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Grass Field Likely X-Factor for Vikings

Posted on January 6, 2023January 6, 2023 by David Shama

 

The Soldier Field playing surface will be a focus Sunday in Chicago where the Vikings will try to not only win and improve their playoff seeding against the 3-13 Bears but avoid injuries to key players and ensure their availability in the postseason.

The safety of the natural grass surface was harshly criticized in August by the president of the National Football League Players Association.  Then shortly before the season began new sod was installed, switching from Kentucky blue grass to Bermuda grass.

The Vikings are more than aware they’re likely to be playing on a slippery surface Sunday at the multipurpose stadium owned by the Chicago Park District. When players can’t maintain their balance, they’re even more vulnerable to injury in the violent game of football. “Yeah, 100 percent,” said T.J. Hockenson.

With new sod and months of use in varying weather conditions, the Vikings’ tight end anticipates a “pretty bad” playing surface Sunday when he and other starters hope to avoid misfortune.  Does he consider the field dangerous?

“You just never know,” Hockenson said.  “I think it probably could be dangerous if you look at it that way.  You just have to make sure you’ve got your feet under you and you’re ready to go.”

Vikings’ wide receiver Adam Thielen said pregame field conditions can be deceiving, with things changing once the game starts.  “I think it’s just going to have to be something (Sunday) where you just have to figure it out on the fly.”

The Vikings played on a natural surface last Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and had difficulty with their footing.  “Yeah, for sure,” Hockenson said.  “The grass in Lambeau wasn’t very good.  It was fine in warmups and then once we got out there (to start the game) it was not good at all. It was just a learning experience for everybody and we’ll be ready to go this week.”

Many Vikings are expected to wear shoes with extra cleats at Soldier Field. A shoe with seven cleats provides extra bite into the grass.  Thielen made the switch during the Green Bay game.  “…It was perfect and once I put those bad boys on, it felt great.”

Worth Noting

Kevin O’Connell photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Kevin O’Connell is a rookie head coach as he prepares to lead his Vikings into the playoffs.  But lessons learned about a year ago as Rams offensive coordinator, when that team delivered a Super Bowl win, should be helpful.

Minnesota offensive coordinator Wes Phillips also had a valuable experience with the Rams while serving as the team’s passing game coordinator/tight ends coach. Viking quarterbacks coach Chris O’Hara was an offensive assistant with the Rams during their big season.

The 12-4 Vikings are 2-2 in their last four games and have an opportunity to win their first NFC North Division road game of the season on Sunday in Chicago.  The January 8 regular season game is the latest in franchise history.

The Bears lead the NFL in rushing yards per game at 181. The Bears were held to 88 yards rushing when Minnesota defeated Chicago 29-22 earlier in the season. The Vikings rank No. 20 in rushing yards given up.

A coaching authority and Sports Headliners reader suggested the 3-4 base defense adopted by the Vikings this season is vulnerable to outside runs because defenders more easily lose containment.

O’Connell, talking recently about his rookie defensive lineman and former Gopher Esezi Otomewo: “His energy and athleticism shows up. He’s flying around out there, has shown to be incredibly coachable for a young player as he gets more and more snaps.”

Ryan Connelly, the Vikings’ practice squad linebacker who played at Eden Prairie High School, will be a free agent later this year.  He told Sports Headliners going to the Canadian Football League to play doesn’t interest him. His salary is $317,000 this season, per Overthecap.com.

It just could be the injuries situation for the football Gophers coming out of their bowl win over Syracuse is worse than reported.

Former Gophers football coach Jerry Kill has agreed to a contract that keeps him with New Mexico State through 2027.

Former Twin Nelson Cruz, 42, had eye surgery this offseason and is on the market as a free agent.  He hit .294 for the Twins in 2021 but .234 for the Nationals last season.

Probably no Twins interest in Cruz, but the front office is known to sign veteran pitchers.  Right hander Zack Greinke, 39, is available after pitching 137 innings last season for the Royals with a 3.68 ERA.

Classy Barry Fritz, the only crew supervisor of off-ice officials the Wild has ever had, will retire after this season.  Fritz, who turns 77 in February, has never missed a home game while overseeing statistics and press box responsibilities of the support personnel.  He also worked for many years as a Twins official scorer.

Former Wild executive Bill Robertson, now commissioner of the USHL, hired Fritz in 1999. “Mr. Barry Fritz is one of the most organized and detailed people I have ever worked with and always does it with a smile on his face,” Robertson wrote via email.  “He has a can-do attitude every day at the rink or ballpark. He was so easy to work with on every level and always looked out for his support crew.”

There’s talk the NCAA may expand “March Madness” from 68 to 90 teams.  If so, most of the Big Ten teams will be in the tournament.

Star Tribune columnists Patrick Reusse and Chip Scoggins speak to the Capital Club January 18 starting about 7:30 a.m. at Mendakota Country Club.  The two collaborated on the recent book Tales from the Minnesota Sports Beat: A Lifetime on Deadline.  More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com

Boys basketball high school coaching legend and community leader Larry McKenzie speaks to the CORES lunch group January 12 at the Bloomington Event Center.  McKenzie coached teams at Henry and North to six state tournament titles in 10 appearances.  For reservations contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.  CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Comments Welcome

Vikings Fans: It’s Time for Gratitude

Posted on January 3, 2023January 3, 2023 by David Shama

 

The Vikings close out their regular season Sunday in Chicago against a feeble Bears team.  Purple worry warts (as usual) have much to fret about including a Vikings hangover from their dismal showing against the Packers, the health of key players, a possible loss to the Bears Sunday, and potential injuries on a slippery grass field at Soldier Field, seeding for the upcoming playoffs and whether their favorites can march all the way to the Super Bowl.

Whew!

I know I missed somethings (uh, leaky defense) but take a deep breath, Purple Nation.  “Doctor Shama” offers the following advice:

Be grateful for what the 2022-2023 Vikings have already put in place.  And consider that even if they fail Sunday in Chicago against the Bears and flop in the playoffs, the Vikings have gone far beyond expectations and probably delivered the most theatric season since the franchise started in 1961.

Kirk Cousins

Remember the 2022 offseason last winter and a new decision-making group taking over in the front office and on the field?  Were the Vikings going to clear out their roster and rebuild? Dump Kirk Cousins and start over at quarterback? Say adios to other veterans, too?

Instead, new GM Kwesi Adopho-Mensah and new head coach Kevin O’Connell committed to tweaking instead of tearing down.  They retained the veteran corps and added a few key contributors like tight end T.J. Hockenson, while changing schemes and culture.

Want to see what a rebuild looks like?  Read up on the Bears, who under their new general manager, Ryan Poles, are 3-13 this season.  That’s the worst record in the NFC.

Last summer Purple Nation thought an optimistic outlook for the Vikings would be a 10-7 finish while perhaps backing into the playoffs, and likely with no home field advantage in the postseason.  Instead, the playoff-bound Vikings will finish the regular season with no worse than a 12-5 record and probably 13-4.  They could also host multiple playoff games at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Either 12-5, or 13-4 is a franchise best number of wins since 2017’s 13-3 record (when NFL teams played 16 games).  The Vikings are NFC North Division champions for the first time since the 2017 season.  Minnesota last qualified for the playoffs in 2019.

The Vikings have outdone themselves and all the other NFL teams in playing dramatic and entertaining football.  They have won 11 games by eight points or fewer.  Five times the victory margin has been three points.  “Comeback” Cousins has led eight fourth quarter rallies and in the process changed his image from loser to winner.

The 2022 Vikings have triumphed in games worthy of best-selling fiction, and this club belongs on a short list of the most memorable teams in franchise history. Two memories for the ages:

The overtime win in Buffalo was improbable for several reasons including that the Bills were positioned to run out the clock late in the fourth quarter but fumbled at their own goal line. Minnesota’s Eric Kendricks recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and a 30-27 lead.  In one of the NFL’s wildest games in the new millenium, the Bills managed a field goal with time expiring in the fourth quarter. The Vikings broke a 30-30 tie with a Greg Joseph field goal in overtime.

The Bills are among the NFL elites.  Not so the Colts who a few weekends ago in Minneapolis held a 33-0 halftime lead over the Vikings.  Even during a season of good fortune unlike any in Vikings’ history, few observers in U.S. Bank Stadium that day expected the Purple to rally and win. The 39-36 win was the biggest comeback in NFL history.  In disbelief, the Purple worry warts switched from lusty boos to triumphant cheers.

Justin Jefferson image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Cousins has prompted whispers of being NFL MVP worthy.  Not so with wide receiver Justin Jefferson whose name has been shouted out with the thunder of a Gjallarhorn. No NFL wide receiver has ever won the award so Jefferson’s candidacy says something special about his 2022 season that has him setting franchise and league records.

Neither Cousins nor Jefferson would be experiencing special seasons without the presence of O’Connell.  He is an offensive whiz with schemes, adjustments and play calls.  His leadership style has minimized fear among players and created a player-friendly culture without sacrificing discipline.

O’Connell is a good dude, a human being who is welcome in any “Minnesota nice” neighborhood.  I’ll guarantee his competitive spirit wants to drive the Viking bus all the way to a franchise first Super Bowl victory.  I strongly suspect at this moment he is also grateful for the success of his first season as an NFL head coach and all that he, his staff and players have accomplished.

Vikings fans should say amen to that, while still rooting for more success.

Comments Welcome

Wolves Owner Taylor Unhappy with Team

Posted on January 1, 2023January 1, 2023 by David Shama

 

Timberwolves majority owner Glen Taylor is disappointed and frustrated with his team’s performance so far this season.  In a phone interview with Sports Headliners several days ago Taylor expressed discouragement and befuddlement with the club’s poor play, while expressing expectation there is enough time remaining in the season to qualify for the playoffs in April.

The Wolves record, after a sixth consecutive loss last night, is a distressful 16-21. Demoralizing was losing last evening at home to the lowly Pistons who are 10 and 29.

Last season Minnesota finished the regular season with a 46-36 record and lost its opening playoff series to the Grizzlies.  Expectations by Taylor before the season was the Wolves would be improved and could secure home court advantage for the opening round of the postseason (they didn’t have it last spring).

“That’s my expectation (to get beyond the first round),” Taylor told Sports Headliners in October. “I think with the guys that we have, if other than injuries, they should deliver that.  I am confident in our coaching.  I think they’ll get the most out of these guys.  That’ll make a difference.”

The Wolves will have to go 30-15 in their remaining games just to equal last season’s record.  They could miss the playoffs, although that’s not the message from Taylor now.  “I know they can do it. We have the manpower (talent and depth) to do it. …”

What’s gone wrong consists of a long list of issues including injuries that have sidelined multiple key players starting with All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns (right calf strain) who might not play again until late January or February. Reality, though, is the team struggled even with a healthy lineup and blew an opportunity to start the season fast against a succession of mediocre opposition.

The performance has been inconsistent and resulted in a record around .500 all season.  Taylor talked about lack of focused play for four quarters and inability to get defensive stops toward the end of games.  Rebounding, turnovers, lack of cohesive team play, and technical fouls have been problematic, too.  “Little things we just shouldn’t have, and we lose those games to teams we can compete against,” Taylor said.

Chris Finch was hired as Wolves head coach in February of 2021 and has won praise in the past.  Based on the team’s performance since October, is there a coaching issue now tied to the failed record?

Glen Taylor

“I am not sure what it is,” Taylor said.  “I really like our coach.  I think he’s got a good staff.  I do mention that I don’t think we should be having technicals and  I think somebody is responsible for that.  I think you gotta get the respect of the players to say that they can’t be thinking of themselves individually.  They gotta be thinking of what’s in the best interest of the team and if that requires keeping their mouths shut, then keep their mouth shut.”

Taylor’s frustration is evident, and the team’s record prompts the question of whether Finch’s job is safe? The coach and his staff are in a classic situation of being blamed for a team going in the wrong direction.

“Well, they certainly are (safe) now,” Taylor said.  “We’re going into the (new) year and we certainly can turn it around. There’s time to do that.  That’s my expectation when Kat gets back, and the (other) guys get back. That they still have every reason to think that they could get into the playoffs and that’s …our expectations.”

New president of basketball operations Tim Connelly made a mega deal last summer sending five draft choices, plus five Wolves players, to the Jazz in exchange for center and defensive titan Rudy Gobert.  Only the most Polly Anna observer will describe the deal as a success so far.

The 7-foot-1, 30-year-old Frenchman has struggled to fit in with his new team, with contributions much more minimal than expected of a player who came at such a high trade price and commands a salary of over $35 million.  Gobert hasn’t been the shot blocking force fans expected and offensively he is frequently an afterthought.  The Wolves’ offense is inconsistent at including the 266-pound force who is difficult to stop near the basket.

Taylor doesn’t question Gobert’s dedication and believes the Wolves need to be more consistent in making use of his scoring potential, while also suggesting his center can do a better job with “put backs” near the basket. “He is big and strong and powerful,” Taylor said.

Asked when it’s fair to evaluate the trade that shook up not only the local basketball community but made national headlines, Taylor said he prefers to have the “basketball guys” answer that question.

Taylor is convinced the Wolves “have a very good team” but there are a lot of mistakes to correct while approaching a January schedule that will see them play some of the NBA’s better teams.  Troublesome are downfalls both with execution and judgment by players.  “I don’t think I am telling you anything (that) any good basketball fan can’t see,” Taylor said.

Meanwhile, the process of Taylor selling controlling interest in the Wolves and WNBA Lynx continues to move forward.  Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, who are expected to take over the majority share of ownership in about 12 months, have added investment partners.

Taylor said there are three individuals joining Lore and Rodriguez.  He is comfortable with the three but didn’t identify them. “…I know who they are. I know they would be acceptable to me and the league.”

Lore and Rodriguez are on an installment plan purchase and process that began about 18 months ago.  There has been ongoing speculation whether the two have the money for the $1.5 billion purchase price.  The additional investors seem to indicate the need for additional funding.  Taylor said if more investors are to be added he needs to be made aware of that in the next few days.

Lore and Rodriguez had to exercise their option by the end of last month for their second payment but have the flexibility to push the transfer of money out a couple months.  “They would still be within their rights to do that,” Taylor said.

While acknowledging the sale is proceeding, it’s not a certainty until it is.  A final payment must be made and that’s expected around the end of 2023.  Then, too, the NBA must eventually sign off on the deal that looks like it will result with Taylor owning a minority share of 20 percent.

“I don’t want to speak for the league, or anything like that,” Taylor said.  “I have an agreement with these guys. So far, they’ve made the first payment.  I anticipate they’ll do everything, and it will all work.  But the league also at some point in time has to approve them.”

Comments Welcome

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