Golden Gophers – Page 383 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Spielman Earns Praise for Drafts

Posted on October 15, 2012October 15, 2012 by David Shama

With yesterday’s loss to the Redskins, the Vikings, 4-2, are still off to the club’s second best start since 2006. That team also started the season 4-2 while the 2009 Vikings won their first six games.

Losing 38-26 yesterday to the Redskins and freakishly talented quarterback Robert Griffin III is nothing to sob about. Griffin probably would have challenged most any NFL defense on Sunday. Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder had his plus moments but a fumble and interception led to two Redskins’ scores.

The Vikings have won more games already than all of last season (3-13) and almost anyone who says the team’s impressive 2012 performance was expected isn’t telling the truth. The fast start has come despite shakeups in the roster and lineup.

Since the 2009 season the Vikings have replaced eight offensive starters and seven regulars on defense. General manager Rick Spielman has done an impressive job of rebuilding the team, mostly via the NFL college drafts.

The Vikings have 11 starters from the 2009-2012 drafts. Included in that total are four regulars from the 2011 draft — Ponder, tight end Kyle Rudolph, guard Brandon Fusco and safety Mistral Raymond. The 2009 draft also contributed three starters, including the team’s MVP so far this season in wide receiver Percy Harvin, plus tackle Phil Loadholt and linebacker Erin Henderson.

Even the 2012 draft has three frontline contributors as rookies, tackle Matt Kalil, safety Harrison Smith and placekicker Blair Walsh. Cornerback Chris Cook is the only starter from the 2010 draft, although that draft has important contributors off the bench in running back Toby Gerhart and defensive end Everson Griffen. Other reserve contributors include safety Jamarca Sanford (2009 draft), No. 2 quarterback Joe Webb (2010) and rookie cornerback Josh Robinson.

Longtime pro football authority Paul Wiggin praised Spielman’s work. “I think Rick Spielman is doing a dramatic job, an incredible job,” said Wiggin, former Chiefs head coach and now a Vikings personnel consultant. “I think he will go down in history as a top-notch general manager. I think he leaves no stone unturned.”

Spielman and his staff have tried to acquire players with not only talent but character. Egos seem to be in control and the team plays for one another.

“It’s definitely a group of team first guys, and that’s a testament to our scouting team, and Rick Spielman and the entire organization making sure they bring in the right types of people,” said Vikings center John Sullivan.

Worth Noting

Jim Rantz, the Twins 75-year-old senior director of minor league operations, announced this morning he will retire at year’s end. Rantz has been with the organization since its inception, first as a player and later as an executive. He’s a member of the Twins Hall of Fame.

Vikings punt returner Marcus Sherels lives in the basement of his brother Mike’s Twin Cities home. Mike, the former Gophers linebacker, is a graduate assistant for the Gophers and pursuing a coaching career. “Talking football with him day in and day out,” Marcus said. “He’s been a good big brother.”

Joe Webb, the Vikings No. 2 quarterback, has extra incentive in looking forward to next month’s team bye in the schedule. It will be the first time during his pro career when his birthday comes up during the bye week. Webb turns 26 on Wednesday, November 14 and the Vikings don’t practice that week. “Now I finally get to celebrate (the birthday),” he said.

Webb talking about playing behind Christian Ponder: “I am all for Christian. He’s a great guy to work with.”

Blair Walsh, the Vikings rookie placekicker, said no fake field goal plays have been put in the playbook calling for him to throw the football. He said people “have made fun” of his throwing motion.

The Wisconsin football team the Gophers play in Madison is now 5-2 after consecutive wins the last two Saturdays by scores of 31-14 over Illinois and 38-14 against Purdue. The Badgers were much criticized early in the season when they were 3-2 but the two losses were by a combined six points. Minnesota (4-2) hasn’t won in Madison since 1994 and the Badgers have won eight consecutive games in the series.

Although the Gophers are redshirting most of their 2012 recruiting class, the coaches took the redshirt off two players last Saturday in their loss to Northwestern, running back Rodrick Williams and tight end Lincoln Plsek.

The October 15 issue of Sports Illustrated reports that Big Ten football teams are 5-9 in nonconference games against BCS teams and “the league has slipped in recent years” because of population decline in the Rust Belt and Midwest.

College football lost one of its most colorful characters and dedicated fans when ESPN commentator Beano Cook, 81, died last week.

Luke Winn, writing last week for sportsillustrated.com, lists the Gophers No. 26 in his national rankings of college basketball teams. Big Ten teams ahead of the Gophers are No. 1 Indiana, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 9 Michigan, No. 11 Michigan State and No. 16 Wisconsin.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith will take point guard Andre Hollins and forward Rodney Williams to the Big Ten Media Day in Chicago on October 25. Obviously left at home is senior forward Trevor Mbakwe who although he is one of the nation’s top power forwards has experienced a series of off-court incidents including a recent conviction for a DWI.

The Gophers and Ball State were showing interest last week in Osseo High School 6-9 junior Ian Theisen, according to an email from prep basketball authority Ken Lien. He also wrote that former Hopkins High School guard Siyani Chambers is likely to start as a freshman for Harvard.

Ex-Timberwolves player and front office executive Fred Hoiberg, now head coach at Iowa State, turns 40 today.

Gregg Wong, former Pioneer Press sportswriter, emailed that Rochester native Eric Butorac and Philipp Petzschner defeated the world’s No. 1 tennis doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 3-6 (10-6) in the second round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters tournament last week. The victory was the first ever for Butorac, one of the best doubles players in the world, over the Bryans. On November 17 Butorac will see the Bryans again when he teams with his 2011 partner Jules Rojer in the Minnesota Tennis Challenge at Lifetime Athletic Club in Eden Prairie. More at www.ebmntc.com.

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Here’s a ‘Vote’ for U Win Saturday

Posted on October 12, 2012October 12, 2012 by David Shama

Winning won’t be easy but it seems like there are too many valid reasons not to predict the Gophers (4-1) will defeat Northwestern (5-1) tomorrow at TCF Bank Stadium.

Odds-makers believe the Wildcats will win by about three points. Sports Headliners predicts a fourth quarter field goal—perhaps wind aided—sailing over the goalpost crossbar to give Minnesota a 30-27 victory on Homecoming.

There’s no doubt a team takes on the personality of its head coach and Minnesota’s players are likely to play Saturday’s game against the Wildcats with a lot of passion. Gophers coach Jerry Kill stewed over the Iowa loss two weeks ago and was critical of himself, not just the team.

Wide receiver A.J. Barker was asked about Kill’s emotions after the Iowa loss and since then: “He gets on us when we win and he gets on us when we lose,” Barker said. “He’s very consistent and you know what to expect with him and the staff. He did a great job coming off this loss, just motivating us, keeping the foot on the gas and moving forward.”

The Gophers will have more than emotion and focus going for them on Saturday. Because of a bye in the schedule, Minnesota had two weeks to prepare for tomorrow’s game while Northwestern has not. Kill used the extra time not only to strategize against the Wildcats, but last week put an emphasis on fundamentals.

That mid-season tune-up should help the Gophers. “Sometimes we forget blocking and tackling, and using your hands, and playing with good technique and having leverage on the ball and those kind of things,” Kill said.

The extra time off helped injured players recover. Among those who didn’t play against Iowa but could be on the field tomorrow, even if in a limited role, is quarterback MarQueis Gray.

Gray’s return is a must for Sports Headliners to write its prediction in ink, rather than pencil. The senior quarterback is one of the nation’s best running quarterbacks. In spot duty tomorrow he could potentially throw Northwestern defense off balance. The Wildcats won’t look forward to stopping Gray’s runs, something Iowa didn’t have to contend with against Minnesota’s pass-oriented quarterback, Max Shortell.

Shortell, who replaced Gray in the first half of the Western Michigan on September 15, was asked about the offense that has produced just four touchdowns in the last two games. “We need to make plays as an offense. We need to convert on third downs,” he said. “Keep sustaining drives, and I think scoring touchdowns in the red zones. We can’t settle for field goals. That will really help our points per game.”

Gray’s presence on Saturday, for a few plays here and there, could not only help produce more points for the slumping offense but take minutes off the game clock. The Gophers want to have more time of possession than Northwestern, a team whose strength is on offense. The Wildcats rank 14^th nationally in rushing yards per game, 233.50, and No. 43 in total offense, averaging 432.50 yards per game.

In Minnesota’s favor, though, is Northwestern uses a spread offense similar to what the Gophers have faced in four of their first five games. And Minnesota’s defensive unit has played better than the offense or special teams this season. The Gophers rank No. 23 nationally in total defense giving up 320.80 yards per game.

Northwestern is a formidable team. The Wildcats proved that with nonconference wins over BCS opponents Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Boston College and Indiana. Pat Fitzgerald, only 37 years old, is one of the Big Ten’s better coaches, but the Gophers staff is impressive too, including a group of assistants that Kill probably frets about losing to better paying BCS schools.

May be the difference tomorrow in Minnesota’s favor is simply playing at home. With the parity of talent in the Big Ten, the home field and a noisy crowd is meaningful.

Worth Noting

The No. 1 ranked FCS North Dakota State football team, 5-0, has over 30 Minnesotans listed on the roster. Former Totino-Grace running back John Crockett leads the Bison in rushing with 432 yards. The Bison have outscored opponents 221 to 42.

North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl, a former Nebraska assistant, will surely have his name mentioned if the Cornhuskers head coaching job opens up.

Zach Zenner, formerly from Eagan High School, has rushed for 1,077 yards, averaging 215.40 yards per game for South Dakota State. He leads all FCS players with both totals.

Roy Terwilliger told Sports Headliners the Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission retained the HKS architectural firm a few years ago to do preliminary work on the Metrodome as a potential site for a new Vikings stadium. The firm concluded the 20 acre site was sufficient for such a facility, according to Terwilliger, the former commission chairman.

Now HKS has been retained to design the new stadium. Terwilliger refers to HKS as a “great firm” and said the company also designed acclaimed NFL stadiums in Indianapolis and Arlington, Texas. “I am pleased they (the Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facility Authority) hired them,” Terwilliger said.

Wide receiver Percy Harvin, who currently ranks second in the NFL with 38 receptions, was passed over by a majority of teams in the league before the Vikings took him with the No. 22 pick in the first round of the 2009 draft. Credit front office executive Rick Spielman, then head coach Brad Childress and wide receivers coach George Stewart with taking Harvin.

When the Vikings play the Redskins on Sunday they will see former Minnesota defensive backs Cedric Griffin and Madieu Williams. This will be the third consecutive season the Vikings have played the Redskins in Landover, Maryland.

Next Tuesday, October 16, is the NFL trade deadline.

John Gagliardi, now in his 60^th season coaching Saint John’s, is off to a 2-4 start and the Johnnies have lost four straight. His Saint John’s teams have never lost more than four games in a season and he’s had only two years when the Johnnies lost more games than they won. Saint John’s has four games remaining this season including tomorrow’s home game with Carleton.

Augsburg quarterback Ayrton Scott is second among Division III players in per game total offense, 366.20 yards, and seventh in rushing yards, 150.20. The Auggies last Saturday beat the Johnnies in consecutive years for the first time since 1926-27.

Former NBA coach Flip Saunders said the Timberwolves are “potentially a playoff team.” The difference in whether the Wolves qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2004 will have much to do with how fast and effectively point guard Ricky Rubio recovers from his ACL injury, Saunders told Sports Headliners.

“I think right now you look at the West (Western Conference), there are seven teams that are playoff locks,” Saunders said. “And at that eighth spot, there’s probably about five teams that have a chance to get to that spot, and I think they’re (the Wolves) one of those teams in there.”

Who does Saunders, the former Wolves head coach, believe will be in the NBA Finals? “I think it will probably be the Lakers and Miami,” he said. “I think those are the two best teams.”

Saunders said with forward LeBron James and guard Dwayne Wade the Heat has two of the five best NBA players for closing out games. He also said Miami is “maybe the best team in the league defensively.”

Saunders, though, “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Lakers won the NBA title. “They’ve got great balance, size, a little bit of everything,” he said.

Saunders last coached in the NBA with the Wizards during the 2011-2012 season and he isn’t employed by a league team now. He’s interested in getting back into the NBA but wouldn’t say if the Wolves might one day be a possibility. Saunders could interest NBA teams as either a coach or general manager.

How about the following for TV ratings competition? The second Wolves telecast of the fall will be next Tuesday night in a preseason home game against Maccabi Haifa, the same evening of the presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Single game tickets for the WNBA Finals at Target Center range from $20 to $225. The Lynx host Indiana in game one on Sunday night starting at 7 p.m. ESPN2 will televise the game.

The Aeros, the Wild’s American Hockey League affiliate, open their season tomorrow night in Houston against Charlotte. In the Aeros’ last preseason game Mikael Granlund scored four goals as part of a five point night as Houston defeated Oklahoma City, 6-2.

The Aeros play Rockford on November 18 at the Xcel Energy Center in a regular season AHL game. Tickets are on sale via www.wild.com.

The estate sale last month for Dark Star, the former WCCO Radio personality who passed away in June, generated over $75,000 with some of the proceeds dedicated to the new Gophers baseball stadium.

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Expect MarQueis Gray to Play Saturday

Posted on October 10, 2012October 10, 2012 by David Shama

Unless MarQueis Gray has a setback in recovering from his ankle sprain and knee injury, the opinion here is the senior quarterback will see game action on Saturday when the Gophers play Northwestern at TCF Bank Stadium.

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill said yesterday he is “cautiously optimistic” Gray will “possibly” be available for spot duty. Kill didn’t elaborate as to when and how much Gray might play. “He’s still running a little bit with a limp,” said Kill.

The coach reported Gray didn’t practice last week but did on Sunday. If Gray is to participate on Saturday, he will need to practice the balance of this week.

He hasn’t played since being injured on September 15 against Western Michigan. The Gophers are 1-1 without him as the starting quarterback. He is one of college football’s better running quarterbacks and Kill’s guarded optimism about Gray playing on Saturday sends a message to Northwestern coaches they need to prepare for two types of Minnesota quarterbacks. Max Shortell is a lumbering runner, inferior to Gray, but a superior passer.

Gray averages 5.2 yards per rush. Shortell averages 2.3. Gray has thrown five touchdown passes and is averaging 132.7 passing yards per game. Shortell’s numbers are six TD passes and 172 yards per game.

How effective will Gray perform Saturday? Physical stamina and also timing on passes will be two major concerns after missing the Syracuse game September 22 and Iowa game September 29, and not practicing during Minnesota’s bye week last week.

The Gophers’ offense is neither as versatile nor effective without Gray. Minnesota has produced just four touchdowns in its last two games.

Gray is one of the Big Ten’s better athletes. He probably will make an NFL team one day as a receiver. Unfortunately for the Gophers he’s been sidelined more so far this season than any starting quarterback in the Big Ten.

Look for his comeback to begin on Saturday, limited as it may be.

Packers Falter, Harvin & Greenway Vikings’ MVPs

No one foresaw a 2-3 start for the Packers, a team considered a Super Bowl favorite back in August. Fans at Mall of America gave their enthusiastic approval on Sunday when the score was announced the unappreciated Colts beat the Packers 30-27 in Indianapolis.

What’s wrong in Packerland? Dean Dalton, the former Vikings assistant coach who hosts a weekly NFL show on Sirius Satellite Radio, said “there’s a lot of little things wrong” but nothing “glaring.”

For starters, the Packers may well be a distracted, unfocused team. The success of past seasons resulted in a lot of adulation and commercial opportunities for players.

“Every single one of the frontline Packers have some sort of endorsement in Wisconsin,” Dalton said. “Many of the star Packers has national endorsements. They (the endorsements) become a distraction.”

Dalton said the Green Bay offensive line has been inconsistent. Problematic, too, is that in the mission to upgrade the running game and balance the offense, the Packers seem to have moved away from a passing attack that’s been the envy of the NFL. “They haven’t been sticking to the formula” and the Packers lack the explosiveness of past years, Dalton said.

On defense, Dalton sees an improved unit. But consistency is lacking and that was evident when the Packers couldn’t hold a 21-3 halftime lead against the Colts. That speaks of missing a killer instinct, perhaps by both the Green Bay offense and defense.

The 4-1 Vikings have received contributions from many players but few observers will argue that the early season offensive and defensive Most Valuable Players are wide receiver-running back-kickoff returner Percy Harvin and linebacker Chad Greenway.

Harvin has scored touchdowns rushing, receiving, and on a 105-yard kickoff return. The fourth-year speedster, juker and tackle breaker has produced so many raves locally and across the country that Harvin is an early season candidate for league MVP, always a formidable challenge for a non-quarterback.

“I think he’s as complete a player as there is in the NFL,”Dalton said “He means so much to this team.”

Dalton admires Harvin not only for his physical skills, but also for his “excellent” football intelligence. Greenway talked about another aspect of Harvin’s value to the Vikings.

“The way he’s stepped into a leadership role I think is something that has gone unnoticed. He’s quiet but he leads by doing things the right way every day, and the young guys are here to watch that.”

Greenway, now in his seventh season with the Vikings, is probably playing the best football of his career. “He’s truly a complete every down linebacker playing at a Pro Bowl level,” Dalton said.

Greenway revealed early this year his dad has cancer. The crisis impacted Greenway’s perspective on football and has helped him play at a high level.

“(I am) keeping the game simple,” he said. “What I went through this offseason with my dad, I am just going to have fun and play. You never know when things can change.”

Worth Noting

The Gophers have had various lineup changes on offense through five games but only one on defense. Linebacker Lamonte Edwards replaced Aaron Hill for one game.

The athletic department is promoting a special ticket offer for the Northwestern game on Saturday. Tickets for $20 each are available for purchase including via www.mygophersports.com. Saturday’s game is Homecoming at Minnesota.

Dan O’Brien, former football coach and athletic director at Concordia, St. Paul, was inducted into that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame last Friday night. Even though it was a rare bye week for the Gophers, coach Jerry Kill and wife Rebecca took the time to attend the hall of fame event where O’Brien, the Gophers director of football operations, was honored.

It’s been a difficult fall for former Michigan State head football coach John L. Smith, now interim head coach at Arkansas. Considered a preseason possibility for the national title, the Razorbacks are 2-4. Maybe worse, Smith referred to Arkansas as “Alabama” when speaking before a Razorbacks’ booster group last month. See YouTube coverage.

Joe Mauer had back pain during the last few games of the season, according to Jake Mauer, his grandfather. Because of the problem Mauer chose to be a designated hitter and wanted to be in the lineup competing for the American League batting title rather than sitting on the bench.

Mauer finished fourth in the AL batting race, hitting .319. He hit .222 in his last 10 games and had just one hit in the final 10 at bats. Jake said his grandson had trouble hitting the “low ball.”

The back isn’t expected to be a long term problem and Mauer was entertaining at a stag party last weekend near Braham. Jake said about two dozen guests enjoyed archery, trapshooting, bowling and other activities.

Among the guests was Twins pitcher Glen Perkins. Both Perkins and Mauer are supporters of pitching coach Rick Anderson who survived the organization’s dismissal last week of various coaches. “He (Joe) likes Rick and Perkins does, too. They’re glad he stayed,” Jake said.

Joe and fiancée Maddie Bisanz will be married on December 1 in St. Paul. Jake said wedding invitations have yet to be mailed.

“Sports Standouts,” a new 30 minute show, will debut on KSTC next Saturday at 1 p.m. The show offers inspiring stories about regional athletes and coaches. The program co-hosts are former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton and TV personality Libby Floyd.

Mario Lucia, a 2011 Wild draft choice and son of Gophers coach Don Lucia, is a freshman at Notre Dame but not playing because of a broken leg.

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