Leslie Frazier – Page 5 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Kill Trades Sideline ‘Fire’ for Press Box

Posted on October 30, 2013October 30, 2013 by David Shama

Notes, quotes and opinions during a busy sports week that not only includes Gophers football, the Vikings and Wild, but also opening games for Gophers basketball and the Timberwolves.

Jerry Kill expects to be working in the coaches’ booth in the press box above Memorial Stadium in Bloomington on Saturday rather than on the sidelines when his Gophers play Indiana. Kill is figuring out how to manage his epilepsy with medications and lifestyle. He has attended all recent practices and was in coaches’ booths the last two Saturdays as the Gophers pulled off upset wins over Northwestern and Nebraska.

An intense and dedicated worker even for a college football coach, Kill is determined to make changes that will help in his battle against seizures. “I gotta work smarter,” he said yesterday. “I got great people (assistants).”

Kill’s activities from the coaches’ booth include communicating with his quarterbacks. Philip Nelson was asked if there is an aspect that even if minimal is missed with Kill not on the sidelines. “Yeah, I think just having his fire out there. It’s something that I personally miss but at the same time what we’re doing (as a team) is working,” the Gophers sophomore quarterback said. “I know coach Kill is pretty superstitious so I know he might stay in the box as long as we keep winning.”

Kill noted that retired college football legend Darrell Mudra coached from the press box during his career and won national championships. “I kind of enjoy it up there,” said Kill who indicated he’s working more like 10-hour days now instead of 16. Count on Kill providing plenty of passion to his team in game day locker room situations.

ESPN reported last Saturday that draft expert Todd McShay ranks the Gophers’ Ra’Shede Hageman as the No. 5 defensive lineman prospect for next year’s NFL Draft. Hageman’s improved play as a senior is a top of the list reason why the Gophers are 6-2 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten and winners of their last two games including a 34-23 win over top 25 ranked Nebraska last Saturday.

Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys has become an admirer of Hageman, a former tight end still learning how to play on the defensive line. “If they had a draft (in the Big Ten) for d-linemen, I am telling you I would not want to play against Ra’Shede with the way he’s playing and how much better he’s getting each week.”

In a dominant performance against Nebraska, Hageman had three tackles, one sack and two tackles for losses. A press box observer compared the work of the Gophers’ nose guard to the legendary Bobby Bell, Minnesota’s two-time All-American defensive tackle in the 1960s who won the Outland Trophy.

The Gophers will welcome a career day from the 6-6, 311-pound Hageman against the Hoosiers. Indiana (3-4, 1-2) leads the Big Ten in passing with 342.7 yards per game and a few Hageman sacks of the quarterback could help turn things Minnesota’s way.

Claeys, who has been the team’s acting head coach when Kill is absent, said this about the Gophers’ potential: “I think there’s bigger wins out there for us if we continue to work and believe in each other. …”

The Gophers led Nebraska 17-13 at halftime. Since the 2011 season, when the Kill era began, Minnesota is 12-0 in games when leading at halftime.

ESPN College GameDay last Saturday featured senior Stanford center Conor McFadden, a former walk-on from Sun Fish Lake, Minnesota who according to the show learned the Cardinal playbook in only three days. His brother Pat McFadden, who also played at St. Thomas Academy, is a freshman walk-on running back.

Former quarterback Joe Webb now converted to wide receiver by the Vikings will be a free agent after this season. “I still have quarterback in my heart but right now just trying to help the Vikings at receiver,” he told Sports Headliners.

Brad Childress lost his job as Vikings head coach after the Packers won 31-3 in Minneapolis in November of 2010. Don’t expect the same for Leslie Frazier whose team was embarrassed by the Packers 44-31 last Sunday at Mall of America Field. One difference is that other than perhaps wide receivers coach George Stewart there’s not a top candidate on the staff to succeed Frazier, who was Childress’ defensive coordinator.

But Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf were at Sunday’s game when the Packers dominated Minnesota and they know enough about football to not be pleased with the loss, or the team’s unexpected 1-6 start to the season.

Frazier on whether he foresaw his team’s troubles after being 10-6 and in the playoffs last season: “…There was no scenario that went through my mind that would have told me that we’d be 1-6 at this juncture. Looking at the way our games have transpired, I do understand why we are where we are. As I said earlier, I do believe we can get some things fixed and get going here. There are definitely some things we have to work on to get done, but I think it’s possible to get done.”

Frazier said new quarterback Josh Freeman, who had been diagnosed with a concussion, received permission to play last Friday although he didn’t participate in the Packers game. Either Freeman or Christian Ponder will be announced today or later in the week as the starting quarterback.

The Cowboys, who host the Vikings on Sunday in Texas, are in first place in the NFC East with a 4-4 record and remain the most popular NFL team in the nation, according to a Harris Poll released two week ago. “America’s Team” is No. 1 even though the Boys have only one playoff win since 1996.

The Packers were No. 2 in the poll, the Vikings No. 13.

The Wild won’t be road weary this week. The team lost to the Blackhawks at home on Monday night and had yesterday off. There will be practices today and tomorrow at Xcel Energy Center followed by a home game Friday against the Canadiens. Then practice at home on Saturday and a game against the Devils on Sunday at Xcel.

Former Gophers point guard Ariel McDonald is an assistant boys basketball coach at Providence Academy in Plymouth. He will also do Gophers analysis for 1500 ESPN.

Gophers coach Richard Pitino showing his sense of humor on his Gophersports.com blog writing about FIU transfer Malik Smith and his performance in a scrimmage: “He didn’t hurt any of our great fans with his errant passes.”

Pitino said he won’t inform his players until Friday who the starters will be for that evening’s opening exhibition game against Cardinal Stritch at Williams Arena. The starting lineup will change multiple times in the week’s ahead. Cardinal Stritch, located in Milwaukee, won the 2013 NAIA Division II national championship.

The Timberwolves open the regular season tonight at home against the Magic who are trying to convert former Hoosiers All-American forward Victor Oladipo into a point guard as a rookie.

Here are several things to know about the local NBA club that also plays at Target Center on Friday night against the Thunder, perhaps the best team in the Western Conference.

Unless this club has another run of devastating injuries, expect the Wolves to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The talent and coaching are in place to finish 12 to 18 games over .500.

The Wolves will score points and some nights could be the league’s most entertaining bunch. A lack of experience and defensive lapses may limit the postseason run, though.

Power forward Kevin Love might extract more success from his skills than any All-Star in the NBA. Still waiting for those marvelous length of the court outlet passes he threw during his one season at UCLA.

Not sure yet if Ricky Rubio is more Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson, Pete Maravich or Bob Cousy. But know this: the Wolves point guard is one special playmaker and he’s only 23.

Center Nikola Pekovic’s short arms don’t suit him well for blocking shots but the man is scary strong. That attribute serves him well on offense and defense where he can shove opponents into places on the court they don’t want to be.

Shooting guard Kevin Martin makes a lot of bull’s-eyes and is the team’s best offseason acquisition. His marksmanship helps counter the limited shooting skill of small forward Corey Brewer who can contribute best as Mr. Defense.

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Gophers Use Predictions for Motivation

Posted on October 4, 2013October 4, 2013 by David Shama

Andre Hollins calls it a “slap in the face.”

The Gophers’ best player is using predictions by college basketball writers that his team will be among the worst in the Big Ten Conference as motivation. “I think we can be a surprise team. …Nobody really knows what to expect, expecting us last. That’s the motivation that we’re using.”

Hollins, who led the Gophers in scoring last season at 14.6 points per game, is one of two returning starters from a team that finished 8-10 in Big Ten Conference games and 21-13 overall last season. He and Austin Hollins were starting guards last season but forwards Rodney Williams and Joe Coleman, and center Trevor Mbakwe, are no longer part of a Minnesota program with a new coach in 31-year-old Richard Pitino.

Basketball writers see a program in transition with changes in personnel and a new coaching staff. They forecast a challenging winter for the Gophers playing in the Big Ten, perhaps the nation’s best conference.

Andre Hollins said the Gophers, who have started fall practice preparing for their first exhibition game against Cardinal-Stritch at Williams Arena on November 1, are embracing the changes. “Much more energetic, enthusiastic. Just the whole program,” he said.

The team’s best players are likely to be the guards. The strategy could be to compensate for lack of size and talent in the frontcourt by playing wide open basketball — fast breaks, quick shots, full-court defense, double teams, and force turnovers.

The Gophers want opponents to panic and to do so Hollins is already seeing the importance of conditioning for himself and teammates. “We’re playing hard-nosed full-court defense an hour twenty minutes in practice,” he said. “I don’t think many teams do that in the nation.”

Hollins, a junior, has been known as an offensive player but when asked about personal goals for the season he said, “Be the best player I can be. Pick it up defensively. Be one of the best defending guards in the nation.”

Hollins said he improved his defense during the summer and made a comparison with how the Gophers will play defense this season versus last. While former coach Tubby Smith had players deny passes, the Gophers now will ease off on that so not to be vulnerable to backdoor cuts to the basket by opponents.

Hollins also said he’s learned to be more vocal, an attribute that will help him as one of three newly elected captains. Austin Hollins and guard Maverick Ahanmisi are the other captains.

Worth Noting

Forward Mo Walker, 6-10, has lost about 50 pounds and looks like a different person. Andre Hollins said Walker can now keep up with 6-11 center Elliott Eliason in running drills. Eliason is known for his ability to run up and down the court.

The Gophers haven’t set an October date when practice will be open to the public but plan to do so.

Pitino has converted the gym adjacent to his Bierman Building office into a practice facility. A wall has been constructed with power operated window shades to provide privacy. On the wall are video monitors showing images including of Minneapolis, the University campus and celebrities such as Ricky Rubio and Adrian Peterson.

The facility has a nearby locker room and showers. It is intended more for individual instruction, with the Gophers also using Williams Arena with its larger floor on practice days.

A passionate and knowledgeable Twins fan, disappointed with the decision to re-sign manager Ron Gardenhire for two more years, sent this e-mail to Sports Headliners: “After so many losses over the last three years, it’s hard to believe a change wasn’t made. Only in Minnesota do we accept such mediocrity on a consistent basis. I love Gardy as a person. It just seemed the right time to go in a different direction.

“What I find interesting is the Twins point to the A’s, Pirates and Rays and tell you a big payroll isn’t necessary to win. That may be true but then it’s an indictment of the team’s baseball operations department for failing to draft, sign and develop players that make an impact. If a team isn’t willing to spend money, then it better draft and develop well. Some of the Twins first-rounders like (Chris) Parmelee, (Trevor) Plouffe, (Aaron) Hicks and (Kyle) Gibson made it to the bigs but don’t appear to be impact players. Others, like (Denard) Span and (Ben) Revere, were traded before the start of the season.”

A guess is Gardenhire’s new deal pays him between $1.4 and $1.6 million annually. Baseballprospectus.com lists his two-year total compensation at $2.5 million for 2008-2009, but offers no figures more recent.

The Gophers (4-1) play at Michigan (4-0) tomorrow in a 2:30 p.m. ABC regionally televised game. The Gophers haven’t won in Ann Arbor since 2005 and have two victories in Michigan Stadium since 1980. The “Big House” has an official seating capacity of 109,901 but 115,109 saw the Wolverines defeat Notre Dame last month – the largest crowd ever to watch a college or pro football game.

Senior defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman said younger teammates might be somewhat “star-struck” playing against college football’s all-time winningest program in such a famous venue, but they need to know it’s “just a regular football game.”

Two years ago it wasn’t a regular game, as Michigan embarrassed Minnesota 58-0 in the “Big House” before 111,106 fans.

The Gophers average of only 27.4 penalty yards per game is the best among Big Ten teams. Coach Jerry Kill stresses in weekly meetings the importance of minimizing penalties.

“You wouldn’t want to be in here (the meeting room) after a ballgame and you were one who made a dumb penalty because it’s going to go up on that screen. That’s called the Daily News.” Kill said. “We all get educated through the Daily News and it helps because it’s not degrading anybody. This is why we didn’t score. This is why we kicked the field goal because we lined up wrong. So we’re gonna get that corrected. ‘Yes, sir.’ Okay, move on. So that’s kind of how we try to teach.”

The defensive secondary might be the Gophers’ top unit, comparing favorably with the best in the Big Ten. Safety Cedric Thompson thinks so and believes the unit is better than last year. “We’re a lot more physical, smarter and faster,” he said.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier didn’t want to tell his players that because of the team’s unexpected poor start and 1-3 record they had to spend part of their bye week at Winter Park working: “I think it’s important that our players get a chance to get away, take their minds off some things for a little bit and also…get re-engaged from a physical standpoint as well. So I think this is the right decision. We’ll come back on Monday, get started on the next opponent. …”

Vikings rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has turned heads with his kickoff return ability including a 105-yard touchdown return against the Bears last month. He is averaging 33.8 yards on 12 returns and was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. Frazier allows him freedom about making decisions about whether to return a kickoff or down the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

“Yeah, we do have a lot of trust in him for sure,” Frazier said. “We have some parameters on when he can bring it out and when he doesn’t, but it’s not by yards. We think he can return one 109 yards, 108 yards and he’s done 105 so we trust his judgment. We do have some things we talk about when it comes to where the ball is kicked when he has to not return it, but he’s made good decisions up to this point.”

It wasn’t complacency that ended St. Thomas’ 36 game regular season winning streak last month. “Gosh, no. No way,” coach Glenn Caruso told Sports Headliners yesterday. “We would not tolerate it.”

The Tommies lost 20-18 to St. John’s on September 21 and had a bye last weekend. Caruso was surprised how poorly his team played “at times” against the Johnnies, committing five turnovers after a focused week of practice. “It was a great reminder of how strong the rest of the conference has gotten,” he said.

The Tommies are home for a 1:10 p.m. game tomorrow against Carleton, another MIAC opponent. Caruso said the St. John’s loss doesn’t end the dream of playing later this year for the Division III national championship but the Tommies need to focus on the present each week.

State basketball legend Janet Karvonen, now 50, is finishing studies at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, according to the latest issue of MVP Magazine. Bob Brown wrote in his story for the southeast Minnesota sports publication that Karvonen plans to intern at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Lino Lakes. “It’s still a new thing for women to be ordained as pastors,” said Karvonen who grew up in the Lutheran church.

The Lynx open the WNBA Finals on Sunday night at Target Center against the Dream. Single game tickets start at $26.

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Frazier Contract Extension Coming Soon?

Posted on September 16, 2013September 16, 2013 by David Shama

Are the Vikings and Leslie Frazier about to announce a contract extension?

A trusted source told Sports Headliners an announcement about a three-year deal will be made before the end of September. If the source is correct, the news will be positively received by media supporters who have been critical of ownership’s perceived lack of commitment to the head coach.

It was reported during the offseason the Vikings had an option on Frazier’s services in 2014 and wouldn’t be extending their commitment further. The news disappointed some fans and many in the media who are Frazier admirers because of his likeable personality and a 2012 season where the Vikings made the playoffs after improving to 10-6 following a 3-13 record in 2011. The Vikings set a franchise record by winning seven games more than the prior season.

What may have happened since last winter to initiate contract extension talks and reach an agreement? Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf have been front page news because of a New Jersey lawsuit that has generated a lot of negative publicity. Announcing a contract extension for a likeable coach would be positive news and a boost to the Wilf image.

Of course, in the “what have you done for me lately” environment of American professional sports, news of a Frazier contract extension would be better received by most fans after a Sunday win by the Vikings, not a loss. Frazier’s team is 0-2 this season after a 34-24 opening game loss to the Lions and the Bears 31-30 win yesterday.

But after watching Frazier operate in the offseason, training camp and the early weeks of the season, the Wilfs and general manager Rick Spielman could be more convinced than ever they want Frazier as head coach long term. He took over a dysfunctional team late in 2010 and finished with a 3-3 record as interim coach. The Vikings liked the strength of his leadership then and they have watched his skills, including game management, improve during his first opportunity as a NFL head coach.

A contract extension could help stabilize the atmosphere around the team. Without it, there’s been a “dangling in the wind” status attached to Frazier since the present contract commitment is so minimal. An extension means Frazier’s future is less tied to the performance of inconsistent third-year quarterback Christian Ponder. A Ponder flop in 2013 has been thought by some observers to mean not only a 2014 change in quarterbacks, but perhaps also head coach.

If the contract extension materializes soon, it is all but guaranteed Frazier will be around for awhile even if his much criticized quarterback is not.

Worth Noting

Frazier said at his news conference this afternoon that explosive rookie playmaker Cordarrelle Patterson “definitely deserves” to be used more in the team’s offensive plays starting with Sunday’s game with the Browns. Patterson has caught only three passes in the first two games.

Frazier talking about the team’s 0-2 start: “You don’t want to be 0-2 but we know who we are. It’s a long season.”

Star Tribune sports columnist Jim Souhan wrote yesterday that the Gophers football program—“and by extension the entire school”—became the “subject of pity and ridicule” after coach Jerry Kill’s latest seizure. “Even those who admire him most can’t believe that he should keep coaching major college football after his latest episode,” Souhan wrote.

Ron Stolski, who is in his 52^nd year of high school coaching and is also the executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, wrote an email to many of his friends yesterday expressing his personal anger with Souhan. “…I am appalled at the crass, insensitive, (perhaps cruel) position Souhan takes regarding coach Kill,” Stolski said in the email. “In my long career, I have never known a coach who on the local or national level is more highly regarded or respected than Jerry Kill!

“He is relentless in his support of and for football in this state. He is widely respected for conducting a ‘clean program.’ He is revered by former players for his ability to make an impact and change lives. He is nationally known as a coach you want to coach with and play for. AND foremost, he knows football and embraces the big picture…that the game and all it offers can make better citizens of us all.

“For Souhan to suggest that the Gopher program, and the UNIVERSITY, is a subject of pity and ridicule is an insult. Not only to coach, but the staff, team and the entire University. Souhan needs to apologize. The Tribune needs to consider carefully his further employment.”

Critics who have maintained for years Big Ten football is ordinary are nodding after last weekend when conference teams lost five of 12 games, including three of four against the Pac-12. Michigan almost made it six losses, narrowly defeating Akron in the last minutes of the game in Ann Arbor.

The shocker of the day was UCLA’s comeback win over Nebraska in Lincoln. Bo Pelini can’t fix his defense and it could eventually cost the Nebraska coach his job.

New Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino will make his home in Edina. Pitino referred to the Gophers program as a “sleeping giant” on his September 6 blog for Gophersports.com.

KSTP TV’s Darren Wolfson reported last week Twins organization center fielder Aaron Hicks has decided not to play winter baseball following a disappointing rookie season, and also that the club’s second baseman, Brian Dozier, will be married during the offseason and honeymoon in Hawaii.

MIAC football teams are 12-1 after two weekends of nonconference play. The league is 28-3 in nonconference games this year and last.

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