Viking coach Brad Childress talking about whether he miscalculated the readiness of second year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson who threw four interceptions in Sunday’s loss to Detroit: “I don’t think so. I don’t feel that way, I feel like he is more than ready. It is just a matter of him taking care of the football. I see him make a lot of good plays out there, and I see him see a lot of things and get us into the right place, but that is part of that learning curve and you can’t do those things with the football and put your team in that situation, and he knows that.”
When the Vikings (1-1) play in Kansas City (0-2) Sunday, they will see a Chiefs team much in need of a win and statistically unimpressive. The Chiefs, who have lost games on the road to Houston and Chicago, want to win Sunday before playing at San Diego the following week. Here are key stats with the Viking numbers first, followed by the Chiefs: points per game, 20.5 vs. 6.5; total offense per game: 307.5 vs. 250; third down efficiency, 40.7% vs. 29.6%; opponents’ points per game: 11.5 vs. 20.
The Viking defense has seven takeaways in the first two games, including three that resulted in touchdowns. Tackle Kevin Williams, cornerback Antoine Winfield and end Ray Edwards have scored touchdowns. The Vikings have eight touchdowns produced by their defense during the team’s last 15 regular season games, the best total in the NFL.
Viking punter Chris Kluwe set a club single game record last Sunday against Detroit when he averaged 57.5 yards (gross average, before returns) on four kicks.
Heath Farwell leads the Vikings in special team tackles with five, including four solo. He was one of the team’s captains for both the Atlanta and Detroit games.
Eden Prairie high school coach Mike Grant told Sports Headliners defensive end Willie Mobley is being pursued by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA and other schools. “All those schools are very interested,” Grant said.
Recruiters, Grant said, believe he is one of the nation’s top interior defensive line prospects at nose guard or defensive tackle. “He’s got great explosiveness,” Grant said. “…If you think of that NFL nose guard, that big guy, that’s got that quickness and athleticism, that’s what he comes to the table with right away.”
Considered the state’s best defensive line prospect, Grant projects that the 6-2, 260-pound Mobley will play 30 pounds or so heavier in college. Grant also said he doesn’t know what college Mobley will choose.
Grant’s son, Ryan, the Eden Prairie quarterback and defensive back, has already committed to Minnesota. “They recruited him as an athlete,” Grant said. Ryan, Bud Grant’s grandson, has skills as a long snapper and at multiple positions including linebacker and safety.
Gopher athletic director Joel Maturi said he extended a multi-year contract to wrestling coach J Robinson awhile ago but the contract hasn’t been signed. Robinson has coached three NCAA champion teams at Minnesota.
Dr. John Williams and other Minnesotans were in Las Cruces, New Mexico last Saturday visiting with former Gopher athletic director McKinley Boston. Williams said Boston is popular at New Mexico State where as athletic director he’s directed innovations in marketing and administration. Williams and Boston were teammates on the 1967 Gopher Big Ten Conference championship football team.