Vikings – Page 165 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Win Likely in Stadium Opener

Posted on August 24, 2016August 24, 2016 by David Shama

No guarantees but Vikings fans are likely to see their team win its debut game in U.S. Bank Stadium next Sunday.

The Vikings will play their first ever game in the new $1.1 billion domed facility Sunday afternoon against the Chargers. It will be the third exhibition game of the season for both teams. The 2-0 Vikings are 10-1 in preseason games dating back to 2014, the best record in the 32-team NFL the last three years. During the same period the Chargers are 5-5 including 1-1 this season.

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema, who is close to his old team, credits defense and third-year coach Mike Zimmer for Minnesota’s dominant exhibition record. “Defense, defense, defense,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “Defense is always ahead of the offense at this time of the season anyway, and that’s why you see so many low scoring games. …But he (Zimmer) has that defense playing so well together, so quickly in preseason, I think that’s the main reason for his record.”

The Vikings have given up 16 points or more only three times during their 11 preseason games in the Zimmer era. Six times opponents have scored 12 points or less against Zimmer’s teams. This preseason the Vikings have defeated the Bengals, 17-16, and Seahawks, 18-11.

The Vikings gave up the second fewest points in the National Football Conference last year when they won their first division title since 2009. Minnesota’s 302 points allowed was second only to the Seahawks’ 272.

Zimmer has impressed Lurtsema and many others with his coaching. His defensive teachings were well documented with the Bengals where he was defensive coordinator before coming to Minneapolis. As a head coach he has his imprint on the defense but he also has shaped the entire team with his no-nonsense, direct approach with all players. He doesn’t tolerate lack of effort and mental mistakes.

Lurtsema attends practices and sees a team attitude he likes. He gives Zimmer and his staff a lot of credit for what he observes in the 2016 Vikings. He raves about Zimmer and likens him to his former coach Bud Grant who led the Vikings to four Super Bowls.

Zimmer, of course, doesn’t even have a playoff win yet as a head coach but Lurtsema wouldn’t trade him for any NFL boss including those who have won Super Bowls. “Nope, and that took me almost a millionth of a second to answer that,” Lurtsema said when asked about trading Zimmer.

Worth Noting

This morning at Winter Park Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who missed last week’s preseason game with a shoulder problem, declined to say when it developed. He also didn’t comment on whether he can physically perform today as normal. The third-year quarterback said he never had arm problems while playing in college and high school.

Harrison Smith, who might be the best safety in the NFL, isn’t the only celebrity in his family. His aunt, Elaine Hendrix, is an actress who has appeared in such productions as Friends, NCIS and The Parent Trap.

Former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder seems certain to see a lot of playing time for the 49ers when they play at home against the Packers Friday night. The 28-year-old Ponder was impressive last week in leading the 49ers to a win over the Broncos, only days after being signed to a one-year contract and not knowing if he had an NFL future. Ponder’s wife, Sam Ponder, will join Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit as ESPN’s lead commenting team on college football telecasts this season.

Ron Vander Kelen, who died last week in Edina, is remembered by older football fans in this state. As undrafted NFL free agent, he played mostly as a reserve quarterback for the Vikings from 1963-1967. At Wisconsin he helped the Badgers to the 1962 Big Ten title after they defeated the Gophers in a controversial game costing Minnesota the championship. Vander Kelen, a native of Green Bay, was the Chicago Tribune’s 1962 Big Ten MVP.

The football Gophers need a breakout player at wide receiver and they may get a huge surprise. Tyler Johnson, 6-2, 185-pounds, was a quarterback and defensive back at Minneapolis North but he’s made a big impression catching footballs in August practices.

“Done a tremendous job,” said Gophers coach Tracy Claeys. “I mean, for a true freshman, it’s unbelievable. Really is, just because you’re talking about a kid who played every sport in high school, including baseball, AAU basketball, (and) hadn’t had much time in the weight room. If we wouldn’t bring in freshmen in June he probably wouldn’t have a chance because of the strength thing, but he’s added some strength, and he’s gained some weight.

“I do think that the AAU basketball has given him a mentality of competing against older kids. …It didn’t faze him to get out there and go against older kids. Tremendous hands, and he can jump and come up with the ball. He’ll definitely be a part of what we’re doing this fall.”

C.O.R.E.S. will have former Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi as its speaker Thursday, September 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Maturi was AD from 2002-2012 and during that time student-athletes improved in the classroom while teams won five national championships and more than 40 conference titles. He was a finalist for the National Athletic Director of the Year Award in 2009. C.O.R.E.S. reservations and more information are available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

St. John’s head football coach Gary Fasching will speak to the C.O.R.E.S. group Thursday, November 10. C.O.R.E.S. is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Oswaldo Arcia, the former Twins outfielder who joined the Rays earlier this season, was signed off waivers by the Marlins earlier this week. With the Rays he hit .259 with two home runs and seven RBI in 54 at bats. His numbers earlier this season for Minnesota were .214 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 103 at bats.

The Gophers volleyball team is picked for second in the Big Ten behind Nebraska. The conference announced the results yesterday of a coaches poll which also voted Gophers Hannah Tapp, Paige Tapp and Samantha Seliger-Swenson preseason All-Big Ten.

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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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Rivalry Games Already on U Radar

Posted on August 5, 2016August 5, 2016 by David Shama

The Gophers begin training camp today, and yesterday it was evident players want to end past frustrations, and surprise sportswriters who are predicting a fifth place finish in the Big Ten’s seven-team West Division.

Senior corner Jalen Myrick didn’t hold back expressing his feels about Minnesota border rivals Iowa and Wisconsin. “I hate Iowa. … I hate Wisconsin. I want to beat them at least one time. I didn’t get a chance (because of injury) to play against each one of them last year. I got a big statement to prove in each of those games.”

The Hawkeyes won the division last season, the Badgers the year before. Minnesota’s record against Iowa since 2000 is 5-11. Dating back to 1990, the Gophers are a dismal 5-21 against Wisconsin including 12 consecutive losses beginning in 2004.

Senior quarterback Mitch Leidner joined Myrick and several other teammates yesterday to talk with the media prior to practice opening. Leidner predicted the Gophers will play with an edge this season and added he wants a Big Ten title before his college career ends.

Leidner knows the Gophers need to end the drought against the Badgers, and Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys talked about that during an interview with Sports Headliners in June. “It bothers the hell out of me,” Claeys said. “We’re on our way to try to get that back to where it’s a rivalry. We gotta win sooner or later for it even to be considered a rivalry anymore.”

Worth Noting

Myrick also returns kickoffs for the Gophers and is considered the team’s fastest player. A recent NFL.com story identified him as the Big Ten’s fastest player. Myrick said he’s faster than last year. How much? “We’ll see,” he replied.

Myrick intentionally lost a couple of pounds to bring his weight to about 200, and he has speed on his mind. “Anytime I can build my speed, that’s what I am trying to do,” he said.

Leidner said he’s healthy after playing injured the last couple of years. He even acknowledged that in a 2014 game ligaments attached to a big toe were so torn the toe was “floating around” in his shoe.

Leidner predicted yesterday that senior offensive tackle Jonah Pirsig might be named an All-American this fall. The 6-9, 325-pound Pirsig has played much of his career with injuries. “This is the healthiest I’ve felt since I’ve been here,” Pirsig said.

Both Leidner and Pirsig praised new offensive line coach Bart Miller and the impact he’s had on that unit. “He’s completely changed the mindset around,” Leidner said.

Coaching staff decisions about starters will be made after 18 practices. Claeys said starters need 10 days of practices to prepare for the first game.

Prior to their September 1 opener against Oregon State, the Gophers have five practices open to the public. Practices August 6, 9 and 12 begin at 10 a.m. at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. Two practices August 13 are also open to the public—starting at 9:10 a.m. at Gibson-Nagurski and 4:45 p.m. at TCF Bank Stadium.

Retired Twins executive Jim Rantz has talked recently with Terry Ryan who owner Jim Pohlad let go as the club’s general manager last month. Rantz and Ryan worked with each other for decades. Rantz said the 62-year-old Ryan is “doing fine,” still has passion for baseball and watches the Twins on TV.

Rantz’s guess is his friend will eventually get back into baseball. “I don’t think he’s going to call it a career,” Rantz said. “I think he’s going to hang in there, and we’ll see what happens here. I am sure he’ll hang out until the end of the year and then go from there.”

The Thursday morning Go 96.3 radio show offered a few critical comments about U.S. Bank Stadium’s debut sports event Wednesday night between soccer teams AC Milan and Chelsea. Comments included too much congestion inside the stadium, “spotty Wi-Fi” and at least one or two concessionaires running out of menu items. A sausage for $7 that cost $2 more for peppers and onions also prompted comment.

General manager Rick Spielman said the Vikings’ new practice facility and team headquarters in Eagan (opening in 2018) will be the best in the NFL and can contribute to attracting free agents. “Just like the new stadium (downtown), I think was a big factor this year,” he said. “(But) it’s always going to come down to your football team, and it will come down to the financial commitment you’re willing to make to the player. I think a lot of it has to do (also) with your coaching staff and our head coach. …”

It will be interesting to watch the development of high-potential Vikings second-season defensive lineman Danielle Hunter. Could Hunter, who doesn’t turn 22 until October, replace 10-year veteran Brian Robison this season? Robison, 33, might one day finish his career as a situational pass rusher.

At 6-5 and over 250 pounds the Vikings 2015 third round draft choice is an intriguing prospect. He had 33 tackles and six sacks last year. Hunter’s NFL.com draft analysis in 2015 described him as having a “freakish combination of size, athleticism and explosiveness.”

The Minnesota Wild will offer single game regular season tickets starting at $35. Tickets go on sale September 24. Pricing for single game regular season tickets is based on demand factors like rivalries, day-of-week, marquee teams or superstar players.

Former Gophers, Olympics and North Stars coaching legend Herb Brooks, who was killed in a 2003 August car accident, would have been 79 today.

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