KEVIN O’CONNELL – Page 25 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikes Earn an “A” for Persistence Today

Posted on September 25, 2022September 25, 2022 by David Shama

Let’s get right to the grades after the Vikings’ last minute 28-24 win over the Lions today at US Bank Stadium.

The Vikings, now 2-1, trailed 24-14 going into the fourth quarter. In its previous games Minnesota hadn’t produced a touchdown in the second half. But when today’s game was over the Vikings had scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, including a 28-yard strike from quarterback Kirk Cousins to wide receiver K.J. Osborn in the last minute.

Minnesota had never led in the game until the Osborn touchdown with 25 seconds remaining. Give the Vikings an A team grade for persistence.

Lions’ coach Dan Campbell gets an F for late-game strategy. It was his fourth down decision to go for a failed field goal of 54 yards that allowed the Vikings, trailing 24-21, to start their winning TD drive from their own 44-yard line. A Detroit punt sending the Vikings back near their own goal would have been a savvy option and no-brainer for most coaches.

Cousins and his offensive line deserve B- grades. A popular target for not delivering in pressure situations, Cousins threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns today. The Lions were blitz crazy but his offensive line and own awareness helped him avoid interceptions and he was sacked just once.

Kevin O’Connell photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

The offense didn’t have much of a day for explosive plays but got two big ones at the end when Osborn preceded his winning reception with another 28-yarder. Running back Dalvin Cook had his best game of the season with 96 yards on 17 carries before apparently injuring his shoulder. Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell said on the KFAN Radio postgame show he didn’t think the injury was serious.

The Vikings’ defense stopped the now 1-2 Lions in the closing seconds, ending the game with a Josh Metellus interception of a Jared Goff pass. Hard to give that unit better than a below average grade for its work today, though. The Lions consistently opened running holes and Goff’s repetitive completions over the middle were an embarrassment. The Vikings didn’t come up with a single sack and Detroit’s time of possession was 34:04, while Minnesota’s was 25:56.

The last four games in the series between the two NFC North Division rivals have been decided by four points or less. When the Vikings and Lions play again, December 11 in Detroit, the days will be counting down to Christmas. The Vikings better plan on playing better because they can’t expect another “gift” from Campbell.

Worth Noting

It’s believed the University of St. Thomas will soon announce plans to build an on-campus hockey facility after considering other sites in St. Paul. To meet CCHA guidelines the facility will have to seat at least 3,000 fans.

The Gopher football team, dominant in a 34-7 win over Michigan State Saturday, has outscored opponents 183-24 in four games. Minnesota has punted three times all season.

Minnesota is No. 21 in the Associated Press top 25 poll out today. It’s the first time this season the Gophers have been in the AP top 25. Haven’t been ranked by the AP since 2020.

U marketers are promoting the first ever Stripe Out in Huntington Bank Stadium next Saturday for the Purdue game. Fans in various sections are asked to wear maroon or gold clothing.

Former Gophers head coach Jerry Kill earned his first win at New Mexico State last night with a 45-26 home victory over Hawaii.

Often injured Byron Buxton hasn’t played in a Twins game since August 22 and will finish the year appearing in 92 games. That ties the 92 games he played in 2016 for the second highest total of his eight-year career. In 2017 the Twins’ MVP played in 140 games.

The best hope the Twins may have in retaining Carlos Correa for next season is if he and representative Scott Boras decide the less crowded free agent market for shortstops a year from now is their best strategy for a mega contract deal.

Without splashy offseason moves, including possible retention of Correa, the Twins will find it difficult to retain and grow their disappointed fanbase.

It was 10 years ago this fall that St. Paul native Tim Tschida, now 62, retired from umpiring MLB games. The affable Tschida enjoys tending bar at Mancini’s Char House.

Long before home run king Aaron Judge and hockey immortal Wayne Gretzky wore No. 99, Minneapolis Lakers great George Mikan popularized the number. He was voted Mr. Basketball of the first half of the 20th century by Associated Press.

BTW, although way overdue, the Los Angeles Lakers will retire Mikan’s number in a home game October 30 against the Nuggets.

Oddsmakers have the Timberwolves, who have their first training camp practice Tuesday, finishing second in the Northwest Division behind the Nuggets.

Gophers basketball player Parker Fox has a podcast called “Double Down.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X25lkiCNXM

For the first time ever Minneapolis will host Big Ten Basketball Media Days. The event October 11 and 12 at Target Center will include coaches and players from all 28 men’s and women’s basketball programs. Minnesota coaches Ben Johnson and Lindsay Whalen will speak October 12.

Nolan Winter, the Lakeville North basketball recruit who has verbally committed to Wisconsin, will be a nice fit in the Badgers’ offense that features outside shooting by its bigs, but his decision to turn down the Gophers is painful for local fans who over the years have watched a “parade” of Minnesota preps travel to Madison.

Apple Valley’s Tre Jones, a reliable playmaker but able to make just 19.6 percent of his three-point attempts last season, could emerge in training camp as the starting point guard for the NBA Spurs. Jones, 22, is starting his third NBA season.

The USHL Fall Classic in suburban Pittsburgh this weekend is attracting about 300 scouts and college coaches including former Wild GM Chuck Fletcher now in the same role with the Flyers. All 16 USHL teams are playing their first games of the season.

Budding superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who probably would be targeted for military conscription if still in his native Russia, played with teammates and others in the Wild’s inaugural golf tournament last Monday at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo. The course opened in 2018 but is up for sale with a possible purchase price of $8 million, per a September 20 story from Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Bally Sports North will televise three Wild preseason games: October 2 and 6 against the Blackhawks, and October 8 with the Stars.

Oddsmakers have the Wild, who started preseason practices last Thursday, finishing second to the Avalanche in the Central Division.

Some Wild preseason practices at TRIA Rink are open to fans who must pre-register. http://www.wild.com/openpractices

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso speaks to the CORES group November 10 at the Bloomington Event Center. Former North and Henry basketball coach Larry McKenzie will be the January 12 speaker. More information about CORES is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

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‘Great Game’ Predicted for Dalvin Cook

Posted on September 18, 2022September 18, 2022 by David Shama

It could be a spotlight evening Monday for Dalvin Cook when the Vikings play in Philadelphia against the Eagles. The leaky Philly defense allowed 181 rushing yards on 28 carries in a 38-35 win over the Lions last weekend.

The Eagles were inefficient on defense and sloppy in their tackling Sunday while allowing 6.5 yards per carry. The Lions and many other NFL teams don’t have anyone as talented as Cook who at age 27 is coming off three consecutive seasons of rushing for over 1,000 yards.

The Eagles’ defense will for sure focus on controlling wide receiver Justin Jefferson who made headlines with a spectacular season debut last Sunday catching nine passes for 184 yards and two scores in Minnesota’s 23-7 win over the Packers. “We’ll just see what the defense gives us and we’ll try to take advantage of it,” Viking tight end Johnny Mundt told Sports Headliners.

Dalvin Cook photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Cook, who rushed for 90 yards against the Packers on 20 rushes, could see big holes to run through Monday night. Even if Cook doesn’t the former All-Pro, has a way of finding daylight. Mundt said Cook seems to know where defenders will be and what they will do, allowing him to be a step ahead of tacklers.

“I think we’re going to spread the ball around really well (Monday night),” Mundt said. “I think Dalvin’s going to have a great game. Our O-line is very locked in so there’s holes to be there and we’ll move people off the spot.”

The Vikings’ run defense will be challenged, including by one of the most effective running quarterbacks in the league. Jalen Hurts ran for a touchdown and 90 total yards on 17 rushing attempts against the Lions. Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell is impressed with the physicality and elusiveness of the 6-1, 223-pound Hurts.

“There’s times you could tell by the scheme that they’re…blocking up (on) everybody but the corner(back),” O’Connell said. “And leaving the corner for the quarterback, which is pretty rare for a guy to then be able to make that guy miss, go get the first down and line up and do it again.

“His consistency to be able to do that on early downs, second-and-10, run the rock, get tackled, get up on a third-and-three and be precise in the pass game, that’s really what’s impressive. His consistency.”

Vikings’ veteran safety Harrison Smith knows what the defense must do against the 24-year-old Hurts. “Everybody’s gotta take care of their assignment,” Smith told Sports Headliners. “He can make a lot of plays on the ground and if you give him the opportunity in the pass game he can make those as well. So it’s really trusting what your job is and not getting outside of that.”

Worth Noting

Smith, 33, is in his 11th NFL season. How much longer does he want to play? “I am just playing and letting it unfold,” he said.

Former Gophers linebacker Nick Rallis is in his second season as the Eagles linebacker coach. The Edina native was a defensive quality control/assistant linebackers coach with the Vikings from 2018-2020.

Darren Wolfson said on SKOR North that KSTP TV (along with the NFL Network) will televise the Vikings-Saints game from London beginning at 8:30 a.m. October 2.

The Eagle game Monday night is on ABC-KSTP with announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Buck is married to sports reporter Michelle Beisner-Buck, the niece of former Gophers basketball public address announcer Dick Jonckowski.

Jonckowski received the best of news when his doctor told him Tuesday his cancer is gone. He was battling non-Hodgkins Lymphoma for the third time. “Hopefully this time it will stay away,” he told Sports Headliners.

Jonckowski will play the kazoo and trombone, and tell jokes, while performing with the Midas Touch Band at Mancini’s Char House in St. Paul next Saturday evening.

On NFL opening weekend there were 19 players each from Houston and Miami high schools on league rosters, tied for the most of any city. Detroit had the third-most players with 16, followed by Tampa with 15 players.

Not only are the 3-0 Gophers the only undefeated football team in the Big Ten West but three of the division’s seven teams have two or more losses.

Among the many reserves who played yesterday in the 49-7 rout of Colorado was redshirt freshman defensive end Austin Booker who made his Gopher debut and has the potential to be a superb pass rusher.

Former Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino turned 40 on Friday. His dad, Rick Pitino, is 70 today. Pops brings his Iona Gaels to Albuquerque December 18 to play Richard’s New Mexico Lobos.

Carson Hansen, the running back from Lakeville South who has verbally committed to Iowa State, also had offers from many other programs including Air Force, Army, Kansas State and Northwestern but not Minnesota, per 247Sports.

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Vikings & Packers Sunday: What to Know

Posted on September 6, 2022September 6, 2022 by David Shama

Check the pulse of any pro football fan who isn’t eager to see Sunday’s Vikings-Packers game at U.S. Bank Stadium. For an opener this one has unusual intrigue and importance.

Start with the historic rivalry between the two franchises. Green Bay and Minnesota could both have 0-12 records and the matchup would have juice with players and fans. CBS has ranked it the No. 3 rivalry in the NFL of the 2000’s, and wherever it belongs there is no doubting the intensity past and present.

The Packers are all but a unanimous choice to win the NFC North Division, with the Vikings a favorite pick to finish second. Whoever wins Sunday will make an early statement about the division race.

“It’s really important for the Vikings,” a former NFL executive told Sports Headliners. “If they’re going to be threatening the Packers this year, they almost need to get a win. It’s the opener at home and it’s not going to be easy to win in Lambeau on New Year’s Day—let’s face it.”

The game will be the first for new Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and his staff. How they will perform is one of the game’s subplots. Another is both teams have unknowns regarding new players and veterans coming off injuries. A national TV audience, including a huge number of viewers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, will watch a game that will be broadcast by Fox in the coveted late afternoon time slot.

Here is analysis of the two teams including comments about offense, defense, special teams and coaching.

The Packers have the reining NFL MVP in quarterback Aaron Rodgers but the defense is also a happy topic in Green Bay. The unit’s standouts include corner Jaire Alexander, nose tackle Kenny Clark, and linebackers DeVondre Campbell, Rashan Gary and Quay Walker.

The Packers are expected to be one of the top defenses in the NFL. “I mean they are loaded on defense,” said the NFL authority.

The source, who asked that his name not be used, is cautious about predicting how the Vikings’ offense will matchup against the Packers because this will be O’Connell’s first game calling plays and the starters played minimally, if at all, in preseason. He did watch the regulars in joint practices against the 49ers (another top defense) and was impressed.

The offense will count on its established skill players and hoped for improved offensive line to do damage against the Packers. The quartet of quarterback Kirk Cousins (4-3-1 record against Green Bay), running back Dalvin Cook, and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen is a group that NFL franchises envy. Tight end Irv Smith Jr., coming off an injury, is another valued receiver and is likely to play Sunday.

The offensive line might be the best in years. Brian O’Neill is a premier right tackle and second-year left tackle Christian Darrisaw impressed during training camp. Left guard Ezra Cleveland could be improved, too. Right guard Ed Ingram and center Garrett Bradbury are concerns. Ingram is a rookie and Bradbury, now in his fourth season, has struggled in the past including against Green Bay’s Clark.

The NFL authority said he’s not sold on Bradbury and it would be “huge” if Ingram can play well and help the veteran center. “We’ll see real quick about Bradbury in week one against Kenny Clark. He claims he put on 10 pounds. He’s trying to be stronger, anchor better, but he still had some trouble in training camp with Harrison Phillips who is a very good nose tackle.”

The source gives the edge to the Packer defense against Minnesota’s offense.

Regarding the Minnesota defense against the Packer offense, he isn’t discounting the loss of star wide receiver Davante Adams who was traded to the Raiders and the overall uncertainty of the Green Bay receiver group. Adding to the flux is that Adams’ successor, Allen Lazard, may not play Sunday because of injury.

There is also nail-biting in Green Bay about the availability of starting offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins who are coming off of knee injuries. Their absence Sunday enhances the likelihood giftedVikings pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith may wreak havoc on Rodgers who this year could become the first ever to win NFL Player of the Year three consecutive seasons.

Outside linebackers Hunter and Smith have big upsides as pass rushers but also have histories of injuries. If healthy, Hunter and Smith can take a lot of pressure off the uncertain secondary that includes two inexperienced and vulnerable defenders, safety Camryn Bynum and corner Cam Dantzler. Rodgers and the Packers will likely take dead aim at Dantzler, a third-year defender, rather than 32-year-old veteran corner Patrick Peterson.

Expectations are Smith and Hunter can do a lot to improve a Vikings defense that gave up more passing yards than all but four other NFL teams in 2021. Only six teams gave up more rushing yards.

The defense may be improved but the Packers offense gets the nod over the Minnesota defense because of Rodgers. The 38-year-old quarterback still has a superb arm, accuracy and pocket presence that allows him to escape trouble. He ranks fifth all-time in touchdown passes and 10^th in passing yards. His 109.7 passer rating in road games was the best in the NFL last season.

Coaches? Green Bay’s Matt LeFleur has yet to produce a Super Bowl team but winning 13 games each of his first years is impressive. Now he could become the first NFL head coach since 1970 to do it four consecutive seasons.

O’Connell, 37, has no track record as a head coach. “You have to give an advantage there in week one (to the Packers),” the source said.

O’Connell is an offensive-minded coach and that’s expected to benefit Cousins and the passing game. Since his hire early this year he has tried to make the team culture inclusive and comfortable for his players. Does that raise a question about whether he can discipline and control the locker room? “I think that’s going to be fine and I think they’re going to want to win for him,” the source said.

The Packers were knocked out of the playoffs last winter partially because of a blocked punt. Special teams was considered a team weakness and LaFleur has brought in a new coach (Rich Bisaccia) to direct that unit. Adding to the special teams uncertainty is veteran kicker Mason Crosby coming off of knee surgery and not playing in the preseason.

“I think the Vikings could have an advantage there with Greg Joseph who I think is coming off a good second half of last season,” the source said. “He had a really good camp. In preseason games he kicked a 58 yarder in Denver. So he’s got a lot of confidence.”

The Vikings’ special teams also feature kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu who had two returns for touchdowns last season. Recent acquisition Jalen Reagor is a hoped for upgrade in punt returning. Rookie punter Ryan Wright won the punting job from veteran incumbent Jordan Barry.

The NFL authority gives the edge to Minnesota’s special teams and sees another important factor in the Vikings’ favor. A frenzied crowd will provide the Vikings a home field advantage and make on-field communications challenging for the Packers.

Add everything up and it’s evident why this game, with the Packers favored by only about two points, could be a classic matchup of iconic franchises. “We know there’s a good chance that this game is going to come down to the very end,” O’Connell said.

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