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Posted October 23, 2006
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Viking Offensive Line Needs More Time
The Vikings are nearing the half
way mark in the schedule
and fans had hoped for more from the offense. Quarterback
Brad Johnson has thrown only four touchdown passes and
the Vikings have two rushing touchdowns, both by Chester
Taylor. Field goals and touchdowns generated by trick
plays (two touchdowns) and the defense (two interceptions
and two fumble recoveries for scores) have contributed
more than expected while the offense has struggled
including near the goal line.
The offense doesn’t have Pro Bowl playmakers at the
skilled
positions of quarterback, running back and receiver. Right
tackle Marcus Johnson and right guard Artis Hicks are
developing players. The unit’s stars are on the line’s left side
with tackle Bryant McKinnie, guard Steve
Hutchinson
and in the middle with center Matt Birk. This is a group
that fans perhaps thought would push defensive lines all over
the field, creating running and passing opportunities that
could make the team’s skilled position players look better.
The offensive line, including the big three, hasn’t
been
dominant so far. However, this is a line that is learning a new
system with new coaches. They are also learning about one
another and how to play together.
Hutchinson is in his first season with the team.
Birk didn’t
play at all last season because of hip and hernia injuries. A
major setback such as that can cause a player to take a long
time to fully recover. Vikings fans may not want to hear this
but it could be late this year or even next season that the
offensive line establishes itself. Led by Hutchinson, Birk and
McKinnie it should happen.
Hutchinson came to the Vikings
from Seattle having been
recognized as perhaps the league’s
best left guard, earning
three straight trips to the Pro Bowl and helping Shaun
Alexander score an NFL best 28
touchdowns while playing
on a line that for four games
didn’t allow a sack.
Hutchinson voiced optimism after joining the
Vikings earlier
this year. “I know Matt Birk well,” Hutchinson said. “In my
opinion, he is one of the best centers in the game. Bryant
McKinnie at the left tackle spot, I think he is one of the top
tackles in the game. I think I’ll fit in there well between
them and we
should have a really good flow and be able to
jell pretty good.”
Hutchinson, Birk and McKinnie are all 30 or younger
and
figure to have a lot of football left in them. Hutchinson will
be 29 in November. Birk, a four time pro bowl selection, is
30. McKinnie, 27, has started 61 straight games for the
Vikings and should have his best football ahead of him. At
6-8, 335, he is a human shield providing pass protection.
There is still time for Hutchinson, Birk and McKinnie and
the offensive line to become dominant.
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Vikings fans may not want to hear this but
it could be late this year or even next season that the offensive line
establishes itself. Led by Hutchinson, Birk and McKinnie it
should happen.
Matt Birk |
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Can
You Say Big Ten Title in German?
Dan Monson was introducing
his Gopher basketball
players one by one last week to season ticket
holders at a
reception. He came to
redshirt freshman guard Kevin
Payton who used to live in
Austria. Monson asked Payton
to say the following in
German: “The Gophers are going to
surprise everybody and win the Big
Ten this year.”
A
conference championship is an unlikely possibility to most people who
follow the Gophers and the Big Ten Conference. Many hoopologists see a
finish between eighth and 11th in the Big Ten. The Gophers
finished in 10th place last season and no full time starters return from
a team that was 16-15 over all and 5-11 in the Big Ten. The roster has
four freshmen, four sophomores and six juniors.
Yet
Monson and the coaching staff are trying to look optimistically (see
Payton reference above) at this season. They know that after last
season when Monson reportedly was almost terminated, their need to win
now is urgent. Talk to fans or listen to the media and you will hear
speculation about whether Monson can last beyond his eighth season as
Gopher coach.
Athlon college basketball magazine, for example, printed only Monson’s
name in red in a feature titled “Pressure Is On” listing coaches
expected to improve or else. “His seat could be the hottest in the
nation,” the magazine wrote.
Another magazine, CBS SportsLine.com said: “There is scaffolding around
the Gopher program as Monson works to rebuild his team. …The Gophers
won’t go into the tank, but it could be a rough season in Minnesota.”
In
addition to inexperience (seven players who have never played a game
minute for Minnesota), there are concerns about rebounding, team defense
and inside scoring. Bright spots could include Oklahoma transfer guard
Lawrence McKenzie’s outside marksmanship, the athleticism of
junior college transfers Limar Wilson (guard) and Engen
Nurumbi (forward), and leadership of Payton (guard). The Gophers
look like a team with effective outside shooting and good overall
athleticism.
Freshman center Bryce Webster’s development will be intriguing,
too. He has offensive and defensive skills, and at 6-9, 240 provides
size on a roster filled with smaller and mid-size players. Assistant
coach Jim Molinari said Webster was the most highly recruited
player on the team and could have attended a long list of other
schools. Still, Webster has much to learn as evidenced by his six foul
performance about half way through the second half of a scrimmage last
week.
Intriguing is a good word to associate with the coming season that
starts November 3 with a home exhibition game against Bemidji State. At
the season ticket holders gathering last week Monson thanked his most
loyal customers for sticking with the program “through thick and thin.”
He’s hoping for a lot more “thick” this season.
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Dan Monson
Bright spots could include Oklahoma
transfer guard Lawrence McKenzie’s outside marksmanship, the
athleticism of junior college transfers Limar Wilson (guard) and
Engen Nurumbi (forward), and leadership of Payton (guard).
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“School”
in Session with Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly is on WCCO Radio with Dark Star
from 9:30 to 10 p.m. on weekday nights through the World Series. After
that he is on with Star at the same time on Tuesdays. This reminds a
writer that perhaps no local coach or manager ever took the time to
explain his sport to the public like Kelly, the former Twins manager.
Star
and Kelly are long time friends. “I thought I knew a lot about baseball
before I met Kelly,” Star said. “I didn’t know anything.”
For
years while Kelly was managing the Twins his radio show was hosted by
Dave Mona and Sid Hartman. Mona said he thinks Kelly
wants people to appreciate baseball at a “deeper level” so Kelly can
often be very detailed in his responses to questions.
Mona
used to anticipate when a classic Kelly answer was about to be delivered
after a WCCO caller had posed a question. “Sometimes I could audibly
hear him sigh and Sid would start to say, ‘goodbye,’ and Tom would say,
‘no, let’s hear him out.’ And then there were two keys to what was
going to follow. The first was, ‘oh, my,’ which is only two words but
spoke volumes if you knew Kellyese because you knew the recipient of
the, ‘oh, my,’ was about to get a tutorial on how baseball is done
(played).
“And
the other (key) would be, ‘well, let’s take a look at the situation.’
And then Tom would start with reverse roles and become the person asking
the questions (of the caller) and I always thought when he did that it
was some of the most insightful Tom Kelly shows in history because of
the kinds of questions he asked."
Mona
then gave these examples of questions. “What was the count? Who was on
desk? What’s his experience been with that pitcher? Who is in the
bullpen? How have they done against him? What sort of bunter is
he?...I thought during those times people got a pretty rare insight into
the seemingly easy but really very complicated world of being a major
league manager and I don’t think anyone ever did that better than Tom
when he was going through one of those
Q & A’s.”
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Photo Courtesy of the Minnesota Twins
Tom
Kelly
Most people who love or even like baseball
will never have the opportunity to talk with Kelly one-on-one. Mona
suggests listening to Kelly on the radio is the best alternative.
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Extra Innings
Vikings’ coach Brad Childress talking about
former Gopher Laurence Maroney who comes
to town next Monday night with New England: “I thought he was a very
good player coming out (to the 2006 draft). …He’s got the speed to be
able to take it the distance.”
The American Heart Association is working with the
Minnesota Vikings and the NFL to promote the What Moves U program
to encourage kids to get physically active. The Vikings’ Steve
Hutchinson is involved. “It’s important for students to stay active
- especially with the rise in childhood obesity,” Hutchinson said.
Best humor witnessed over the weekend: a Gopher
fan wagging his index finger and yelling we’re “No. 1” after Minnesota
scored its lone touchdown in a 10-9 victory over Division I-AA North
Dakota State on Saturday.
Bill Lester, executive
director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, said there is
quiet talk among local sports boosters to bid for the 2016 Olympics.
This area finished second to Atlanta in a bid for the 1988 Olympics,
Lester said.
Bethel linebacker Kirby Carr, Saint John's
linebacker Jamie Steffensmeier and St. Thomas wide receiver
P.J. Theisen have been listed among 148 candidates by the National
Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) for the
2006 Draddy Trophy. The award is given to
the best player in the country based on combined academic success,
football performance and exemplary community leadership. The winner
receives a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate
scholarship. Among the past winners is former Ohio State quarterback
Craig Krenzel (2003).
Davanni’s owner and former Gopher Roger Schelper, 58, still plays
pick up basketball a couple times per week at a local health club.
The former Edina High School athlete (track, basketball and football) was inducted into the school’s
athletic hall of fame
last year.
Saint
Paul Saints pitcher Mike Meyer, the team’s all-time leader in
victories, and first baseman Nick Gretz are retiring from
professional baseball. Meyer is returning to his home in Arizona. Gretz,
who lives in Farmington, is working in the Twin Cities and is an
assistant coach for the Apple Valley High School boys’ hockey team.
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Bill Lester, executive director of the
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, said there is quiet talk
among local sports boosters to bid for the 2016 Olympics. This area
finished second to Atlanta in a bid for the 1988 Olympics, Lester said.
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