Vikings – Page 205 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

AP Impresses Zimmer with Pass Catching

Posted on June 19, 2014June 19, 2014 by David Shama

It’s not fall but there is football news including from Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and also the Minnesota Football Coaches Association.

The Vikings ended their mini-camps today and Zimmer answered questions from the media including whether All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson is making good on his goal of improving as a pass receiver.

“Yeah, I think I’ve seen him drop one ball the whole time and that was probably yesterday, I think,” Zimmer said. “He catches the ball good. Obviously when he’s got the ball…he’s extremely dangerous.”

The new Vikings coach had seen tape of Peterson and realized how fast and powerful the dynamic running back is. But in the offseason practices Zimmer was surprised by Peterson’s pass catching and his ability to cut. “Some of the cuts he made are like, wow. Like some of the great backs that you’ve been around.”

Zimmer said he’s not announcing a date as to when he will choose a starting quarterback from the competition between Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder. “I probably have a date in my mind, but I’m not going to tell anybody,” he said.

The team now has five weeks off before opening training camp on July 24 in Mankato. What are Zimmer’s plans?

“I’m going back down to my ranch in Kentucky for a little while, (also) probably stop in Dallas,” he answered. “Go see my parents down in Naples.”

The Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game dates back to the 1940s but this year’s June 28 game will be branded differently. The MFCA Tackle Cancer All-Star Football Game is the latest effort by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association to assist the Randy Shaver Cancer Research & Community Fund.

In January of 2012 leaders of the MFCA were having a meeting and Minnetonka High School football coach Dave Nelson spoke up about cancer, a health problem that is epidemic in America. He is a prostate cancer survivor.

At the meeting Nelson asked what others thought about helping KARE TV’s Randy Shaver who had started his cancer fund after battling his way through Hodgkin’s Disease. Nelson’s idea was to reach out to Minnesota high school football programs and encourage them to designate a home game to “Tackle Cancer” and raise monies for Shaver’s fund.

Ron Stolski, executive director of the MFCA, recalled it didn’t take long for the idea to click with association leaders. Nelson agreed to chair the MFCA’s “Tackle Cancer” Committee. “He’s just like a Bulldog when he gets on something,” Stolski told Sports Headliners. “He’s been on this for…two years.”

During the 2012 football season, the first year of the initiative, $120,000 was raised for the fund. Last year high school football programs generated $190,000, plus the Gophers promoted a “Tackle Cancer” game and so did MIAC schools. This year the Vikings will designate their September 28 home game against the Falcons to the cause.

Stolski said schools can take a simple or sophisticated approach to the “Tackle Cancer” project like placing donation buckets at the stadium or using more elaborate means. The initiative will be going on again this fall at Minnesota high schools but before that happens the all-star game, a week from Saturday at Saint John’s in Collegeville, will serve as the kickoff to the 2014 campaign.

Stolski is excited because the game’s purpose has always been to recognize outstanding graduating high school seniors and now the event will also help in the fight against cancer. “It (the game) helps to carry on a long tradition of recognizing in one final effort the best of our best,” Stolski said of the 88 players representing 83 schools who are grouped into North and South rosters.

There certainly is a tradition to the All-Star game and this year’s event has players whose fathers and grandfathers participated. Michael Strand, a fullback from Barnesville High School who will play for the North, will be joined at this year’s game by his grandfather, Dick Strand, an Honorary Coach. Dick Strand, from Southland High in Adams, also coached in the 1984 all-star game. Bryan Strand, Dick’s son and Michael’s dad, coached in the game last year representing Barnesville.

Carter Thiel, a strong safety from Wheaton/Herman-Norcross playing for the North, has All-Star family connections, too. Tony Thiel Jr., Carter’s dad, played in the 1980 game as a strong safety from Battle Lake. Tony Thiel Sr., Carter’s grandfather and also from Battle Lake, coached in the 1978 game and was an Honorary Coach in 1991.

Worth Noting

The Gophers’ coaches and their most passionate believers won’t agree but don’t expect lofty predictions from most national media about Minnesota’s upcoming football season. Uncertainties at key positions like quarterback and a demanding schedule that includes games with Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Wisconsin has magazines like Athlon Sports and Lindy’s Sports taking a cautious approach about the Gophers.

Minnesota’s record last season was 4-4 in the Big Ten Conference and 8-5 overall including a bowl game loss to Syracuse. Athlon predicts the Gophers’ 2014 record will be 3-5 in league games, 6-6 overall. Minnesota, according to the magazine, will tie for fourth place in the seven-team Big Ten West Division.

The Athlon write-up includes this quote from an anonymous rival Big Ten assistant coach: “They have a good offensive line and good running backs, but can they get the ball consistently downfield in the passing game?”

Lindy’s Big Ten publication ranks the Gophers eighth in the 14-team conference, ahead of Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers and Purdue. That places Minnesota fourth in the West Division. The magazine says the Gophers (who have gone from three to six to eight wins the last three years) continue to improve but “they’re still miles away in the depth department.”

Lindy’s has Minnesota offensive lineman Zac Epping and tight end Maxx Williams on its All-Big Ten second team offense. Defensive end Theiren Cockran is on the second team defense. David Cobb is a third team choice at running back and so too is punter Peter Mortell.

The NCAA has released average home attendances for the top 25 men’s basketball programs and nine Big Ten schools were included but not the Gophers who averaged 11,255 fans last season. Minnesota ranked No. 23 in 2013 with an average of 12,580. The Gophers led all of college basketball in attendance in 1975 and ranked third in 1972, second in 1973. Last season the Big Ten led the nation in average attendance for the 38th consecutive year.

Former Gophers football player Mark Sheffert, who writes for Twin Cities Business, has an intriguing headline on his June column: “Quitting to Win.” Sheffert writes that smart business leadership sometimes prompts the decision to “throw in the towel.”

Bill McGuire was approached in the past about Timberwolves ownership but told Sports Headliners this week it’s “not appropriate” for him to be involved with the local NBA franchise because of his ownership of Minnesota United, the North American Soccer League team.

The 2014 NHL Entry Draft will be Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The first round on June 27 will begin at 6 p.m. (CDT) and televised by NBC Sports Network. Rounds 2-7 will be on June 28 starting at 9 a.m. (CDT) and televised by the NHL Network. The Wild own eight picks in the draft including the 18th overall selection.

For all the talk about the Twins being improved over last season, Minnesota goes into tonight’s game at Target Field against the White Sox having lost five straight and with two more losses than a year ago. The Twins are 32-38 and 6.5 games out of first place compared with a year ago when Minnesota was 32-36 and 6 games behind.

Aaron Wiederhoeft from Prior Lake High School, who won the Jake Anderson Award for Minnesota’s best senior boys lacrosse goaltender, will play lacrosse at Lindenwood, a Division II school in Missouri. He plans to major in international business. What about a future in pro lacrosse, a sport that has modest salaries for players?

“Oh, well, maybe by the time I get there it will (pay better),” he said.

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‘Underdog’ Role Not New to QB Ponder

Posted on June 16, 2014June 16, 2014 by David Shama

During interviews at Winter Park I learned quarterback Christian Ponder sees nothing new in his “underdog” status, and former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema is so excited about his old team he made a wager.

As the Vikings go through spring practices at their Eden Prairie facility there is a quarterback competition between Ponder and Matt Cassel, both veterans, and rookie Teddy Bridgewater. If this was a popularity contest with the winner determined by fans voting, Ponder would be left in the dust.

Ponder, now in his fourth NFL year, was scorned by Vikings fans last season when his disappointing play cost him the starting QB job. In three seasons since the Vikings used the No. 12 pick in the first round to draft him, he has thrown 38 touchdown passes and 34 interceptions.

That’s enough to test a man’s faith and the religious Texas native was asked if the intense booing and criticism hurts his feelings. “Not really. I’d be lying to say it’s not hard to hear people boo when you’re on the field and stuff,” Ponder told Sports Headliners. “I feel like I’ve been through ups and downs my whole life. Whether it’s my career or anything—from high school to college to now—I’ve always felt like I’ve had the underdog role. I am used to it, and…being strong in my faith helps me out through all of this.”

As a Texas high school player, Ponder was only the 50th ranked college prospect in the state by Rivals.com, according to Wikipedia.org. At Florida State he struggled before emerging as a Heisman Trophy candidate his senior season in 2010. There were doubters, though, who questioned whether Ponder was worth the No. 12 pick in the draft and the skeptics have needed more room at their table during the last couple of years.

But Ponder is optimistic about his future. He likes working with offensive coordinator Norv Turner and quarterbacks coach Scott Turner, both new additions to the Vikings staff. Ponder said those coaches and a new offensive system he likes, along with three years of NFL experience, have him feeling more confident than he’s ever been about being a pro quarterback. He’s not giving up on his dreams despite past results and the wailing of critics.

“I want to be the best at my position and do as well as I can. I love this game. It’s a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I want to be a starter and play and win a Super Bowl. I think that’s everyone’s dream and goal.”

Ponder has a partner in faith, his wife Samantha who is an ESPN college football reporter and graduate of Liberty University, a Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia. Samantha’s father was a football coach and she is a student of the game. With her knowledge, she is supportive of her husband.

“She has been so positive,” Ponder said. “She always has the right things to say, and she’s also a motivator. She makes me stay on top of my game. She’s a great wife.”

If Ponder is negligent about his conditioning, he will hear about it from Samantha. “If I’ve been sitting on my butt for a couple of days she makes sure I am getting out there and working out and getting stuff done,” he said.

Samantha, 28, and Christian, 26, were married in 2012. Since then career schedules have occupied much of their time but they did vacation in Italy last winter, spending time in Florence and Rome. “It was awesome,” Ponder said. “My mom’s side of the family is Italian so I’ve always wanted to go over there. We had fun. It was cool.”

The Vikings finish practices soon and then Ponder will have about a month off until training camp starts in Mankato. That means a short break for Ponder and Samantha. “Once the season starts we only see each other a couple of days a week, so we’ll enjoy ourselves,” he said.

Lurtsema was a reserve defensive lineman on three Vikings Super Bowl teams in the 1970s. He is impressed with new head coach Mike Zimmer and Norv Turner. “You know I bleed purple (but) I am legitimately the most excited I’ve been (about) both these coaches that we have right now, Turner and Zimmer,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners.

Zimmer’s emphasis on accountability from players reminds Lurtsema of his former head coach. “Zimmer’s got a little bit of Bud Grant in him. Bud looked at you and never said a word (when a player did something wrong). …If you didn’t pick it up a notch, he’d let you go.

“He cut ballplayers that were better than myself. I know that. Everybody knows that. I was coachable and I worked. Those other players they were doing their own little dance. They’d bring it every other play.”

Lurtsema is not just talking optimism about the Vikings who had a 5-10-1 record last season. Las Vegas offered wagering this spring that the Vikings will win only six games in 2014. He has bet that his old team will win more, although he won’t say how much money he gambled.

Why does Lurtsema think he made a solid bet? Because he has said for years the success of a team is “60 to 65 percent” determined by the coaching.

Underdogs like Ponder and the Vikings like that kind of talk.

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Vikings Robison Works to Convert Sacks

Posted on June 12, 2014June 12, 2014 by David Shama

During Vikings practices at Winter Park this month players like defensive end Brian Robison are not only trying to learn team assignments but also improve their individual skills. The idea is to use repetition of correct fundamentals so often that when the season starts in September someone like Robison is in “muscle memory” mode.

Robison, 31, has been a starter for the past three seasons. His contributions this year could include filling the loss of defensive end and pass rushing specialist Jared Allen who has signed with the Bears. Allen’s sack totals the last three seasons were 11.5, 12 and 22. Robison’s have been 9, 8.5 and 8.

“One of the things that really stuck out to me last year was I felt like I missed way too many sacks,” Robison told Sports Headliners. “I got to the quarterback a lot but I feel like a lot of those hurries and stuff like that could have been converted into sacks had my footwork been a little bit better, had my angle been a little bit better.

“So this year that’s one of the keys that I’ve been working on is making sure that when I get to that corner that I am really turning and I’ve got a better angle to the quarterback. To me it’s one of those deals where it doesn’t matter how long you’re in this league, as soon as you think you’ve arrived, you’re kind of on your way out. There’s always something that you can get better at.”

How many sacks can Robison total in 2014? “I’d like to have as many as I can. Bottom line is as a D-line we just gotta disrupt quarterbacks and win ball games. That’s the only thing that’s important to me is winning a bunch of ball games.”

Robison has the experience and determination to expect his best season. “I am gonna do the best I can to be the best defensive end in the league. Whether that happens or not, that’s on me so we’ll find out and see what happens.”

What Robison knows for certain is without the work and repetition of the right fundamentals, success won’t follow.

Worth Noting

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer credits a nutrition plan, along with efforts by strength coaches and trainers, in helping his players to collectively add 70 pounds of muscle and lose 170 pounds of fat during the offseason. “I actually have also lost some weight too, but I think that’s from stress. No, I’m eating fish every day for lunch so that’s a change for me too,” Zimmer said.

The new Vikings stadium, opening in 2016, won’t host the Big Ten Football Championship Game until at least 2022. Minneapolis stadium promoters are interested in bringing the annual game here but the Big Ten Conference has extended its commitment to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis through 2021. By then Lucas Oil Stadium will have hosted all 11 of the league’s championship football games since its inception.

The University of Houston football program has Minnesota connections beyond head coach Tony Levine, the former Gopher from St. Paul. Levine’s assistants include ex-Gophers defensive coordinator David Gibbs and former offensive line coach Gordy Shaw.

Mike Wilkinson, who authored the biography of former Gophers football coach Murray Warmath, has a story on Weeklynews.com recalling today (June 12) is the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ performance at the old Excelsior Amusement Park. The British rock group was then in its formative years.

Ryan James, writing in Monday’s Gopherillustrated.com, reported DeLaSalle point guard Jarvis Johnson, who will be a senior next season, was outstanding dribbling and shooting last week in the Clash of the Classes game at Concordia, St. Paul. The all-star type game Johnson participated in matched players who will be seniors next school year against those who will be juniors. Johnson, an ESPN.com top 100 recruit for the class of 2016, has several dunks on Youtube.com.

The Minute Men are promoting a raffle offering the winner two MLB All-Star events packages including admission to the All-Star game at Target Field on July 15 and events in preceding days such as the Home Run Derby. Raffle tickets cost $20 each with more details available at Minnesotaminutemen.com. The Minute Men are a volunteer organization supporting Minnesota sports for more than 50 years.

Rangers’ defenseman Ryan McDonagh (St. Paul) and forward Derek Stepan (Hastings) are among 12 U.S. collegiate alums in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals. McDonagh and Stepan, along with Kings defenseman Matt Greene (Grand Ledge, Michigan), are three former WCHA alums in the finals. McDonagh and Stepan played collegiately at Wisconsin while Greene is a North Dakota alum.

Gophers women’s associate head coach Joel Johnson has been named the head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team for the 2014-15 season.

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