David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Bradbury “Predictable” Pick by Vikings

Posted on April 26, 2019April 26, 2019 by David Shama

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema called it. Yesterday afternoon Lurtsema told Sports Headliners he thought the Vikings would use their No. 18 selection in the first round to draft North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury.

Bulls eye.

Lurtsema, for decades a savvy observer of the Vikings, didn’t have the inside word from GM Rick Spielman or anyone else as to who Minnesota was going to select last night in the opening round of the NFL Draft. Instead, he made an educated guess based on the club’s need to upgrade the offensive line, the high importance of the center position, and that drafting Bradbury gives the Vikings the option of switching Pat Elflein to guard.

“The center makes all your (line) calls,” Lurtsema said. “He will read opposing defenses, and he’s the one that will call out the blocking assignments.”

Elflein, now in his third season with the Vikings, played center last year but last night’s choice of Bradbury opens the possibility of a position switch for him. “That is not a negative on him,” Lurtsema said. “Sometimes a little move on good athletes makes a big difference.”

The Vikings are developing flexibility in their offensive line. Bradbury also played guard during his career at North Carolina State, and veteran guard Josh Kline, who the Vikings signed last month, has experience at center. That versatility is important Spielman said, “because if you do have a guy that does get hurt, you can move guys around.”

Spielman didn’t commit last night as to what position Bradbury will play but center seems most likely at least initially, and the GM was adamant about his newest player’s attributes. The 6-foot-3, 306 pound North Carolina native not only has size but is athletic. He started his college career as a tight end before becoming an all-conference guard and then winning the Rimington Trophy last year given to the nation’s top center.

Bradbury’s hands measure 10 ½ inches. Spielman said on KFAN Radio last night that Bradbury’s hands are larger than other offensive linemen in the draft. “The hand size is very important for an offensive center,” Spielman said.

Bradbury’s athleticism translates well to the zone blocking scheme the Vikings use. That was a major consideration in the club wanting him and so, too, is his intelligence. He scored well on the mental tests that are part of the draft process. “He was one of the highest guys in the draft in how he came out on those scores,” Spielman said on the radio.

Worth Noting

Think it’s glamorous work scouting college players? Scott Studwell, who is retiring as a Vikings college scout, said he’s spent 225 nights a year travelling. “I missed a lot of time with my kids and that is something I have to make up for (in retirement). I also owe it to my grandkids,” said Studwell who played for the Vikings from 1977-1990 and has worked in the front office since 1991.

Spielman said Studwell has been involved with drafting 230 players and a long list of them have earned NFL honors including All-Pro, Pro Bowl and All-Rookie. “You can’t replace a Scott Studwell in your organization.” Spielman said. “That’s an impossible task to do.”

Before Spielman was hired to run the Vikings football operations, owner Zygi Wilf asked Studwell about his friend. Studwell had ambitions about the same job. “I couldn’t tell him anything bad about Rick…,” said Studwell about Spielman who lives a couple of blocks from him in Eden Prairie.

Spielman is the No. 11 NFL GM, per a power ranking of league general managers put out last week by Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. In the last four years the Vikings have twice missed the playoffs, but also won two NFC North Division titles and advanced once to the NFC Conference title game.

CORES attendees will hear about the Vikings when Pete Bercich speaks to the lunch group Thursday, May 9 at the Bloomington Event Center, 1114 American Blvd. The ex-Viking linebacker is a color analyst on radio for his former team, and he is also head football coach at Hill-Murray. For reservations and other information, contact Jim Dotseth by Monday, May 6, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Former Vikings center Matt Birk is among the speakers Saturday (tomorrow) at the “Grow the Game” conference at Roseville Area High School. The discussion and planning gathering is targeted at athletic directors, football coaches and leaders in youth football. More at Mnfootballcoaches.com.

Minnesota senator and 2020 presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar referenced her father’s struggles with alcoholism Monday night on CNN. Jim Klobuchar was one of the first beat reporters to cover the Vikings in the early 1960s and had a contentious relationship with coach Norm Van Brocklin. Klobuchar, 91, has been in recovery for years after a career that included being a reporter and columnist for Minneapolis newspapers.

With cold and threatening weather forecast for Saturday, promotional planners were on target months ago scheduling the Twins Plaid Flap Cap giveaway for tomorrow’s home game with the Orioles.

The 2022 Golden Gophers football schedule announced this week has the team playing its first five games at home for the first time since 1933, but only two of the last seven games will be in Minneapolis.

Condolences to Jim Robinson, the Minnesota Mr. Basketball chairman and longtime basketball referee, following the recent death of son Mark Robinson, 49, after a heart attack. The funeral is today (Friday).

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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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Richard Coffey Refutes Hate Rumor

Posted on April 21, 2019April 21, 2019 by David Shama

In a telephone interview with Sports Headliners, Richard Coffey was vehement concerning what he said are untrue rumors that his son Amir Coffey hates Golden Gophers head basketball coach Richard Pitino. Amir, a junior, is in the process of deciding whether he wants to skip his senior season at Minnesota and enter the NBA Draft.

“It’s amazing how people hear something and they just run with it,” Richard said about comments his son dislikes Pitino. “First of all, we don’t use the word hate in our family. We don’t hate anything, or anybody. That upsets me, when people use that word because there is so much hate in our country, and hatred only divides. I didn’t raise my kids to hate anyone, or to use that word. It upsets me when people read something or see something and then take it as truth.

“I live in Minnesota. I love the University of Minnesota. I love this state. If they want to know the truth about something, they should stop me and ask me—instead of taking the word of someone that has not spoken to me, has not spoken to my son, has not spoken to anybody in my family.”

Richard said if Amir decides by late May not to enter the 2019 NBA Draft, he will return to college basketball and guaranteed his son will play for the 2019-2020 Gophers. “So stop speculating on it,” Richard said.

In two of Amir’s three seasons Pitino’s Gophers have earned their way into the NCAA Tournament. They also won the NIT Tournament in New York in 2014. “Pitino is the coach of the University of Minnesota. We respect that,” Richard said. “Pitino has been here for six years and been to three postseasons. That’s a pretty good record.”

Amir Coffey photo courtesy of Minnesota Athletic Communications

Amir remains enrolled at Minnesota and is attending classes this spring. When not pursuing academics, he is training for a pro career that could begin after the June 20 NBA Draft. The Coffeys are being assisted in the fact-finding process about how NBA teams regard Amir by Excel Sports Management based in New York.

A select number of potential NBA draftees are invited to the NBA Combine where in mid-May in Chicago they are closely evaluated by representatives from the league’s 30 franchises. Those Combine invitations have yet to be sent out and Amir doesn’t know if his name will be on the invitation list. Under NBA and NCAA policy, underclassmen like Amir have until May 29 to retain their college eligibilities and play next season.

Amir, 6-foot-8 and about 205 pounds, was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season and was at his best in March, often making key plays in important games. The Gophers’ leading scorer, he was among the league’s most versatile players both offensively and defensively. He played point guard and wing for Minnesota while averaging 16.6 points and starting every game.

Richard has a lot of basketball expertise, having been a four-year starter for the Gophers from 1986-1990, including being a terrific effort front court player and rebounder on two NCAA Tournament teams. He also played professionally including for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He said the training and evaluation his son is receiving now will make him an improved player in either the pros or with the Gophers.

“Oh, for sure it’s going to make him a better player,” Richard said. “He’s spending a lot of time working on his weaknesses, trying to get better at those things, trying to become a better basketball player. You (also) continue to work on your strengths to help them continue to be your strengths.”

The Gophers lose four seniors from this year’s tournament team, and the likelihood for a successful season in 2019-2020 could well be predicated on a Coffey return. “We haven’t really thought about that (Amir’s importance),” Richard said. “At this point we are in a process of trying to find out from professionals their opinion on Amir. When we get that information we are going to use it to make a sound, intelligent decision on whether Amir comes back to school, or whether Amir stays in the draft.”

Worth Noting

NBAdraft.net, in its April 18 mock draft, didn’t include Coffey among the players it projects being picked in either the first or second rounds. The website predicted Maryland center Bruno Fernando being the first Big Ten player drafted with the Timberwolves using their first round selection at No. 10 on him.

Bryant Pfeiffer, the Minnesota United’s chief revenue officer, said the club’s new Allianz Field can potentially be expanded to a seating capacity of 25,000. The United played its first match ever in the privately financed facility earlier this month before a standing room only crowd of 18,796.

There are no immediate plans to expand the stadium but the United has 5,000 people on a waiting list for season tickets, Pfeiffer told Sports Headliners. The club capped its season tickets at 14,500 this year to leave room for single game and group sales.

A career sports marketer, who lives in Minnesota but prefers to speak anonymously, predicts the Twin Cities will have another men’s Frozen Four in six to eight years, and men’s basketball Final Four in 10 to 12.

He doesn’t think the Super Bowl will return to Minneapolis for a long time, and it’s unlikely the college football national championship game will ever be played here. Those games are played in January and February when the Minneapolis winter weather makes it difficult and even impossible to stage the kind of auxiliary outside events promoters require and prefer.

“Behind the Game,” the Twin Cities cable TV show with co-hosts Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson, has a current interview with longtime Pioneer Press sports columnist Charley Walters. The former Edison High School athlete had a brief career with the Minnesota Twins and it was 50 years ago this month he made his Major League debut.

Condolences to family and friends of Bill Ferril who passed away last week. Bill, formerly of Wayzata, was a successful businessman and dedicated booster of Gophers basketball.

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