Hartman: Vikings TE Ellison proves valuable, versatile

Tight end Rhett Ellison was such a surprise fourth-round pick out of Southern California in the 2012 NFL draft by the Vikings that Ellison wasn't even watching the telecast because he didn't believe he would be selected at all.

But General Manager Rick Spielman knew that with the retirement of longtime tight end and fullback Jim Kleinsasser following the 2011 season, the team needed a successor at that position. Ellison has been a tremendous addition to the team.

Ellison had one reception for 22 yards in the Vikings' 34-6 season-opening victory over the St. Louis Rams, and also had some key blocks on Cordarrelle Patterson's big runs. Last year he had five receptions for 61 yards, and in his rookie campaign he had seven receptions for 65 yards.

He recently talked about playing under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

"I mean it's a lot different [than last season]," Ellison said. "It's new coaching, new system and stuff like that. It's a lot of learning right now."

Ellison said he's liking the new system and the primary work has been on getting the new play-calling down.

About Turner, he said: "He's good. He's good. It's a lot of offense and gives us a lot of options, a big menu against any defense."

Ellison is one of three tight ends on the team along with Kyle Rudolph and former Gopher MarQueis Gray, who didn't play Sunday but could this week.

The Vikings used a lot of two-tight-end sets against the Rams and rest assured, there will be more Sunday because they'll want to control the clock and keep Patriots quarterback Tom Brady off the field. Ellison said the team seems to really be coming together.

"I like everybody," he said. "Everyone has put in a lot of hard work, so hopefully we can see some of that translate onto the field."

Wayzata pipeline

There isn't a high school in the state better represented on Jerry Kill's Gophers football squad than Wayzata, with four players on the roster.

Kill was asked to comment on each player's attributes and the team's relationship with the Wayzata program and coaches.

"[Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman] Ben Lauer certainly has started for us," Kill said. "He's coming off an injury and I anticipate him being back as a starter this week and he played a lot last week and is a great kid and is exactly what [Wayzata] Coach [Brad Anderson] told me he would be. He was coming off of surgery and [Anderson] said, 'This one is a sleeper.' And Ben has done a great job.

"[Redshirt freshman linebacker] Chris Wipson is a tough kid, a young guy. He's going to be a good player. It's just going to take some time. He has worked hard this summer to improve a lot of things in his game, but he's a special kid.

"[Redshirt freshman wide receiver] Jeff Borchard is another one. He walked on here and gives us everything he's got and has gotten better. A great kid.

"[Freshman tight end] Brandon Lingen is a kid that we took the redshirt off, so he's going to be a very good player. Right now he's Maxx [Williams'] backup and Maxx sometimes gets winded, so we feel very good about [Lingen] coming in, another kid that has really exceeded expectations his first year. I thought it would take a little bit, but he has come in and done a great job.

"Four great kids. A reflection of coach Anderson and the program at Wayzata. We're just fortunate we've been able to get them."

While it sounds like quarterback Mitch Leidner will tough out a knee injury and start against TCU on Saturday, don't be surprised to see Chris Streveler get snaps in the game. Kill talked about what to expect from Streveler.

"He's very similar to Mitch," he said. "He's a hard-nosed, tough kid. He knows how to win. He has won championships and he's very athletic. He's one of the faster guys on our team. People don't realize that, but he's a very athletic, fast kid. If he has to be called on to play, he will do a good job."

Jottings

• Sunday will mark only the third time the New England Patriots have played outdoors in Minnesota. The first time was on August 8, 1971, when the Patriots faced the Vikings at Memorial Stadium. It was a game to raise money for the University of Minnesota arranged by the late, great B.H. Ridder — former publisher of the St. Paul papers and also one of the owners and originators of the Vikings — and the president of the University of Minnesota, Dr. Malcolm Moos. Ridder, one of the great civic leaders of this community and a man who worked hard in getting Minneapolis and St. Paul to work together, was quoted at the news conference announcing the game, saying: "We further feel this is an excellent opportunity for the Vikings to recognize the fact that many university alumni have played an important part in our organization over the past decade."

• The demand for tickets to the Vikings-Patriots game Sunday is reportedly the highest for any game going back as far as 2009, when the Vikings reached the NFC Championship Game, led by quarterback Brett Favre.

• TCU head coach Gary Patterson on his relationship with Kill: "We never worked together. He was leaving Pittsburg State, where he was the linebackers coach, to become the head coach at Webb City (Mo.) High School. I then took his place as the linebackers coach at Pittsburg State. Through the years we got to know each other doing some different things. He's been on both sides of the ball as a defensive coach and offensive coach."

• Former Gophers quarterback Max Shortell has played in two games with Jacksonville State this year, completing 11 of 22 passes for 119 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

• The three Minnesota natives filling the wide receiver spots for the Arizona Cardinals have had a good start to the season. Michael Floyd (St. Paul, Cretin-Derham Hall) has caught five passes for 119 yards, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (Minneapolis, Holy Angels) caught one pass for 22 yards and John Carlson (Litchfield) had one grab for 20 yards in their 18-17 victory over San Diego.

• The late Paul Giel served as athletic director for the Gophers from 1972-1988, but there is still a Giel working with the U in Gerilyn Burkholder, his daughter, who is the operations director for catering services at TCF Bank Stadium.

• According to Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony, the club has only one player who has a chance to be a free agent after this season — pitcher Jared Burton — and the team has an option on him. However, a number of players are arbitration-eligible: pitchers Brian Duensing, Casey Fien, Tommy Milone and Anthony Swarzak; infielders Eduardo Escobar, Eduardo Nunez and Trevor Plouffe and outfielder Jordan Schafer.