The latest issue of Sports Illustrated predicts as part of its midseason NFL report that the Vikings, rated No. 2 in the NFC behind No. 1 New Orleans, will lose to the Saints in the conference championship game.
Vikings receiver and kickoff returner Percy Harvin is a mid-season favorite for NFL rookie of the year. Coach Brad Childress was asked if there’s something in particular he wants Harvin to make big strides in improving. “Nothing that jumps to my mind front-and-center,” Childress said. “I’m not going to say none, but how about all?”
The Vikings play a Detroit team at home on Sunday that has a blitzing defense. Childress was asked if the Lions blitz about 40 percent of the time. “I would say at least,” he answered. “Probably in some of the down and distances, a good bit more than that. They are attempting to make things happen. You see both man blitzes where they are playing man-to-man and you see a good share of fire zone blitzes where they are dropping in a zone and watching the ball come out from the quarterback.
“You have to be about your business (pass) protection-wise because they are bringing it from all spots. They are checking your protections all the time. Those things are equally as good in disturbing run game schemes if they are going to dial one up on first down or second down.”
Detroit coach Jim Schwartz talking about Adrian Peterson including how the Vikings running back has changed since the first Vikings-Lions game on September 20: “Obviously, a running back that is strong and can go the distance any time he touches the ball. He can run inside, he can run outside.
“Probably the biggest thing that I have seen that is different from the first game is that he looks a little more comfortable in the pass game now. They are getting him the ball a little more in the pass game. He has caught some screen passes and things like that. He’s a multi-dimensional runner. He’s becoming more and more adept in the passing game and they are getting the ball in his hands a little bit more that way.”
Vikings fans will recall the name of former Detroit quarterback Eric Hipple. Since leaving football Hipple has lived an inspirational life recovering from depression and dealing with the death of his son. Photojournalist John Gross detailed the story for KSTP TV last month. https://kstp.com/news/stories/S1201819.shtml?cat=206.
Among the Gophers best players this season is senior linebacker Lee Campbell who has been impressive with his aggressive style. Campbell said he’s given “everything” to the football program and described the next two games as “critical.” The Gophers play South Dakota State tomorrow at home, then close the regular season at Iowa. Two wins would give Minnesota a 7-5 record and Campbell said that is a “successful” season. “I really want to win these last two games for our seniors’ sake,” Campbell said.
South Dakota State will be playing the Gophers for the first time since 1933. The Jackrabbits, who are 0-5 against Minnesota, will play in Minneapolis again in 2015.
South Dakota State, 7-2 this season, defeated Northern Iowa, a team that lost in the last minute to Iowa. The Jackrabbits are ranked No. 12 nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll. The roster includes 20 Iowans, 19 South Dakotans and 10 Minnesotans.
South Dakota State averaged 13,265 fans for its home games this season, a new school record.
Members of the Wild are sporting mustaches for the month in support of Movember, which is helping to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer. (More info at www.movember.com).
South St. Paul native Zach Palmquist was named the United States Hockey League’s CCM Defensive Player of the Week after his two goals and two assists in two games for the Waterloo Black Hawks last weekend.
Updates on Lynx players: In three games in Israel Rashanda McCants is averaging 22.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. In two EuroLeague games Quanitra Hollingsworth is averaging 14.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game for Lithuanian club TEO Vilnius. In the French League Charde Houston has led Tarbes to a 7-1 league record, while averaging 16.5 points per game and 5.8 rebounds. Candice Wiggins is playing for Athinaikos in Greece where her team is 4-0. She is averaging 14.5 points per game and 4.8 rebounds.