The NFC North Division leading Vikings, 7-2, will play Green Bay at TCF Bank Stadium and the Packers will face a defense giving up only 17.1 points per game—best in the NFC. Joseph and his defensive line teammates have helped lead a productive defense for head coach Mike Zimmer, now in his second season with the Vikings.

“He’s a very good guy,” Joseph said about his coach. “He cares about his players. His players care about him. At the end of the day we’ve all got the same mindset. We want to win. We want to go to the top.”

Lurtsema has frequently praised Zimmer for his defensive teaching skills, blitz calls, secondary coverages, and overall approach with the team including intolerance for players who habitually make mistakes. Before this season began, an optimistic Lurtsema predicted a 10-6 record for the Vikings and a spot in the playoffs. The Vikings had finished 7-9 in 2014 and didn’t qualify for postseason play.

Lurtsema is also predicting a Vikings win by three points against the 6-3 Packers who have lost three straight games. The Packers are in a funk after an 18-16 loss to the now 2-7 Lions in Green Bay last Sunday. “Something’s missing there,” Lurtsema said on Monday. “You just don’t lose at home, especially to Detroit.”

A supportive and amped-up Vikings crowd on Sunday might even be the difference in the outcome of a game that is a projected toss-up. “Attitude (from players) is contagious. Attitude from the crowd is contagious,” Lurtsema said. “If it wasn’t important, why would point spreads bring in three points for home field advantage? That’s what they have always stated.”

The Gophers play Illinois tomorrow at TCF Bank Stadium and Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner has a message for the Illini who pulled off an upset last year. “It definitely was a surprise for us to go down there and get beat last year. They’re coming to our house this year and we’re excited about that, and it’s definitely a game that we got some revenge for them.”

That loss to Illinois cost the Gophers an opportunity to play the last game of the season at Wisconsin with one defeat. The Badgers had one loss entering the game. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota and became the West Division champs with a 7-1 Big Ten record. The Gophers finished with a 5-3 conference record.

Shannon Brooks, the Gophers 19-year-old freshman running back, has emerged as the team’s most explosive runner. “I don’t think he’s a finished product at all, and that’s what’s so exciting about it,” said Matt Limegrover.

Limegrover, Minnesota’s offensive coordinator, expects Brooks to mature physically. Limegrover used senior wide receiver KJ Maye as an example of a Gopher who has become faster, quicker and stronger after being dedicated to year-round training.

Limegrover said Brooks told him he has work to do as he continues to transition from high school to college football. “I think he’ll be a different player as early as this spring,” the coach said.

Brooks has twice been selected as the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week. His most recent honor came this week after a performance last Saturday against Iowa that included 86 yards rushing and a surprise 42-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky.

It was the first pass Brooks has attempted in a Gophers game and perhaps his last, since it’s unusual for a tailback to throw the ball. Wolitarsky admitted the Gophers worked on the play a lot in practice last week. He said the throw Brooks made in the game was his best of the week. “It didn’t look good in practice,” Wolitarsky said.

New Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys, the team’s former defensive coordinator, attends offensive meetings now. Limegrover has come to know Claeys is willing to take chances on offense including the Brooks to Wolitarsky pass. “He was the one that said, ‘Hey, don’t bring it back on the plane with you,’ ” Limegrover recalled.

During games, though, Claeys seldom involves himself with play calling. He said “99.9 percent” (of the time) assistants are deciding on the offensive plays.

Asked about how his life has changed since taking over for Jerry Kill as head coach this fall, Claeys said he’s setting aside 60 to 90 minutes per night to make recruiting calls.

Look for the Gophers to continue Kill’s philosophy of filling recruiting needs mostly with high school players, not junior college prospects who have fewer years of eligibility at Division I schools than preps. Claeys mentioned the Kansas program that a couple of years ago under then head coach Charlie Weis recruited a large class of junior college transfers, and he said that “got them in a bind.”

The November 18 issue of Sports Illustrated ranks MLB’s top 50 free agents and suggests franchises where players will “best fit” next season. Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, 30 years old, and Astros right-hand pitcher Tony Sipp, 32, received Twins best fits.

Cabrera, ranked No. 29 by S.I., hit .265 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI last season, but his big value was in the field where he committed just nine errors in 1,141 innings. Sipp, ranked No. 46, had a career season in relief with a 3-4 record and 1.99 ERA.

The St. Thomas men’s basketball team is one of eight teams playing in the Division 3 Hoopsville Classic Invitational in Stevenson, Maryland. The Tommies, ranked No. 4 in the nation by D3Hoops.com, play Emory tonight and Southern Vermont Saturday evening. Those two teams were a combined 47-10 last season and appear formidable again.

Tommies coach John Tauer is a professor of psychology. Sports Illustrated posted a podcast last Monday on his work as a coach, professor, and author.

Ready for the annual Teddy Bear Toss promotion? Better be if you’re planning to attend the Gophers women’s hockey game at Ridder Arena tonight. Fans can bring stuffed animals for donation to the athletic department’s annual toy drive. When the first Gopher goal is scored, fans can throw the stuffed animals on the ice. Minnesota (11-1-0, 9-1-0 WCHA) plays Yale (1-4-1, 1-2-1 ECAC) tonight and Saturday evening.

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Blogging on a Football Weekend

Posted on November 16, 2015November 16, 2015 by David Shama

With the Vikings and Gophers playing out of town last weekend, I can’t give you reports from TCF Bank Stadium, but here’s a recounting of how I kept myself occupied the last few days.

On Thursday I listened to 83-year-old former Gophers basketball coach Jim Dutcher speak to the CORES group (coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans). He last spoke to CORES in 1986. This prompted Dutcher to quip: “The next time I talk to this group I will be 112.”

The University of Iowa sent a news release late in the week warning fans to beware of counterfeit tickets for Saturday night’s Hawkeyes-Gophers game. This made me wonder what to do if I had purchased tickets for the game and then encountered strangers sitting in what I thought were my seats. How to decide who would stay, and who would move on?

Rock-paper-scissors?

Maybe, but the ideal situation would be learning these strangers were music teachers who mostly had come to Kinnick Stadium to watch the Iowa marching band before the game, at halftime and post-game. Does a negotiation where my group sat in the seats for the first, second, third and fourth quarters sound unreasonable?

Not sure how Friday the 13th went for you but Brock Vereen will remember the day for awhile—maybe a long time. The Vikings released the former Gophers safety on Friday.

News of Vereen’s departure came via e-mail but there were other e-mails last weekend much more important than football.

Minneapolis advertising legend Pat Fallon, an alumnus of Washburn High School and the University of Minnesota, died unexpectedly on Friday. Heart-felt condolences to Pat’s family and many friends. He was 70 years old.

The Timberwolves sent word about a presentation prior to their home game Sunday against the Grizzlies. Chris Herren, former NBA player and ex-drug addict, came to Target Center to tell his story about addiction and recovery—and his mission to help others by speaking to the public.

I learned via e-mail former Gopher and Viking tight end Doug Kingsriter got married in Dallas on Sunday. Anyone who knows Doug enjoys his wit and wisdom. He was a 1971 All-American at Minnesota and later played for Bud Grant with the Vikings.

I was trying to be on a no-football “diet” during the day on Saturday—saving my brain cells for analysis of the Gophers and Vikings—but a friend phoned and was raving about the performance of North High School’s Tyler Johnson. I turned the TV on when North’s Class 1A state title game against Minneota was in the late second quarter. Right on cue Johnson the quarterback made an elusive run for a touchdown. A couple of moments later Johnson the defensive back intercepted a pass and made an electrifying run where he seemingly left almost every Minneota tackler grabbing for air before finally going to the ground.

Johnson, a Gophers recruit, looks like he has the athleticism to play at a high level in the Big Ten. He won’t be a quarterback but whatever his position he sure looks like a playmaker.

About 4 p.m. on Saturday I received the perfect warm-up text for the Gophers-Iowa game from my son: “Big upset tonight.”

Earlier in the week he predicted a Vikings win in Oakland: 34-31.

Couldn’t help but notice coach Richard Pitino scheduled the Gophers basketball team for a game on Sunday, just an hour before kickoff in Oakland. Coach, I know you have only lived here a couple of years but the Vikings are kind of a big deal.

Umm. The Timberwolves also played Sunday afternoon. Guess they use the same schedule maker the Gophers have. And is that the person who schedules the Wolves and Wild on the same nights?

It was a good weekend to be a Hawkeyes fan. The wrestling team defeated No. 1 ranked Oklahoma State in Kinnick Stadium Saturday afternoon, drawing an NCAA dual match record attendance of 42,287. Then Saturday night at sold out Kinnick Stadium the Hawkeyes hung on to defeat the Gophers 40-35 and stay unbeaten with a 10-0 record.

Quarterbacks are always a focus and certainly were on Saturday night. Iowa’s C.J. Beathard has become one of the better quarterbacks in the country during his first full season as a starter. His passing and running were a problem all night for Minnesota, but the Gophers Mitch Leidner may have played the best game of his career completing 19 of 27 passes with no interceptions and running for a score. His passing rating was 163.2, according to ESPN.com.

Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover, often a target of critics, impressed with play calling that frequently had the Iowa defense off balance. Minnesota scored three touchdowns rushing against a defense that had given up only three all season. The Gophers had 301 yards passing including a touchdown throw from running back Shannon Brooks to wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky.

Credit too goes to the offensive line that played its best game of the fall. The line gave Leidner more opportunity than in the past to throw and at times opened big holes for Brooks. But while the offensive line had a good performance, the defensive line didn’t. The Hawkeyes were forced to punt only two times all night and Iowa rushers had huge holes including a 51-yard run late in the game when the Gophers were trying to get the ball back while trailing 33-28.

Minnesota is playing through a difficult season characterized by an abnormal loss of starters to injuries and a schedule of nationally-ranked opponents. But Minnesota has played through it all with much more determination and execution than a lot of teams would. The team’s 4-6 overall record and 1-5 Big Ten record doesn’t reflect the team’s quality. There’s reason for optimism in the two remaining games of the season against Illinois and Wisconsin at home.

I missed church on Sunday morning but tried to make up for it by listening to Greg Coleman’s “Pregame Preach” on KFAN prior to kickoff in Oakland. The former Vikings punter quotes scripture each week while talking football. Yesterday he was inspiring listeners while referencing King David and imploring Vikings fans to have faith in the presence of the “Black Hole,” otherwise known as the notorious south end zone section of the Oakland stadium where rowdy fans clad in all kinds of outfits reside.

And now about that Vikings game…and yesterday’s Packers-Lions game…and those NFC North standings…and about next Sunday’s Vikings game with the Pack in Minneapolis.

Remember that famous Al Michaels quote in 1980 when Herbie Brooks and his U.S. Olympic hockey team stunned the world? “Do you believe in miracles?”

Well, the 7-2 Vikings might not be a miracle forming in the northland but they’re a darn good team that just happens to be on a five-game winning streak, partially earned with three consecutive wins on the road including yesterday’s 30-14 victory over the Raiders. Meanwhile, in Green Bay, the Packers lost to—gulp—the lowly Lions, 18-16, and increased their losing streak to three straight.

All of a sudden the “Perfect Packers” are imperfect and are looking up at the Vikings in the standings. The Packers, 6-3, come to town having fallen from their spot among the NFL elite and at best are a shaky favorite in Sunday’s game.

The Packers figure to be a determined bunch next Sunday but the Vikings defense looks like it will carry this team into the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Yesterday in Oakland that defense held a Raiders offense that had scored 34 points or more in three consecutive games to just two touchdowns.

Those who had faith in the Purple before the game were rewarded.

Amen.

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U Center’s Bond with Jerry Kill Special

Posted on November 13, 2015November 13, 2015 by David Shama

Gophers freshman center Tyler Moore received the kind of news he didn’t expect and want on his 19th birthday last month.

Tyler’s father, Samson Moore, told Sports Headliners about how the first hours of October 28 developed involving his son and Jerry Kill. “He was waking up happy about his birthday, and then he gets called into a 7:30 a.m. meeting, (and) his coach is telling him he’s got to retire due to his health,” Sam said in a telephone interview last week. “That hit them (all the players) hard. I know it hit Tyler especially hard…because of that bond they had (Tyler and Kill). I know it still bothers him to now. He’s just trying to focus on football as much as he can. Keep that out of his mind.”

Mary Moore, Tyler’s mom, had a traumatic brain injury as a child. She has struggled with seizures—just like Kill who resigned because of his battles with epilepsy and seizures. When Kill was recruiting Tyler last year in Texas a connection was created between the coach and the Moore family.

“Tyler had been through and seen a lot of things that his mom had dealt with—and knowing what coach Kill was living with as well—I think they had that extra connection between them,” Sam said.

Kill has dealt with seizures for years. As he got to know the Moores he expressed a willingness to help Mary. “He always told her if there is anything that we can do, or any procedure, or a doctor you need to see, you just let me know,” Sam recalled. “(He said) we’ve got great facilities up here and everything. I can get you to the right people.”

October had begun with excitement and promise for the Moores. Tyler, only a true freshman and 18 years old, made his first start for the Gophers at Purdue on October 10. Prior to that start Sam reminded his nervous son he had been playing football with success since he was seven years old. He also told him how unusual it is for a freshman offensive lineman to start for a Big Ten team. “That’s a badge of honor,” Sam said.

Tyler, 6-4, 311 pounds, was ranked among the top 10 high school center prospects in the country while playing for North Shore High School in Houston. He’s started at center for the Gophers in their last four games.

North Shore High School coach John Kay told Sports Headliners “the sky’s the limit” on Tyler’s potential. Tyler was a three-year starter at North Shore, playing both guard and center.

Kay praised Tyler’s work ethic and “physical stature.” The coach hadn’t predicted Tyler would start as a true freshman, but he’s not that surprised either.

Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said that as expected with a player so young and inexperienced there are “ups and downs” in game day performances. But Limegrover also used the “sky’s the limit” tag for Tyler. “Overall, I’ve been really pleased with what he’s been able to do this year,” Limegrover said.

In high school Tyler’s offensive line coach was Ben Wilkerson who was co-winner of the 2004 Rimington Trophy as the nation’s outstanding center while playing for LSU. Wilkerson is now an assistant coach with the Bears in the NFL.

If Tyler—who Limegrover noted has yet to have a bad snap in a game—is to one day be considered for the Remington, he will have to prove himself without Kill. He will have to succeed when confronted with problems like the morning of his birthday when he heard the news about the coach. “He took it really hard,” his dad said. “He’s a big guy; he’s got a soft heart. Coach Kill was the one that really put it over the top for him as far as committing to Minnesota. They used to talk quite a bit before his commitment. …”

Sam remembered Tyler told him in the days leading up to Kill’s resignation the coach’s physical appearance was different. “He said he (Kill) just didn’t look right. He just didn’t seem himself—(and Tyler) came to find out he’d had some seizures that week already.”

Like so many people, the Moores were admirers of both Kill and his wife Rebecca. During the last several years in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the Kills have bettered the community including establishment of the Chasing Dreams Fund through the Epilepsy Foundation.

“They’re regular people,” Sam said about Kill and his wife. “What you see is what they really are. It’s a tough loss for everybody, and the University. I hope the University can bring him back in some fashion so that he can be around the game that he loves. …I think that will make him feel some kind of normalcy.”

Worth Noting

An injury to starting center Brian Bobek, a redshirt senior, gave Moore the opportunity to play with the No. 1 offense. Moore is backed up by redshirt sophomore Matt Leidner, the younger brother of Gophers redshirt junior quarterback Mitch Leidner. At 21 years old, Mitch is just 16 months older than 20 year old Matt.

Gophers senior wide receiver KJ Maye had a personal-best 116 yards in receptions last Saturday against then No. 1 ranked Ohio State. Maye has improved his route running in the last couple of weeks. “Yeah, you should see that guy in practice,” Mitch Leidner said. “He goes constantly. He doesn’t take reps off because he doesn’t want to. Just how competitive he is. That’s why it pays off on the field on game day. He’s a heck of a player.”

Leidner talking about running the read-option against Ohio State All-American defensive end Joey Bosa who could be the first player chosen in next year’s NFL Draft: “As far as pulling it on a guy like Bosa, good luck with that. He plays the zone-read best out of anyone I’ve ever seen.”

The Gophers and Iowa renew their rivalry and possession of Floyd of Rosedale tomorrow night in Iowa City. Gophers senior redshirt punter Peter Mortell is from Green Bay and he’s learned about the rivalry’s intensity and keeping possession of the bronze pig. “I didn’t know about it as much before I got here but no one likes Iowa,” Mortell said. “No one in the locker room and (no one) outside it. …”

Mortell is on the Ray Guy watch list to possibly win the award for the nation’s best punter. He led the Big Ten in punting last season averaging 45.1 yards per kick. The former walk-on had minor knee surgery earlier this fall but is still averaging 43.7 yards per punt—third best in the Big Ten. He has been disappointed in “maybe” three of his punts this season.

“I try to look forward and not backward,” Mortell said. “The fact of the matter is that when I am healthy I think I am one of the best punters in the country—and I think my teammates and coaches would echo that. …”

The Gophers have lost three consecutive Big Ten games including the last two against nationally-ranked Michigan and Ohio State. Minnesota, though, played competitively in those games and had opportunities to win in the fourth quarter.

“Before that (Michigan and Ohio State) we weren’t playing up to our potential, and if we were playing like that against Michigan and Ohio State we probably would have got…run off the field,” said Gophers sophomore defensive end Gaelin Elmore. “I think we feel like we’re starting to play a little bit more like we’re capable of. We’re starting to catch the momentum and the ball will fall our way here eventually.”

Elmore was initially a tight end with the Gophers but was quickly switched to defense where his athleticism was needed. His roommate at Minnesota is former Wayzata High School tight end Brandon Lingen who is developing into a playmaker as a sophomore starter. Elmore was asked if he could catch the ball as well as his roomie.

“Oh yeah,” he answered. “People forget that I can catch the ball. Especially the D-linemen, they try to say I got moved (to defense) because I can’t catch the ball but it’s quite the opposite.”

At his Tuesday news conference Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz was full of praise for Kill. He talked about what a special person Kill is, and lauded the lifetime coach’s ability to build programs including at places he coached before coming to Minnesota.

“They got on our radar at Southern Illinois, really got on it at Northern Illinois,” Ferentz said. “We’d see them on film playing very well, and…I was hopeful Minnesota wouldn’t hire him. I was hoping nobody in the Big Ten would, but Minnesota figured it out. They hired a great coach and a great staff. The work that they’ve done up there, the improvement they’ve made is really clear to see. You don’t have to be an expert to figure that out.”

Teddy Bridgewater is expected to make his ninth start of the season on Sunday in Oakland against the Raiders. The second-year quarterback only has six touchdown passes and the same number of interceptions but the Vikings do have a surprise 6-2 record after going 7-9 last season. With the first half of the schedule completed, offensive coordinator Norv Turner was asked yesterday for his evaluation of Bridgewater.

Teddy Bridgewater (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings.)

“We’re 6-2 and that’s to me the evaluation that matters,” Turner said. “I think Teddy has had a lot to do with that record. I think he’s an opportunistic guy. I think he’s making very few negative plays. He’s not making plays that cost us games, and obviously in the most critical situations when we’ve been behind, whether it be early in the fourth quarter, or late in the fourth quarter, he’s put together drives. He’s put together plays that have given us a chance to win.

“As coach (Mike Zimmer) says, we’re still growing in the passing game, and when you’re not having the kind of success that you want, or having the kind of numbers that you want, obviously it always goes back to the quarterback. But for us to continue to get better in the passing game…we’ve got to do all of the little things in all areas—whether it be protection, route running, getting the right plays called at the right time, all of those things.”

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