Two second-year quarterbacks trying to prove worthy of leading their teams compete on Sunday at Mall of America Field. The Vikings Christian Ponder and the Jaguars Blaine Gabbert, first round draft choices in 2011, will lead their offenses in the NFL opening game for both teams.
Vikings Nation knows Ponder’s story, a 2011 season in which he started 10 games and at times threw the ball to guys wearing a different color jersey. Sometimes lacking poise and showing his inexperience in reading defenses, Ponder threw 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. His passing rating was 70.1.
Gabbert’s critics “lampooned him for everything from his accuracy to questionable pocket presence,” according to an online story last Saturday in Jacksonville’s Florida Times-Union. Gabbert started 14 games for the Jags last season, threw 12 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and had a rating of 65.4.
Not surprisingly in the quarterback-centric NFL, neither the Vikings (3-13) nor Jags (5-11) were winners last season. Better times in 2012? Most NFL authorities don’t think so including Sports Illustrated—predicting in its pro football preview issue both franchises will be 4-12, finishing last in their divisions (NFC North and AFC South).
Former Vikings tight end Mike Mularkey, the new Jags coach, has the assignment of helping make Gabbert effective enough to one day remove the 22-year-old’s training wheels. S.I. describes Gabbert as the NFL’s “most skittish” quarterback last season but reports Mularkey, the ex-Falcons offensive coordinator credited for some of quarterback Matt Ryan’s development in Atlanta, has stressed fundamentals with Gabbert.
That seems like a “duh” but the 2011 off-season NFL labor dispute didn’t allow normal preparation for the season. Included among the victims were Gabbert and Ponder, two first round draft choices trying to find their way playing the most demanding position in pro football as rookie starters.
Vikings, Gophers & Other Notes:
Sports Illustrated predicts the Bears will win the NFC North with the Packers, Lions and Vikings finishing second, third and fourth. But the publication picks the Pack to beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl.
Few Vikings observers probably thought that when the club signed McLeod Bethel-Thompson as a free agent last January he would make the team. The 24-year-old quarterback is on the final roster after previous pro football experience in the NFL (no regular season game action), Arena Football League and United Football League.
The strong-armed, strong-willed California native began his college career at UCLA and finished at Sacramento State. He’s interested in becoming a teacher and helping inner-city youth. His grandfather, Wilbur Thompson, was a gold medal winning shot putter for the United States in the 1948 Olympics. The younger Thompson said his grandfather has been a mentor in his life, reminding him “of the power of the mind on the body.”
The Gophers next three nonconference football opponents are New Hampshire, Western Michigan and Syracuse—all home games at TCF Bank Stadium. New Hampshire defeated Holy Cross 38-17 last week, while Western Michigan lost 24-7 to Illinois and Northwestern beat Syracuse 42-41.
Gophers coach Jerry Kill talking today about FCS member New Hampshire playing in Minneapolis on Saturday: “This is a bowl game for New Hampshire. …You’re going to get their best.”
Kill said Gophers freshman running back and receiver KJ Maye “is going to be a special player.”
Two years ago many Gophers fans were criticizing the choice of Adam Weber as the team’s starting quarterback, lobbying for MarQueis Gray. Weber ended his college career as a four-year starter in 2010. He is second only to Drew Brees in career Big Ten total offense. Gray took over as Minnesota’s starter last season, completing 50.7 percent of his passes while throwing eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions. In Minnesota’s first game this season an over anxious Gray missed open receivers and sure touchdown passes.
Ron Gardenhire said on his most recent Sunday morning 1500 ESPN show he accepts responsibility for his team that will finish with one of the worst records in baseball. “I haven’t been able to figure this thing out,” he said. But Gardenhire didn’t talk like he won’t return as manager, and general manager Terry Ryan has been a big admirer of Gardenhire’s managing that started in 2002.
Gardenhire also said on the show he’s seen growing confidence in Chris Parmelee, the first baseman, right fielder and designated hitter that has compiled some frequent flyer miles this season shuttling between AAA Rochester and Minneapolis. Gardenhire has “big plans” for the 24-year-old left-handed hitter who batted .338 at Rochester with 17 home runs and 49 RBI in 228 at bats.
Local businessman John Dovolis was a good friend of the late Dark Star, the former WCCO Radio talk show host and all-time Minnesota character. Star, who died from a heart attack last spring, didn’t have a healthy diet. Dovolis recalled that Star once told him that at his funeral he wanted an open bar and buffet, and “to make sure there was no salad, vegetables or fruit.”
Star’s suburban Minneapolis apartment was filled with sports memorabilia. “There was barely a pathway to go from the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom,” Dovolis said.
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be an estate sale of Star’s memorabilia with part of the proceeds going to the new Gophers baseball stadium. Items will include a Michael Jordan signed jersey and basketball, Jim Brown and Dick Butkus autographed helmets, signed baseball bats and balls, model boats and airplanes, slot machines, coin operated games and a lot more. The sale will be at 212 Second Street Southeast in St. Anthony Main and conducted by Dennis Hagen Estate Sales. www.dennishagenestatesales.com. Dovolis said the sale will be advertised in Thursday’s Star Tribune classifieds.
Prep basketball authority Ken Lien emailed today that Edina basketball guard Graham Woodward will make a recruiting visit to Washington State this weekend.
The seventh annual Hockey Day Minnesota, celebrating the sport from the peewees to the pros, will be on Saturday, January 19. Three outdoor high school games will be played on Lake Pokegama in Grand Rapids: Eagan versus Hibbing (boys); Benilde-St. Margaret’s versus Grand Rapids (boys); Hibbing versus Grand Rapids (girls). The Gophers will play at home against North Dakota on Hockey Day while the Wild host the Penguins.