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Ex-Vikings GM: Team Got Best Rusher in NFL Draft

Posted on April 30, 2024April 30, 2024 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column.

Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman praised his former team’s aggressiveness in moving up the draft board and early players chosen. Minnesota’s first three picks were quarterback J.J. McCarthy and outside linebacker Dallas Turner, both first rounders at No. 10 and 17, and cornerback Khyree Jackson, No. 108 in the fourth round.

The Vikings, of course, are hoping they found their franchise quarterback in McCarthy. Defensively, having lost edge rushing talents Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum to free agency, and also needing help in the secondary, the Vikings may have filled significant needs for highly regarded defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

“…In Brian Flores’ defense you have to have pressure on the quarterback which can alleviate some of the pressure on the secondary—which they needed to address as well—which they did with the Oregon kid (Jackson),” Spielman said recently on CBS Sports HQ. “So I think they did a great job, especially in the first round making sure that they got the quarterback. They couldn’t come out of this draft without a quarterback, and they got a legit pass rusher who I thought was the best pass rusher coming out. That’s why I think it was an A (draft grade for Minnesota).”

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t hold back in his praise of Turner either (he was the second edge rusher drafted after the Colts selected Laiatu Latu from UCLA). O’Connell described Turner, the 6-3, 247-pound former Alabama star, as a “great fit in Flo’s defense, incredibly versatile, huge traits and skill set to be a dominant player on the edge for us.”

On the plus side, too, from this draft is the club didn’t sacrifice it’s 2025 first round pick. Speculation was GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah might offer his two first round picks in 2024 and his 2025 first rounder to move up to No. 2 or 3 on the NFL Draft board, allowing Minnesota to choose North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

Here are four expectations about McCarthy:

Fans are giddy about the 21-year-old former Michigan national championship quarterback. Interest will be intense, and his summer debut will create must-see viewing for the usually “ho-hum” preseason games. There will be a clamoring for tickets to training camp to get the earliest of looks at McCarthy and demand to buy his jersey seems likely to be exceeded in sales only by that of the other J.J.— wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

McCarthy knows he landed in an ideal situation where he is surrounded by talented offensive teammates starting with Jefferson. Also important is learning from O’Connell, a QB whisperer, and his position coach Josh McCown who played 18 seasons of quarterback in the NFL. Teammates and teachers probably will make McCarthy comfortable, and likely the envy of quarterbacks drafted before him who landed in less ideal environments.

Among the many parts of the learning curve that won’t come overnight is McCarthy becoming totally in synch with his receivers. Successful NFL quarterbacks and receivers have a familiarity with one another that doesn’t happen right away. It can take a year or more for everyone to completely know the nuances of each other. How effectively and how fast McCarthy and the key receivers click, will be a key measurement in his development.

How much will McCarthy play during the regular season? O’Connell has said his rookie quarterback won’t be rushed but there is a lot of time between now and next October or November. An injury to presumed veteran starter Sam Darnold, or poor performance for too many weeks by Darnold, might send McCarthy off the bench and into the game. Remember, the NFL is a win now league.

The Timberwolves, who closed out their first-round playoff series Sunday night with a 4-0 sweep of the favored Suns, might be undervalued by oddsmakers who have made the Celtics, Nuggets and Thunder bigger favorites than Minnesota to win the NBA championship. The Wolves are going to be a “heavy lift” for any team as long as the defense remains among the best in the league (anchored by Rudy Gobert) and Anthony Edwards continues to be the premier clutch shooter in franchise history.

Meanwhile, mediation regarding franchise ownership is expected this week. It appears almost certain the contested sale of majority ownership between Glen Taylor and the Marc Lore-Alex Rodriguez two-some will later go to arbitration and eventually be resolved by NBA leadership and league owners. My guess is when the dust settles Taylor prevails—at least partially because of his successful track record with the franchise in meeting financial obligations.

Bustingbrackets.com ranks the Gophers’ Ben Johnson No. 17 in its listing this month of the 18 Big Ten men’s basketball coaches. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is No. 1 with USC’s Eric Musselman, son of former Minnesota coach Bill Musselman, ranked the fourth best coach.

Elevate the Arches is the new collective supporting St. Thomas athletics. Both Dinkytown Athletes (supports Gophers athletics) and Elevate the Arches are limited liability companies, not charitable organizations.

The football Tommies host their annual spring game Saturday starting at 12:04 p.m. in O’Shaughnessy Stadium. Admission is free. The Tommies, 7-1 in Pioneer League games last season, haven’t lost at home since 2016. They have an NCAA-leading home winning streak of 31 consecutive games.

The Twins have struggled all spring trying to develop a five-man rotation. Sonny Gray, who the Twins lost through free agency last offseason, would be the staff ace if he had been retained. With the Cardinals, he is 3-1 and has a 1.16 ERA.

Lance Lynn, Gray’s teammate with the Cardinals and another former Twins starter, is 1-0 with a 2.64 ERA. Other Twins alums and former starters off to impressive starts are the Blue Jays’ Jose Berrios, 4-1 with a 1.23 ERA, and the Pirates’ Martin Perez, 1-1 and a 2.86 ERA.

It was 30 years ago last Saturday that Twins’ starter Scott Erickson threw a no-hitter, walking four and striking out five in a 6-0 April 27, 1994, win over the Brewers. Francisco Liriano threw the last no-hitter for the club in 2011.

Each year the Twin Cities Dunkers stage a Dunkers Fund Dinner to raise money for the athletic programs at the 14 Minneapolis and St. Paul public high schools. The Fund has generated over $1 million in the last few years and this year’s members-only dinner is Thursday.

There is a silent auction to generate more funding and you don’t have to be a Dunker member to bid. Click on the attached https://bidpartner.net/dunkersfunddinner/silent-auction/ to preview auction items including a trip to watch the Gophers play UCLA in the Rose Bowl on October 12 and golf outings at Wayzata, North Oaks, Minikahda, Woodhill, Stone Ridge, Spring Hill, Bearpath, Burl Oaks, Somerset, Hazeltine and other courses.

Bloomington-based Vintage Sports Authentics’ spring auction includes memorabilia of former Twins Jim Kaat, Joe Mauer and Kirby Puckett with bidding open now. www.VSAauctions.com

Chase Brixius, the linebacker from Benilde-St. Margaret’s who is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 17 state prospect for the class of 2025, is the grandson of Frank Brixius, the Academic-All-American tackle on the Gophers’ 1960 national championship team. Among Chase’s college offers, per 247, are North Dakota State and Buffalo.

I worked for the Minnesota North Stars in the 1980s and never heard a bad word then or since about legendary radio voice Al Shaver who passed away last week at age 96. Son Wally has been calling Gophers’ hockey on radio since 2001 and his son Jason Shaver is the broadcast voice of the Chicago Wolves (American Hockey League) for 13 seasons. Condolences to family and friends of Al, a gentleman and great announcer.

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Cheery 2024 Predictions for Three with Twins Connections

Posted on January 3, 2024January 3, 2024 by David Shama

This could be a year to treasure for Twins ace Pablo López , outfield prospect Walker Jenkins and hometown hero Joe Mauer.

MLB.com authority Anthony Castrovince wrote recently that López is his choice for 2024 American League Cy Young winner. He noted the 27-year-old right-hander pitched a career-high 194 innings in 2023, improved his strikes-walks ratio (struck out 234) and was “awesome” in two postseason starts against the Blue Jays and Astros going 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA. Lopez’s regular season record was 11-8 in 32 starts with a 3.66 ERA.

Castrovince wrote: “…He might have only scratched the surface, because now that he’s added a sweeper that held opponents to a .173 average and .287 slugging percentage, he has a genuine five-pitch mix that could even improve in effectiveness as he gets more comfortable utilizing it. López has the command to do so. If he does, he’s a Cy winner waiting to happen.”

Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis of MLB.com talked about Jenkins on a recent podcast. They predict big things for the 18-year-old who was Minnesota’s No. 1 draft selection last year. Callis believes Jenkins could be the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball for 2024.

The athletic Jenkins is a five-tool player who in coming years could become the Twins’ starter in right field or center field. His impressive swing and power are attributes that often first draw attention, with observers raving about his potential. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Jenkins was taken fifth overall and he might be the steal of last year’s draft.

Jenkins didn’t sign his $7.1 million contract until late July, but he turned heads in the minors and perhaps will play in Double-A this year. His stats last season with two farm system teams included 102 at bats, .362 batting average, three home runs, 21 RBI and a .988 OPS.

Mauer, the St. Paul native who excelled at first base and catcher for the Twins before retiring after the 2018 season, has been tracking well in votes for acceptance into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Select members of the Baseball Writers Association of America do the voting that ended December 31 and votes made public so far indicate there’s strong support for Mauer to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Approximately 400 association members had an opportunity to vote. A candidate must receive 75 percent or more of the votes and Mauer has impressive credentials.

In addition to Mauer’s three batting titles and MVP Award, he was named to six American League All-Star teams, earned five Louisville Slugger Awards and three Rawlings Golden Glove Awards. He is also the only American League catcher ever to win a batting title.

Voting results will be announced beginning at 5 p.m. January 23 on the MLB Network.

Worth Noting

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins continues to progress on rehab from Achilles tendon surgery and NBC reported Sunday night that he expects to go from just walking to jogging by February 1.

Who starts for the Vikings at QB in the final regular season game Sunday in Detroit against the Lions? The prediction here is Nick Mullens because he has played more recently than Josh Dobbs and better than Jaren Hall.

Word has been Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a target for the Vikings in April’s NFL Draft. His passing accuracy might be questionable, and he wasn’t that impressive in the high stakes semifinal playoff win over Alabama Monday night. He looks far from ready to play in the pros and maybe not first round worthy.

A trusted source believes Bethel’s Brian Raabe, who has coached the Royals for 12 seasons and is known for his prowess as a baseball instructor, could be the next head coach replacing legendary John Anderson who is retiring after the 2024 season.

The Gophers, seeking to add experience to their running back roster, have offered a scholarship to Northwestern transfer Anthony Tyus III. As a junior in 2023, he was third on the team in rushing yards with 254 and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. The Portage, Michigan native was an Associated Press first team All-State selection in high school.

That was former Gopher defensive tackle Trill Carter playing for Texas Monday night in the Longhorns’ semifinal playoff game against Washington. He didn’t record any defensive stats but has been a contributor for Texas while participating in 13 of 14 games.

Among Gophers who transferred after 2022, no one was more recognized for his accomplishments with his new team than cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. He was named to the American Football Coaches Association All-American second team and was first team All-Big 12.

Former Gopher edge rusher Austin Booker, who led Kansas with eight sacks for 61 yards, also made first-team All-Big 12. Defensive lineman Gage Keys also transferred from Minnesota to Kansas and played a lot of snaps in 2023 before recently deciding to play for Auburn in 2024.

Running back Trey Potts and wide receiver Dylan Wright were highly visible offensive players for the Gophers before transferring. Potts was fifth for Penn State in rushing with 155 net yards while Wright caught 11 passes for 187 yards at TCU.

Think there will be a little drama November 9 when the Gophers play at Rutgers if their former quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis, is playing for the Scarlet Knights?

It might not be widely known but the Gophers weren’t the first college football team from Minnesota to play in a January bowl game when they met Washington in the Rose Bowl on January 2, 1961. This college football bowl season is the 75^th anniversary of St. Thomas’ 1949 trip to the Cigar Bowl in Tampa where the Tommies tied Missouri Valley, 13-13. http://tommiesports.com

The Michigan basketball team the Gophers (10-3) play in Ann Arbor Thursday night is the only Big Ten club with a below .500 record at 6-7. The Wolverines are giving up a conference worst 79.1 points per game. Peacock televises the game starting at 8 p.m.

Hit by injuries, including star forward Kirill Kaprizov and goalie Filip Gustavsson, the Wild has lost three consecutive games and has to find a way not to go on a long losing streak.

In a state where many residents claim Norwegian descent, it’s interesting the Wild’s Mats Zuccarello is one of only eight players from Norway ever to play in the NHL. Norwegian Americans are 13.8 percent of Minnesota’s population, per Worldpopulationreview.com.

The Pelicans, who play the Timberwolves tonight in Minneapolis, are a difficult team for Minnesota when forward Zion Williamson plays. The Pels played last night and it could be Willamson is rested tonight by sitting out the game.

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Basketball Authority Thinks U Can Avoid Big Ten Cellar

Posted on December 5, 2023December 5, 2023 by David Shama

Jim Dutcher coached the 1982 University of Minnesota basketball team to the Big Ten Conference regular season championship, and he remains an authority on college hoops watching a lot of Big Ten and national games. He believes five programs are among the most likely to finish last in the 14-team conference: Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Rutgers. Many prognosticators have the Gophers finishing in the cellar.

Coach Ben Johnson’s first two Minnesota teams placed last in the standings, but this season’s roster could be built to avoid a third consecutive embarrassment. When Dutcher was asked about impressions of the 5-3 (overall record) Golden Gophers, he referred to the past and said: “I think (the) talent (is) much better, particularly up front. Their front line when they have (Dawson) Garcia and (Pharrel) Payne and (Joshua) Ola-Joseph is pretty impressive. Still have some trouble with guard play, turning the ball over too much, but there is some talent there.”

The three big men mentioned haven’t been starting together, with Payne coming off the bench, but that could be changing. More on the starting lineup later.

Dawson, the junior forward-center from Savage, is tied for second in scoring among Big Ten players. He and Tyson Walker of Michigan State are averaging 20.5 points per game.

Dawson had a career-high 36 points in Sunday night’s opening Big Ten game against Ohio State in Columbus. Dawson was particularly effective inside the lane, scoring on nifty moves near the rim. Now he could be poised for another big game Wednesday night in the conference home opener against Nebraska.

Dutcher told Sports Headliners coach Fred Hoiberg’s Cornhuskers, who were 9-11 in the Big Ten last season, have improved but he identified a flaw that could work in Dawson’s favor. “Their weakness is still their inside defense and that is certainly a strength of Minnesota. Garcia is as good as I’ve seen there in a while. He’s not only good, he’s real good.”

Dutcher thinks Minnesota and Nebraska are competitively matched. The Huskers are 7-1 on the season but haven’t played a formidable schedule as is true for most Big Ten teams at this time in the fall. In their biggest test, they lost 89-60 to nationally-ranked Creighton in Omaha on Sunday. “I’ll pick us here (in Minneapolis) and I would have taken Nebraska at Nebraska,” Dutcher said.

Circling back to Minnesota’s front line, Dutcher sees improvement in sophomores Payne and Ola-Joseph. Their athleticism is evident every time they step on the court and both have the potential to impact the game in Minnesota’s favor offensively and defensively.

The Gopher backcourt, however, is problematic too much of the time. “As the year goes on, you’ll see some improvement in their guard play,” Dutcher said. “Right now, it’s just the case of too many turnovers at crucial times that keeps them in hot water.”

The Gophers are averaging a conference worst 14.1 turnovers per game. Their turnover margin per game against opponents is -3.00. Those numbers, BTW, have been compiled against mediocre, or worse, competition. Dutcher’s view: if the Gophers solve their turnover issues “they could be very competitive.”

Another offensive issue is lack of ball movement. “Their point guard (Elijah Hawkins) over dribbles the ball,” Dutcher said. “Anytime the guard is dribbling around, everyone else is standing. So a little bit better ball movement (is needed). Ben knows that and their staff knows that and they’re working to improve it.”

It’s not just been Hawkins (the starter) who hasn’t given the Gophers enough playmaking at guard. Mike Mitchell Jr., a transfer like Hawkins, and Braeden Carrington haven’t’ excelled in playmaking either.

The Gophers need improvement defensively, too. In their 84-74 loss to Ohio State, they trailed 42-28 at halftime and while they played better in the second half the Gophers couldn’t make the big defensive stops when needed.

Minnesota is 11^th in the conference giving up 68.8 points per game. In their three losses (including Missouri and San Francisco) the Gophers have yielded 70 points or more.

Johnson shortened his rotation in the second half Sunday night, and it helped. More playing time for his better players seems likely Wednesday night. There also could be a starting lineup change with Payne or freshman Cam Christie replacing forward Isaiah Ihnen who is scoreless in the last three games and twice has finished with no rebounds and no assists. He also struggled defensively in the Ohio State game.

Worth Noting

Want to see textbook defense? Watch last Saturday’s Virginia-Syracuse game and the performance of former St. Thomas star Andrew Rohde. The 6-6 guard was superb in individual and team defense for Virginia, consistently moving his feet to maintain position and using his arms and body correctly while having ball awareness.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin native has started all eight games for Virginia and is fifth on the team in scoring at 7.4 points per game. A sophomore, he leads the Cavs in assists with 22.

A reminder came yesterday that there have been a lot of unsuccessful seasons for the Timberwolves when Chris Finch was honored as the NBA’s Western Conference Coach of the Month for October and November—the first Wolves coach to be so recognized since Kevin McHale in 2009. Finch got the Wolves off to a 14-4 start in the first two months of the season.

Gophers football fans who want to attend Minnesota’s Quick Lane Bowl game in Detroit against Bowling Green on December 26 don’t have to miss Christmas at home. Steve and Dorothy Erban’s Creative Charters is offering a same day round-trip for $329 per person that includes flight and ground transportation. Anyone who does comparative shopping will see that’s a real bargain.

What’s the “over-under” for the number of Vikings fans who will attend Sunday’s game in Las Vegas between Minnesota and the Raiders? I’ll go with 7,000 in Sin City.

Season grades so far for Vikings’ starting offensive linemen by Pro Football Focus: left tackle Christian Darrisaw, 85; right tackle Brian O’Neill, 74.7; center Garrett Bradbury, 65.1; right guard Ed Ingram, 61.4; left guard Dalton Risner, 53.

Congratulations to St. Thomas athletics director Phil Esten for being named by Twin Cities Business as one of the “100 people to know in 2024.” The list recognizes achievers in the state expected to be newsmakers and change leaders during the coming year.

CBS ended its telecast schedule of SEC football games last Saturday, an association that started in 1996. Legendary play-by-play voices through the years were both native Minnesotans, Verne Lundquist and Brad Nessler. Two of the best, along with Keith Jackson, to ever call college football games.

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