Updates on the Vikings and Gophers basketball. …
Mike Zimmer refers to Teddy Bridgewater as a people pleaser. His second-year quarterback can certainly enhance that reputation Sunday in his first-ever playoff game.
Bridgewater said today that Zimmer told the team in a team meeting that the playoffs mean competing for trophies and rings. “Hearing that, let’s you know that it’s go time,” Bridgewater said. “I walked into the (Winter Park) facility this morning and the guys were locked in. Those guys had that intensity, that look in their eyes that they want to get it done.”
The Vikings, of course, hope they’re going to eventually advance to next month’s Super Bowl and win rings. No Viking will receive more media and fan scrutiny than the 23-year-old Bridgewater, who while known for his poise and quiet leadership, didn’t have a highlight performance last Sunday in Green Bay when Minnesota’s stellar defense deserved most of the praise for producing a 20-13 win and the NFC North Division title. Six of the Vikings’ points came on a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Captain Munnerlyn as they finished the regular season with an 11-5 record.
In next Sunday’s home playoff game with the (10-6) Seahawks, Bridgewater will be expected to lead the offense. He completed 10 of 19 passes with an interception against the Packers. His passer rating was a season low 45.7. He was sacked three times and threw a left-handed interception. Late in the game he misfired on a handoff to Adrian Peterson, nearly resulting in a Packer recovery and potential rally to tie the game.
“He just wasn’t as sharp last night as he’s been these last three weeks,” Zimmer said on Monday. “I thought he moved in the pocket too much. He didn’t take some of the easy throws he had. He may be trying to do a little too much, I don’t know. I haven’t really talked to him yet. I’ll talk to him more this week. But he needs to play better.”
In a regular season 38-7 home loss to the Seahawks on December 6 things didn’t go so well for Bridgewater either. He had a 55.4 passer rating, and the Vikings’ only touchdown came on Cordarrelle Patterson’s 101-yard kickoff return. The offense produced only nine first downs, and 125 net yards including 31 rushing.
Bridgewater had his late regular season moments, though, including a 108 passer rating on the road against the Cardinals, a team that finished with a 13-3 record. And in another December game, against the Bears, he had career highs of four touchdown passes and a passer rating of 154.4.
Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes expects Bridgewater to handle the pressure of the playoffs. “Teddy is going to be the same Teddy. He’s going to be calm. He’s not going to be easy to rattle.
“He’s just going to go out there and play football. One thing I know about Teddy, he’s been doing this for awhile (high school, college and pros). So Teddy’s mentality (will be) just go in the game, and stay poised, and get the call, and make the right throw and make the right decision.”
Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is one of many Vikings who have never been in the playoffs. His approach to Sunday’s game is to be poised and he expects the same from Bridgewater. “I think he’ll handle it better than anyone,” Thielen said. “He’s always calm and he’s always ready to play. He’s a leader on this team and he’s going to be ready.”
Zimmer has high expectations for his players including the soft-spoken quarterback. The coach has said Bridgewater is a “pleaser” and encourages him to speak his mind including about plays he may not like. “You can be pretty direct with him,” Zimmer said. “He understands when he screws up. …”
The Vikings priced available tickets for Sunday’s game in a range from $48 to $154, with the relatively inexpensive prices likely influenced by the expected game day cold temperature and windchill. Availability earlier in the week included lower level seats.
Because of the two-hour time difference, the Seahawks will fly into Minneapolis Friday. That will allow the Seahawks to better adjust from West Coast time to Midwest. Often NFL teams don’t arrive for an NFL game until the day before.
Official capacity for the Vikings’ new stadium will be 66,200. Earlier figures were in the 65,000 range but a Vikings official told Sports Headliners the 66,200 number has been finalized and will include suite ticket holders, but not standing-room only—with the front office uncertain whether they will offer the stand and watch option. …
Last night Gophers freshman forward Jordan Murphy, while playing only about half the game, had 7 rebounds and 9 points in Minnesota’s 86-77 loss at Penn State. Murphy had nine rebounds and 14 points in Minnesota’s Big Ten home opener last Saturday against Michigan State.
The 6-6, 230-pound Murphy ranks second among all Big Ten players at 8.5 rebounds per game (includes conference and nonconference schedules). Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, whose Spartans are always among the best board teams in the nation, referred to Murphy as “a rebounding machine” and joked he wants to “steal him” from the Gophers.
“I like that kind of player,” Izzo said at his postgame news conference. “He’s tough, he’s aggressive.”
Most of the playing minutes on the Gophers are going to freshmen and sophomores including second-year center Bakary Konaté whose college offers included Louisville. He had 4 points and 2 rebounds last night after having 6 and 6 against Michigan State. The 6-11 native of Mali, who played 20 minutes last night, has potential and his development is vital for a Gophers team that lacks size both offensively and defensively.
“He’s put a lot of pressure on himself to become great this year,” said Gophers coach Richard Pitino. “Why I don’t know. We keep telling him, ‘Relax, it’s going to happen.’
“He works so hard everyday, every practice. I mean he works his butt off, and he wants it now like everybody does. I think he just needs to understand that if you continue to work like this, you’re going to be a really good player.”
The Gophers are 0-3 in the Big Ten and 6-9 overall. This is Pitino’s third season and most difficult start so far. Izzo acknowledged there’s “heat” on Pitino and the Gophers but he likes the talent of Minnesota’s young players. “They’re going to be good down the road, I believe that,” Izzo said.
“I understand fans are frustrated with us, but we’re young, and I hope they can stick with us,” Pitino said. “They’re (usually) really patient and they’re really supportive. …We’re going to be a really good team down the road for sure.”
Last week Izzo’s father Carl died at age 90. Earlier in 2015 Izzo lost his close friend Flip Saunders, the former Gophers guard and Timberwolves coach who died at 60. When Izzo was in town last week he spent time with Flip’s son Ryan Saunders.
“He only got 60 years out of his dad and I got 90 out of mine,” said Izzo who acknowledged the outpouring of support for him following his father’s death. “We’re all going to go through it (death). The only one that’s probably not going to die is Sid.”
Izzo was referring to 95-year-old Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman. At the news conference he teased Hartman when the local columnist and radio personality placed a 1980s style tape recorder in front of him. “I’ve still got a flip phone,” said Izzo who then wondered whether Hartman uses a rotary dial telephone.