Golden Gophers – Page 251 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Bradford May Adjust Fast to Vikings

Posted on September 4, 2016September 4, 2016 by David Shama

Sam Bradford’s NFL experiences in different offensive systems and relationships with Vikings assistant coach Pat Shurmur, and players Shaun Hill and Adrian Peterson, should hasten the adjustment to his new team, and allow him to play soon.

Bradford, who will be 29 in November, was acquired yesterday from the Eagles to solve the Vikings’ quarterback void created by the season-ending injury to Teddy Bridgewater. Bradford is in his seventh NFL season and he has played for several offensive coordinators and in multiple systems.

“Yeah, if there’s a good thing about learning a new offense every year, it’s that I’m familiar with this process, and I kind of know how it goes, I guess,” Bradford said after being traded to the Vikings for future draft choices. “I’m sure there will be some carryover from some of the systems that I’ve been in, but as far as right now, we really haven’t gotten too deep into the (Vikings) playbook. But, I’ve gone through this process, so hopefully doing it before will help me pick things up a little quicker.”

Rick Spielman (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

The list of Bradford’s previous coaches includes Shurmur who was his offensive coordinator with the Rams in 2010 and Eagles in 2015. Shurmur, now the Vikings’ tight end coach, talked with Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman before the trade for Bradford, a starter for both the Rams and Eagles.

“…He knows what his strengths and weaknesses are,” Spielman said of Shurmur’s past history with Bradford. “I think that’s a valuable asset for us as our coaches teach him the offense and understand what things he does best, and what things that he may struggle at. Our coaches always preach to put these guys (in the best possible situations) and to utilize what they do best.”

Bradford acknowledged his relationship with Shurmur should help him learn offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s system. “Pat is very familiar with me as a player. I think he understands the things that I do well, the concepts that I like. So I’m sure that he can relay that to coach Turner. …”

Turner’s system includes a deep vertical passing game to loosen defenses for shorter throws and create space for the team’s running backs. That deep threat has been a challenge since Turner joined the Vikings prior to the 2014 season but Bradford could improve results.

Spielman said Bradford, 6-4, 224, has multiple attributes as a passer. “He is a very accurate thrower. He does a great job getting through his reads of progressions. He makes quick decisions in the pocket. He can throw the deep ball down the field. Some of the routes that we throw in our offense, we’ve seen those same routes and seen him complete those same balls that he’s going to have to do in this system.”

Hill, 36, signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2015 to back up Bridgewater, who then was the team’s second-year starting quarterback. Hill had played the previous season with the Rams where he was the backup to Bradford. Hill’s knowledge of the Vikings’ offense will be an asset for Bradford. “I’m really excited to work with Shaun again,” Bradford said. “We had a great relationship when we were in St. Louis.”

Adrian Peterson (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

Peterson, a future hall of famer, is a major presence in the Vikings locker room. He and Bradford were together for awhile in college at Oklahoma. Peterson will be supportive of his new teammate and no doubt help ease Bradford’s transition.

Today and into the week Bradford will be learning the playbook and adjusting to his new teammates. It’s unlikely he will start the season opener at Tennessee next Sunday. Hill is the team’s No. 1 QB now, but his age and lesser skills than Bradford likely mean a change is coming soon—perhaps game No. 2 on the schedule at home against the Packers September 18.

Bradford could become the team’s starting quarterback indefinitely. The Vikings have him under contract through next season. Bridgewater’s knee injury is so serious and predicted recovery time so extensive he might not be effective next season. If the Vikings win big with Bradford this season, the quarterback job could be his or at least up for competition in 2017.

Bradford was the first-overall selection in the 2010 NFL draft by the Rams. He became the 2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and still holds the league rookie record for most passes completed (354). Last season he set Eagles franchise records in completions (346) and completion percentage (65 percent), and finished fourth in team history in passing yardage (3,725).

Worth Noting

Best wishes to former Vikings tight end and Twin Cities resident Joe Senser who is recovering from a health issue. Senser played for the Vikings from 1979-1984 and later was a radio analyst on their games.

The Vikings, as expected, dominated the television audience numbers last Thursday night. Their preseason game did a 19.2 rating and 37 share in this market, with the Gophers’ nonconference opener drawing a 5.1 and 10. The Twins-White Sox game had a 2.2 rating and 4 share. At no time during the evening did the Gophers’ numbers exceed the Vikings.

The hapless Twins, who ended a 13-game losing streak with a win Thursday night, had historic TV numbers a week ago Sunday, according to a ratings authority. He said the Nielsen results of the Twins-Blue Jays game showed no viewers in the 600-home meters sample size. “That’s never happened before with the Twins,” the source said.

True freshman Tyler Johnson from Minneapolis North caught three passes for 31 yards in the Gophers’ 30-23 win over Oregon State. Only senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky, with four catches, had more receptions for Minnesota in the opening game.

A converted quarterback and defensive back, the 6-4 Johnson has impressed coaches, teammates and others. Johnson could exceed the numbers of last year’s leading freshman receiver Rashad Still who caught 18 passes for 194 yards including three touchdowns. The Gophers’ freshman receiving records for yardage (654) and touchdowns (seven) are held by Ernie Wheelwright in 2004. Ron Johnson set the total receptions record with 38 in 1998.

True Thompson, formerly of Armstrong High School, suffered a concussion last month playing football for Iowa Western Community College. The wide receiver and son of Gophers’ career leading rusher Darrell Thompson will sit out the season as a redshirt.

True’s brother Race Thompson, who will be a junior this fall at Armstrong, is an outstanding 6-8 basketball player being recruited by the Gophers, and he attended the Minnesota-Oregon State game Thursday evening. He has received scholarship offers from multiple schools including Minnesota and Marquette.

Renovation of Target Center will not only relocate the Lynx to Xcel Energy Center next year, it could be a problem for the Timberwolves. If the team were to surprise and make a deep playoff run next spring the arena renovation timeline will slow down.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners Target Center work sometimes will be so extensive the whole building will be closed for events. If the Wolves need the arena for playoff games, the renovation schedule will intensify to have Target Center ready for the opening of the team’s 2017-2018 schedule.

“We just have to work that out,” Taylor said. “Maybe some inconveniences but we’re just gonna have to adjust.”

The Wolves haven’t made the playoffs since 2004 but have one of the NBA’s most promising young rosters.

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Here’s an Optimistic Vote on Claeys

Posted on August 31, 2016August 31, 2016 by David Shama

Tracy Claeys leads the Gophers on the field tomorrow night as the program’s head coach. The game kicks off his first full season in that role after being named coach last November.

Will Claeys be heading up the football program a couple of years from now?

The three-year contract University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler gave Claeys last fall carries a clear message: This is a trial run for the U and the 47-year-old former defensive coordinator who served Jerry Kill for years and then succeeded him as Minnesota’s coach. The U was willing to give Claeys the job as head coach but not make a major commitment in years or money—at a reported $1.4 million in 2016.

Claeys may turn out to be worthy of the long-term, big money deal that many college football coaches earn. To get there he will have to improve his recruiting because the Gophers need better personnel and more depth to annually compete against the Big Ten’s best teams.

Kill upgraded the talent with the six recruiting classes he directed. The arrows on the progress chart will need to move upward under Claeys’ leadership. He and his staff will certainly continue the Kill model of finding overlooked high school players with potential. The coaches have shown an aptitude for developing players at various positions but the Gophers need to sign-up more quality ready-to-play talent.

“I think the recruiting will make all the difference in the world,” former Gophers captain Jim Carter told Sports Headliners. He, too, believes the unknown about Claeys’ legacy is probably recruiting.

Carter is an admirer of Claeys. “Not all coaches are teachers, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but Tracy is,” Carter said. “I’ve watched him for a number of years, since he’s been here with Kill.

“He never yelled much. He always gets people in the classroom after they film all the practices. He teaches technique, and he teaches the kids what to do. That’s unusual. He’s both a coach, but a very good teacher.”

Carter has been close to the Gopher program for years. He’s been impressed with what Claeys has done in a short period as head coach. That includes the bold move Claeys made after last season when he dismissed longtime colleague Matt Limegrover who was the offensive coordinator and line coach. Claeys replaced Limegrover with new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and line coach Bart Miller.

“As far as hiring Miller and Johnson, the people that I talk to over there—which includes many of the players—are very optimistic about them,” Carter said. “They’re encouraged about the planning with the offense. They’re encouraged about the aggressiveness of Miller with the offensive line. He’s a tough guy and he’s getting toughness to rise up out of some of those offensive linemen. I see it as very, very positive, those moves that Tracy made bringing those two guys in.”

Johnson is expected to direct an unpredictable offense that is more likely to take risks than the play-calling of the Kill-Limegrover era. Claeys directed a defense under Kill that was the backbone of the program’s success, but for the Gophers to have winning records year after year in the Big Ten the offense must get much better. Over 100 teams ranked ahead of Minnesota in scoring offense last season.

Fans are taking a wait-and-see approach with Claeys. There’s not much hype about Gopher football and that is part of the reason there will be a lot of empty seats in TCF Bank Stadium for tomorrow night’s nonconference opener against Oregon State. But program insiders already see a lot they like about Claeys including his devotion to the job. The 47-year-old bachelor is all about football and the people who work and play for him.

There is no pretense with Claeys. He’s straightforward with people inside and outside of his program. He is a high I.Q. guy who has already shown he will take action when he sees problems. He not only made the coaching staff changes referenced above but he brought in two junior college transfers in the offensive line after recognizing the vulnerability in talent and depth with that unit.

The Gophers have a quality person and teacher leading their program. Now all Claeys has to do is go out and win a bunch of games, and keep the arrows on that recruiting chart going “north.”

Gophers Notes

Although he isn’t expected to be coaching, Mike Sherels might be at tomorrow night’s game sitting with other coaches in the press box. Carter heard Sherels could be in the press box all season after recovering from surgeries earlier this summer for an undisclosed medical issue.

Sherels has recently been in the football office, although Keith Jordan is the acting linebackers coach. “The news is fabulous compared to where he was a couple weeks ago where I had real serous concerns about life-threatening problems he went through,” Carter said last weekend.

Among their offensive starters, the Gophers have only three players in their last season of eligibility—the lowest number in major college football. The three are quarterback Mitch Leidner, offensive tackle Jonah Pirsig and receiver Drew Wolitarsky.

Minnesota has 13 total players on the roster in their last season of eligibility. That’s the third lowest total in the nation after Kentucky with 11, and Baylor and Penn State with 12 each.

The Gophers’ position chart released this week has defensive tackle Andrew Stelter listed as a starter ahead of Steven Richardson who earlier this month talked about his goal of becoming All-Big Ten. Both are juniors.

Among the 22 starters on offense and defense, five are from Texas, and four each from Georgia and Minnesota. The Minnesota products are Leidner, Pirsig, Stelter and safety Adekunle Ayinde.

True freshmen and Minneapolis natives Phillip Howard and Tyler Johnson are listed as wide receivers on the No. 2 offense. Redshirt junior Conor Rhoda from Eagan is Leidner’s backup.

The Gophers will have two more nonconference games after tomorrow night before starting their Big Ten schedule October 1 at Penn State. Big Ten teams will play a nine-game conference schedule for the first time since 1984. Big Ten players will have the opportunity to compete against all the other teams in the conference at least once during a four-year period.

Teams from the East Division will host five conference home games during even-numbered years, while teams from the West Division will have five home games during odd-numbered years. The Gophers, part of the West Division, play four home league games and five on the road in 2016.

Texas Lutheran University has hired Mike Wacker as men’s basketball coach. He is the son of former Gophers football coach Jim Wacker who also coached football at TLU.

Congratulations to longtime Gophers donor Lee Sundet and his wife Louise who had their 65th wedding anniversary last Friday.

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Does U Need to End Thursday Games?

Posted on August 26, 2016August 26, 2016 by David Shama

The opinion here is the Gophers need to fix their problem of opening their home football schedule on Thursday nights.

Next Thursday evening the Gophers play Oregon State at TCF Bank Stadium while less than two miles away the Vikings host the Rams in the second football game ever in the $1.1 billion U.S. Bank Stadium. While it’s only an NFL exhibition game, your average Minnesota elementary school sports fan knows the Vikings are much more popular than the Gophers.

And it’s not just the Vikings the Gophers will compete against for attention next Thursday evening. The Twins will play the White Sox downtown that night—just a long walk from U.S. Bank Stadium. The St. Paul Saints also have a home game, and Canterbury Park hosts its usual Thursday night racing. High school football teams also begin their seasons. The topper among attractions next Thursday is the eighth day of the Minnesota State Fair. Attendance for the day and evening combined might be a number approaching half the population of St. Paul.

“Nobody will be at home that night,” a friend and Gophers football season ticket holder said to me this week.

My friend will be at the Gophers game but others who might normally attend or watch on TV won’t. U athletic department officials will likely announce a crowd of 40,000 to 45,000 in 50,800 seat TCF Bank Stadium. Could it be a record low attendance in the stadium that opened in 2009? The smallest announced crowd to watch a game at the Bank is 41,062 for the Purdue game in 2012.

The last three years the Gophers have also opened their seasons at home on Thursday evenings. The last two years the Vikings played on those dates but their games were on the road—providing TV competition but not entertaining football fans a couple of miles from the U campus.

With a promising Gophers team and playing a potential national championship team, Minnesota drew a TCF Bank Stadium record crowd of 54,147 for its opener last year against TCU. This year the Gophers are down a reported 10 to 20 percent in non-student season ticket sales. There is a public wait-and-see attitude about new coach Tracy Claeys and the team. It’s a similar situation to 2013 when the Gophers were coming off a 2-6 season and drew an announced attendance of 44,217 for a game against UNLV. The Vikings played that same night in the Metrodome.

The Gophers are scheduled to play future Thursday night games at home in late August of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Vikings will also be playing on all of those Thursday evenings.

How do we know?

The NFL mandates all teams must play their fourth games of the exhibition season on a Thursday, 10 days prior to the beginning of the regular season. Those Thursdays usually come in late August, or this year September 1. The league schedules each franchise’s first three preseason games. Teams are told who they will play and where for the first three games. The fourth game and opponent are determined by each franchise. Teams play two home preseason games and two on the road. If the Vikings have been told by the NFL that two of their first three games are on the road, they will schedule the fourth game at home—up against the Gophers.

The Vikings aren’t changing their scheduling. The Twins, with 81 home dates each year, may also be playing at Target Field on future Thursday nights. The Saints, Canterbury Park and high school football are lesser entertainment rivals for the Gophers at the box office and provide no TV competition.

The Gophers and State Fair authorities made an agreement before TCF Bank Stadium opened, which resulted in all these Thursday night games. The agreement runs through June 30, 2022, and it states that any Gophers home game prior to Labor Day will be played on a Thursday evening. A U spokesman said he isn’t aware of any discussion to change the agreement.

The reason for the agreement is that during the State Fair drivers can park their cars for free on the University’s Minneapolis campus and ride free buses to the fairgrounds in nearby Falcon Heights. The Gophers usually play their home schedule on Saturdays but because of larger fair-going crowds on the weekends, U officials agreed to switch their games to Thursday evenings to better accommodate fair customers.

The existing agreement inconveniences fewer fair-goers but it’s not a winning policy for the Gophers. Fans have to fight rush-hour traffic to attend Thursday night games. Next Thursday those who choose light-rail will likely find cars jammed to the max with everyday commuters, plus Gophers, Vikings, Twins and Saints fans. Fans at home have to make viewing choices between the Vikings and Twins games that start about 7 p.m. and the Gophers game at 8 p.m. Then, too, fans and companies with season tickets and suites for both the Vikings and Gophers face an obvious conflict with the two teams playing at the same time.

There’s no doubt the Gophers could maximize revenues from ticket sales, concessions, parking and perhaps other sources if they were playing Oregon State on Friday night or Saturday afternoon next week.

It’s highly unusual for the NCAA to allow teams to start their seasons before the primary kickoff to college football which begins on Thursdays and continues into the weekend—so the Gophers probably can’t look at Wednesdays in the years ahead. Switching to a Friday night goes up against high school football but out of scheduling necessity the Gophers did that with success at the Metrodome.

Friday night or Saturday openers for the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium in future years make sense. If U officials tell fair officials they need relief from the competition of Thursday nights it would be a smart move. Fair-goers can find their way to Falcon Heights without free parking on the U campus—even on a Saturday. It’s a safe bet the fair would survive and continue to set record annual attendance.

It should be documented, too, that Gophers fans park free at the State Fair and ride free buses to U football games after Labor Day. That’s been beneficial for fans and the U athletic department.

Worth Noting

When entering TCF Bank Stadium next Thursday fans will be screened with a hand-held metal detector. This is a new security procedure for Gophers games and a best practice at other venues drawing large crowds. The hand-held device was used for Vikings games at TCF Bank Stadium the past two seasons.

Fans can ask new athletic director Mark Coyle about scheduling and other topics at the State Fair. He will be at the fair’s University of Minnesota Building at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday. The building is located at the corner of Dan Patch and Underwood.

The Lynx, with the WNBA’s second-best record at 21-4, resume play tonight after the long Olympics break. The Lynx had four players on the gold medal winning U.S. team, and those additional minutes of travel, practices and games in Brazil are a concern. Lynx owner Glen Taylor said coach Cheryl Reeve has monitored WNBA game minutes for Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, and Lindsay Whalen.

Time management for the Lynx’s four Olympians this season has been a priority. “She (Reeve) has come down like eight minutes a game (per player),” Taylor said.

Taylor, who also owns the Timberwolves, has spoken this summer to 40-year-old future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Will Garnett retire or return for another season with the Wolves? “I have no new news,” Taylor said. “He hasn’t indicated to me if he’s made a decision or not.”

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