KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS – Page 7 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings’ ‘D’ May Revive vs. Inept Colts

Posted on December 15, 2022December 15, 2022 by David Shama

It will be a bad look if the Vikings’ defense struggles again Saturday. The defensive unit and coordinator Ed Donatell will be scrutinized for their performance at U.S. Bank Stadium against a Colts offense that has been mostly inept this season.

The 4-8-1 Colts average just 16.1 points per game, ranking No. 31 among 32 teams. They have the most turnovers in the NFL at 26. Quarterback Matt Ryan has a passer rating of 84 after throwing 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

The Colts should be a welcome site to Donatell and his unit after their recent five-game nosedive. In that stretch the Vikings have given up 30.4 points per game and an average of 460.6 yards. Worse news is that the 10-3 Vikings are 3-2 in those last five games. Ryan rarely throws for 400 yards but if he does Saturday the Vikings could lose again.

At least among the public there is a lack of confidence in Donatell. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Donatell will call plays tomorrow. Asked earlier in the week if he would consider changing coaching assignments and play callers on gameday, O’Connell said, “You’re always looking at things that you think might be a possible answer to help the guys play better and be more consistent, but as of right now, no, not something I’m considering.”

The “as of right now” comment draws attention. It raises questions about Donatell, particularly with another defensive veteran on the staff in Mike Pettine, assistant head coach. Last year as a senior defensive assistant he helped the Bears improve to an overall No. 6 ranking in total defense. Before that he had success as the Packers’ defensive coordinator. He has 28 years of high school, college and professional experience.

Donatell and the defense are definitely on the collective hot seat for the Vikings who have scored 312 points this season and given up 313. Maybe facing Ryan can help get things turned around but in the last five games the Vikings have allowed the likes of Mike White (369) and Mac Jones (382) to pass for over 300 yards each.

Worth Noting

Did you know Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins is the only NFL QB with 3,000-plus passing yards and 20-plus touchdown passes in each of the past eight seasons?

Former Vikings wide receiver Nate Burleson will provide analysis on Saturday’s NFL Network game between Minnesota and the Colts. The game will also be seen locally on KSTP.

Nate is the younger brother of Kevin Burleson, the former Gopher basketball guard and ex-Timberwolves assistant coach. Kevin is head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League.

The Vikings-Patriots game and two other NFL games televised on Thanksgiving had an average minute audience of 44.1 million viewers, per NFL Communications.

There’s a lot of deserved hype about Gophers’ basketball recruit Dennis Evans from Riverside, California because of his defensive prowess but he is very raw offensively, a reality that may have given other college programs pause in pursuing the 7-foot-1 center.

This year’s Gophers, 5-6 and 0-2 in Big Ten games, have myriad issues including guard play. Tre Holloman, the freshman point guard at Michigan State from Minneapolis, could have helped. Holloman isn’t starting but has played in all 11 games, totaling 111 minutes and has made just two turnovers.

Second-year coach Ben Johnson’s team is struggling, looking dysfunctional at times and right now Minnesota is a favorite to finish last in the Big Ten for a second consecutive season. The Gophers are No. 244 in the NCAA net rankings of men’s Division I NCAA teams.

At least publicly, it seems like the buzz around the program is looking toward the 2023-2024 season when another hyped recruit, guard Cameron Christie from Rolling Hills, Illinois, shows up—but there are too many things that can happen between now and next fall to forecast a big turnaround for the program.

Sending best wishes to Jimmy Williams, the former Gophers basketball assistant coach and ace recruiter for Bill Musselman and Jim Dutcher, who has advanced Parkinson’s and is living in Tampa.

For a Name, Image and Likeness deal, men’s basketball players from Baylor and Gonzaga were paid by event organizers to promote their neutral site game in Sioux Falls earlier this month. Players received $8,000 each, per a Sports Headliners source.

Not saying it’s certain but don’t be surprised if Karl-Anthony Towns‘ calf injury doesn’t allow a return to Timberwolves game action until February.

It looks like a modest number of Gophers fans will attend the December 29 Pinstripe Bowl in New York City at Yankee Stadium. Reporters will be stationed in the open-air press box. Accuweather.com forecasts a cloudy day with a high of 36 on December 29.

Lou Nanne has been watching Sammy Walker since the now Wild forward was a pre-teenager. He told KFAN’s Dan Barreiro this week that Walker might be the fastest player on the team and he likes the former Gopher’s future but wants to see checking improvement.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said next year’s salary cap may rise by only $1 million per year next year. If so, that could put a player like the Wild’s Matt Dumba, reportedly at about $6 million next year, on the spot regarding his future in Minnesota.

The Gopher wrestling team, with no matches now until January 1 at the Southern Scuffle, is 7-0 and has moved up to No. 9 nationally in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll. The top five ranked teams are Penn State, Iowa, Ohio State, Arizona State and Michigan.

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Vikings Chase Eagles & No. 1 Seed

Posted on December 5, 2022December 5, 2022 by David Shama

The Vikings have the second-best record in the NFC at 10-2. The Eagles, 11-1, would have a first round bye if the playoffs started today.

The best record and No. 1 seed ensures home field advantage in the postseason, up until the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Not having to play an opening playoff game could be opportune for the Vikings if key injuries are an issue and an extra week of rehab is meaningful. Certainly having all playoff games at U.S. Bank Stadium would be a big edge.

The Vikings’ dynamic passing offense has the best chance of excelling in a controlled climate. An outdoor setting, with extreme weather conditions possible in January, is not desirable. Then, too, the eardrum rattling noise in U.S. Bank Stadium is disruptive for opposing teams’ communications and can fuel adrenaline rushes in the Vikings.

The teams having the best records in the AFC and NFC, with their first-round byes, need to win only two games to reach the Super Bowl. The other 12 playoff teams must earn wins in the Wild Card, Divisional and Conference rounds. If after the regular season ends the Eagles have the best record in the NFC, and the Vikings second best, Minnesota could only have home field advantage for the conference championship game if Philadelphia was eliminated from the playoff field.

The Eagles’ next three games are on the road against the 7-4-1 Giants, 3-10 Bears and 9-3 Cowboys. Then they finish the regular season at home with the 4-8 Saints and Giants. That could be a more “slippery road” than the Vikings’ final five-game regular season assignment.

The Vikings have the 5-7 Lions in their way Sunday in Detroit. A win keeps the Vikings at only two losses and clinches the NFC North Division title. The game, though, might be a struggle, with the Lions having won four of their last five. In September, playing at home, the Vikings hung on to win 28-24.

It’s been a shake-your-head in disbelief season for the Vikings who have won nine one-score games. After the date in Detroit, they will try to continue their magical ride with home games against the 4-8-1 Colts and Giants, before closing the season at the 5-8 Packers and at the Bears.

If the Vikings and Eagles finish with identical records, Philadelphia would have a bye and home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs because of a 24-7 win over Minnesota earlier in the season.

Worth Noting

Bad look: Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert being ejected Saturday night early in the second quarter for tripping the Thunder’s Kenrich Williams. With the Wolves already missing their other big man star, Karl-Anthony Towns, Gobert needed to play all four quarters to give Minnesota its best chance to win. Instead, the Wolves lost another game to a mediocre opponent while often appearing unfocused.

Bad look 2: Wolves bench players laughing late in the game as the team tried to overcome a deficit in the 135-128 loss.

Before the game Wolves coach Chris Finch described Gobert as a “great professional” who has been an asset in his first season in Minnesota since being acquired in a controversial trade last summer with the Jazz. “…All signs are good, you know,” Finch said. “Have some normal growing pains, some of them we expected, some of them we didn’t. We didn’t know what to expect so we’ve just been working through that.”

The Wolves have a versatile defender in third-year forward Jaden McDaniels who can guard the two, three and four positions. With Towns unavailable at the four spot for awhile because of his calf injury, Finch is glad to have McDaniels as a defender. “I think we’ll see him play all over, the two thru the four for us,” Finch said.

Anthony Edwards, the Wolves third year guard who is No. 19 in NBA scoring at 23 points per game, consistently frustrates defenders with both his outside shooting and attacks on the hoop. “So you gotta go up there and play him high because he can shoot, and then you gotta be able to kind of contain him in between the free throw line and the rim because otherwise it’s a launch pad,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

Chet Holmgren, the Minneapolis native who is missing his rookie season with the Thunder following foot surgery, was out on the Target Center court before the game shooting. He was making a succession of long range shots while wearing basketball shoes. The 7-foot-1, 190-pound Holmgren still has a similar physique to when he was in high school two years ago.

Daigneault said the staff has engaged Holmgren with “systematic stuff” to keep him up to date on Thunder schemes. ”…Fortunately, he’s just a junkie so he loves everything about the game. So his engagement level throughout this process has been very impressive.”

It will be interesting to see if former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer remains an analyst for Deion Sanders now that Sanders is leading Colorado. Also, former Gophers’ head coach Tim Brewster, a member of Sanders’ staff at Jackson State, is headed to Boulder, per Footballscoop.com.

Dino Babers, coach of the 7-5 Syracuse team the Gophers will play in the Pinstripe Bowl December 29, has a 36-48 record with the Orange and could be on the hot seat next fall. He was hired by Mark Coyle when Coyle was athletic director at Syracuse.

Coyle, the Minnesota AD now, hired the Gophers’ P.J. Fleck who has an impressive road record as head coach. In Minnesota’s last 23 away games the program is 17-6 (.739), including two bowl wins. That is the best 23-game stretch away from home in program history (began with a 37-15 win at Wisconsin on November 24, 2018). Since then the only Big Ten team with more wins or a higher win percentage away from home is Ohio State at 21-3 (.875).

Fleck is 3-0 in bowl games and the Gophers have won five consecutive postseason games.

With the Big Ten already committed to events in Minneapolis, it appears likely that U.S. Bank will host the conference championship football game this decade. Led by Minnesota Sports and Entertainment executive Wendy Blackshaw, the conference has agreed to have its women’s (2023) and men’s (2024) basketball championships at Target Center. The Big Ten office, headed by former Minnesotan Kevin Warren, held its basketball media days in Minneapolis earlier this fall.

The most challenging “get” on the local college sports landscape will be landing the national championship football game. The 2022 game was in Indianapolis, setting a precedent for northern cities.

Minnesota Sports and Entertainment is forming a MSNE Council and has sent invitations to potential founding members. Membership includes a long list of perks and opportunities to benefit the community. Annual cost is $5,000.

Bill Lester, the former Metrodome executive, has a 12-year-old grandson fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Caffrey’s dad and mom, Bill and Michelle, founded Rare Disease Renegades (RDR) to fund research into DMD and other rare diseases. Funds raised not only benefit Caffrey but also others afflicted with rare conditions. RDR has been running an auction of interest to Minnesota sports fans. https://www.32auctions.com/runrenegaderun

St. Paul native and baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris, along with Twins president Dave St. Peter and Star Tribune columnist LaVelle Neal, were part of the 16-member Contemporary Era Committee that Sunday voted Fred McGriff into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were among those who didn’t receive enough votes for enshrinement.

The Pohlad brothers, Jim, Bob and Bill, are being recognized by Twin Cities Business as 2022 Buinsess People of the Year for their efforts in rejuvenating downtown Minneapolis and concerns for poverty and racial justice. Jim, 69, has turned over his Twins leadership role to nephew Joe Pohlad, 40.

The Wild has been promoting no ticket fees on remaining games. The team is averaging 17,762 fans or 98.9 percent of capacity, per Hockeyreference.com.

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Key Vikings to Watch in Training Camp

Posted on July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 by David Shama

Asked to name several Vikings that fans should evaluate this summer, Jeff Diamond began his list with tight end Irv Smith Jr. who missed all of last season because of a knee injury. Diamond, the former Vikings general manager who was the 1998 NFL Executive of the Year, talked with Smith during mini-camp and believes the 2019 second round draft choice is healthy.

Diamond sees a “load of talent” in Smith. He predicts a potential “huge year” as a pass catcher not only because of Smith’s skills but the wide receiver duo of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen commands so much attention.

Center Garrett Bradbury is working to increase his weight and trying to fulfill the potential expected when the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft. “He’s just got to be more consistent and a better player,” Diamond told Sports Headliners yesterday. “He’s got the talent to do it if he does put on the weight. He’s really a key guy in that offensive line.”

Diamond said there is intrigue at right guard to see who will start. The candidate pool could include newcomers Jesse Davis, Ed Ingram and Chris Reed.

Not only is there an injury watch with Smith on offense but on defense, too with pass rushing demons Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith, both outside linebackers. “If those guys are healthy, then the pass rush is going to be there,” Diamond said. “If they’re not, it’s really going to be hard for the secondary to be able to hold up.”

Players in the secondary fill out Diamond’s list of intriguing personnel for fans to watch as training camp opens next week and preseason games are played in August. Andrew Booth Jr., the cornerback from Clemson, had his college progress slowed by a series of injuries. The Vikings selected him in the second round of last spring’s draft but Diamond wonders if Booth has first round talent and might start at corner as a rookie replacing Cameron Dantzler.

Diamond also said to watch who emerges as the team’s second safety along with Harrison Smith. Camryn Bynum has a year of NFL experience but there are high expectations for 2022 first round pick Lewis Cine.

Worth Noting

Depending on how the tight ends, including Smith, look the first week or so in training camp the Vikings might have had interest in signing Kyle Rudolph. The former Vikings starter played for the Giants last year but has signed as a free agent with the Bucs as of yesterday.

Rudolph, 32, replaces retired legend Rob Gronkowski and will be catching passes from GOAT Tom Brady. Diamond could see Rudolph in Tampa Bay with the Bucs before it happened. “I wouldn’t be surprised. I think he could potentially be a good fit there.”

Former Vikings wide receiver standout Stefon Diggs now with the Bills and his brother Trevon Diggs, a star cornerback with the Cowobys, are on the latest cover of Sports Illustrated. Stefon’s career was controversial with the Vikings where he wanted a bigger role in the offense.

In the article Stefon said he has no problem with his former team. “I just needed a change in scenery,” he said.

The Vikings sent a news release today announcing 99 percent of season tickets have been renewed. Single game tickets go on sale July 28 and can be purchased on the team’s website. https://www.vikings.com/tickets/single-game-tickets

Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, whose home run gave the American League a ninth consecutive win over the National League Tuesday night, is hitting .216 this season. That has to be among the lowest batting averages ever for a starting player in the All-Star Game.

Yahoo.com reports TV viewership at 7.51 million was the lowest ever for baseball’s showcase but still higher than the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl and NBA All-Star Game.

Chet Holmgren, the former Minnehaha Academy prep All-American, has signed a reported four-year deal with the NBA Thunder that could be worth over $44 million. If Holmgren, the 2022 No. 2 overall NBA draft pick, has an all-star career he could eventually approach $1 billion in salary earnings based on how compensation is accelerating for top players.

The Wolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, who this summer signed a reported $224 million super max contract extension, isn’t the best player on the team, according to The Athletic. The authority’s rankings of top 125 NBA players has newly acquired center Rudy Gobert at No. 16. Towns, Minnesota’s veteran power-forward and center, is ranked at No. 35.

Gobert, acquired in a block buster trade this summer with the Jazz, has a reported $205 million deal he signed with his former team. Gobert is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and averaged a career-best 15.6 points last season.

Local fans have been waiting since 2019 for news Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson would one day headline the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. They won’t be here for the 2022 tournament this week and likely not in the future either. Both legends are aging, with Woods having a difficult recovery from his severe auto accident and Mickelson now aligned with golf upstart LIV.

The 3M and other PGA Tour stops are impacted now because of LIV signing up players. The 3M doesn’t have a top 10 ranked player in the tournament. Ticket buyers may be as intrigued to see players with regional ties like Troy Merritt and Mardy Fish than they are to watch No. 14 Hideki Matsuyama and No. 17. Tony Finau.

One of golf’s best role models comes to town August 13-14 for the second annual Land O’Lakes Legends Classic presented by The Meadows at Mystic Lake. Defending champion Juli Inkster is a 31-time LPGA Tour champion with seven major championship titles.

Inkster, 62, is a past winner of the Patty Berg Award, named after the Minneapolis golf legend and given to players who exemplify the best in sportsmanship, goodwill and contributions to golf among women players. Inkster is a three time world champion and hall of famer who participated in nine Solheim Cups. She was honored by ESPN with the ESPY Award for Outstanding Women’s Golf Performer of the Year in 2002.

The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon celebrates its 40th anniversary Sunday, October 2. Youth 18 and under can register at no cost. Organizers bill the marathon as the “largest sporting event in the Upper Midwest” with 300,000-plus spectators and several thousand runners.

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