David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Takes Recruits from the ‘Big Boys’

Posted on December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 by David Shama

University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck announces on Wednesday names of players accepting scholarships for his 2020 recruiting class. Perhaps most meaningful to fans of the program is Minnesota persuaded expected signees to pass on offers from high profile teams like LSU and Texas, and verbally commit to become Gophers.

Linebacker Jaqwondis Burns, a Texas native from IMG Academy in Florida, switched his commitment from Mississippi to Minnesota this month. Beating out an SEC school like Ole Miss is impressive, but there’s more good news. Gopher recruiting authority Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners that last week the Texas Longhorns sent head coach Tom Herman and four assistants in pursuit of Jaqwondis.

“Anytime you are able to beat Texas for a Texas kid… it’s good. I mean it’s really good,” said Burns, publisher of GopherIllustrated.com.

Another recent commit is Florida wide receiver Douglas Emilien. Joe Brady, the passing game coordinator for No. 1 ranked LSU, said in the fall the Tigers wanted Emilien, according to Burns. Emilien, though, is expected to join the Gophers, a program that surprised college football this fall by going 10-2, and tying Wisconsin for first in the Big Ten West with 7-2 records.

“You don’t get him without 10 wins,” Burns said. “You don’t get him without (Gophers) Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson finishing No. 1 and No. 2 in the Big Ten in receiving (yards).”

Johnson, a senior, will be a big loss to the receiving corps next season but Bateman and Chris Autman-Bell will return as quality juniors. Filling a third spot might be Emilien, or another 2020 verbal commit, Daniel Jackson from Kansas who had offers from Wisconsin and Iowa State.

Linebacker Itayvion Brown from Missouri could have chosen a number of “helmet schools,” as Ryan Burns refers to the better programs in college football. He said Brown turned down LSU, Iowa, Missouri, TCU, and Texas A&M to commit to the Gophers.

Jaqwondis Burns is among a half dozen or so expected signees who Burns believes will enroll at Minnesota in January and have the benefit of winter football preparation and spring practice. Others may include New York City wide receiver Justin Bellido, Ohio defensive end Gage Keys, German native and defensive end Melle Kreuder, Anoka linebacker Cody Lindenberg, and Kansas running back Ky Thomas.

Thomas is last in the alphabetical listing above but he was the first name Burns mentioned when asked who among the 20-plus verbal Gopher recruits was most coveted. He refers to Thomas as “the real deal,” and he mentions the impressive stats of the Topeka, Kansas prospect, who is about 5-11, 200 pounds.

As a senior Thomas rushed for 3,027 yards, with 35 rushing touchdowns. Career totals included over 7,000 rushing yards and more than 90 touchdowns. The Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year is the only running back Fleck is taking in the 2020 recruiting class.

“What makes Ky really special is he is incredibly tough to bring down,” Burns said. “He doesn’t allow you to get good hits on him. He is really good at staying on his feet and going through contact. He is really good at making sure that he can make you miss in the open field, (and) he can make you miss at the line of scrimmage. He can get north and south, very, very quickly.”

Burns has a lot of praise for the playmaking ability of the other Gopher recruit from Kansas, Daniel Jackson who Burns said had 74 receptions for 1,500 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior. The Kansas City area prospect isn’t a big target at about 5-11 but he has quality hands and other skills. “He can make you really think about what route he is going to run next, and he is incredibly elusive in the open field, just like Kai is,” Burns said.

Thomas, like Jackson, could receive considerable playing time next season. The Gophers lose seniors Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks in their three-man running back rotation that does return Mohamed Ibrahim, who will be a junior next fall.

Minnesota’s lead recruiter on Thomas and Jackson was assistant coach Joe Harasymiak, who is assigned to the Kansas region. Harasymiak joined the Gophers in December of 2018 after leaving Maine where he had been head coach.

Other recruits in addition to Emilien, Jackson and Thomas who Burns mentioned might earn playing time next season include linebackers Brown, Jaqwondis Burns and Lindenberg, defensive linemen Keys and Danny Striggow (Orono). Lindenberg will be transitioning from safety and receiver at Anoka. He also might be the steal of the recruiting class, per Ryan Burns.

The most coveted prep linebacker in the state is Minnehaha Academy’s Kaden Johnson, who likely will sign with Nebraska. “I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he (Lindenberg) ends up better than Kaden Johnson…every time I have seen Cody he’s been incredibly impressive to me,” Burns said.

Burns expects the Gophers to sign in the range of 23 to 25 players for their 2020 class. As of earlier this week, he ranked Minnesota’s class No. 26 nationally, sixth in the Big Ten and third in the West Division behind Iowa and Wisconsin, two teams that have historically been the division’s leader.

“You have to be recruiting like Iowa and Wisconsin are, and I think Minnesota is finally at that tier,” Burns said.

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No Twins Are Trade Untouchables

Posted on December 15, 2019December 17, 2019 by David Shama

MLB’s Winter Meetings have come and gone with no big moves by the Minnesota Twins to improve their roster. This doesn’t come as a surprise since the organization under the Pohlad family ownership has consistently been deliberate in making outside personnel changes, whether by free agency or trade.

While some teams used the gathering at the Winter Meetings to improve their clubs, there is still a lot of time to see what develops in Major League Baseball before next season including with the Twins. In an interview with Sports Headliners, team president Dave St. Peter spoke about the ongoing process to improve his roster. “We are obviously open-minded as to how we get better,” St. Peter said while indicating the possibility of acquiring players via free agency or trade.

The Twins improved so much last season they transformed themselves from mediocre into one of MLB’s better clubs. The Twins can court potential newcomers with a storyline that not only includes a talented team but also features a players manager in Rocco Baldelli.

“We think our story has gotten incrementally better over the course of the last 18 months,” St. Peter said. “We think that we have a great, compelling ball club for 2020 and beyond, and we are optimistic that one way or another we’re going to be able to add pitching.”

St. Peter mentioned pitching without being prompted, an indication of how Minnesota has prioritized finding offseason help on the mound. The Twins reined down home runs last season, setting a MLB record with 307. Every off season story on how the Twins will get better in 2020 and go beyond AL Central champs to a successful postseason run has Minnesota needing to improve the starting staff.

Who will the Twins offer up in trades for either pitchers or other players? St. Peter said the club doesn’t so much target specific individuals in their organization for potential trades as it does looking at where the organization has strength and depth. Although he didn’t mention left fielder Eddie Rosario as trade bait, Sportingnews.com reported three days ago other teams are asking about Rosario, and the Twins do have a terrific minor league prospect and possible replacement in outfielder Alex Kirilloff. It appears sooner (perhaps next year) or later Minnesota will need to make room for the 22-year-old Kirilloff who has a .317 minor league career batting average.

When asked, St. Peter couldn’t think of any Twins currently under contract who have no-trade clauses in their contracts. Does he believe any Twins are untouchable? “No, I don’t think so,” he answered. “…The reality of it is, there’s probably some players that practically speaking you’re just probably not going to move because I’m not sure that another team could offer us enough.”

Twins front office personnel decision makers Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have won St. Peter’s confidence since being hired in 2016. St. Peter said their relationships with other front office leaders are so important to the Twins as they search to make a team with 101 wins last season even better.

Although, loaded with offense a rumor is the Twins will sign free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson who hit 37 home runs last season for the Atlanta Braves. His acquisition would presumably send Miguel Sano from third base to first base and improve the infield defense.

Not referencing Donaldson, St. Peter was asked about the idea of moving Sano to first base. “It’s a possibility. We have not made that decision,” St. Peter said. “Right now Miguel is still penciled in at third base and we will be fine with that if we go to spring training. He is a difference-maker…particularly at that position. Yeah, we have to be open-minded for ways to get better. We talked about our infield defense maybe being an area that we could shore up. …”

Worth Noting

Tickets are on sale for TwinsFest at Target Field Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25. The annual event has typically been three days but next year will be held over two days. The Twins will be celebrating their 60th season of play since moving to Minnesota as the Washington Senators.

St. Peter is a college football fan and enjoys travelling to games. This fall he saw a game at Mississippi and last year was at Georgia.

LSU’s Joe Burrow won the famed Heisman Trophy last night, the award annually honoring college football’s best player. Bruce Smith is the only Golden Gopher who ever won the Heisman, doing so in 1941. In 1953 Minnesota’s Paul Giel finished second in Heisman balloting and seven years later the Gophers’ Tom Brown also was voted runner-up. In 1962 balloting Minnesota’s Bobby Bell finished third in the voting.

Condolences to family and friends of former Gophers and South St. Paul hockey coach Doug Woog, who passed away Saturday afternoon. A beloved hockey leader for decades, the 75-year-old Woog had been dealing this year with health care issues including Parkinson’s disease.

Former Timberwolves superstar Kevin Garnett “is a central figure” in a new Adam Sandler movie, according to a story in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. In the film Uncut Gems Garnett seeks to acquire an Ethiopian black opal.

No one seems to know when, or if, former Lynx star Maya Moore will resume her career. She didn’t play last season and continues to focus on helping others via criminal justice reform.

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Leber: Need More from Vikings Defense

Posted on December 12, 2019December 12, 2019 by David Shama

A Thursday notes column starting with candid quotes from Ben Leber, the former Vikings linebacker who offers expert analysis during games on the team’s radio network.

Minnesota is 9-4 with intentions of winning its last three regular season games and advancing to the playoffs. With quarterback Kirk Cousins and others either meeting or exceeding expectations on offense, Leber is most concerned about the defense. “I just think they got to start generating more difference-making plays,” Leber said.

Leber wants the defense to force more turnovers and even turn those mistakes by opponents into points. Minnesota hasn’t been consistent enough with that this year and in the recent past, per Leber.

The defense is yielding 19.2 points per game, with only six of 31 other NFL teams doing better. The Vikings have given up only five rushing touchdowns but allowed 22 passing. Leber has a concern with the defensive secondary, not the line or other defenders.

The Vikings have to stop playing what he calls “safe” pass defense. “They need to go out there and take control of the pass defense and get their hands on the football,” Leber said. “Then it’s up to the offense to score some points off the turnovers.”

A focal point in the secondary remains cornerback Xavier Rhodes who is paid like an All-Pro but has been inconsistent this season and last. His misjudgments have placed him in hot water with head coach Mike Zimmer. As of late, Rhodes has sometimes been subbed out during games.

In the locker room yesterday Rhodes told reporters he doesn’t know how much he will play in Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Chargers. “I just gotta make plays when I’m in games,” he said. “That’s my mindset.”

Leber thinks the 29-year-old Rhodes can still play at a high level as the schedule closes but isn’t sure he will. “He has the ability to do it,” Leber said. “I’m guessing that taking some reps off of him (during games) will help him play a little bit faster.”

Rhodes has contended with an ankle injury this fall. He doesn’t expect the ankle will keep him out Sunday. “The ankle is pretty good,” he said. “It’s getting better day to day.”

Since week five of the NFL season Cousin has an NFL best 120.0 passer rating and he’s thrown a league high 21 touchdown passes. The nine-year veteran’s passing is in sharp contrast to what he has done in much of his pro career including a disappointing first season with the Vikings in 2018.

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema, a close observer of the team, praises the work of the coaches including assistant head coach Gary Kubiak who was added to the staff during the last offseason. Lurtsema believes a change in philosophy has caused a Cousins turnaround, with the offense adjusted to prioritize the quarterback’s strengths. Lurtsema said he’s never seen the 31-year-old Cousins play so relaxed.

“I must give the coaches a lot of credit because they are coaching to the strength of the player and a lot of coaches coach to the strength of their system,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “They are giving Cousins the flexibility to play to his strengths. “

Lurtsema also praised Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter for not only his physical skills but saying “his work ethic is second to none.” Hunter’s long arms enable the 25-year-old to keep blockers at a distance. “He plays the game smartly but more importantly he’s got a motor on him,” Lurtsema said.

Hunter was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week yesterday for his performance last Sunday against the Lions in Minnesota’s 20-7 win. He had three sacks and seven total tackles. He is the youngest player to reach 50 career sacks since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

Chargers special teams coordinator and assistant head coach George Stewart was the Vikings wide receivers coach from 2007-2016.

Regis Eller, son of legendary former Vikings defensive end Carl Eller, is assistant director of pro scouting for the Chargers.

Steve and Dorothy Erban’s Stillwater-based Creative Charters has sold out two Boeing airplanes for the Outback Bowl in Tampa and is looking at adding another plane based on demand.

No word from sources yet on which, if any, senior Gophers football players may sit out the Outback Bowl game against Auburn to protect their health and professional prospects. Linebacker Blake Cashman skipped Minnesota’s Quick Lane Bowl game last year.

Not many coaches can put on their resumes the achievement of taking teams to January bowl games prior to turning 40 years old. Among those who can is Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck who has Minnesota in the January 1 Outback Bowl and three years ago led Western Michigan to the Cotton Bowl.

ESPN.com’s ranking this week, of the 150 greatest college football coaches ever, listed former Gopher player Bud Wilkinson No. 6 for the dynasty he built at Oklahoma. The Minneapolis native was listed after Paul Bear Bryant and Nick Saban, both from Alabama, Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne, Nebraska’s Tom Osborne and Grambling’s Eddie Robinson.

An ESPN panel of media, administrators, and former coaches and players, ranked St. John’s coach John Gagliardi No. 16, with Lou Holtz (multiple schools including Minnesota and Notre Dame) No. 23, Fritz Crisler (Minnesota, Princeton and Michigan) No 42. Former Gopher player Biggie Munn, who gained coaching fame at Michigan State, ranked No. 47, and Minneapolis native Sid Gillman (Miami of Ohio and Cincinnati) No. 54.

Bernie Bierman (multiple schools including Minnesota) was ranked No. 65. He won five national championships at Minnesota and his ranking is too low. Henry Williams, for whom Williams Arena is named, is No. 106 based on his coaching career at Army and Minnesota. Left off the list was former Gophers coach Murray Warmath, who had a career record at Minnesota of 87-78-7, but won a national championship and had two co-Big Ten title teams. He was also a pioneer in his commitment to using black players in big time college football.

Jashon Cornell, the Minnesota native from Cretin-Derham Hall and fifth-year Ohio State defensive tackle, was named Big Ten honorable mention last week in voting from league coaches.

ESPN’s Sunday night baseball schedule for the first half of next season not only didn’t include the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins but also passed on the World Series champion Washington Nationals.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli got engaged to girl friend Allie Genoa this fall at Yosemite National Park.

Although seven schools in the 10-member men’s Western Conference Hockey Association plan to form a new league to start play in two years, it’s possible the WCHA may reorganize with new teams, perhaps including St. Thomas if the Tommies are successful in gaining approval of Division I status in athletics.

Illinois remains a possibility to some day join the Big Ten in hockey.

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