David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Not All Sold on Kalil for Vikings

Posted on April 25, 2012April 25, 2012 by David Shama

The Vikings may use the third pick in tomorrow night’s NFL draft to choose USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil but that doesn’t mean general manager Rick Spielman didn’t look vigorously at options with other teams to trade down.

Spielman said yesterday at a news conference that his contacts with other teams have picked up this week and there’s enough volume of calls to “create potential” for a trade. He wouldn’t specify how many calls he’s received.

Former Colts executive Bill Polian, writing for ESPN.com, suggested a Dolphins and Vikings trade. The Dolphins would move up to No. 3 and draft Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Vikings would receive Miami’s No. 8 pick in the first round, plus second and third round choices from the Dolphins.

While Kalil is the consensus No. 1 offensive lineman in the draft, opinion is the 6-7, 300-pound left tackle might still be available at No. 8. Iowa’s Riley Reiff is another left tackle option, according to Polian.

Profootballweekly.com praises Kalil’s work ethic, describing him as an “excellent pass protector” and “good functional” run blocker. The website doesn’t consider Kalil a “wow” prospect on tape, questioning his leverage and strength in his hands.

The Vikings are much in need of a more than competent left tackle they can plug in for the next 10 years. Last season’s starter, Charlie Johnson, isn’t suited for the position and could move over to left guard. With the talented pass rushing right defensive ends in the NFL, an above average left tackle to protect the quarterback rates high on any team’s needs list.

While drafting Kalil at No. 3 is probably a safe move, the team has a lot of needs and Sports Illustrated pro football authority Peter King thinks the Vikings should draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. While taking a cornerback at No. 3 is unusual, King writes in the April 23 issue of Sports Illustrated that the Vikings have to play six games a season against NFC North quarterbacks who will throw a combined 100 touchdown passes each season.

“Minnesota’s secondary is horrible—even worse than its offensive line,” King writes in his mock draft article. “The Vikings don’t need a corner. They need two.”

That’s the point of those who argue the Vikings should trade the No. 3 pick to acquire more draft choices than the 10 they have and will use from Thursday-Saturday. The team has needs in all areas on defense, and is looking for offensive linemen and wide receivers (don’t be surprised if the Vikings draft Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon at No. 3).

Yesterday Spielman acknowledged Kalil, Claiborne and Blackmon as the players the Vikings are looking at for the No. 3 pick. He said there are “no negatives” with the three.

Because of his promotion to general manager, this will be the first draft where Spielman has been the final drafting authority for the Vikings. Talking yesterday Spielman made it evident he’s a “perfectionist.”

“I expect to hit (be successful) on all 10 (picks),” Spielman said. “I am not going to be satisfied with anything less.”

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Worth Noting

Posted on April 25, 2012April 25, 2012 by David Shama

The Vikings Draft Party tomorrow night at Mall of America Field opens at 4 p.m. Admission is free to season ticket holders. For others the cost is $10.

The Vikings are viewed as the fourth place team in the NFC North, although Bears tight end Matt Spaeth wouldn’t say that. He said with injuries and other variables it’s difficult to predict where teams will finish. “They’ve (the Vikings) got a lot of good players so they could be good,” the former Gopher told Sports Headliners.

Former Vikings head coach Mike Tice is the new Bears offensive coordinator. “Coach Tice’s offense is going to be a tight end friendly offense so I am excited about this year,” Spaeth said.

Spaeth, who has been a part-time starter during five previous NFL seasons, likes the improvement the Bears have made during the offseason. “We’re going to definitely contend (in the NFC North),” he said. “The Packers are tough. It’s going to be a tough deal for us, but we’re going to be good.”

Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters undergoes right shoulder replacement surgery tomorrow. “Too many fastballs,” the former Twins pitcher said. He won’t be writing again until May 7.

Nick Blackburn, the Twins losing pitcher last night, is 0-6 in his last nine starts dating back to July 25, 2011.

Twins starters now have a combined ERA of 6.73.

New Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague signed a five-year contract in 2011 with a base pay of $240,000 at Virginia Commonwealth University, according to a story posted Monday by the Richmond Times-Dispatch website. Teague, according to Minnesota media reports, will earn $400,000 in base salary, plus incentives, at the University of Minnesota.

Former Gophers running back Darrell Thompson, who runs the Minneapolis-based Bolder Options program, will hold his organization’s annual dinner at TCF Bank Stadium on May 17. WCCO Radio’s Dave Lee will be master of ceremonies with the keynote speech given by Terry Hitchcock, who at age 57 in 1996 ran the equivalent of 75 marathons in 75 days. More information on the dinner is available at the Bolder Options website.

St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso notes that he, Vikings center John Sullivan and former Twins infielder Tim Teufel (now the Mets third base coach) are all from Greenwich, Connecticut.

Long range TV calendar planning: The summer Olympics begin on NBC July 27, and CBS will televise the Notre Dame-Navy football game from Dublin, Ireland on September 1.

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One Quality to Define New A.D. Legacy

Posted on April 23, 2012April 23, 2012 by David Shama

Norwood Teague is the only finalist for the Gophers athletic director position and is meeting with the search committee this morning. During the interview process he’s encountered many questions but the truth is his effectiveness as Minnesota’s athletic director will come down to this:

How effective will Teague be in hiring and firing coaches?

The best coaches build winning programs. Winning sells tickets, private suites, signage and increases donations. It also builds brand awareness and a sparkling image.

As with any skill, some individuals are better at identifying the right hires than others. For decades now the Gophers have often tripped up trying to hire the right athletic directors, and also the best coaches in the high visibility sports of football and basketball. Minnesota fans have only to look across the border to see where spot-on hires in Wisconsin Badgers athletics have made a night and day difference.

Teague, who has been the athletic director at Virginia Commonwealth University since 2006, has a strong background in business including marketing. Those skills no doubt attracted University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler and so, too, did VCU’s basketball reputation.

Teague hired Shaka Smart and he’s turned VCU into a national basketball success story. If Teague can consistently show hiring expertise at Minnesota he will ensure a legacy that will place him at the top among the school’s athletic directors since World War II.

Kaler had told Sports Headliners on Saturday the announcement of the new athletic director could come within days. Yesterday the University released a statement saying Teague was the only finalist. It seems likely a news conference will be held soon confirming the official hiring of Teague whose name has been associated with other athletic director openings around the country.

A search to find a new athletic director was announced on February 21. The Parker Executive Search firm from Atlanta has been working with Kaler and University search committee volunteers. “It’s a good pool (of candidates) and I think we’ll get a great athletic director,” Kaler said on Saturday.

Kaler said he’s been committed to receiving input regarding the athletic director position. “We’ve spent a lot of time listening to the community about the features they want in the next A.D. and I think the person we hire will match those qualities,” he said. “I expect the community will reach out and embrace that person. I think people want success in Gopher athletics as much as we do and we’re gonna work together to make that happen.”

The president confirmed on Saturday that talks are ongoing regarding a contract extension for basketball coach Tubby Smith but no deal will be finalized without communications involving the new athletic director. “I am not going to do anything with Tubby and then hand it to the new A.D. They’ll (the athletic director) have input on it.”

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