spect is much more than just his sheer siz

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Through their first two preseason games, the best performance from Minnesotas first-team offence has been by rookie punter Jeff Locke. The Vikings havent done much well in these exhibition games yet. Each incompletion by Christian Ponder or three-and-out series by the unit has only heightened concerns whether this team can be balanced enough to build off last years playoff appearance. Even when the wins and losses dont matter, decent showings will somewhat appease the fans, soften the skepticism of the analysts, and most importantly give the coaches and players confidence in a chemistry carry-over to the regular season. "Yeah, there would be some reason for concern if we dont do certain things that weve set out to get accomplished in this ballgame, or any ballgame," coach Leslie Frazier said on Wednesday. The Vikings are at San Francisco on Sunday, and most of the starters are expected to play into the third quarter. But before this becomes an anxiety-raising, must-thrive event, theres a critical fact to point out about the way the offence bumbled through the first two games. "I was coming off the sideline saying, Oh, my gosh, what are we doing?" wide receiver Greg Jennings said. "Like, we were struggling. And then I saw this guy on the sideline that had this 28 jersey on, and he wasnt dressed, and Im like Oh, yeah. I forgot. We dont have a big part of our offence out here that draws a lot of attention. So this week will be a lot better." Assessing a team without the leagues rushing leader and Most Valuable Player is hardly worth it, especially considering the way the Vikings revolve around their star running back Adrian Peterson. This week against the 49ers, the plan is for Peterson to be on the field. "If youre an offensive player, we definitely want to take some steps forward," Peterson said. The Vikings have averaged only 14 first downs and 276 yards over the first two games, though that includes all of the time logged by backups and long shots trying to make the team. Ponder is 6 for 14 for 68 yards and one interception. His passer rating is 28.3. So this next exhibition will be a valuable opportunity for Ponder to continue trying to establish a rhythm with Jennings, rookie Cordarrelle Patterson and the rest of his receivers. Dont expect a polished product either, Jennings said. "Kinks will never completely be ironed out," he said. "There will always be a new wrinkle that we put in that were going to be trying to perfect. Just our relationship, our chemistry, were going to try to perfect that forever." NOTES: The finalists for the punt returner role are incumbent Marcus Sherels and fellow CB Bobby Felder, according to special teams co-ordinator Mike Priefer. The Vikings have been grooming Patterson for that job, too, but theyre trying to narrow his focus for now. ... DT Sharrif Floyds minor left knee operation went fine, Frazier said, and hes expected to be ready for the first week of the regular season. ... In addition to Floyd and FB Jerome Felton, whos out for the rest of August recovering from an appendectomy, the only other significant player held out of practice Wednesday was WR Jarius Wright (concussion symptoms). J. D. Martinez Jersey . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen. Babe Ruth Jersey . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club. http://www.theredsoxteamshop.com/Red-Sox...ro-Kids-Jersey/. Both moves were announced Tuesday. The Titans had waived Matthews on Saturday when they promoted wide receiver Michael Preston from the practice squad. Xander Bogaerts Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario. Jim Rice Jersey . Dillon Brooks scored 26 points on 9-17 shooting for Canada while pulling down six rebounds and picking up six steals. Teammate Chris Egi had 20 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.TORONTO - While Ottawa Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins has entertained some offers for his first overall pick in the CFL draft, he says theres a "relatively good chance" hell make the pick Tuesday night. "There has been some (interest) but not a whole lot," Desjardins said Monday. Desjardins says he knows who he wants to take first overall but is keeping it to himself. One player the Redblacks wont use the top pick on is McGill tackle Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, the top-ranked CIS prospect for the draft who was selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft Saturday by the Kansas City Chiefs. "As much as he wouldve been a guy that we probably wouldve selected, now that he has a commitment from an NFL team theres no reason for us to go in that direction," Desjardins said. The popular sentiment is if Desjardins keeps the No. 1 pick, hell use it on Laval centre Pierre Lavertu. The six-foot-three, 300-pound Lavertu finished third in the CFL scouting bureaus season-ending top-15 rankings, and while he might not have the most upside and potential, Lavertu is generally regarded as one of the most pro-ready prospects in the draft. Drafting Lavertu first overall would address a need for Ottawa after the off-season retirement of veteran Marwan Hage, whom the Redblacks selected in the CFL expansion draft in December from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. "Offensive line is a need, no doubt," Desjardins said. "But that doesnt necessarily mean 100 per cent thats what well do. "Theres a good chance but everybody talks about a certain number of guys, whether its those two or three other top prospects. Just because theyre being written about and spoken about that doesnt mean we have them graded the same way." For the first time ever, the CFL draft will be held at night, with the first round broadcast live on TSN. That could give teams more time to talk trade with Desjardins, although the Redblacks GM isnt anticipating a lot of last-minute offers. "Maybe a little bit but I wouldnt think that dynamic would change," he said. Toronto Argonauts GM Jim Barker said the extra time could prompt some action. "Im sure from early in the morning there will be people calling and youll sit there and probably want to do something," he said. "It will make for a long day . . . but I think its kind of cool were doing it in the evening." If the Redblacks are coveting Lavertu, they might be well advised to take him with the early selection because the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who have the No. 2 selection, are said to be very interested in the Laval centre. So much so that if Ottawa does take Lavertu first overall, the Bombers would then reportedly be willing to deal the second pick to acquire some assets while moving down in the first round and selecting a player who could still help them.dddddddddddd A potential trade partner could be the B.C. Lions, who are said to like Simon Fraser centre Matthias Goossen, the CFL scouting bureaus fifth-ranked prospect. Barker says Lavertu and Goossen are definite players of interest. "I think theres a lot of teams in this league looking for a centre . . . and theres a couple of them, he (Lavertu) and Goossen," Barker said. "Those are guys who are being looked at by all the teams. "I wouldnt say he (Lavertu) is the top prospect, hes one of the top prospects, theres no doubt about that. Hes a tough guy coming out of a good program." Hamilton could be another team on the lookout for a centre after losing Hage in the expansion draft. But the Ticats, who have the final first-round pick at No. 9 overall, would have to deal with either Ottawa or Winnipeg to be assured a shot at either Lavertu or Goossen. All nine teams will make first-round selections Tuesday night. The Edmonton Eskimos will select third overall, followed by the Montreal Alouettes. B.C. is at No. 5, with Toronto, the Calgary Stampeders and Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders selecting before Hamilton completes the opening round. Another offensive lineman expected to go early in the first round is Montreal tackle David Foucault. The towering six-foot-eight, 300-pound Foucault finished behind Duvernay-Tardif in the final top-15 list and although hell attend the Carolina Panthers mini camp this week, it wont be with the security of having signed an NFL contract. What makes Foucault a top prospect is much more than just his sheer size. Many CFL scouts believe he has the potential to develop into a dominant left tackle, a key spot on any offensive line. Should Edmonton pass on Foucault, its very likely Montreal will take him with the fourth selection. Another first-round prospect is Concordia Stingers defensive lineman Quinn Smith, who finished ranked fourth on the top-15 list following an impressive showing at the CFL combine. The six-foot-two, 305-pound Toronto native was solid on both sides of the football. Last week, Smith announced he had tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol prior the combine. If Smiths B sample also tests positive, hell receive a two-year ban from the CIS, thus ending his college career. But in the CFL, Smith would be deemed a first-time offender of its drug policy and be subjected to mandatory testing and an assessment, followed by counselling. A second offence would trigger a three-game suspension. The agreement also calls for a one-year ban for a third offence and a lifetime suspension for a fourth. 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