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How Does Kubiak Impact Viking Draft?

Posted on April 23, 2019April 23, 2019 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column focused on the NFL Vikings and NHL Wild.

This week’s NFL Draft will be the first for Gary Kubiak to have influence in his role as Vikings assistant head coach/offensive advisor. Few NFL assistants have the resume of Kubiak, who has 24 years of coaching experience in the league including 10 as a head coach with a Super Bowl win to his credit.

General manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer brought Kubiak to Minnesota to improve a faltering offense. Even the most casual of Vikings fans knows the team needs a major upgrade in offensive line talent, but how will the club prioritize its draft choices including their selection at No. 18 in the first round?

Kubiak has made his career specializing in offensive coaching. Zimmer’s background is on defense and in his four seasons as Minnesota’s head coach his coaching direction has been all over the defensive unit. In prior drafts Zimmer’s voice has certainly been heard, as it should be at franchise headquarters, but might Kubiak cast a “second shadow” over Spielman starting Thursday night? Certainly ownership and front office leadership didn’t bring Kubiak to Minnesota expecting him to be a wallflower.

At Spielman’s news conference today about the draft he acknowledged that Kubiak and the other offensive coaches want skillsets in their players that match their schemes. “There are traits that we’re looking for,” Spielman said. “As we talk about each one of these players, some players would be very good players, but they may not be very good players for what we’re going to require them to do.”

Spielman said the depth of talent is impressive in the 2019 draft. He singled out the offensive and defensive line prospects as collectively being “one of the strongest I’ve seen in awhile.”

Some draft forecasters are thinking the Vikings will add a tackle or guard to their roster in the first round. The latest issue of Sports Illustrated offers a mock draft including the prediction Minnesota will use its first round choice on Alabama lineman Jonah Williams, a talented tackle in college who the magazine thinks will transition to guard for the Vikings.

“The Tide got 5.3 ypc (yards per carry) running to Williams’s gap in 2018,” S.I. reported. “That’s an improvement on almost every gap on Minnesota’s front five last year.”

The Vikings likely would welcome Williams falling to them at No. 18, or Florida tackle Jawaan Taylor or Washington State tackle Andre Dillard—all of whom might be drafted before Minnesota finalizes its first round choice. But to be contrary with maybe a nod toward Zimmer, what happens if a stud like Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver or Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker is available when the Vikings draft? Does a scenario like that set up an interesting dilemma for Zimmer, Kubiak and Spielman?

Players like Oliver and Baker are likely to be gone when the Viking select at No. 18, but what if Minnesota moves up on the draft board?A Spielman specialty is making trades during the draft and the possibility is real the Vikings could choose higher than No. 18 on Thursday night.

Because the draft is deep in offensive linemen, the Vikings may not use their first round pick on a tackle or guard. It seems likely the club will take multiple offensive linemen in the draft.

Vikings fans want an offensive lineman chosen in the first round and Spielman offered humor when asked about the angst among Purple supporters. “She (my wife) said, if I draft another corner(back) don’t come home,” the GM said.

In the later rounds the club could end up with Apple Valley alum Trey Pipkins, a Division II All-American tackle who played collegiately at Sioux Falls. His NFL Draft & Combine page projects him as a fourth round draft choice and future practice squad player. At about 6-feet-6 and over 300 pounds, Pipkins has size, length and athleticism but needs to improve technique, according to NFL.com/prospects.

There will also be other Minnesota natives to follow over the three days of the draft. Former Gophers walk-on Blake Cashman has opened eyes in the last four months, with projections changing for him from potential free agent status to possibly being a mid-round draft choice.

He produced some of the best results of any linebacker at the NFL Combine last winter in Indianapolis. He tied for third among linebackers in the broad jump, was fourth in the 40-yard-dash and 20-yard shuttle, tied for fifth in the vertical jump and tied for seventh in the three-cone drill.

At a minimum, Cashman could provide an NFL team with immediate special teams help. The same is likely to be true of Cashman’s former teammate at Eden Prairie, Ryan Connelly, who was a standout linebacker at Wisconsin.

Other Minnesota names to watch include Iowa safety Amani Hooker from Park Center High School and E.J. Ejiya, the linebacker from North Texas and Spring Lake Park alum. Hooker has made solid improvement at Iowa and projects as a safety and special teams player in the pros with attributes that include his football intelligence. Ejiya ranked among the nation’s leaders in tackles for loss in 2018 and seems more likely to be a possible training camp invitee as a free agent rather than draft choice.

Spielman fought back tears in announcing at the news conference that his friend and Vikings college talent evaluator Scott Studwell will be retiring from the organization. Studwell, who played linebacker for the Vikings from 1977-1990, has been in the front office since 1991 and will retire at the end of May when his contract ends.

Spielman said he likes the progress of cornerback Mike Hughes who is recovering from ACL injury, and is now doing some running.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter had been a candidate but now is not one of the three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. “It is disappointing (news),” Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners yesterday.

The trophy is presented annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. It is named after the late Bill Masterton from the Minnesota North Stars.

Leipold has a high regard for Suter, referring to him as a “super person” and great family man who is dedicated to hockey. “He is so into working out,” Leipold said of his 34-year-old star. The two men, Leipold said, may get together for a sushi lunch in St. Paul this summer.

Leipold signed both Suter and forward Zach Parise, 34, to $98 million deals in 2012. While Suter finished the season healthy, Parise was troubled by a foot injury. Leipold hopes Parise will rest the foot in coming months, while noting it’s positive the Minneapolis-born star played last season without a problem with his back.

There is speculation Leipold will create the position of president of hockey operations overseeing general manager Paul Fenton, but not so, according to Leipold. “Never been discussed,” the owner said in refuting the rumor.

Former North Stars general manager Jack Ferreira was named an advisor to Fenton last year and Leipold said he expects Ferreira’s work to continue with the franchise. “I know Paul has a lot of confidence in Jack,” Leipold said.

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Nanne Supports Boudreau Return

Posted on April 7, 2019April 7, 2019 by David Shama

Lou Nanne, the former Gopher All-American defenseman who spent part or all of four decades in the NHL as a player, GM and president with the Minnesota North Stars, believes third-year coach Bruce Boudreau will return next season with the Minnesota Wild despite missing the playoffs.

The Wild’s season ended last night and the club won’t be in the playoffs for the first time in six years. While the result is no surprise because of the team’s inconsistency, not making the postseason can be characterized as a major disappointment for a restless fan base that entered the fall of 2018 tired of seeing Minnesota make early exits from the playoffs.

Injuries and lack of goal scoring get the blame for the Wild’s lackluster season. Back in February team owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners he regarded Boudreau as a top five coach in the NHL, and that even if his team didn’t make the playoffs his coach will be retained for next season.

While Nanne is no longer an NHL executive, he is still a devoted follower of the league, and he agrees with Leipold’s assessment of Boudreau being one of pro hockey’s top coaches. “He will be back,” Nanne said about Boudreau remaining the Wild’s coach. “He is an excellent coach. He’s done a great job since he’s been here.”

Boudreau had previous NHL coaching jobs with the Washington Caps and Anaheim Ducks. He reached 400 wins faster than any NHL coach in history, and his teams won eight division titles, but his clubs also struggled in the postseason. Winning has been more difficult in Minnesota than in his previous coaching assignments, but Nanne knows there are limitations as to how much a coach can do.

“Well, he gets the guys to play hard and he gets the most out of the people he’s got,” Nanne said. “He’s been able to be very successful. This is the first time that he’s missed the playoffs in a very, very long time with a lot of different teams. He’s done it with all different kinds of guys. You gotta give him a lot of credit, for no matter what type of lineup they give him, he gets them to produce.”

Worth Noting

A pro scout speaking anonymously told Sports Headliners that Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver, who projects as a shooting guard in the NBA, is the only player in the Minneapolis Final Four likely to be a first round draft choice.

The scout refers to Monday night’s national championship matchup between Texas Tech and Virginia as a “pick’em game.” Both are ball control teams that excel on defense, with 60 points possibly enough to win the game.

Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders and GM Scott Layden were at U.S. Bank Stadium last night watching the Final Four games.

Former Golden Gophers coach Bill Fitch, who left Minnesota after the 1970 season for the NBA, will be inducted later this year into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. An announcement was made yesterday that Fitch will be among the inductees after a career as one of the winningest NBA coaches in league history with 944 victories.

Look for former Timberwolves player and executive Fred Hoiberg, now the new head coach at Nebraska, to make the state of Minnesota a prime recruiting target. Hoiberg’s name is respected by the state’s basketball fans and coaches. When he was head coach at Iowa State his recruits included former Hopkins all-stater Royce White who transferred from the Gophers.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said on KFAN Radio Friday morning he doesn’t plan to take a day off until June because everyone at franchise headquarters in Eagan is so focused on improving after last season’s disappointing results.

Circle-it dates for Vikings players and fans: Offseason OTA’s May 21-23 and 28-30, and June 3-6. Mandatory minicamp, June 11-13.

MLB just can’t get it right on the Designated Hitter rule, with the American League using the DH since 1973 and the National League still unwilling to adopt it. The absence of uniformity for MLB on the highest level of baseball in the world is embarrassing.

Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer has a good suggestion advocating American League teams not use the DH in home games against National League clubs, and vice versa. That’s the opposite of how things are now, and such a switch would allow fans to see a style and strategy they otherwise don’t.

Incidentally, Ron Blomberg of the Yankees became the first AL player to appear at the plate as a DH. It happened 46 years ago yesterday, according to History.com.

Boys’ volleyball wasn’t approved as a Minnesota State High School League sport for the next school year and will remain in club status. Approval may come in the near future.

Stillwater-based Creative Charters already has 100 reservations for a fan trip to the Minnesota-Fresno State football game in Fresno on September 7.

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Leipold Says Boudreau Top 5 Coach

Posted on February 3, 2019February 3, 2019 by David Shama

Wild owner Craig Leipold told Sports Headliners coach Bruce Boudreau’s job is secure even if the Minnesota NHL team doesn’t make the playoffs. Fans and media have speculated about Boudreau’s future for multiple reasons including the presence of new general manager Paul Fenton.

General managers often prefer to hire their own coaches. Leipold replaced Chuck Fletcher with Fenton after last season with the intent of making the Wild a better performing playoff team. The franchise has earned its way into six consecutive playoffs but is known for early exits.

Boudreau was hired as the Wild’s coach in 2016. His first two Minnesota teams exited the playoffs in the first rounds. As of today, the Wild has played well enough to be fourth in the Western Conference standings with 56 points. The team has won four more games than it has lost, reflecting inconsistent results but enough success to make the playoffs if the season ended now.

Boudreau had previous head NHL coaching jobs with the Capitals and Ducks. His teams had some playoff struggles and never made the Stanley Cup finals. That, too, was part of the reason Leipold was asked late last week if his coach’s job is safe if Minnesota doesn’t earn its way into the playoffs this spring.

“The answer is absolutely his job is safe,” Leipold said. “To be honest, we plan on making the playoffs, but there’s a lot of competition for those playoff spots, and I think Bruce has done a great job. (Defenseman Matt) Dumba going down for the season has hurt us obviously, so there are a lot of other issues if we don’t make the playoffs.

“Bruce is a spectacular coach. I still regard him as a top five in the league, as do most people. I look at it occasionally where I see a comment where a writer might say, ‘Is Bruce’s job on the line?’ Absolutely not.

“I don’t see that happening, although honestly, Paul and I have not even spoken about it. I feel certain Paul has the same feeling that I do about it.”

Leipold isn’t second-guessing his coach and general manager, nor is he doing that about the mega contracts he gave to forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter in 2012. The two free agents signed 13-year, $98 million deals.

“It was a game changer at that time,” Leipold said. “They are two special players. They continue to perform at very high levels. So the answer is unequivocally, if I had to make that decision over again, I would have made it even quicker than I did at that time. “

Parise leads the Wild in goals with 20 and in points with 45. Suter is fourth on the team in points with 34. Their skills, experience and leadership have not only paid off on the ice, Leipold said, but also financially for a franchise that regularly sells out its home games.

“They’re two players that are not lazy players,” Leipold said. “They give 100 percent all the time. The leadership that they have on the team is priceless. I wouldn’t be surprised if Suter, the way he is playing, he can play until he is 45. I am not going to be surprised if he wants another contract after this one expires.”

Parise is 35 years old, Suter 34. With several years remaining on their contracts does Leipold feel boxed in on payroll flexibility to improve his roster?

“You know I think at some point it might (be a factor), but it’s not right now,” Leipold said. “Because the average of their contract(s) is now really right on par with what top teams are paying their top players. The players now that are coming out to unrestricted free agency are making a lot more money than these two players did at that time.

“So, sure it takes $15 million (on the payroll) that we’re paying two players but the contributions that they make are well worth that money that we’re paying every year. So I have no regrets. None at all about that signing.”

Worth Noting

Although the sale began just last Friday, about 10,000 tickets have already been sold to the public for the October 19 Saint John’s-St. Thomas football game at Allianz Field in St. Paul. A source involved with the game said about 4,000 tickets remain in the 19,500 seat facility that opens later this year as the home of soccer’s Minnesota United. Almost 5,000 seats are being held for a sale later in the year to students from both schools.

More than 1,000 VIP and ringside seats at an average price of $85 have been sold for the February 23 boxing card at the Minneapolis Armory. The card includes Minneapolis welterweight Jamal James, ranked No. 3 in the world by the World Boxing Association, against Janer Gonzalez of Colombia, winner of 19 bouts with only one loss and a draw. The main event matches Andre Dirrell (32-1-1) against once-beaten Avni Yildirim (21-1) for the vacant WBC World Super Middleweight title.

Coincidences: former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson and ex-Twins center fielder Lenny Green both died this year on their birthdays. Wilson, 60, died on February 1, while Green, 86, passed away on January 6.

A player Vikings fans can look at with envy tonight in the Super Bowl is Rams offensive left tackle Andrew Whitworth. During the 2017 offseason he was a free agent after playing for 11 seasons with the Bengals, where Mike Zimmer once was the team’s longtime defensive coordinator. It’s believed the Vikings and their head coach were among the courters for Whitworth, trying to patch up a still to this day leaky offensive line. Whitworth, 37, is a force on the Rams offensive line and a high character guy.

The NFL had a 29 percent decrease in reported player concussions during the 2018 regular season, according to the January 25 issue of USA Today.

Augsburg hockey forward Alex Rodriguez is having a news making senior season while leading the MIAC in goals. Among the nation’s top Division III goal scorers, the Miami transplant has three hat tricks this season and is featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section of the early February issue.

Dick Jonckowski has ordered another 500 copies to be printed of his book, It’s All About Me, Dick Jonckowski: A Minnesota Treasure. The Shakopee-based emcee and public address announcer originally had 1,500 copies printed. Jonckowski autographed 200 copies of the book at a Twins event last week at Target Field.

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