From: jag@unislc.uucp (John Ganske)
Subject: Minnesota Vikings News 8/30/92 (Sunday)
Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
Distribution: us
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 17:58:28 GMT
Keywords: vikings defense doleman

I'm not going to post details about the practice game with the Redskins
unless otherwise requested.  I hope that everybody that wanted to, got
a chance to check that game out on TV.  

Minnesota Vikings news for Sunday August 30, 1992

 The following is from an article by Saint Paul Pioneer Press staff writer
 Ray Richardson titled "Is Doleman ready for the sack?"

          Chris Doleman plays golf in the summer with NBA stars Michael 
     Jordan and Charles Barkley.  He occasionally gets into dribbling 
     contests with Harlem Globetrotter legend Curly Neal.
          Stedman Graham, the spouse of talk-show hostess Oprah Winfrey,
     calls on Doleman to lend a hand with one of his educational programs
     for athletes.  
          Celebrity life is good to Doleman outside of Minnesota.  But
     within the state, Doleman is considered a fading star, a performer
     no longer worthy of primetime adulation.  
          In Hollywood, they're called has-beens.  In the NFL, they're
     called players who no longer live up to their reputations.
          Suggesting that he belongs in that category irks Doleman.
     The Vikings veteran defensive end says he deserves better.  His 
     teammates agree.
          "I know he's been frustrated," said Vikings nose tackle Henry
     Thomas, Doleman's closest friend on the team.  "Just because he hasn't
     been getting the big sack numbers, people say he's lackluster and 
     doesn't hustle.  (me: isn't "lackluster" one of the words that NFLers
     are supposed to put into their cliched quotes?)
         "To me, he's the same guy he's always been, still working hard
     and trying to figure out a quicker way to get to the quarterback."
         Doleman hasn't got to the quarterback as fast or as ofter the past
     two years, and fans and opponents have taken notice.  The man who led
     the NFL with 21 sacks in 1989 doesn't seem to command the same respect
     from opposing offensive lines.
         Only four other NFL players have recorded 20 or more sacks in a 
     season.
         But after getting 21, Doleman got only 11 sacks in 1990 and 7 in
     1991.  Last season was the first time in four years that Doleman didn't
     lead the Vikings in sacks.  Rising star John Randle led the team with
     9.5, despite starting only eight games.  It also was the first time 
     since 1987 that Doleman was not selected to play in the Pro Bowl.
         The exclusion was more disappointing to Doleman than he will admit.
     It is equally tough for him to say that he needs a much better season
     to get fans off his back.  Callers to local radio shows consistently 
     mention Doleman as the one negative in a promising Vikings season.
         Doleman is aware of the criticism, but tries to ignore it.
         "I can't go through the whole season trying to prove everybody
     wrong," said Doleman, who is beginning his eighth season.  "I don't
     listen to the fans, because most of them don't know what they're talking
     about.  They don't know our game plans.  They don't know our schemes.
         "I don't have a beef with the people of Minnesota.  It's just that
     they don't know the whole story."
         Part of the story is that Doleman has become a marked man since 
     Keith Millard's career plummeted two years ago because of a major knee
     injury.  The year that Doleman had his 21 sacks, Millard had 18 from
     the defensive tackle spot.  Millard was traded to Seattle last April.
         In their prime, Millard and Doleman were a tandem that drove opponents
     crazy.  If one was double-teamed, the other took advantage of one-on-one
     situations.
         Those days are long gone and Doleman has struggled through two 
     seasons of double-teams and mixed emotions.
         "Every good pass rusher has to have help," Doleman said.  "I've
     become a priority in everybody's blocking schemes.  You need more than
     one guy.  You can't be a one-man show."
         When Doleman looked down the defensive line last year, he saw an
     overworked Thomas playing a different position (Millard's old spot),
     35-year-old Ken Clarke and a sputtering Al Noga.
         The Vikings had only 33 sacks last year and ranked 20th in rushing
     defense.  Improving the defensive line is a major priority for the 
     Vikings' new coaching staff.  There's a consensus among the staff that
     if Doleman regains his Pro Bowl form, the Vikings could have a respectable
     defense.
         "In order to go to that next level with the top defenses in the
     league, we're going to need somebody to step forward," Vikings defensive
     coordinator Tony Dungy said.  "Chris has the ability to do that.  That
     puts a lot of pressure on one guy, but Chris is capable of handling that."
         There are signs that Doleman might get the help he needs to have a 
     good season.  Thomas has returned to his natural nose tackle position
     and Randle was moved inside from defensive end.
         While Randle nursed a bruised sternum in the first three exhibition
     games, rookie Brad Culpepper filled in and got four sacks.  Thomas also
     had four sacks to push the club's total to 13.  The improved inside rush
     the Vikings are getting up front might deflect attention from Doleman,
     who's still considered an effective pass rusher.
         If it doesn't work out that way, Dungy won't be disappointed.
         "We want people to double-team Chris or leave in a back or tightend
     to protect the quarterback," Dungy said.  "That plays right into our
     hands.  It makes our coverage better with one less guy running (pass)
     routes.  That's eventually going to make us a better defense."
         New defensive line coach John Teerlinck has established a spirited
     work ethic.  The enthusiasm seems to have rubbed off on Doleman, who is
     often portrayed as moody and selfish.
         "You can tell Chris is more excited," said backup offensive tackle
     Scott Adams, who faces Doleman regularly in practice.  "Going up against
     a guy like him every day has helped me tremendously.  For a young guy
     like me, that means a lot and I've told him that."
     (me: "Gee Mr. Doleman, It sure is swell practicing against you")
         Maybe Doleman soon will hear kind words again from Vikings fans.

John Ganske      -------------------------
a readheaded dad, vegetarian, cyclist, runner, volleyball player,
programmer, and all-around good guy, glad to be back in Minnesota,
and soon to become small-time (very small-time) farmer 

"It's possible, but rare, for somebody to be both a good person and
 a Republican" - James Carville
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