Wild – Page 63 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Failing Offensive Line Clouds Vikes Future

Posted on November 1, 2016November 1, 2016 by David Shama

The Viking lost their second consecutive game last night, scoring one touchdown in a 20-10 loss in Chicago. The Vikings, 5-2, still lead the NFC North Division but after the surprising loss to the Bears, now 2-6, Minnesota’s results in their last nine regular season games is worth biting your nails over.

After two road losses the Vikings are at U.S. Bank Stadium to play the 4-4 Lions in another division game next Sunday. The Vikings’ energy and will figures to go up a notch next week but reality is this team is searching for answers—mostly due to a crisis with the offensive line.

Injuries have reshuffled the personnel and the argument is valid this could be the NFL’s worst offensive line. The Vikings haven’t been able to effectively run the ball all season and in the losses to the Eagles and Bears no one could blame Sam Bradford’s relatives for worrying about the quarterback’s safety. Bradford was under almost constant pressure last night, with the Bears making him hurry throws, while deflecting passes and taking him out of his throwing rhythm.

Sam Bradford (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

He was sacked five times including multiple times in the first half when the Vikings scored only three points. “I would not want to be Sam Bradford,” said ESPN game analyst Jon Gruden.

The Vikings scored their lone touchdown on a sharp throw by Bradford to Stefon Diggs for 25 yards. Trailing 20-10 with more than five minutes to go, the Vikings had an opportunity to narrow the lead but never got the ball back. The defense, perhaps the NFL’s best, couldn’t stop quarterback Jay Cutler and teammates who for much of the game out played Minnesota.

Today the NFL’s trading deadline ends and perhaps the Vikings can acquire help in the offensive line. With or without a new player, the unit will need to work on improving skills, energy and determination for the Lions. The usual electric atmosphere in U.S. Bank Stadium will help. Probably a lot. …

The 0-2 Timberwolves open their home schedule tonight against the Grizzlies. The team has plenty to prove, but first-year coach Tom Thibodeau and second-year center Karl-Anthony Towns rate high among their peers.

Thibodeau has a chance to build a resume in Minneapolis that eventually could list him as the best coach in Wolves history. For now the forlorn franchise can take comfort that he makes just about anybody’s rankings of the NBA’s top coaches—including Gregg Popovich (Spurs), Rick Carlisle (Mavericks), Erik Spoelstra (Heat), Steve Kerr (Warriors), Doc Rivers (Clippers) and Brad Stevens (Celtics).

Thibodeau led the Bulls to the playoffs in all five of his seasons as head coach in Chicago, including having the best record in the league the first two (2010-2012). Going into this season his .647 winning percentage ranked seventh in NBA history (minimum 200 games).

Towns was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year last season, and NBA authorities believe he’s just getting started. The league’s general managers said in a survey Towns is the player they would most want to start a franchise.

Beyond Thibodeau and Towns, though, things are murky. The Wolves blew leads and couldn’t close out games in road losses last week to the Grizzlies and Kings. The better NBA teams have a player or two who can make big plays and shots late in games. Towns can be a force but he can’t always carry the team in the clutch and make the biggest of shots. Third-year small forward Andrew Wiggins has the skills to be the top candidate to help but he hasn’t reached star status yet.

Power forward Gorgui Dieng, shooting guard Zach LaVine and point guard Ricky Rubio, the team’s other starters, have to play more consistently—just like Wiggins. They won’t be guaranteed starting spots as the season progresses, although the Wolves bench players have plenty to prove, too, including rookie Kris Dunn who fills in for the injured Rubio tonight.

Thibodeau won’t stand for lack of effort and toughness. Less talented players may be on the floor if they provide the most energy and grit. Expect an aggressive start by the Wolves tonight as they try to win their first game on a journey that will be considered a disappointment if they can’t end this season at .500. …

The Wild, playing some of the best hockey in the NHL, has the Sabres at home tonight but then doesn’t have another game at Xcel Energy Center until November 15 against the Flames. Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk shut out the Sabres last week in Buffalo and defenseman Ryan Suter had two points in the 4-0 win. Dubnyk had three shutouts last week—the first goalie in Wild history to accomplish that.

Iowa, the Wild’s affiliate team in Des Moines, was 2-1 in games last week. Iowa center and former Gopher Jordan Schroeder led the team with three points. …

Good news for former Gophers athletic director McKinley Boston who is out of a hospital in New Mexico after having a blood clot on his lung. …

Amir Coffey, the 6-8 freshman guard from Hopkins, makes his college debut Thursday night at Williams Arena when Minnesota plays Bemidji State in an exhibition game. “He is a tremendous passer,” said Gophers coach Richard Pitino.

Although Gophers forward Jordan Murphy almost led the Big Ten in rebound average per game last season, he didn’t receive the notoriety of some other top freshmen in the conference. “I think he has a big chip on his shoulder (going into this season),” Pitino said of Murphy.

The Gophers had a poor shooting performance in their intrasquad game open to the public on October 22. “I think we were just getting the jitters out,” said sophomore Dupree McBrayer who could start at shooting guard and be the backup point guard.

Junior center Reggie Lynch, 6-10, 260, gives the Gophers a low post scorer and shot blocker now that he is eligible after transferring from Illinois State. Three point shooting? Lynch said he attempted one three pointer in practice but has no plans to let one fly in a game.

When 6-9 freshman forward Eric Curry arrived in Minneapolis from Arkansas earlier this year he weighed about 220 pounds. He was told to gain weight and could eat “anything” he wanted. Calories and weight training have him up to 235 pounds. …

St. Thomas is offering $50 season tickets guaranteeing the same seat location for all men’s and women’s home games. …

It’s been a newsmaking fall for Badgers linebackers with Minnesota connections. Yesterday Eden Prairie’s Ryan Connelly was named co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his career-high 11 tackles against Nebraska on Saturday. Two weeks ago Jack Cichy, a native of Somerset, Wisconsin who attended Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, was honored as Defensive Player of the Week for his career-high 15 tackles against Ohio State. …

Creative Charters is offering an incentive to Gophers football fans who buy a travel package for the Nebraska game before 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 2. Purchase a $399 per person package for the game in Lincoln on Saturday, November 12 and receive a $50 voucher for a trip to Minnesota’s bowl game (site, date and opponent to be determined). Creative’s trip to Nebraska departs Minneapolis via Sun Country November 12 at 10 a.m. and returns following the game. More at Travelingopher.com, or 651-748-0080. …

Murray’s Restaurant owner Tim Murray attended the first two World Series games with friends, paying $160 per night for good seats at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. Murray estimated there were 7,000 or more Cubs fans at each of the games, and while they added excitement to the World Series environment he said there was less “electricity” in Cleveland than other cities where he has watched the series.

Murray, who has visited every stadium in Major League Baseball, has attended World Series games in Minnesota in 1965, 1987 and 1991, and also 1982 in Milwaukee, 1993 in Philadelphia and 2004 in St. Louis. The Indians, who lead the series 3-2, can finish the Cubs tonight in the best of seven games playoffs. “I would like to see the Cubs comeback but I think Cleveland wins one of the next two,” said Murray who is a fan of both teams. …

Derek Falvey, the Twins new top baseball executive who is closing out his front office responsibilities with the Indians, will likely be introduced to the Minneapolis-St. Paul media in the next several days. Falvey, 33, pitched for Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where he was an economics major.

Comments Welcome

Look for U to Upset Terps Saturday

Posted on October 14, 2016October 14, 2016 by David Shama

It hasn’t been a great beginning to Tracy Claeys’ first full season as Gophers football coach. His team has been unimpressive in every game.

The Gophers scored wins over three ho-hum nonconference teams, showing an improved offense but sometimes leaky defense. In the last two weeks Minnesota has flopped, losing Big Ten Conference games to Penn State and Iowa.

In those two league games the Gophers couldn’t hold second half leads. They played inconsistently on offense, defense and special teams. They self-imploded making costly and sometimes foolish penalties.

This week came news redshirt senior quarterback Mitch Leidner has been diagnosed with a concussion and likely won’t play tomorrow at Maryland against the 4-1 Terps (1-1 in the Big Ten). When Claeys showed up at his Tuesday news conference to answer questions about Leidner and other players, he looked like a concerned coach.

Who could blame him? The pressure is on Claeys to shift the Gophers in gear. This is a team he pronounced during the offseason as potentially the best at Minnesota in years, a group that could contend for the Gophers’ first ever Big Ten West Division championship. A team playing a 2016 schedule that avoided games against Big Ten East Division powers Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Now a schedule that looked relatively easy seems formidable given Minnesota’s slow start to the season. There are seven teams remaining to be played and right now the Gophers are likely to be favored in only two—October 22 and November 5 home games against Rutgers (2-4, 0-3) and Purdue (3-2, 1-1).

Presuming Minnesota can earn victories against Rutgers and Purdue, the Gophers need to find one or two additional wins to become bowl eligible. Tomorrow’s game at Maryland, the October 29 game at Illinois and November 19 home game against Northwestern look like other opportunities to build on the Gophers’ three wins total and earn a bowl invitation with the usually required six victories.

The prevailing prediction is Minnesota will lose tomorrow. The Gophers weren’t favored even before the Leidner news. Without their most important offensive player, the odds-makers like the Terps by about a touchdown.

The Gophers are replacing Leidner with former walk-on Conor Rhoda who has played briefly in one game this season and has six yards passing. Rhoda didn’t play in any games last season and in 2014 made two brief appearances, attempting one unsuccessful pass. The redshirt junior, now on scholarship, is an unknown to media and fans but he just might get the job done tomorrow managing an offense that needs to rely on running the football better than it has all season.

Minnesota’s offensive line will have to get off the line of scrimmage and hold blocks longer than last Saturday in a disappointing 14-7 loss against Iowa. But that line is capable of playing better under the direction of motivating assistant coach Bart Miller, and if there are holes to run through the Gophers have the rushers to pile up a lot of yardage.

The Terps gave up 372 rushing yards last week in a 38-14 loss at Penn State. Minnesota gained over 200 yards the week before against the Nittany Lions in their 29-26 overtime loss. Those numbers should provide Minnesota some confidence.

Rhoda needs to complete some low-risk passes and provide balance to Minnesota’s run game. The passing potential will take a step forward if potential All-Big Ten tight end Brandon Lingen, who has been sidelined with a broken clavicle, is able to play. Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky, a senior leader and Leidner’s favorite receiver, needs to help Rhoda out with timely catches like on third downs.

While Leidner’s absence seems like a problem for the Gophers, it might elevate performances by his teammates. Darrell Thompson, the ex-Gopher and the school’s all-time leading rusher, believes Minnesota players may gain a psychological edge. “I think they rally around him (Rhoda),” Thompson told Sports Headliners.

If Rhoda minimizes mistakes, completes key passes, makes a few runs off the read-option, mixes in successful scrambles out of the pocket and mostly hands off to his running backs that have holes to run through, the Gophers will have a formula for success.

“That would be ideal,” said Thompson. “I hope there is a quarterback controversy by the end of the game. That means we’re doing something right.”

The Minnesota offense can inspire the defense after only scoring seven points last week. That defense could have one of its better days against the Terps who were held to two first half touchdowns last Saturday. Maryland scored 173 points in its first four games but played a cushy schedule facing Howard, Florida International, UCF and Purdue.

Gophers’ fans might be planning a pity party tomorrow without Leidner and after five substandard performances to start the season. But sometimes when “the sky is falling” the expected script doesn’t become reality.

Claeys is at the “keyboard” and it’s time for him, the staff and the players to write a better storyline. The Gophers are due to have their best game and quiet critics who already are speculating about the new coach’s future at Minnesota.

The Terps do have the advantage of playing at home and they could be motivated after the beatdown by Penn State. But they have quarterback issues too with senior starter Perry Hills possibly not available because of a shoulder injury, or not playing a complete game if there is a re-injury. Then the Terps would use true freshman Tyrrell Pigrome.

The outcome tomorrow could be decided by two mystery quarterbacks and by the team most determined to win coming off of disappointing early season Big Ten losses. Pigrome has yet to start a game but has played in all five games for the Terps and already shown playmaking skills. Rhoda is a lunch-bucket sub from Eagan who finally gets his big chance tomorrow.

Rhoda and the Gophers are the better script. I am going with Minnesota over the Terps, 27-24.

Worth Noting

Darrell Thompson eats bacon—lots of it—during the week leading up to the Gophers-Iowa game. The Maryland Terrapins take their nickname from turtles that live in fresh or brackish waters. Turtle soup this week for the Gophers’ radio analyst?

“I only do bacon,” Thompson said. “I love bacon. No turtle soup.”

There will be a news conference Monday at Target Field announcing a football game to be played in the Twins stadium next year. Best guess is North Dakota State will be the host team. The Bison have a home game on their 2017 schedule October 28 against Northern Iowa. Could the game be played at Target Field? The Gophers are at Iowa that Saturday.

Jeff Sorenson told Sports Headliners a hot putter and positive approach helped him earn the Minnesota Section’s PGA Player of the Year Award this week. The Minikahda Club pro, who won the award for a fifth time, said he’s “been putting really well” the last two-plus months after changing his set up and grip.

Sorenson isn’t so hard on himself mentally as in the past. He is better at maintaining a positive attitude and not letting poor shots bother him. “You get down, you’re done,” he said.

Two years ago Sorenson, 38, had major back surgery, so earning the most points to win the Player of the Year Award is rewarding. “I am just appreciative of being able to play,” he said.

Edinburgh pro Don Berry finished second to Sorenson in 2016 and was Player of the Year the two previous years. Sorenson, whose last Player of the Year Award was in 2012, worked for Berry in multiple roles from ages 13 to 25. The two remain friends. “He’s a grinder. He doesn’t make too many bogeys,” Sorenson said.

Sorenson said he earned about $22,000 in section events this year, plus earnings in other golf tournaments. He has played in two PGA championships during his career and among his goals are to play in more.

When Lou Holtz coached the Gophers in the mid-1980s he proposed playing the annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game in the fall after the prep season ended. That becomes a reality with the first Minnesota Football Showcase scheduled at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday, December 3, 2016. Past games have been played in June but the intent remains the same—to feature outstanding senior football players from around the state.

The Vikings and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association are partnering to present the 55th annual game matching the North All-Stars against the South All-Stars. Totino-Grace’s Jeff Ferguson will coach the North and Eden Prairie’s Mike Grant the South. KMSP Fox 9 will televise the game in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market.

The All-Star Game has been played since 1945 (annually since 1974) with over 4,200 players and 475 coaches participating. Past sponsors include The Shriners who sent game tickets to their large membership, resulting in crowds of over 30,000 at Memorial Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

The 2016 event is billed as a football celebration with attractions to include youth football clinics, marching band performances and autograph sessions with Vikings alumni. Tickets are available now, with proceeds going to the MFCA and Tackle Cancer Campaign. More at vikings.com/showcase.

First place St. Thomas has a bye Saturday but two of the three teams tied for second in the MIAC football standings play each other. Hamline, 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league games, is the surprise group in the MIAC. The Pipers will be in Moorhead Saturday to face Concordia (2-2, 2-1).

The other one-loss team is Saint John’s (5-1, 3-1). The Johnnies are at home to play Carleton (1-5, 1-3 MIAC).

The Minnesota Wild might be a more relaxed and focused team for three periods Saturday than shown last evening in a 3-2 opening regular season loss to the Blues in St. Louis. The Wild started slow even though the Blues had played the night before and could have been the more sluggish group. The Wild is at home Saturday night against the Jets who won four of five games against Minnesota last season.

New coach Bruce Boudreau is expected to help the Wild improve its scoring and the team is considered by some hockey authorities a “sleeper pick” to have a big season.

From a Minnesota basketball historical perspective, it will be interesting to see if the Lynx can win its fourth WNBA championship in franchise history next week. The Minneapolis Lakers won world championships in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954.

The Lynx, tied 1-1 with the Sparks in the WNBA Finals, play tonight in Los Angeles in the best of five series.

Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino’s second annual Coaches vs. Cancer Minnesota Tip-off Reception will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, November 6 at the Minikahda Club. Activities include a cocktail reception and live auction. More at coachesvscancerminnesota.org.

Condolences to the family and friends of former Gophers basketball player and coach George Hanson who died recently. Hanson played for Minnesota in the 1950s, was an assistant coach in the 1960s and was head coach for one season in 1970-71. As nice a man as ever coached the Gophers, Hanson was let go after compiling an 11-13 overall record, 5-9 in the Big Ten.

Comments Welcome

Bison FBS Wins Draw Attention to U

Posted on September 21, 2016September 21, 2016 by David Shama

North Dakota State’s football team upset top-15 ranked Iowa in Iowa City last Saturday with a roster that includes 37 players from the state of Minnesota. The Bison have won five consecutive FCS national championships while going undefeated against FBS programs including the Gophers during that period.

The Gophers—who struggle every fall to win half of their Big Ten games—have 35 Minnesota natives on their roster. Do the Gophers need to recruit better and perhaps more players from Minnesota high schools?

Recruiting authority Ryan Burns annually evaluates Minnesota prep football players including when Gophers coaches look at prospective players during offseason camps. He doesn’t view the Bison’s success against FCS and FBS teams as reason to fault the Gophers for their home state recruiting. “Minnesota has made it a point to make sure they know of every kid in the state,” he told Sports Headliners.

NDSU has used Minnesota prep players in large numbers during its championship seasons and continues to do so. A lot of those players have provided depth, many have been starters, and a smaller number have been nationally recognized including junior defensive end Greg Menard who was an FCS All-American last season. He played for Lakeville North High School.

Burns, who has written extensively online about both the Bison and U programs, said many players who accept scholarships to North Dakota State aren’t offered by the Gophers. Minnesotans who become Bison may be judged a step slower, a couple inches shorter, or have less wingspan than what the Gophers and other Big Ten talent evaluators are searching for. North Dakota State coaches have repeatedly proven, though, they can take the “leftovers” and make them into players that now have the Bison ranked No. 27 in the Associated Press poll for FBS schools.

Burns said the Bison won last Saturday with 23 fewer scholarship players than the Hawkeyes. Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin reportedly earns $1.4 million—about three times more than Bison head coach Chris Klieman who has directed the last two NDSU national title teams. With fewer scholarship players and less money, the Bison defeat Power Five Conference teams, including two straight over Minnesota.

“They play with this big chip on their shoulders,” Burns said. “They know what they do well and try to play to their strengths.”

Burns said the Gophers didn’t think Menard was “explosive” enough when they evaluated him. Another Bison standout is safety Robbie Grimsley, a sophomore from Hutchinson. Burns described Grimsley as a player doing a “great job” as a Bison starter but the Gophers saw the former state Mr. Football as a little undersized at 6-feet.

Among the Gophers starters on their depth chart prior to their last game, only four were from Minnesota— safety Adekunle Ayinde, quarterback Mitch Leidner, offensive right tackle Jonah Pirsig and defensive tackle Andrew Stelter. Burns, though, points out the Gophers have since 2010 made a bigger commitment to recruiting Minnesota preps than previous coach Tim Brewster. He also said what contributes to a perception the Gophers haven’t received a lot of production from in-state players is that high profile recruits like running back Jeff Jones from Minneapolis and quarterback Phil Nelson from Mankato left the program early and without major success.

While talking about NDSU’s resume, Burns speculated that maybe the Gophers staff could take more chances on Minnesota preps. The conundrum, though, is if Gophers talent evaluators are convinced they have players from outside the state who are superior, they’re going to offer scholarships to them.

Over the years a lot of the Bison players, like Brainerd offensive tackle Joe Haeg who ended an All-American career last season, have come from outside the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Because players from small high schools don’t play against the same level of competition found in the metro area, there can be a perception and often a reality those players aren’t Big Ten worthy. But Burns insisted the Gophers coaches are looking for players even in the rural areas.

“Just because they’re from out of state, I don’t think there is a bias towards them at all,” Burns said. “If anything, they (the Gophers) want them more because they want to make sure they’re covering this entire state.”

Tracy Claeys was named Gophers head coach last November. Going back to 2011 he was Jerry Kill’s defensive coordinator. Claeys isn’t second-guessing Minnesota’s commitment to high school players in the state.

“I think we’ve done a good job evaluating kids since we’ve been here, and more and more have chosen to stay home,” Claeys said. “I don’t think you’ll ever bat a thousand and get everybody because there’s some kids that for whatever reason want to get away from home, or whatever.”

After North Dakota State’s six consecutive wins against FBS teams—including the last second 23-21 victory over then No. 13 ranked Iowa last Saturday—it’s legitimate speculation that the Bison could win the Big Ten West Division. What is fair to question, though, is whether the Bison have the roster depth to sustain success playing a more physical schedule than NDSU has in the Missouri Valley Conference.

NDSU has proven that in a small sample size the Bison can defeat Power Five conference teams. But playing week after week against FBS schools isn’t an opportunity coming to Fargo anytime soon.

Worth Noting

NFL.com is reporting Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be out for an indefinite period after expected meniscus surgery later this week. Offensive tackle Matt Kalil has been placed on the injured reserve list because of a hip injury.

Variety’s website reported Monday that the Emmy’s had an all-time TV ratings low Sunday evening while matched against the national telecast of the Vikings-Packers game. NBC’s Sunday night NFL games are consistently the most watched weekly programming in the fall.

Tre Roberson, the former Indiana quarterback now on the Vikings practice squad as a cornerback, has never played defensive back in organized football including on the youth level.

Former Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace, now with the Ravens, already has three touchdown receptions in two games and is averaging 18.9 yards per catch. In 16 games with the Vikings last season he had two touchdown catches and averaged 12.1 yards per reception.

NBC and the Golf Channel will provide about 25 hours of live coverage later this month for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.

As of last week the Minnesota Wild had renewed approximately 93 percent of its season tickets. The club sold about 15,000 season tickets in 2015-2016.

The late Herb Brooks enjoyed drinking a Moscow Mule cocktail. Promoters of Herbie’s On The Park claim the vodka-based drink was the famous hockey coach’s favorite adult beverage. The Moscow Mule is part of the offerings at Herbie’s On The Park, the new restaurant and bar opening Saturday in the historic Minnesota Club at 317 Washington Street in Saint Paul. Herbie’s will be open to the public seven days per week serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. More at Herbiesonthepark.com.

The Wild will hold a free, open practice from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday. Fans can enter through Gate 1 and concessions will be available.

Local author and historian Frank White speaks Thursday night starting at 7:30 p.m. for the Washington County Historical Society. At the Water Street Inn in Stillwater White will talk about his new book, “They Played for the Love of the Game—Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota.” Reservations available on the WCHS website.

Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings has renewed its partnership with the NCAA as the “Official Hangout for NCAA Sports.” This means marketing, media and activation rights involving 90 NCAA Championships (24 sports), including the men’s and women’s basketball Final Fours.

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