David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Kill: Gophers May Win 9 or 10 Games

Posted on June 17, 2016June 17, 2016 by David Shama

Tracy Claeys voiced his optimism this spring about the Gophers, predicting the team could win eight, nine or 10 games next fall. The new head coach will receive no argument from his former boss.

“I think the Gophers will have a great year,” Jerry Kill said. “I think coach Claeys feels good about it.”

Kill brought Claeys and other assistant coaches to Minnesota more than five years ago after having winning teams at Northern Illinois. Not long after arriving in Minneapolis, Kill delivered the news that it would take time to turn the program around.

And it did as the Gophers worked on recovering from the coach Tim Brewster era when he compiled an 18-39 record.

Kill’s records in 2011 and 2012 were 3-9 and 6-7. Then came 8-5 seasons in 2013 and 2014—before last year’s surprising 6-7 record. The Gophers were struck hard by injuries, a difficult schedule and the resignation of Kill.

This year the schedule is less imposing with the removal of national powers Michigan, TCU and Ohio State. The difference between the schedules of 2015 and 2016 was on Kill’s radar a long time ago. He knew years six (2016) and seven (2017) of the program could be his best in Dinkytown, with easier schedules and better players than in the past.

“I think they’ve got an opportunity to win nine or 10 games (this season),” Kill told Sports Headliners by telephone Monday.

The national media, though, is cautious about the Gophers who are a popular choice to finish fifth in the Big Ten’s seven team West Division behind Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Predictions are the Gophers can improve on last season’s 6-7 overall record and 2-6 Big Ten Conference total, but this is still a team that ranks in the lower half of the league and is assigned a spot like No. 60 in the nation.

Preseason predictions are interesting but they obviously come without guarantees. Kill believes the Gophers can move through their 12-game schedule with minimal on field defeats if the team avoids a serious outbreak of injuries.

“Nobody (predictors) knows who is going to do what because of the injury situation,” Kill said. “We thought we would have a very good team a year ago. After playing TCU (opening game) we had a beat up team, and then injury after injury after injury. Probably the most injuries I’ve ever seen in a football team in my coaching career.

“Nobody knows who is going to win what, because nobody knows who is going to be healthy at the end of the year. The most important thing abut winning is staying healthy.”

Kill rebuilt the Gophers program with a defense led by Claeys, his coordinator. The stats say Minnesota was better on defense than offense last season, and this fall the Gophers figure to make an impression again and perhaps have one of the best defensive units in the West Division.

The Gophers ranked seventh in the Big Ten in total defense last season. About half of the starters return on the defensive unit including some of the best players—defensive tackle Steven Richardson, linebackers Jack Lynn and Cody Poock, and safety Damarius Travis who is the team’s best defender.

Minnesota has to replace its cornerbacks from last season and Kill believes the transition to new starters will work but he does have a concern about defensive backs. “Probably the biggest question mark (about the defense) is depth in the secondary,” he said. “There’s some (redshirt) freshmen that are going to have to fill in some roles. They don’t have to be starters but they gotta be able to fill some roles.”

Claeys has a new offensive coordinator in Jay Johnson and new line coach in Bart Miller. The hope is the maturity of offensive players, the change in coaches and a revised offensive system will perk things up on the scoreboard. Generally, Kill’s teams over the years were better defensively than offensively. Last year the Gophers ranked No. 12 in total offense and No. 13 in scoring offense among Big Ten teams.

The fate of the Gophers on both sides of the ball will greatly be determined by line play. Kill said the defensive line “should be very strong.” He is optimistic about the offensive line, too.

“I think there’s more talent up front than there was a year ago,” he said. “Of course, they’re going to have stay healthy because there’s still not enough depth.”

Kill stressed the importance of offensive tackle Garrison Wright and guard Vincent Calhoun, both junior college transfers. “Those junior college kids gotta come thru and I think they will,” Kill said. “They got to come in at semester (January) and learn what to do, and I think that’s certainly going to help them.”

Senior tackle Jonah Pirsig, 6-9, 316 pounds, will need to be another key contributor. “Jonah is a big time player,” Kill said. “I think he’s got a chance to play in the National Football League if he continues to get better. He’s so big. … He’s gotten stronger in the weight room. His feet have gotten better. Technically he’s got to continue to improve but he has the ability and size for what they’re looking for (NFL scouts).”

Kill attended a few spring practices and among the players he noticed was tackle Chad Fahning, a redshirt junior walk-on from DeLaSalle High School. “He had a hell of a spring until he got hurt,” Kill said.

Quarterback Mitch Leidner had some of his best career moments toward the end of last season. Leidner, a redshirt senior, is being mentioned as a quarterback who interests the NFL. “I think he’ll have a great year,” Kill said.

Kill also likes Gophers running backs Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith, two players who made a major impact as freshmen in 2015. Then when Kill talks about receivers, it’s obvious Brandon Lingen is a favorite.

“Tight end wise, Brandon Lingen is as good as there is,” Kill said. “I think (he is) a guy that is an all-conference player.”

Kill always emphasized special teams at Minnesota and other places he coached. That high standard is likely to continue under Claeys, who retained nearly all of Kill’s staff. A special teams area in the spotlight starting in August is Claeys’ decision to make Ryan Santos, the field goal specialist last year, the punter in 2016. Emmit Carpenter, who impressed during the spring, could be the team’s new field goal specialist.

The Gophers are replacing punter Peter Mortell who used up his eligibility. Kill believes the 6-6, 250-pound Santos has the leg to be an effective punter but might have assigned Santos the new job while allowing him to keep the old one too. “If I was there, I probably would have him do both,” Kill said.

Worth Noting

WCHA men’s hockey coaches may have a new policy for overtime games next season. The present procedure is five minute overtimes with each team rewarded a point if neither team wins. Ideas being considered include four-on-four play for five minutes in the initial overtime, and if there is no winner then three-on-three for five minutes more. If no winner is determined a shootout follows. A new overtime policy—providing more action for fans to watch —could be decided by the coaches in early August.

Xavier Rhodes is a talented cornerback and NFL season No. 4 might be a breakthrough year for him. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has noticed that unlike previous springs Rhodes has a much better understanding of his job, including the “intricacies.”

“I think he can be a really good cornerback,” Zimmer said. “He’s obviously got great length, he can run, he can turn his hips good, he’s physical. Sometimes Xav is his own worst enemy and he will get down on himself a little bit. But I think he feels confident about what he’s done this spring. …”

It’s expected that teammates will offer praise for one another when talking to the media, but Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater raved about tight end Kyle Rudolph earlier this week at minicamp. “I love Kyle. He’s a great player, and he’s an even better person,” Bridgewater said. “He’s reliable on and off the football field. He’s a guy you can call and be like, ‘Hey Kyle, do you mind coming out to one of my events?’ And he won’t hesitate to say yes.”

Bridgewater welcomes Rudolph’s input on the sidelines. “I consider him another quarterback because of how smart he is,” Bridgewater said. “He understands the game. He understands what the coaching staff wants us to do, and he wants to know where the ball is going. So he’s studying the plays as if he was a quarterback and that’s the type of guy you want on your team.”

Minicamp was over for the Vikings as of yesterday and next up will be the start of training camp in Mankato in late July. What will Bridgewater do in between minicamp and Mankato?

“I’ll probably get together with the guys again, have another ‘Teddy Two Gloves Passing Academy,’ something like that,” Bridgewater said. “That’s what the guys call it, but we’ll probably get together again, (and) workout. (Also) spend some time with my family—and that’s about it.

“Over these next couple weeks, there’s not time to take a step back. Training camp is right around the corner so I’m going to continue to just prepare myself physically and mentally so that when July 28th comes I’m ready to go.”

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Minnesota Lynx Tracking Record Year

Posted on June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 by David Shama

The Lynx set a WNBA record last night for most wins opening a season, pushing Minnesota’s record this spring to 11-0. If the Lynx can win their next three games, including against the 10-0 Sparks on Tuesday, they can break the franchise record of 13 consecutive wins that spanned the 2011-2012 seasons.

The Lynx defeated Indiana last evening at Target Center to break the best start to the season record the 2012 Minnesota team set. The 10-0 2012 club didn’t lose a game until June 17 and went on to lose in the WNBA Finals to Indiana.

The team is off to an impressive start but what matters the most is whether Minnesota can repeat as league champions, and it will be interesting to see how the break for the Olympics this summer impacts the franchise’s title plans.

Four years ago there was also a break in the WNBA schedule because of the summer Olympics, and the stoppage didn’t derail the Lynx season. But there is risk involved with a long break, especially for the Lynx who will send four players to Brazil for the summer games. The last Lynx game before the break will be July 22 and the first after the Olympics will be August 26.

Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen will play for the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team. The Lynx have more players on the U.S. roster than any other WNBA franchise. A serious injury to one or more of the Lynx’s Big Four in Rio de Janeiro could prevent Minnesota from winning its fourth WNBA championship in six years.

Moore is off to a sensational start this season, having twice been named Western Conference Player of the Week. She is fourth in league scoring at 19.8 points per game. Augustus, Fowles and Whalen are former WNBA All-Stars as is Moore. Playing different positions, they bring varied scoring, playmaking, rebounding and shot blocking skills that have helped make the Lynx a dynasty and Minnesota’s most successful pro franchise.

Even if the Lynx players stay healthy during the Olympic break, there are other factors that will test the team when the WNBA season resumes in late August. For example, the Lynx Big Four will face the demands and fatigue of the Olympics. Of the four Lynx players, only Moore is under 30 years old.

Then, too, there is the question of whether team momentum can continue after the WNBA schedule break for the Olympics. In another month the Lynx may still be the hottest club in the WNBA but that offers no guarantee in late August and early September as the schedule draws to a close and the playoffs follow. Momentum is a major factor in continued success for any team and a long break could impact Lynx chemistry in the team’s final nine regular season games after the Olympics. The Lynx’s Big Four will spend a month playing with Olympic teammates, then readjust to their Minnesota teammates. How will that go?

This is not only another talented Lynx team but perhaps the deepest in franchise history. Will this be the most historic of seasons for the franchise?

The 2016 Olympic team, with the key Lynx contributors on the roster and a five-time history of being Olympic champions, will be expected to win Gold again. The Lynx could compile the best regular season record in WNBA history, perhaps breaking Phoenix’s 29-5 record set in 2014. And by repeating as WNBA champions in the playoffs, Minnesota would tie Houston for most league titles with four.

Worth Noting

Former Timberwolves forward Kevin Love draws criticism for not doing more to help the Cavs who trail the Warriors 3-2 in the NBA Finals. Love, though, isn’t a good fit in the Cavs offense featuring a lot of one-on-one basketball with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Rumors may continue about Love being traded and he would benefit by being in a more team oriented offense like those in Boston, New York and San Antonio.

Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners he starts his new job July 18 as associate athletic director at Kansas State. His focus will be helping the Kansas State football program.

Kill was in Rochester, New York earlier in the week to participate in a Coaches vs. Cancer golf event fundraiser. Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, himself a cancer survivor, was honored for support of Coaches vs. Cancer.

The Gophers’ opening football game at home against Oregon State on Thursday, September 1 will be the first Big Ten Network telecast of the season. Telecast time from TCF Bank Stadium will be 8 p.m. (Central Daylight).

New Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle is meeting in-person with athletic department contributors who have helped the program in the past.

Two-time Minnesota All-American and 1962 Outland Trophy winner Bobby Bell will be the Gophers’ dignitary for the first-ever All-Big Ten Alumni Cruise of Alaska June 20-30 of next year. Each Big Ten school is inviting its own dignitary, according to an email last week from the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.

A sports industry source told Sports Headliners former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who still works for the organization, may interview for the University of Texas head baseball job this week. Gardenhire has the experience and personality to connect with college players.

The Twins host the Yankees for a four-game series starting tomorrow night (Thursday) at Target Field. Saturday the first 10,000 fans receive a Miguel Sano Bobblehead.

Late next week the Twins are in New York for a three-game series with the Yankees that includes a June 24 promotional giveaway of 18,000 Mickey Mantle Triple Crown Bobbleheads. It was 60 years ago, in 1956, that Mantle won the American League’s Triple Crown.

Although the Minnesota Legislature didn’t grant a property tax exemption on the St. Paul land for a soccer stadium this spring, it’s expected to happen in the next 10 months or less. Construction of the privately financed stadium has to start soon for a desired 2018 opening for Minnesota’s anticipated new MLS team. It seems all but certain the team will play next year at the Gophers’ TCF Bank Stadium.

Jimmy Fortune, formerly of the Statler Brothers, will entertain at the seventh annual Camden’s Concert on July 11 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. WCCO Radio Sports Huddle host Dave Mona and wife Linda named the event after grandson Camden Mona. Now eight years old, Camden was diagnosed at birth with cystic fibrosis and the concert raises money for cystic fibrosis research. More at Camdensconcert.com.

The North Star Bicycle Festival that started earlier in the month will continue today (Wednesday) thru Sunday with the North Star Grand Prix, a five-day, six-stage race held in cities around east central Minnesota that is part of USA Cycling’s national racing calendar. More at Northstarbicyclefestival.com.

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‘Championship Depth’ on Vikes Staff

Posted on June 13, 2016June 13, 2016 by David Shama

As head coach, Mike Zimmer has led a turnaround of the Vikings. After a first-year 7-9 record in 2014, the Vikings won the NFC North Division last season going 11-5.

In only two seasons Zimmer has been anointed one of the NFL’s best head coaches. A May 25 article in USA Today, for example, ranked Zimmer the fourth best coach in the league.

Zimmer had never been a head coach in the NFL when general manager Rick Spielman hired him in January of 2014 to lead a rebuilding of the team. From the start Zimmer, a former defensive coordinator with the Bengals, showed a commitment to defense. He also insisted that all his players perform with extra effort and football intelligence.

An example of on field I.Q. is that last season the Vikings were the least penalized team in the NFL with 88 flags. The offense was the least penalized in the 32-team league with 30 penalties.

The Vikings improved in Zimmer’s first season and clearly made even more progress last year. The franchise is on a shortlist of NFL organizations who smart observers predict will be Super Bowl contenders in the coming years. The dream scenario, of course, is the Vikings will play in the 2018 Super Bowl that will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium.

But Zimmer hasn’t set the Viking ship in a new direction by himself. Spielman has drafted wisely in recent years, acquiring young talent like quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, tight end Kyle Rudolph and safety Harrison Smith.

The personnel matters but so too does the coaching. And Zimmer has surrounded himself with impressive assistants, most of whom were with him last year too. Last week former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton watched practice and talked about a staff that got even better this winter with the addition of tight ends coach Pat Shurmur and offensive line coach Tony Sparano. “It’s a very impressive group,” Dalton told Sports Headliners.

Shurmur is starting his 18th NFL season this year, Sparano his 19th. They are not only former NFL assistants, but also ex-head coaches—Shurmur with the Eagles and Sparano with the Dolphins. Dalton sees the addition of the two veteran teachers as “juicing the staff” and providing “championship depth.”

Dalton said championship teams need depth in player personnel and so do coaching staffs. And it’s not only the number of years coaching that counts, but also the varied experiences in different systems and philosophies that matter.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner is an ex-NFL head coach with the Chargers and Redskins. Dalton said Zimmer shows confidence in himself with a willingness to have three former head coaches on his offensive staff. “I’ll bet their meetings are really interesting because they’re going to bring different takes on it (what to plan) and they’ll find the right matchups for the Vikings’ offense,” Dalton said.

While Zimmer likes his staff, the best news he probably received last week was when Spielman got a contract extension done with Smith for a reported five years and $51.25 million. The extension had been a subject of speculation going back to last year, and earlier this spring Smith told Sports Headliners he didn’t know what the timeline would be on a deal even though he was set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

“I figured it would get done,” Zimmer said. “I don’t think that Harrison is the kind of guy that really cares that much about money. I think he loves playing football and loves being out here and working, and things like that. So, I figured it would get done eventually.”

Rudolph signed a reported five-year extension two years ago and his experience is that it’s a plus to get contracts done. “…You can say all you want that you’re not worried about it, you’re not thinking about it, but it’s just done and binding now and he can fully focus on football,” Rudolph said. “He’s one of the best I know at preparing, coming in everyday, working hard, practicing everyday. No one prepares more than Harrison does, and he deserves every penny that he got and I am happy for him.”

Rudolph benefits from practicing against Smith, a safety he regards as the best in the NFL. “He can do everything,” Rudolph said. “He can cover. He can play in the box. He can blitz. And I think he’s part of the reason why our defense is so successful. He’s a guy that can be put in almost any situation and he’s going to succeed.”

What does Zimmer believe Smith means to his defense?

“Well, he’s a leader by example,” Zimmer answered. “He plays real hard. He’s tough. He’s smart. You know he’s like a lot of our guys.”

Plays hard, tough and smart? Yeah, sounds familiar.

Twins Notes

This is a weird schedule week for the Twins. They defeated the Red Sox at home yesterday and start a three-game series in Anaheim tonight, before returning to Minneapolis and playing a four-game series against the Yankees.

The Twins are an American League worst 19-43 after yesterday’s extra inning 7-4 win against the Red Sox. The club has 100 games remaining on the schedule and must improve to avoid the franchise’s worst record ever. The 1982 Twins finished 60 and 102. To reach 61 victories the Twins will need to win 42 percent of their remaining games. The final record would then be 61 and 101. Not likely.

Max Kepler (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins).

Twins rookie outfielder Max Kepler, who won yesterday’s game with a three-run home run, was rated the organization’s third best prospect entering this season and best at strike-zone discipline by Baseball America.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Nunez is the team’s only serious All-Star Game candidate. He is seventh in batting average among Major League players at .327. His total of 14 stolen bases ranks as sixth best.

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