Vikings – Page 168 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

‘Championship Depth’ on Vikes Staff

Posted on June 13, 2016June 13, 2016 by David Shama

As head coach, Mike Zimmer has led a turnaround of the Vikings. After a first-year 7-9 record in 2014, the Vikings won the NFC North Division last season going 11-5.

In only two seasons Zimmer has been anointed one of the NFL’s best head coaches. A May 25 article in USA Today, for example, ranked Zimmer the fourth best coach in the league.

Zimmer had never been a head coach in the NFL when general manager Rick Spielman hired him in January of 2014 to lead a rebuilding of the team. From the start Zimmer, a former defensive coordinator with the Bengals, showed a commitment to defense. He also insisted that all his players perform with extra effort and football intelligence.

An example of on field I.Q. is that last season the Vikings were the least penalized team in the NFL with 88 flags. The offense was the least penalized in the 32-team league with 30 penalties.

The Vikings improved in Zimmer’s first season and clearly made even more progress last year. The franchise is on a shortlist of NFL organizations who smart observers predict will be Super Bowl contenders in the coming years. The dream scenario, of course, is the Vikings will play in the 2018 Super Bowl that will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium.

But Zimmer hasn’t set the Viking ship in a new direction by himself. Spielman has drafted wisely in recent years, acquiring young talent like quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, tight end Kyle Rudolph and safety Harrison Smith.

The personnel matters but so too does the coaching. And Zimmer has surrounded himself with impressive assistants, most of whom were with him last year too. Last week former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton watched practice and talked about a staff that got even better this winter with the addition of tight ends coach Pat Shurmur and offensive line coach Tony Sparano. “It’s a very impressive group,” Dalton told Sports Headliners.

Shurmur is starting his 18th NFL season this year, Sparano his 19th. They are not only former NFL assistants, but also ex-head coaches—Shurmur with the Eagles and Sparano with the Dolphins. Dalton sees the addition of the two veteran teachers as “juicing the staff” and providing “championship depth.”

Dalton said championship teams need depth in player personnel and so do coaching staffs. And it’s not only the number of years coaching that counts, but also the varied experiences in different systems and philosophies that matter.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner is an ex-NFL head coach with the Chargers and Redskins. Dalton said Zimmer shows confidence in himself with a willingness to have three former head coaches on his offensive staff. “I’ll bet their meetings are really interesting because they’re going to bring different takes on it (what to plan) and they’ll find the right matchups for the Vikings’ offense,” Dalton said.

While Zimmer likes his staff, the best news he probably received last week was when Spielman got a contract extension done with Smith for a reported five years and $51.25 million. The extension had been a subject of speculation going back to last year, and earlier this spring Smith told Sports Headliners he didn’t know what the timeline would be on a deal even though he was set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

“I figured it would get done,” Zimmer said. “I don’t think that Harrison is the kind of guy that really cares that much about money. I think he loves playing football and loves being out here and working, and things like that. So, I figured it would get done eventually.”

Rudolph signed a reported five-year extension two years ago and his experience is that it’s a plus to get contracts done. “…You can say all you want that you’re not worried about it, you’re not thinking about it, but it’s just done and binding now and he can fully focus on football,” Rudolph said. “He’s one of the best I know at preparing, coming in everyday, working hard, practicing everyday. No one prepares more than Harrison does, and he deserves every penny that he got and I am happy for him.”

Rudolph benefits from practicing against Smith, a safety he regards as the best in the NFL. “He can do everything,” Rudolph said. “He can cover. He can play in the box. He can blitz. And I think he’s part of the reason why our defense is so successful. He’s a guy that can be put in almost any situation and he’s going to succeed.”

What does Zimmer believe Smith means to his defense?

“Well, he’s a leader by example,” Zimmer answered. “He plays real hard. He’s tough. He’s smart. You know he’s like a lot of our guys.”

Plays hard, tough and smart? Yeah, sounds familiar.

Twins Notes

This is a weird schedule week for the Twins. They defeated the Red Sox at home yesterday and start a three-game series in Anaheim tonight, before returning to Minneapolis and playing a four-game series against the Yankees.

The Twins are an American League worst 19-43 after yesterday’s extra inning 7-4 win against the Red Sox. The club has 100 games remaining on the schedule and must improve to avoid the franchise’s worst record ever. The 1982 Twins finished 60 and 102. To reach 61 victories the Twins will need to win 42 percent of their remaining games. The final record would then be 61 and 101. Not likely.

Max Kepler (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

Twins rookie outfielder Max Kepler, who won yesterday’s game with a three-run home run, was rated the organization’s third best prospect entering this season and best at strike-zone discipline by Baseball America.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Nunez is the team’s only serious All-Star Game candidate. He is seventh in batting average among Major League players at .327. His total of 14 stolen bases ranks as sixth best.

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Wolves Owner Sees NBA Glory Ahead

Posted on June 8, 2016June 8, 2016 by David Shama

Glen Taylor is watching the NBA playoffs this spring, including the Finals between the Cavs and Warriors, and thinking about his team becoming a force.

The Wolves owner hasn’t seen his franchise in the playoffs since 2004 but he has a roster of young players that every basketball expert on the planet acknowledges is very promising. The group is led by the NBA Rookies of the Year the last two seasons, forward Andrew Wiggins and center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Asked about the likelihood his club could make a deep playoff run within four years, Taylor said: “I don’t think it’s next year but I certainly think the potential is there.”

Glen Taylor (photo courtesy of Minnesota Timberwolves).

Then Taylor thought for a second and talked about a longer period of time where he envisions the Wolves challenging for NBA titles. “I would say over the next 10 years because of the age(s) of our players we should be a challenging team in many of those years,” he told Sports Headliners on Monday.

The Wolves’ roster has nine players 26 years old or younger. Wiggins is 21 and Towns 20. Even veteran point guard Ricky Rubio is only 25. Rubio’s starting teammate in the backcourt, Zach LaVine, is only 21.

When Taylor watches the playoffs and the teams making deep runs including the Cavs and Warriors, he sees contrasts with his club. The Wolves, he said, must develop better team defense, improve their three-point shooting and be able to make the biggest of plays. And while Taylor likes the nucleus of his starters, he sees a need for a deeper and better group of reserves coming off the bench.

The talent pool figures to improve this offseason. The Wolves will have the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft later this month and Taylor said new basketball bosses Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden are sorting out options. Those options include who to draft, or whether to trade the pick.

Thibodeau is president of basketball operations. Layden is general manager. “They’re very thorough,” Taylor said. “They’re doing a lot of work. They work good as a team.”

Taylor said the Wolves have moved beyond the mission of prioritizing the acquisition of young talent and now will give more emphasis to older players via free agency or trades. All tools could be in play this summer, and there is ongoing speculation Thibodeau wants to acquire a veteran or two from the Bulls where he coached before coming to Minneapolis.

Whether 40-year-old Kevin Garnett returns for another season is undecided. Earlier this spring Taylor was interested in talking to Garnett but the timing wasn’t right because Garnett’s mother-in-law was in hospice and recently died. “I just kind of got off of it,” Taylor said. “I think the next communications will probably be between Thibs and KG. That’s probably the more important one, and that’s what I have suggested to both of them that they get some time together.”

Taylor said he and a Chinese businessman expect to finalize the sale of a five percent share of the franchise this week. Taylor declined to identify the new investor, but the two men were introduced by a mutual friend awhile ago and then meetings developed.

About 10 days ago transactions were completed and approved by the NBA involving a 9.5 percent share of the franchise to Meyer Orbach from New Jersey.

Worth Noting

The Timberwolves began play in 1989 but in more than 25 years the franchise has never advanced to the NBA Finals. Contrast that with the Minneapolis Lakers who won five pro championships from 1949-1954.

The coach of all five championship teams was John Kundla who still lives in Minneapolis and turns 100 on July 3.

Archives in the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting in St. Louis Park include several moments of a 1959 Minneapolis Lakers-Detroit Pistons radio broadcast. Ray Christensen, who made his fame broadcasting Gophers games, does the play-by-play.

Sympathies to family and friends of Bill McMoore who died Monday morning at age 90 in Plymouth. A Minnesotan for most of his life, McMoore was one of the first African-American football players at the University of Minnesota. McMoore made a career of leadership in the Minneapolis public schools including tenure as athletic director for the city’s high schools.

Former Gophers basketball captain Al Nuness said McMoore was revered for his pioneering career. “He was very, very well respected and was Mr. University of Minnesota to many athletes including African-Americans,” Nuness told Sports Headliners.

McMoore was a member of the University Alumni Association board of directors, former president of the “M” Club and is a member of the “M” Club Hall of Fame. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Peter’s AME Church in south Minneapolis.

The goal posts in the new U.S. Bank Stadium were installed Monday. Upon request, individual Vikings are touring their new home but as a team the players won’t take the field until warm-ups for the first preseason game in August.

The city of Minneapolis has inspected and approved the stadium, and provided notification of the findings to the building’s general contractor, M.A. Mortenson. That means organizations such as SMG (the building’s stadium management company) and the Vikings’ ticket personnel can move into the facility.

For the 51st consecutive year the Vikings will hold training camp on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Vikings report to camp Thursday, July 28, and hold their first team practice Friday, July 29. The Vikings will have an evening practice for fans Saturday, August 6 in Blakeslee Stadium followed by a team introduction and fireworks.

Studies are showing soccer ranks No. 1 in concussions as measured by percentage of participants. Football ranks behind not only soccer but a few other sports.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Nunez, who never hit more than five home runs during six previous MLB seasons, already has nine. He has homered in four of his last five games including two in last night’s win over the Marlins. He is hitting .400 in his last 13 games and has hit safely in 12 of the games.

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Cheeseheads & More in Today’s Column

Posted on June 6, 2016June 6, 2016 by David Shama

Notes collected before, during and after a weekend trip to Appleton, Wisconsin for a family event:

I talked to two Vikings prior to departure last week—seeking reassurance Minnesotans are safe in Packerland. “They treat us well, as tough and as hard fought as the rivalry is,” safety Harrison Smith said. “For instance, my family went to the week 17 game last year and they had nothing but good things to say about Packer fans. The way they were treated not only before the game—but after we won the division (in Green Bay) they were very congratulatory.”

Tight end Kyle Rudolph had a simple message: “If you’re going to Appleton, my only advice is to make sure you stop by Lombardi’s and get that tomahawk steak. That’s the only good thing I know that’s in Appleton. …”

Lombardi’s is a steakhouse in the Radisson Hotel named after legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi. The Radisson is a road hotel for visiting teams like the Vikings. Rudolph isn’t sure, but he thinks the tomahawk is a rib-eye cut. Not only does he like eating there, but in a separate interview Smith also praised the food at Lombardi’s.

Harrison Smith (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings).

Smith talks to the media tomorrow about the five-year contract extension he has signed with the Vikings. Since his first NFL season in 2012, Smith is one of two NFL players (Reshad Jones, Dolphins) to have at least 12 interceptions and five sacks.

The Packers will play their first two regular season games on the road in 2016, then the next four at Lambeau Field. Their second road trip is to Minneapolis for the first ever regular season game in U.S. Bank Stadium against the Vikings. StubHub.com listed tickets yesterday starting at $275.

As the Packers practice this spring, potential bad news for Vikings’ pass blockers and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is that linebacker Clay Matthews is likely moving from the inside to his more natural position of outside linebacker. Personnel circumstances dictated Matthews on the inside in recent seasons but the mobile veteran linebacker has been taking a lot of snaps on the outside this spring where his speed can make a difference going after passers.

Vashti Cunningham, the daughter of former Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham, is the subject of a four-page feature in the June 6 issue of Sports Illustrated. The Nevada-based 18-year-old is “poised to become the world’s best high jumper,” according to the magazine.

Minneapolis businessman, author and former Gophers golfer Harvey Mackay was close to Muhammad Ali who died late last week. The two men bonded through their mutual love of magic tricks.

The first time they met Mackay travelled to Ali’s home in Michigan. “I went to a magician and brushed up on my magic before the trip,” Mackay remembered in a column I wrote two years ago. “When I met Ali I not only did a magic trick for him, but showed him how it was done. It was something that turned him on.”

It will be interesting to watch new Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle during the next 12 months. Here are a few key items:

How effectively does Coyle manage the crisis situations in the men’s basketball and wrestling departments?

If there are new coaches, who does Coyle hire?

The Gophers men’s hockey program is in the doldrums? What does Coyle do about coach Don Lucia having one more year on his contract?

Exceptional leaders have vision. What’s Coyle’s vision for the major revenue sports of men’s basketball, hockey, and football?

Can Coyle fast-track fundraising for the $166 million Gophers Athletes Village?

One more thought on Lucia: he has high regard for associate head coach Mike Guentzel. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the soon to be 58-year-old Lucia announces shortly before next season that he is retiring effective immediately and presumably creates a “tryout” for Guentzel to permanently become head coach.

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer makes $23 million this season as part of an eight-year deal he signed in 2010. With the Twins on pace to win perhaps 50 games and have the lowest attendance in Target Field history, the long criticized contract looks worse than ever. When judged by directly impacting the outcome of games and generating revenues for a team, Mauer could be baseball’s most overpaid player by season’s end.

The 16-40 Twins have won only six of 19 series of games against opponents so far this season.

Rookie center fielder Byron Buxton had three hits in yesterday’s home loss to the Rays. It was only the second time in his career for three hits in one game. Buxton is hitting .435 in the six games since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

With conjecture about the Timberwolves and Wild making playoff runs within a couple of years, optimistic local fans wonder if Minneapolis-St. Paul could some spring host both the NBA and NHL championships. That kind of speculation is prompted because of the Bay Area’s Warriors and Sharks being in the pro basketball and Stanley Cup finals. No one area has ever emerged as champions in both basketball and hockey in the same year. So if you want to dream big, muse about it happening in MSP during Hillary Clinton’s second-term as president. Umm, or is that Bernie Sanders?

Author Patrick Mader willl speak to the “Breakfast with Leroy” group Saturday at the Bloomington Knights of Columbus, 1114 American Blvd West. Mader wrote “Minnesota Gold: Conversations with Northland Athletes Competing on the World Stage.” Mader, whose book came out last October, profiles 57 Minnesotans, including past Olympians, and details their lives and accomplishments. A breakfast buffet starting at 9 a.m. precedes Mader’s remarks, with more information available by contacting Pat Rickert at 612-861-3981. Group attendees are mostly athletes from the Minneapolis public schools in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, many of whom went on to college and professional careers.

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