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Vikes Can’t Obsess on First Round CB

Posted on April 26, 2022April 26, 2022 by David Shama

What will the Vikings do Thursday night in the first round of the NFL Draft?

Former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond offered advice in a Monday interview with Sports Headliners. “If they are wise, you don’t want to get locked into a certain position of need which we all know is a corner for them.”

Diamond, the NFL Executive of the Year in 1998 when the Vikings went 15-1, learned long ago that “especially in the first round” it’s not prudent to become overly focused on need at a particular position. Unless a team is after a quarterback, take the best player available, he said. Don’t pass on a great player and settle for a good one to fulfill a need.

Diamond, who learned that philosophy from Bud Grant, Jerry Reichow and Frank Gilliam from the Vikings, was president of the Titans after he left Minnesota. With both organizations he believed there are limited opportunities to select a player who was all but certain to become a Pro Bowl level talent. “We always felt there were eight to 10 blue chip players in every draft,” he said.

The Vikings have several needs going into this week’s three-day, seven-round draft. They could, for example, benefit from taking an edge rusher at No. 12. Sports Illustrated’s mock draft has Minnesota selecting Eden Prairie High School and Florida State alum Jermaine Johnson.

Diamond sees Johnson as a top four prospect among edge rushers in this year’s draft. “I think that he’s a guy that has got a lot of talent. I think he runs well and has good effort and all that.”

With the new Vikings’ 3-4 defensive scheme, and injury uncertain for veteran pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith, the franchise could benefit from selecting an edge rusher in the first round and then choosing cornerbacks in the second and later rounds. Diamond suggests the club might follow that path and use the third round pick for a quarterback to compete with backup Kellen Mond (2021 draft).

Diamond describes it as “good strategy” to take a quarterback prospect in the third round. He doesn’t see the position as one of immediate need and rates veteran Kirk Cousins in the 10 to 15 range among NFL quarterbacks. With Cousins flanked by outstanding playmakers, and if the defense is upgraded, the Vikings can be a winner, Diamond said.

That’s not to say, though, the Vikings couldn’t improve their offense in the draft with a center, guard or tackle who is able to push existing starters or provide depth. With Tyler Conklin having been traded, and starter Irv Smith coming off a knee injury, Diamond sees the importance of adding a pass catching tight end in the later rounds.

Rounds four through seven may provide roster help at wide receiver, and multiple spots on defense including linebacker and safety. The Vikings are talented at wide receiver with their starters but adding a contributor in the draft can provide depth. “There’s a lot of talent at wide receiver this year (in the draft),” Diamond said.

This will be Kwesi Odofo-Mensah’s first draft as a general manager. Diamond’s guess is the Vikings won’t be wheeling-and-dealing during the draft and likely will retain most or all of their eight picks. He’s not an advocate of parting with your first round selection and not selecting a player until the second round.

“I am always apprehensive about trading out of the first round,” Diamond said. “A couple of occasions that we did it, it really didn’t pay off.”

This year eight franchises have multiple first round selections, meaning eight do not. Diamond can’t recall that circumstance before. The numbers could lead to trades involving both the 2022 or 2023 drafts.

Among the many players Diamond is following are former Gophers Boye Mafe and Daniel Faalele. Mafe has created unexpected offseason buzz as a potential elite edge rusher and has drawn late first round or second round speculation. Faalele, the 6-8, 384 pound offensive tackle, has prompted similar talk but Diamond said there is concern about the Australian native staying under 400 pounds.

Diamond is a senior consultant for the Minneapolis-based Institute for Athletes, an established agency representing players. He is involved with recruiting and is familiar with many prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Worth Noting

Diamond talking about the lengthy three-day draft: “To me the first couple rounds, (are) really fun to watch. Rounds four through seven a little tedious. And I kind of felt that way even as a GM and in the draft room because it gets so long and a little bit boring at times. …”

In Sports Illustrated’s mock draft top cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr., Ahmad Gardner and Trent McDuffie will be selected No. 7, 10 and 11 respectively. At No. 24 in the first round the prediction is the Cowboys will choose Mafe.

Rocco Baldelli, the 2019 American League Manager of the Year, is criticized for game strategy but a move paying off this spring is batting Byron Buxton lead-off where he can often have more plate appearances than hitting further down in the order. He was in position to win Sunday’s extra inning game against the White Sox and did so with a three-run home run that put the Twins in first place in the AL Central Division.

Inspiring to see 100-year-old former Gophers’ ticket manager Tom Swain and Vikings legend Bud Grant, who turns 95 next month, in attendance at the Twin Cities Dunker Fund Dinner at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Who will be the Wild’s starting goalie in the first game of the playoffs next week? There could be a goalie controversy in the postseason but the guess here is Cam Talbot gets the first start over Marc-Andre Fleury. Remember when the Wild made the 2003 Western Conference Finals using goalies Dwayne Roloson and Manny Fernandez?

Wild home single game playoff tickets go on sale tomorrow at 2 p.m. via www.ticketmaster.com

The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, the NHL Rookie of the Year in 2021, turns 25 today.

Former Gopher footballer and ex-pro wrestling star Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell emailed about whether Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson will be a hero or heel in the WWE. “Dave, I’ve never met Gabe but because of his size and cockiness I believe he’ll be a natural heel or bad guy! If they decide to make him a baby-face, or good guy, he’ll be a Hulk Hogan type who’ll out wrestle his opponent. And when his opponent fouls Gabe, he’ll make a big comeback and pin him with some suplex for the cover! Who knows?”

Comments Welcome

Final Four to Spotlight City Safety

Posted on March 28, 2022March 28, 2022 by David Shama

The coming days offer the opportunity for Minneapolis to brighten its image locally, regionally and nationally. The NCAA Women’s Final Four starts Friday and the event can help the city rebound, even if it’s only an incremental improvement that chips away at Minneapolis’ infamous reputation for crime.

After Friday night’s two semi-final basketball games at Target Center, the national championship game will be played Sunday evening. While the games are the centerpiece, event organizers are serving up a lot more to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Women’s Division I Final Four and 50th anniversary of Title IX.

There will be free interactive events and attractions for the public to enjoy, and in place are partnerships with community organizations for social initiatives such as honoring Native Americans. Buildings will light up the skyline in the colors of the Final Four logo, helping to create further awareness the Final Four is in town.

The games will be televised nationally by ESPN, with over 350 radio stations broadcasting too. Over the weekend there will be continual Final Four coverage and commentary on various platforms ranging from newspapers to social media. And about 30,000 visitors are expected from out of town, with many staying in downtown hotels.

Wendy Blackshaw and Debbie Estes, co-chairs of the Minnesota Local Organizing Committee, have said “all eyes” will be on Minnesota in coming days. They and others involved with the Final Four, including hundreds of local volunteers, have worked diligently to make the event a success in every way. Positive expectations are this latest venture will fall in line with the many other highly lauded events the city and region have hosted over the years including Super Bowls, All-Star games, elite golf tournaments and Final Fours.

There will be extensively planned security and safety protocols that hopefully allow the 2022 Final Four to go on without major incidents. But fairly or not, it only takes one or two incidents to prompt main stream media headlines, or at least start a chain of negative comments on social media.

The city’s longstanding image of being a safe place to live, work or visit has taken a beating the last couple of years. The latest headlines include carjackings, a crime trend sweeping the metro area. Just last week Fox was reporting on Minneapolis and its carjacking problem that flies in the face of “Minnesota nice.”

Twin Cities sports anchor and reporter Mike Max in February referred to Minneapolis “as a hellhole.” His remarks on WCCO Radio were in part prompted by the cold weather and pandemic, but more to the point he referenced the crime downtown and unpleasant encounters he has experienced.

In late January Lance Morrow wrote a poignant article for the Wall Street Journal. In August of 1973 Morrow had authored a cover story for Time magazine praising how Minnesota is “the state that works.”

The headline for his WSJ story: “How Minnesota Went from Tom Sawyer to Huck Finn.”

In Morrow’s 2022 story he quoted a friend who lives in Minneapolis. “It would be difficult to exaggerate the extent of violent crime throughout the city. Everyone now knows someone who’s a victim.”

Morrow wrote about how the Twin Cities have become part of the rank-and-file urban mess characterizing big cities throughout the country—crime (often violent), drugs and unemployment. The once idyllic state of Minnesota and its largest city have “become a microcosm of an America in crisis,” the WSJ opinion piece said.

This writer is alert in the city like never before. When my car stops at intersections, I am aware of who is near my vehicle and what their intentions may be. I am more likely to park at a meter or in a ramp close to my destination, rather than opt for the exercise of a healthy walk. When on foot I am almost as likely to look behind me as ahead. The city’s reputation puts me on edge and has altered or cancelled plans to go places.

Those words are painful to report. Although I live in a suburb, I spent 30 years in Minneapolis and was raised to be proud of a city that once offered a school system and quality of life rivaling the great urban centers of the world.

Keep your head up, though. Things will improve.

People are returning to downtown. They are also not abandoning Uptown, an upscale area for decades and another place of past city pride. Larger numbers of people on city streets, whether shopping, attending events or going to work, are a major deterrent to the low-lifes who act without regard for authority, life and property.

The thugs that have bullied Minneapolis will not take it over and neither will the so-called leaders and authorities with cockeyed ideas and policies. Minneapolis remains a city with good people and intentions. And amenities that have long made it special remain in place, including the beautiful lakes and parks, and the world-class arts, theatre, sports and shopping.

It will take a couple of years but the city police force is being increased in numbers and will have improved training. There are worthwhile ideas to be considered in lessening burdens on police and making other authorities responsible. The last election brought needed change on the city council including the leadership of Michael Rainville who represents the Third Ward and part of downtown.

Positive change can spiral in city hall, on the streets, in the schools and in court rooms. And how inspiring if responsible changes started in homes where too many households have no fathers, and or any parents at all. Accountability starts at home with adult supervision.

The Women’s Final Four will return to Minneapolis and Target Center for the first time since 1995. While times have changed, this is still a place with much to offer and “Minnesota Nice” cemented into the DNA.

It’s time to “rebound.”

Comments Welcome

Free Draft Advice for Vikings’ New GM

Posted on March 1, 2022 by David Shama

The NFL Scouting Combine going on this week in Indianapolis is one of many steps new Vikings GM Kwesi Odofo-Mensah must navigate preparing for his first NFL Draft April 28-30. Mensah reportedly has a four-year contract in his first opportunity to be an NFL general manager and the clock is already ticking.

Initially, Mensah and his staff of talent evaluators will be granted some leeway in trying to lift the Vikings out of mediocrity. But four years go quickly and things will get off to a rocky start if the franchise doesn’t select a first round standout in late April.

The Vikings select at No. 12 and that’s 20 spots ahead of other NFL teams. Picking at that spot isn’t a lock but Jeff Diamond believes Minnesota should be able to land a potential Pro Bowler.

Diamond is the former Vikings GM who was NFL Executive of the Year in 1998 after Minnesota finished the regular season 15-1. What is his advice for a new NFL general manager going into the draft? “Don’t go against your board,” he told Sports Headliners.

Draft board is a catchphrase for the data and information a team has accumulated and evaluated in the months leading up to the seven-round draft. Diamond’s belief is don’t draft for position need, especially in the first round, at the expense of passing up on the best player available. The exception, Diamond added, can be selecting a quarterback instead.

It was this philosophy that led to the Vikings drafting wide receiver and athletic freak Randy Moss in the 1998 draft. Diamond remembered his team needed help on defense and could have gone that way with the No. 21 selection of the first round.

The offense was loaded with playmakers like wide receivers Cris Carter and Jake Reed, and running back Robert Smith. But there on draft night after 20 picks by other teams was Moss—a talent the Vikings had rated on their draft board as a top five player. Diamond thought…“this could be great stuff, even though we needed a little bit more help on defense at that time.”

Moss dazzled from the opening game in 1998, making an already lethal offense into perhaps the franchise’s GOAT. Moss was NFL Rookie of the Year and the Vikings made it all the way to the NFC title game where they lost to the Falcons in overtime. Off-field baggage caused many NFL teams to pass on Moss but he was a superstar for the Vikings and eventually earned enshrinement to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

At No. 12 in the first round the Vikings could both find a player who fills a position need and rates very high on their board. Position help, Diamond said, includes cornerback, pass rushing and offensive line.

Defense might be a priority. “You gotta be able to cover guys,” Diamond said. “You gotta be able to rush the passer.”

Center could be a focus, too, where Garrett Bradbury, the first round pick from 2019, has been average at best. Diamond said Bradbury has “too much trouble with these big, strong defensive tackles.”

Reunion Will Celebrate March Magic

Every year long ago in late March—with winter still in full force and fingers crossed there would be no state tournament snowstorm—Minnesotans sat for three days in front of their televisions, content to be indoors. The state’s citizenry, including those fortunate enough to be ticket holders, were mesmerized by the boys’ state basketball tournament at Williams Arena. Most games drew capacity crowds of over 18,000 frenzied fans, and even a consolation matchup on a Friday morning could pull in 13,000 souls grateful to be in the arena.

The one-class tournament involved just eight teams and started on a Thursday, playing down to the championship game on Saturday night. The drama was nothing short of what Hollywood offered up in the movie “Hoosiers,” where small town Milan won the Indiana state high school title.

In the 1950s and 1960s this state’s fabled tournament was often the sports highlight of the year. The Gophers and pro teams couldn’t match the theatre of teams and players from the big city, suburbs and small towns. Minnesotans sat on the edge of their collective chairs in anticipation of who would emerge as that year’s “state tournament darlings.”

Small town teams against suburban or city teams created a David versus Goliath storyline. But not always, and there are chroniclers of state tourney history who consider the 1963 game between Marshall and Cloquet the greatest ever.

The game was tied 43-43 at halftime and ended 75-74 after Dennis Schroeder of Marshall made two free throws with 15 seconds remaining to give his team the state’s biggest prep prize. It was a back-and-forth exhausting competition—physically and emotionally. Schroeder told the Minneapolis Tribune after the game he “almost died” when his first free throw popped up in the air before going down through the net.

Howard Lavick was a Cloquet freshman back in 1963 and he has gone on to become a Hollywood documentary film maker. He is captivated by that Cloquet team and has posted a YouTube video called “Beyond the Prize.” Whether you lived through that era of state tournament glory or not, it’s highly recommended viewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjgAf6gXSkM

Now here is something else cool: March 24 there will be a reunion for all players from 1960-1970 who played on teams from the last decade of the one-class tournament format. About 40 to 50 attendees are expected including Ben Trochlil, coach of the 1963 Cloquet team and now 86 years old. Many of his players and their rivals from Marshall will come together again, perhaps for the last time.

Jeff McCarron, a great player on the 1970 Sherburn team that won the last one-class state title, is helping organize a reunion luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 24 at The Graduate Hotel near Williams Arena. Fittingly, this year boys’ state tournament games will be played five straight days at the “Barn.”

The reunion is a passionate endeavor for McCarron. He wrote in an email that the gathering of men now 69 to 80 years old, from various teams and years, will “recognize a bond with not only their own teammates and coaches, but with their opponents.”

More information: jmac8144@yahoo.com

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