KEVIN O’CONNELL – Page 9 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikes Get a Potential ‘Difference Maker’ Back With T.J. Return

Posted on October 27, 2024October 27, 2024 by David Shama

The Vikings, now with two consecutive losses after starting the season at 5-0, will get a potential boost in playmaking when tight end T.J. Hockenson makes his 2024 debut in the team’s next game—Sunday, November 3 at home against the Colts.

Hockenson hasn’t played since Christmas Eve of last year when he severely injured his knee with ACL and MCL tears. It’s been a long stretch of rehab and recovery after reconstructive surgery.

Anticipation was Hockenson might return last Sunday against the Lions or Thursday night for the Rams game. Unless something unusual happens, November 3 should see the return of the 27-year-old who prior to the season Pro Football Focus ranked as the fourth best tight end in the NFL.

T.J. Hockenson image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

An authority who was a front office leader with a couple of NFL teams emphasized the importance of having the sixth-year veteran on the field with his pass catching and running ability. “I think he might have been a difference maker (against the Lions),” he said. “(Sub) Johnny Mundt had a bad game. He had two holding penalties, had a dropped pass. Missed a block on a screen.

“He’s been an okay replacement for Hockenson as that kind of receiving tight end. … I think he (Hockenson) can take pressure off (wide receivers Justin) Jefferson and (Jordan) Addison, can open things up in the running game. He could be a difference-maker. “

Seven games into the season injuries complicate and compromise how the Vikings perform. Linebacker Blake Cashman has missed the last two games because of a toe injury. The authority, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Cashman’s absence is significant while referring to the former Golden Gopher as having a “Pro Bowl caliber season” and being a player “that kind of controls the middle of the field.”

Cashman’s availability for the Colts is TBD, but not for star offensive left tackle Christian Darrisaw who suffered ACL and MCL tears in the Rams game and is out for the season. Replacement David Quessenberry struggled to keep pass rushers away from Viking QB Sam Darnold.

The season debut of Dalton Risner could help the offensive line outlook. Expected to be available for the Colts game after recovering from a back issue, Risner can play multiple positions on the offensive line. The same is true of starting left guard Blake Brandel whose career starts include time at left tackle.

Risner could slide into left guard while Brandel switches positions. Before Darrisaw’s injury it was thought Risner might provide competition for right guard Ed Ingram who has his critics. “He still has his struggles at times, but he is a pretty good run blocker,” the source said.

The Vikings coaches are likely sorting out multiple options for shuffling the o-line. Rookie Walter Rouse, a sixth-round selection, was impressive in the preseason and could move into the starting lineup. Possibly at right tackle with Brian O’Neill sliding over to fill Darrisaw’s spot?

The Vikings were talking about better execution after both the Lions and Ram games. Even with Darrisaw, and the team’s other potential Pro Bowl tackle, O’Neill, the offensive line has been part of the problem with its false starts and giving up sacks.

The Vikings, who didn’t give up 30 points in any of their first five games, have now lost games by scores of 31-29 and 30-20. Against the Rams, Minnesota had no sacks and few quarterback pressures.

Will GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah be shopping before the November 5 trade deadline? Looking for cornerback help, or offensive and defensive line additions. The Vikings don’t have much in future draft capital with only one first round and two fifth round picks for 2025.

A rumor with steam is the Vikings could trade for Dexter Lawrence II, the Giants’ defensive tackle who is among the best at his position in the NFL. The possibility enthralls Minnesota fans, but the source quoted here pours cold water on it. “Yeah, I think they’re dreaming.“

His reasoning? Yes, the 2-5 Giants are in free-fall and look to be rebuilding. But the club has Lawrence on a contract that reportedly has a value of about $22 million per year and getting rid of him would still leave the Giants responsible for “dead money”—meaning bonus money from the contract would go against the New York salary cap.

The source also sees Lawrence as “maybe their best player” and a rebuilding piece for the struggling franchise.

A more likely move to plug up holes in the defensive line could be a trade with the 1-6 Browns to bring back 6-3, 335-pound Dalvin Tomlinson. Now 30, Tomlinson was outstanding for the Vikings before signing with the Browns as a free agent in 2023 and might be available for a 2025 fifth round pick.

Worth Noting

Dallas Turner, before the season a favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year, is playing minimal snaps. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Turner is progressing in his development and “I think he’s going to make a big-time impact for us.”

The Big Ten’s reputation takes a hit in the preseason AP men’s college basketball national rankings. Despite expanding to 18 member schools, the league’s highest ranked team is Purdue at No. 4. Three other teams in the top 25 are: Indiana at 17, UCLA 22, and Rutgers 25.

Former Gopher Cam Christie, not unexpectedly, hasn’t played in the Clippers’ first two games. The 2024 NBA second round draft pick will be a developmental player just like former Gopher and Hopkins star Amir Coffey was, but now sees regular minutes for the Clippers. After two games Coffey is averaging 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2 assists.

Former Twins outfielder Brent Rooker ranked No. 5 in the majors last season with a barrel rate of 16.6 percent, per an Mlb.com story last week. Barrel is a slugging stat that measures exit velocity from a batted ball and launch angle.

Ahead of Rooker in percentage are four players in the World Series: Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton.

Stew Thornley, the Minnesota-based author of many sports books, visited the grave of former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda in Whittier, California earlier this month. At one time Thornley had visited the graves of every baseball hall of famer. There are now about 10 that he hasn’t.

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Put the Lions Down as ‘1A’ & Label Vikings ‘1B’ after Today

Posted on October 20, 2024October 21, 2024 by David Shama

It was entertaining and it was close. And it was the Vikings’ first loss of the season in a game where they were outplayed (slightly) by the Lions.

The Lions showed at least for now they’re the “1A team” in the NFC North and perhaps the entire NFC. Give the Vikings the “1B label” in the division with both teams owning 5-1 records and sharing first place in the North after today’s 31-29 Detroit win at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minnesota’s offense could produce only two touchdowns against the Lions defense. The Vikings had three field goals by flawless rookie kicker Will Reichard and a defensive TD run of 36 yards by linebacker Ivan Pace. Pace’s score put the Vikings ahead 29-28 with just under six minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings, though, couldn’t convert on a two-point attempt after Pace’s six points. And even more crucial the offense couldn’t take time off the clock when it went three and out late in the fourth quarter, prior to the Lions marching down the field to set up their winning field goal of 44 yards by Jake Bates with 15 seconds remaining.

The Lions had put themselves in a first quarter hole when a failed fake punt gave Minnesota the ball on Detroit’s 34-yard line. Shortly after, RB Aaron Jones ran 34 yards TD to put Minnesota up 6-0. Reichard converted the extra point and later in the quarter the Vikings went up 10-0 with his 57-yard field goal.

The Viking defense, like the offense, was spotty in a game where Lions running back Jaymyr Gibbs ran for 116 yards on 15 carries including two touchdowns. Detroit QB Jared Goff, often frustrating the Vikings’ famed blitz efforts, was 22 of 25 for 280 yards and two touchdown passes. The Lions, during the second and third quarters, put together four consecutive series where they scored touchdowns.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Viking head coach Kevin O’Connell talking on KFAN Radio after the game said there were too many “self-inflicted” things that impacted execution and cost his team the win. It was penalties and other failures including an illegal formation on the next to the last play of the game that pushed the Vikings even further out of miracle field goal range. With all the faith O’Connell has in Reichard (12 of 12 on field goals this season), he knew that about 70 yards was asking a lot.

The Vikings can feel better about themselves quickly because they are in Los Angeles Thursday night to play the Rams. That starts a schedule of games against the Rams, Colts, Jaguars and Titans. Those clubs have a combined record of 7-16 and their pedigrees pale in comparison to “1A”—a Super Bowl favorite who barely escaped with a win today in Minneapolis.

Gophers & College Football Notes

Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman finds it “incredible” to see the high-level true freshman Gopher Koi Perich is playing at. “He’s going to be a superstar by the time he graduates so I am happy for him,” Cashman told Sports Headliners.

Cashman was a walk-on with the Gophers after Eden Prairie High School and became a 2018 second team All-Big Ten linebacker. He is acquainted with Perich who has impressed with his play at safety and on special teams, already receiving Big Ten Conference and national awards. “…I got a chance to meet him. He seems like a great young man with a good head on his shoulders. So, he’s got a bright future.”

There’s been speculation Perich eventually might receive the opportunity to play on offense, running or catching the football—or both. “That would be amazing,” Cashman said. “You don’t often see that. That would be cool.”

Condolences to family and friends of Dick Larson who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. Dick was a prominent quarterback for the Gophers in 1956 and 1957. The Roosevelt High School alum was a favorite of head coach Murray Warmath and Dick was an assistant coach for Warmath from 1958-1965.

Warmath and Dick were like father and son. He looked after Warmath’s affairs up until the time the national championship coach died in 2011 at age 98.

Dick had a sharp football mind and was highly personable. If he had stayed with coaching, instead of committing to a long business career, he might have been a great college head coach.

Members were beaming last week at the Twin Cities Dunkers program when 103-year-old Tom Swain, the oldest Dunker, came to hear new University of Minnesota president Rebecca Cunningham. Swain, still sharp and remembering friends, was the first academic advisor for athletics at the U.

There are 618 athletes on the Gophers 22 sports teams this school year, with close to an even female-male split.

Undergraduate newcomers at the U Twin Cities campus total about 10,000 this fall, a source told Sports Headliners. That’s the highest such total, he said, since right after World War II. About 7,800 are freshmen, with the balance being transfers.

It was five years ago that LSU was making its way toward the national championship, eventually finishing 15-0 with a domination of foes that prompted admirers to say the Tigers are the greatest team in college football history. Vikings guard Ed Ingram told Sports Headliners that team could have won “one or two NFL games.”

“Great everything (offense, defense, special teams), we put everything together,” said Ingram who was on that LSU team with Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson and quarterback Joe Burrow, now a franchise record setter with the NFL Bengals.

Indiana is the envy of every fan who annually supports a hapless college football team. The Hoosiers, mostly a football graveyard forever, are 7-0, top 20 ranked and setting school records. Their season is a result of superb coaching, an influx of talented and experienced transfers and ideal scheduling.

First-year coach Curt Cignetti, 63, had been a big winner at lower stops before he reached Indiana and the Big Ten. Upon arrival he said: “I am excited to lead this program forward and change the culture, mindset, and expectation level of Hoosier football.”

And, man, has he. With a roster that includes transfers from his previous stop at James Madison, the players have responded to the demands of their coaches and executed at a high level. It’s also been a confidence builder that the nonconference foes were FIU (2-5), Western Illinois (3-4) and Charlotte (3-4). The Big Ten schedule, after four games, includes two teams with overall records above .500—Nebraska at 5-2 and Maryland, 4-3.

Vanderbilt, with its improbable 2024 win over then No. 1 ranked Alabama, is another “believe in miracles” story with beloved former Golden Gophers head coach Jerry Kill playing a big role. Kill is senior offensive advisor and chief consultant to head coach Clark Lea who led his Commodores over Alabama in one of the most notable upsets in college football history. Vandy’s drama specialist is quarterback hero Diego Pavia who played for New Mexico State last year when Kill was head coach there.

Aggie fans learned about miracles in 2023 when New Mexico State, historically even a worse program than Indiana or Vandy, defeated Auburn on the Tigers’ home field in another upset for the ages. Vandy is off to a 5-2 start to the season.

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What to Know After Viking Close Call in London Today

Posted on October 6, 2024October 6, 2024 by David Shama

Cheerio, London. The Vikings hung on to defeat the Jets today, 23-17, and keep their season record perfect at 5-0. Here’s what to know:

On a day when the offense was too often MIA, the defense and rookie kicker Will Reichard carried the crew.

QB Sam Darnold was off on his throws and the Minnesota running game went south after RB Aaron Jones had to leave the game in the first half with a right hip injury. Jones had seven carries for 29 yards rushing while Ty Chandler, his sub, ran 14 times for 30 yards.

Jones, who caught one pass for 24 yards, will ideally heal up during the bye week on the schedule that has the Vikings not playing again until October 20 in a NFC North showdown against the Lions. The Vikings aren’t even close to being as dynamic without the 29-year-old Jones who joined the team as a free agent last off-season.

Darnold, who threw one interception and completed 14 of 31 passes for 179 yards, faced a Jets defense that specializes in pass coverage. Jets head coach Robert Saleh, a defensive guru, had his team using schemes to not only challenge Darnold but provide sticky coverage on Viking receivers including superstar Justin Jefferson who was limited to six receptions despite frequent targets.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

After the game Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell said during his news conference heard on KFAN Radio in Minneapolis that his defense “was lights out” when picking up the team as needed. That was exemplified in the closing minutes of the game when the Jets, trailing 23-17, were driving for a potential winning score and extra point. Twice the Vikings put pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers before Minnesota corner Stephon Gilmore intercepted a game-ending throw near the Viking 10-yard line.

The Vikings defense, known for disguising its intentions, dominated the Jets in the first half (leading 17-7 at the break) before Rodgers had success with quick throws for short gains as New York scored three points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth.

Still, the Vikings leave London giving up a total of 76 points in five games—an average of 15.2. That’s the best in the NFC.

The offense produced one touchdown with the defense being able to match that thanks to outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel’s 63-yard interception for a score in the first quarter. Reichard, the rookie kicker from Alabama, produced Minnesota’s first points of the game with a 54-yard field goal, then followed that up with field goals of 51 and 43 yards in the fourth quarter. For the season he is a perfect nine of nine.

It’s not too soon to speculate Reichard could turn out to be the franchise’s best kicker ever and was more than a smart move by Minnesota drafting him in the sixth round last spring.

No one, at least externally, saw the Vikings’ fast start to the season coming. And they’ve done it against two teams, the 49ers and Texans, who rank with the better clubs in the NFL.

Other than the Jones injury today and worry about his health going forward, the Vikings have been fortunate with injuries. Before leaving for London last week tight end Johnny Mundt told Sports Headliners something Vikings fans will like:

“I just think we’re a special team. Got the right DNA of a championship team. As long as we can keep healthy and keep doing what we’re doing I think there’s a lot of positive things that we’ll achieve.”

Reeve Looks Like Hoops Genius Again

The Minnesota Lynx had a 19-21 regular season record in 2023 and were eliminated in a first-round playoff series. After that president of basketball operations and head coach Cheryl Reeve had a decision to make about the 2024 team, along with team owner Glen Taylor.

The choice was trying to build an immediate winner or have a 2024 record that would position the club for higher draft choices. “And together we decided we were going to go for the winning,” Taylor told Sports Headliners.

Minnesota finished the regular season at 30-10, the most victories in franchise history. The record was also the second best in the league, trailing only the 32-8 New York Liberty. As of today (Sunday), the No. 2 playoff seeded Lynx are up 2-1 in the best of five semifinals series against the Sun. The teams play in Connecticut today and if a fifth and deciding game is needed it will be Tuesday evening in Minneapolis.

A series win would send Minnesota to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017 with a chance to win the franchise’s fifth league crown. All under Reeve who has a gift for identifying talent and coaching those players to success.

Reeve transformed the 2024 Lynx roster by signing key free agents Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith, re-signing forward Bridget Carleton, and trading for valued reserves Natisha Hiedeman and Myisha Hines-Allen. Minnesota led the league in assists per game (23.0) and three-point percentage (38.0%) with three players in the top 10 for three-point field goal percentage: Bridget Carleton (44.4), Cecilia Zandalasini (44.3) and Kayla McBride (40.7). Defensively, the Lynx held opponents to a 41% field goal percentage, best in the league.

Late last month the WNBA announced Reeve as the league’s Coach of the Year (fourth time) and Basketball Executive of the Year (second). She is the first coach in league history to receive the Coach of the Year Award four times and is only the second person to be selected for both awards in the same season.

Taylor hired Reeve in 2009, partly at the recommendation of Bill Laimbeer who was head coach of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock. Reeve was the team’s general manager and an assistant coach.

“She has asked in all these years to report directly to me which has been fine…and we work together I think very well, and she’s got real good results and so I am very supportive of her,” Taylor said.

Taylor said Reeve “is all business” when they talk which is fine with him because he appreciates the efficiency. Reeve is on a multi-year contract that reportedly pays her $700,000 annually. Taylor said she has never “threatened” to leave and the two have been able to agree on contracts. “I just talk to her, and we get it worked out.”

With more opportunities for women in men’s professional sports front offices, it’s not wild speculation to think Reeve could receive an NBA offer. Taylor said it hasn’t been that direct in their conversations, but he thinks Reeve has implied “she could do that if the opportunity came.”

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