Gophers football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners the potential for sophomore wide receiver Da’Jon McKnight is “huge.”  McKnight made a superb catch for a two point conversion in last Saturday’s game against Illinois.

Brewster said as of last week the Gophers and Iowa were tied for most comebacks this season (five) in major college football.

The Vikings had over 3,000 tickets remaining late last week for this Sunday’s game with Detroit, according to an email from Steve LaCroix, vice president of sales and marketing.  Prices start at $48.

Tubby Smith’s Gophers were impressive in their opening exhibition win over the University of Minnesota Duluth, 114-47.  The Gophers played harder and more cohesively than the Division II Bulldogs.  The Gophers blocked 14 shots and had more than 40 deflections.  Centers Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson appear improved from their freshmen seasons.  Freshman forward Rodney Williams had a spectacular first half dunk and looks like a candidate for air time on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

In its college basketball preview issue Sporting News Magazine predicts the following order of finish (with the first seven teams making the NCAA tournament): Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Penn State, Indiana and Iowa.

Two of the Wild’s best players, goalie Niklas Backstrom and forward Martin Havlat, are dedicated to stretching to maintain maximum flexibility in their bodies.  Havlat has a Twitter account: Twitter.com/martinhavlat.

Wolves coach Kurt Rambis has already watched a lot of inconsistent play from rookie Jonny Flynn, but predicts the 20-year-old will become an “elite guard.”

The Lynx have the first pick in next April’s WNBA draft and two players creating talk that they could go No. 1 are Connecticut’s Tina Charles, and Stanford’s Jayne Appel.

The Lynx are the only Minnesota major pro sports team to draft No. 1 overall since the Twins in 2001 (Joe Mauer).

Carlos Gomez, who hit .229 in 137 games for the Twins last season, didn’t sound too disappointed to leave here in last week’s trade to Milwaukee for shortstop J.J. Hardy. He told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: “I know I can hit,” he said. “When you’re young and you play every day, it’s easier. Last season, I didn’t play every day. It’s tough.

“I need to play every day. This is good for me. I can’t wait for the season to start. I want to show everybody how I can play.”  More at https://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/69423807.html.

Comments Welcome

Will the Vikings surprise the Packers with offensive changes on Sunday?  The stagnant Vikings offense has produced no touchdowns in its last two games and for the season quarterback Brad Johnson has thrown four touchdown passes and the Vikings have rushed for two scores (both by Chester Taylor).  The ineptness has been a team effort with mistakes and below average performance in multiple positions. 

Sometimes a coaching staff will respond with “out of the box” thinking.  Like what?  Maybe a no-huddle offense to speed up momentum and give the defense less time to prepare for the next play.  Perhaps a new offensive formation, unbalanced line or different blocking schemes.  Try a change in quarterbacks, or rotating two quarterbacks during the game, capitalizing on the skill sets of both, including ability to run or scramble for extra yards.  Even a trick play or two can help get a team out of its funk (Johnson passing to Taylor who passes to Johnson?)

And then if you want to talk way “out of the box,” how about inserting safety Darran Sharper at quarterback for one or two plays?  He was a high school quarterback with a 20-9 record in Richmond, Virginia. 

Whether the Vikings offer some surprises or just execute their standard stuff a lot better, they know Sunday’s game is more than a “border battle.”  Lose and the Vikings and Packers both have 4-5 records and are tied for second place in the NFC North Division.  Win and the Vikings take advantage of a home field game against an inferior team.   

It might be time to draw up a few plays “in the sand.”

Comments Welcome

In an interview earlier this week Adam Weber didn’t try to avoid questions about his feelings during a season that has at times seen criticism directed his way but also praise and recognition.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster said his quarterback was “lights out” in his superb performance against Michigan State, a 42-34 Minnesota win.  Weber, who has been inconsistent in his passing this season, is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after becoming the first Minnesota quarterback to surpass 400 passing yards in more than a decade, throwing for a career-best 416 yards and matching a career high with five touchdown passes.

“He played as well as a quarterback can play,” Brewster said.

Does Weber feel better about himself now than a week ago?  “Yeah, definitely,” he answered.  “You try not to get too down.  You try to be a leader on the team and you don’t let your personal performances, or expectations, bring down…other people.”

Weber is a mature 22-year-old who has 34 career starts for the Gophers.  The redshirt junior is the Gophers best offensive player, making plays with his arm, feet and head.  He ranks sixth among Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yards per game at 205.9.

Weber is recognized by teammates and coaches as a leader and player vital to the team’s success but that, of course, doesn’t stop the less informed from criticizing him.  Frequently this season the plays that didn’t turn out successfully were because team execution failed.

Weber was asked if he’s heard and feels the criticism.  “Yeah, sure, definitely,” Weber said. “But I think what Bryan Cupito has taught me and a lot of people have taught me is you take things with a grain of salt.”

Cupito is the former Gopher quarterback who was Minnesota’s career passing leader for yardage.  Weber broke his record last Saturday and now has 7,509 yards.  Cupito proceeded Weber as the team’s starting quarterback.

Weber said he’s more concerned about his family’s reaction to criticism than he is for himself.  “I feel more worried about my family and my mom,” he said.  “I tell my mom all the time you can’t be reading any of that stuff, or you can’t be hearing any of that stuff.”

The win over Michigan State left the Gophers with a 5-4 record.  On Saturday the Gophers play Illinois at home.  “Illinois is another step for us to overcome to get to the best bowl game we can,” Weber said.

Often in the past the Gophers have stumbled the following week after a win against a quality team like Michigan State.  The Gophers had an extraordinary week of practice last week and played well in the Michigan State game.   Weber said that standard is much more important than past history.

Comments Welcome