Daniel House started a blog several years ago devoted to Vikings coverage and since then he has drawn a large following for his new age insights about Minnesota’s NFL team and also the Golden Gophers. House is a workhorse in gathering and interpreting comprehensive information—including analytics—about those two teams. He also has a “library” on other pro and college football teams and players across the nation.
House told Sports Headliners he believes the Vikings, if they have the opportunity, should grab Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in the upcoming NFL Draft. “That’s the guy I would be going after 100 percent…a quarterback that has the highest upside that could change your franchise if everything clicks and the system fits him well.”
Corral hasn’t been as valued in 2022 mock drafts as a couple of other college quarterbacks. House is puzzled about that but it doesn’t deter him from raving about Corral who played for head coach Lane Kiffin, the quarterback whisperer who attended Bloomington Jefferson High School.
House looks at Corral and sees an athlete with arm strength and pocket presence who played in a quick tempo offense at Mississippi. He praises Corral’s competitive attitude and how teammates rally around him. Invaluable, too, is Corral’s ability to run and make gains out of potential lost yardage situations, while fitting the mobility mold of most successful NFL quarterbacks in today’s game. “That play extension trait is the most important thing, and Corral definitely has that,” House said.
House acknowledges Corral has mechanical things “he can clean up” and that the California native needs to keep improving his accuracy. But House could see the Vikings writing a long-term success story with a franchise rebuild plan that trades away 33-year-old QB Kirk Cousins, replaces him with a “bridge quarterback” for a couple of seasons and develops Corral to take over the position.
NFL trades are allowed starting next month and the Vikings are likely interested in moving on from Cousins. His $45 million salary cap hit is a roadblock to signing other players. Considered a top 12 to 15 NFL quarterback, Cousins has experienced mixed success with the Vikings but might be seen as someone helping another team improve. The Vikings could sweeten a trade deal by paying part of Cousins’ 2022 guaranteed salary.
Several landing spots might be in play including the Browns and Broncos. There are Vikings ties in both places. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was Kirk’s offensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. New Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah came from the Cleveland front office. Klint Kubiak, Minnesota’s offensive coordinator last season, is now the quarterbacks coach with the Broncos. Former Vikings assistant general manager George Paton is the Denver GM.
A “bridge quarterback” candidate pool could include Baker Mayfield of the Browns. Former Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater, popular with teammates and fans while in Minnesota, is with the Broncos. There are other possibilities with other teams.
When Cousins played for Washington his quarterbacks coach for one season was Kevin O’Connell, now the new Vikings head coach. He worked with Cousins to improve his quarterback’s skills in improvising and mobility. It’s evident, though, that Cousins doesn’t have a high ceiling for extending plays. “He is not that guy…that can go off script,” House said.
More recently as offensive coordinator of the Rams, O’Connell helped develop and direct one of the NFL’s most imaginative offenses, built on attacking the defense all over the field. Having a quarterback who can extend plays is most certainly something O’Connell wants in his Viking quarterbacks.
O’Connell is known for his teaching skills and could welcome a talent like Corral. He also has a young, athletic quarterback on the roster in Kellen Mond who the Vikings selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In next Sunday’s Super Bowl the Rams play the Bengals, a team that was among the bottom feeders of the NFL for years. But with second year QB whiz Joe Burrow the Bengals have surprisingly earned their way into the big game. The Vikings haven’t been to the Super Bowl since 1977 and to earn their way back will need exceptional quarterback play.
House suggests Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell may well have to take multiple shots at finding their savior. “I think that’s the important thing is trying to throw darts until you hit on a quarterback because if you hit on the right one, you saw what can happen,” House said referring to the success of quarterbacks like Burrow and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs.
Nanne: Kaprizov Most Exciting Wild Player Ever
Lou Nanne, 80, is the godfather of Minnesota hockey. He was an All-American defenseman for the Golden Gophers, and for the NHL North Stars he was a player, coach, GM and president. At state tournament time he has been the authoritative voice of Minnesota prep hockey for nearly six decades.
When Nanne talks hockey, listen. And the other day he was raving about the Wild’s electric second-season forward Kirill Kaprizov.
“He’s the most exciting player the Wild has ever had to watch,” Nanne told Sports Headliners. “He’s so much fun and he’s got so many different skills. It’s really good that the Wild fans have the opportunity to see him play like this. That’s why you buy tickets is to be entertained and he entertains you.”
Nanne counts the 24-year-old Russian forward among a handful of NHL players who routinely bring fans out of their seats. He joins the appreciative crowds (whether at home or at Xcel Energy Center) in anticipating Kaprizov’s next shift on the ice and what he might do.
On track to becoming a super star, Kaprizov creates magic on the ice with his goal scoring and playmaking. “The fact that he can create stuff out of nothing,” Nanne said. “His speed, his hands, his shot, his head. It just energizes you. …He’s got five years on the contract and it should be a delightful five years watching this guy.”
Starting with Kaprizov’s rookie debut more than a year ago, opponents have tried to double-team and intimidate him. “That doesn’t affect him at all,” Nanne said. “He’s got a low base and center of gravity. He’s got huge thighs and he’s very, very strong on his skates. …He’s like a little truck out there. He’s taken some heavy hits.”
Nanne sees improvement from last season, particularly defensively, by the 5-10, 200-pound Kaprizov who is being showcased at the NHL All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. “Kirill the Thrill” is joined in Vegas this weekend by teammate Cam Talbot who Nanne ranks a top 10 NHL goalie.
“He is a smart goaltender,” Nanne said. “He knows how to play. The way he cuts his angles, the way he controls rebounds. The way he sets pucks up; when to free the puck. …”
The Wild has a 28-10-3 record. It’s the first time in franchise history to earn 28 wins in the first 41 games. Minnesota’s first season was 2000-2001.
At the halfway mark of the season, Nanne includes the Wild among teams he believes are most likely to earn their way into the Stanley Cup Finals. Others are the Panthers, Avalanche, Golden Knights, Capitals and Lightning.
“Oh, I am really excited about them,” Nanne said about the Wild. “They’re playing so well.”
Minnesota has won six consecutive games but the second half of the schedule will continue to test the team’s abilities, resolve and depth. The Wild must play 40 games in 77 days.
The NHL trade deadline is March 21. The Wild, led by GM Bill Guerin, will apparently be cautious in making a move that could upset the locker room. “This team is a very close team,” Nanne said. “They care about one another and they play for one another. I know that Bill is very concerned about that (team chemistry). What he is going to do is…be extremely calculated—if he does anything—because he likes what he has.”