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Bradford May Adjust Fast to Vikings

Posted on September 4, 2016September 4, 2016 by David Shama

Sam Bradford’s NFL experiences in different offensive systems and relationships with Vikings assistant coach Pat Shurmur, and players Shaun Hill and Adrian Peterson, should hasten the adjustment to his new team, and allow him to play soon.

Bradford, who will be 29 in November, was acquired yesterday from the Eagles to solve the Vikings’ quarterback void created by the season-ending injury to Teddy Bridgewater. Bradford is in his seventh NFL season and he has played for several offensive coordinators and in multiple systems.

“Yeah, if there’s a good thing about learning a new offense every year, it’s that I’m familiar with this process, and I kind of know how it goes, I guess,” Bradford said after being traded to the Vikings for future draft choices. “I’m sure there will be some carryover from some of the systems that I’ve been in, but as far as right now, we really haven’t gotten too deep into the (Vikings) playbook. But, I’ve gone through this process, so hopefully doing it before will help me pick things up a little quicker.”

Rick Spielman (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

The list of Bradford’s previous coaches includes Shurmur who was his offensive coordinator with the Rams in 2010 and Eagles in 2015. Shurmur, now the Vikings’ tight end coach, talked with Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman before the trade for Bradford, a starter for both the Rams and Eagles.

“…He knows what his strengths and weaknesses are,” Spielman said of Shurmur’s past history with Bradford. “I think that’s a valuable asset for us as our coaches teach him the offense and understand what things he does best, and what things that he may struggle at. Our coaches always preach to put these guys (in the best possible situations) and to utilize what they do best.”

Bradford acknowledged his relationship with Shurmur should help him learn offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s system. “Pat is very familiar with me as a player. I think he understands the things that I do well, the concepts that I like. So I’m sure that he can relay that to coach Turner. …”

Turner’s system includes a deep vertical passing game to loosen defenses for shorter throws and create space for the team’s running backs. That deep threat has been a challenge since Turner joined the Vikings prior to the 2014 season but Bradford could improve results.

Spielman said Bradford, 6-4, 224, has multiple attributes as a passer. “He is a very accurate thrower. He does a great job getting through his reads of progressions. He makes quick decisions in the pocket. He can throw the deep ball down the field. Some of the routes that we throw in our offense, we’ve seen those same routes and seen him complete those same balls that he’s going to have to do in this system.”

Hill, 36, signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2015 to back up Bridgewater, who then was the team’s second-year starting quarterback. Hill had played the previous season with the Rams where he was the backup to Bradford. Hill’s knowledge of the Vikings’ offense will be an asset for Bradford. “I’m really excited to work with Shaun again,” Bradford said. “We had a great relationship when we were in St. Louis.”

Adrian Peterson (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

Peterson, a future hall of famer, is a major presence in the Vikings locker room. He and Bradford were together for awhile in college at Oklahoma. Peterson will be supportive of his new teammate and no doubt help ease Bradford’s transition.

Today and into the week Bradford will be learning the playbook and adjusting to his new teammates. It’s unlikely he will start the season opener at Tennessee next Sunday. Hill is the team’s No. 1 QB now, but his age and lesser skills than Bradford likely mean a change is coming soon—perhaps game No. 2 on the schedule at home against the Packers September 18.

Bradford could become the team’s starting quarterback indefinitely. The Vikings have him under contract through next season. Bridgewater’s knee injury is so serious and predicted recovery time so extensive he might not be effective next season. If the Vikings win big with Bradford this season, the quarterback job could be his or at least up for competition in 2017.

Bradford was the first-overall selection in the 2010 NFL draft by the Rams. He became the 2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and still holds the league rookie record for most passes completed (354). Last season he set Eagles franchise records in completions (346) and completion percentage (65 percent), and finished fourth in team history in passing yardage (3,725).

Worth Noting

Best wishes to former Vikings tight end and Twin Cities resident Joe Senser who is recovering from a health issue. Senser played for the Vikings from 1979-1984 and later was a radio analyst on their games.

The Vikings, as expected, dominated the television audience numbers last Thursday night. Their preseason game did a 19.2 rating and 37 share in this market, with the Gophers’ nonconference opener drawing a 5.1 and 10. The Twins-White Sox game had a 2.2 rating and 4 share. At no time during the evening did the Gophers’ numbers exceed the Vikings.

The hapless Twins, who ended a 13-game losing streak with a win Thursday night, had historic TV numbers a week ago Sunday, according to a ratings authority. He said the Nielsen results of the Twins-Blue Jays game showed no viewers in the 600-home meters sample size. “That’s never happened before with the Twins,” the source said.

True freshman Tyler Johnson from Minneapolis North caught three passes for 31 yards in the Gophers’ 30-23 win over Oregon State. Only senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky, with four catches, had more receptions for Minnesota in the opening game.

A converted quarterback and defensive back, the 6-4 Johnson has impressed coaches, teammates and others. Johnson could exceed the numbers of last year’s leading freshman receiver Rashad Still who caught 18 passes for 194 yards including three touchdowns. The Gophers’ freshman receiving records for yardage (654) and touchdowns (seven) are held by Ernie Wheelwright in 2004. Ron Johnson set the total receptions record with 38 in 1998.

True Thompson, formerly of Armstrong High School, suffered a concussion last month playing football for Iowa Western Community College. The wide receiver and son of Gophers’ career leading rusher Darrell Thompson will sit out the season as a redshirt.

True’s brother Race Thompson, who will be a junior this fall at Armstrong, is an outstanding 6-8 basketball player being recruited by the Gophers, and he attended the Minnesota-Oregon State game Thursday evening. He has received scholarship offers from multiple schools including Minnesota and Marquette.

Renovation of Target Center will not only relocate the Lynx to Xcel Energy Center next year, it could be a problem for the Timberwolves. If the team were to surprise and make a deep playoff run next spring the arena renovation timeline will slow down.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told Sports Headliners Target Center work sometimes will be so extensive the whole building will be closed for events. If the Wolves need the arena for playoff games, the renovation schedule will intensify to have Target Center ready for the opening of the team’s 2017-2018 schedule.

“We just have to work that out,” Taylor said. “Maybe some inconveniences but we’re just gonna have to adjust.”

The Wolves haven’t made the playoffs since 2004 but have one of the NBA’s most promising young rosters.

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Walsh Not Dwelling on Seahawk Miss

Posted on August 17, 2016August 17, 2016 by David Shama

Vikings, Gophers, Twins and Canterbury Park notes:

Fans might still be stewing over the Vikings’ 10-9 playoff loss to the Seahawks last January but field goal kicker Blair Walsh insists he has moved on. It was Walsh’s 27-yard missed field goal that ended the Vikings’ goal of reaching the Super Bowl.

“We’re not going to talk about that anymore,” Walsh said Monday. “We’re so far past that. This is a new week for our team. A new season for our team. I’ve addressed that multiple times in the past so I think we’re just going to move past it.”

Sounds like when the Vikings are in Seattle for tomorrow night’s preseason game against the Seahawks Walsh doesn’t plan to be thinking about the first round playoff loss at TCF Bank Stadium. Walsh said he worked hard during the offseason and is looking forward to another successful year after leading the NFL in field goals last season with 34.

Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said he doesn’t expect to have memories of the playoff game on the trip this week. “Not really. Your job as a player is to wash those things away and just continue to try to focus on what’s next. …We have to move on to the next thing which is the (2016) season.”

Greenway, who is headed toward his 11th and perhaps final season with the Vikings, has the experience to judge how the defense is playing in its four exhibition games leading up to the season. “I look at the little things like how we run to the football, how we attack as a team,” he said. “Make sure we’re trying to strip the football and get turnovers, and then how we’re doing in situational football (game circumstances).”

The wins and losses of preseason games are usually regarded as meaningless, but it must say something that since Mike Zimmer became head coach the Vikings’ record is 9-1 in exhibitions. How to explain it? Zimmer demands effort from his players—starters to scrubs. The Vikings may sometimes outwork the opposition in preseason games.

It will be interesting to see how many times Teddy Bridgewater is sacked during preseason and the regular season that follows. The Vikings third-year quarterback was sacked 44 times during the 2015 regular season. Only five other NFL quarterbacks were sacked more times. His quarterback rating of 88.7 ranked 35th in the NFL.

The offensive line had issues with pass protection last season but the criticism of Bridgewater is he sometimes holds onto the ball too long. Although Bridgewater played only briefly in last week’s preseason opener against the Bengals, he was sacked on the second play of the first offensive series.

Bridgewater impressed with a pass in tight coverage to Adam Thielen in the first quarter, with Zimmer saying later, “I don’t know if Teddy makes that throw a year ago.”

The opening of U.S. Bank Stadium has prompted extensive media coverage both locally and nationally. Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson said media interest includes varied sources such as Maxim, Popular Mechanics, Sports Business Journal, USA Today and The Weather Channel.

Last Friday night the television household ratings in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market were generally higher for the Olympics than the Vikings-Bengals preseason game. The Vikings game had a slight edge in the early evening but later the Olympics ratings were about seven points higher. Both the Vikings and Olympics had much larger ratings than the Twins-Royals game (example: at 9 p.m. the Olympics had an 18 while the Twins were 1.7).

Sports Illustrated’s August 15 college football preview issue includes four Big Ten teams in its rankings of the nation’s top 25 teams, and the Gophers only play one this season, Iowa. Michigan is No. 4, Ohio State No. 9, Michigan State No. 13 and Iowa No. 14.

Gophers linebacker Jack Lynn talking about college football publications predicting his team will finish fifth in the seven-team Big Ten West Division: “It’s just fuel in our fire. We know in the locker room what we have to do to be successful. You just take it from there.”

Lynn, a senior and one of the Gophers leaders on defense, mentioned running back Kobe McCrary first when asked about offensive players who have impressed during August practices. He likened the junior college transfer to former Gopher power runner Rodrick Williams.

McCrary, a junior, could be the Gophers No. 2 running back for their September 1 home game against Oregon State. Redshirt sophomore Rodney Smith, who was second on the team in rushing yards last year, looks certain to be No. 1.

“Some of the things I’ve seen Rodney do in camp so far have been unbelievable,” said Gophers senior quarterback Mitch Leidner. “The cuts he’s made, the catches he’s made. …He’s a tough physical runner. I think really the rest of those running backs can really look up to Rodney…what he’s doing right now.”

The Gophers need breakthrough help at wide receiver and Lynn has been impressed with redshirt sophomore Melvin Holland Jr. “He’s looking good,” Lynn said. “He’s coming out and competing every day. He’s gotten a lot better since even this spring.”

Former Gopher linebacker Mike Rallis is working on a career in the WWE and wrestling under the name of Riddick Moss. Brother Nick, a senior linebacker for the Gophers, said he’s considered a pro wrestling career but wants to pursue college coaching.

Max Kepler (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

A Bleacher Report website story August 11 projected where all 30 major league baseball teams will rank three years from now. The Twins ranked No. 16 with a predicted batting order of centerfielder Byron Buxton, shortstop Nick Gordon, right fielder Max Kepler, third baseman Miguel Sano, DH Adam Walker, first baseman Byung-Ho Park, left fielder Eddie Rosario, second baseman Jorge Polanco, and catcher Mitch Garver. Starting pitchers listed are Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Steven Gonsalves, Phil Hughes and Kohl Stewart.

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer, who had three hits including a homerun in the club’s win over the Braves last night, is batting .436 in his last 15 games.

Eduardo Nunez, who hit over .300 at times for the Twins, is struggling since being traded to the Giants last month. He is hitting .214 with the pennant contending Giants and instead of playing his former position of shortstop has been at third base.

Ricky Nolasco, also recently traded by the Twins, isn’t compiling stats much different with the Angels. His record in Minnesota was 4-8 with a 5.13 ERA and in Los Angeles he is 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA.

Canterbury Park’s Minnesota Festival of Champions is Sunday afternoon, and a highlight of the racing season at the Shakopee track. The annual event is only for Minnesota-bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses, helping to showcase the state’s breeding industry.

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Musical Chairs for Twins Lineup

Posted on August 10, 2016August 10, 2016 by David Shama

The Twins are experimenting with players at different positions as they close the last months of a disappointing season, while looking ahead to 2017 and beyond.

Is this Twins-version of musical chairs a big problem?

Or is it a positive the Twins are developing players who can play multiple positions, while rebuilding a roster for future seasons?

First base exemplifies the sorting out process club officials face in coming seasons. Joe Mauer, the $23 million per season local hero, has two years remaining on his contract and is the regular first baseman. Mauer, 33, switched to first base from catching after the 2013 season and his concussion history won’t allow a return behind the plate.

First base is often the favored position for a good-hit, not-so-skilled player in the field. If that sounds like a fit for second-year slugger Miguel Sano, pat yourself on the back. Sano has faltered defensively this year in both right field and at third base. Mostly a third baseman during his minor league career, Sano could improve in the future but his huge frame (6-4, 262) and potential as a 40 home runs guy per season makes him a natural for first base. He has homered in four of his last five games.

Miguel Sano (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

Sano is only 23—far too young to be mostly a designated hitter. His path the next couple years might be a mix of third base, DH work and test drives at first where he could replace Mauer as the starter in 2019.

Then there is Byung Ho Park. Remember him? The Twins made headlines last offseason by signing the South Korean slugger to a contract through 2019. Besides being a DH, Park’s position in the field is first base. Park has been a flop in his debut big league season and was demoted to Triple-A Rochester earlier this summer. But at 30 years old with a reported $12 million commitment, the Twins aren’t going to give up on him yet.

The Twins have no choice but to be patient with DH/first baseman Park, and the same is true with Kennys Vargas who is also limited to the same roles as Park. Another guy with a classic first base body, Vargas, 6-5, 289, is in his third try with the Twins. He shows slugger potential but isn’t consistent. After a productive stretch following his recall from Rochester, the 26-year-old Vargas is hitting .218 in his last 15 games.

Deciding who plays where in the infield and outfield is a puzzle Twins management must figure out. Brian Dozier, the team’s leading home run hitter and an American League All-Star in 2014, owns second base. Team president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners Trevor Plouffe is considered the regular third baseman when healthy (which he hasn’t been), but trade speculation is persistent about the 30-year-old whose departure from Minneapolis would open more playing time for Sano. The last couple of seasons Eduardo Escobar has had a lot of starts at shortstop, but Eduardo Nunez took his job for the first half of the season and now rookie Jorge Palanco might claim it. Palanco, whose best position might be second base, has also played third with the Twins.

Center fielder Byron Buxton’s inability to hit big league pitching got him demoted again to Rochester. That outfield position has been unsettled for years and the Twins are now trying to fill the spot with left fielder Eddie Rosario. Danny Santana, a converted shortstop who the Twins turned into a centerfielder, has now been playing left field. And, yes, Santana has played in the infield this season.

St. Peter expressed a positive view regarding players at multiple positions. He talked about how the 25-man rosters of major league teams are top-heavy with pitchers, making it important to have versatile position players.

“There’s no question,” St. Peter said. “I think it’s absolutely critical that a manager has players who are versatile, that can play multiple positions. …Give the manager flexibility over the course of a season to deal with injuries, give opportunities for players to get rest (and) to deal with different pitching matchups, and ultimately just to have more options late in the game to pinch-hit, to pinch run, to put in defensive specialists. All those need to come into play.”

It’s certain, though, that if the Twins are to move forward in the standings in future years, they will need established players at various positions in the field—individuals who can excel and play 150 games or more at their spots. Star players like the Twins had years ago with Mauer catching, Justin Morneau at first base, and Torii Hunter and Michael Cuddyer in the outfield.

“There’s a lot of young guys who are looking to establish their footing in the big leagues and to earn that opportunity, that privilege to be penciled in every day at a certain position. We’re just not quite there yet,” St. Peter said.

Perhaps it will all work out for the Twins. The club has played over .500 baseball since July and won nine of its last 13 games.

Worth Noting

The 35-year-old Morneau, signed in June by the White Sox, is hitting .300 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 70 at bats.

St. Peter said he has daily conversations with Korn Ferry regarding the team’s search for a head of baseball operations. The firm was retained earlier this summer to assist the Twins in replacing dismissed executive and general manager Terry Ryan.

St. Peter said “the interview process will commence soon, but we’re not there yet.” The organization is still defining what it is looking for in a candidate. The goal is to hire a person by season’s end.

Despite all their winning in recent weeks the Twins still have the worst record (46-67) in the American League. The Twins are the lowest ranked American League team in ESPN’s rankings of the 30 major league clubs. The Twins are No. 27, while the Cubs are No. 1 and have been for the last three weeks.

Talented junior Gophers defensive tackle Steven Richardson could be All-Big Ten after this season. “It’s definitely one of my biggest goals,” he said. “I definitely wanted to get it last year and obviously I fell short due to injury. I felt like if I wasn’t injured, I definitely could have been a contender for it.”

Richardson is short, admitting to 5-10 without his football shoes, but he is exceptionally strong and difficult to block. He missed playing time in 2015 with a reported calf injury. He said this offseason the defensive linemen spent more time than in the past on preemptive training including abdomen workouts to prevent back injuries.

Richardson wasn’t the only defensive lineman injured last season and he expects the collective health of the unit to be better this year. “(Expecting) to have a much more durable D-Line because we were dropping like flies out there (last season),” he said.

Gophers senior quarterback Mitch Leidner did some offseason bonding with his receivers when he took them to the family cabin near Cromwell, Minnesota. “It was a great time, just to get to know people,” said senior receiver Eric Carter.

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