Who Didn't Want To Draft Blair Walsh?

[Hunter Morrow]

I didn't. I argued to keep Longwell. I think Walsh has crucially won us 2 games with multiple 50 yarder performances.

Eat crow, baby.

[VikingLord]

I wasn't against the pick per se, but his stats in his final year of college worried me.

[Dark]

I didn't. I argued to keep Longwell. I think Walsh has crucially won us 2 games with multiple 50 yarder performances.

Eat crow, baby.

Not to mention he broke the record for most points scored by a rookie in Vikings history, surpassing Randy Moss. I am very glad we drafted him.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I liked it, but wasnt sure. I was one of the few who didnt like Shortwell. In fact just calling him that got so many folks saying, how can you call him that, he is $$. Well we have now met the real $, Walsh. But. I didnt trust Spielman. I, like many others, didnt think Walsh would be this accurate. But i was over Shirtwell. One less packer here.

[Hunter Morrow]

As opposed to the alternative to having a

57 year old Hansen (No offense, he's great, but for how much longer?)
Gould, who ain't no spring chicken, either.
Mason Crosby, who is so bad the Packers pass up 40-45 yard attempts with him

[losperros]

I wasn't against the pick per se, but his stats in his final year of college worried me.

Same with me, Edward. I had no problem with the Vikings going for a younger and stronger legged kicker. However, I though Walsh supposedly was having some difficulty kicking in college and that concerned me a bit.

This is an example of great scouting. The Vikings saw in Walsh things that many fans didn't see while the kid played for Georgia. Plus they saw Blair's technique issues and knew they could fix them. Nice job by the Vikes staff.

[VikeMike]

I didn't like the pick when it was made. The whole "don't take a kicker in the draft" thing.

Happily eating a big plate of broiled crow now.
Skol, baby

[Eli]

Field goal records that Blair Walsh has, or can, tie or beat:

• Highest field goal percentage, season, rookie (15+ attempts): 88.9, Alex Henery, Philadelphia Eagles (24/27), 2011 (Walsh: 90.6%, 29/32)
• Most field goals made, rookie season: 35, Ali Haji-Sheikh, New York Giants, 1983 (Walsh: 29)
• Most field goals 50 yards or more, season: 8, Morten Andersen, 1995; Jason Hanson, 2008 (Walsh: 8)
• Most field goals 50 yards or more, season, no misses: 8, Jason Hanson, 2008 (Walsh: 8)
• Most field goals 50 yards or more, game: 3, Josh Scobee, Oct. 24, 2011; Sebastian Janikowski, Oct. 9, 2011; Connor Barth, Nov. 15, 2009; Kris Brown, Oct. 7, 2007; Neil Rackers, Oct. 24, 2004; Morten Andersen, Dec. 10, 1995; Phil Dawson, Sept. 27, 2012 (Walsh: Dec 16, 2012)

NFL Field Goal Records

[joe h]

Anything after round 3 is a long shot anyways. My only problem at the time was there seemed to kickers with better stats. Then cutting Longwell, and going with a rookie, seemed suicidal. Fortunately it worked out, and we won't have to look for another place kicker for 15-20 years.

[S197]

I never watched him in college but was concerned with the pick after reading about his accuracy issues in the scouting reports.

[J. Kapp 11]

Let's face it ... it's not likely that any of us would have advocated taking a kicker in the draft AT ALL.

And I'll admit it if nobody else will -- I never heard of the guy until they drafted him.

Looks like a pretty damned good pick now, doesn't it?

[Demi]

I wanted them to get a strong legged kicker for years and damn it if they have to use a pick on it so be it! Like the position isn't important enough to spend a pick that's otherwise going to some training camp cut scrub? Between the kickoffs and having a leg strong enough to make those kicks it's more than worth spending a pick on. Heck even a 4th or 5th if there's a guy who's good enough.

I questioned the person they did pick because of how inconsistent he was last year. But was ecstatic they finally did something other than bringing in some ancient.

[Just Me]

Let's face it ... it's not likely that any of us would have advocated taking a kicker in the draft AT ALL.

And I'll admit it if nobody else will -- I never heard of the guy until they drafted him.

Looks like a pretty damned good pick now, doesn't it?

Ditto on all three of your points.

[Mothman]

I don't remember exactly what I said at the time but I don't think I objected to the team selecting a kicker. I've never had a problem with teams drafting kickers and I'm not sure why some people do since it's an important position, one that can have a big impact on wins and losses.

Anyway, it was a great pick and kudos to special teams coach Mike Priefer for identifying the flaws in Walsh's game, assuring the Vikes he could fix them and then getting the job done. More importantly, congrats to Walsh for being receptive to that coaching and for taking his game to a high level in his rookie season!

[Eli]

In that last press conference by Preifer (where he says Kluwe's act is getting old) @1:35 of the video (see link) someone asks him about whether they considered drafting Zurlein and whether the kickers (including Randy Bullock) were drafted in the order that they expected. His reply was interesting: "put 'em in a bag and shake 'em up". Sounds like they had no special preference, or if they did, it didn't matter by the time they picked. Bullock went to Houston in round 5 (#161), Zurlein to the Rams with the first pick of round 6 (#171). The Vikings jumped on Walsh (at #175) because the other two were already gone.

http://prod.video.vikings.clubs.nfl.com ... 12-650.mp4