Who Didn't Want To Draft Blair Walsh?

[TheCoolerOne]

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

They could've done it with the other two, but I thought a report came out after the draft that said the Vikings had a secret workout with Walsh and told him he was their man?

[J. Kapp 11]

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!

Really interesting point, Jim, about identifying flaws and being able to fix them.

I never realized until a couple of years ago how scientific kicking a football has become. I was in this domed golf practice facility in my area one evening, and the kicker from Iowa State (I don't even know what his name was) was in there with his special teams coach, or somebody who knew kicking. They were doing some offseason work. They were using this special football with weird markings on it, and after watching for awhile, I realized that the markings were where the kicker was supposed to place his foot when he kicked. The markings were actually in the shape of his foot. He would kick a ball, and then they would talk technique for 2 or 3 minutes, and then do it all over again. To me, every kick looked pretty much the same, but the coach was coaching him up every time. I mean, it was really pretty scientific -- and honestly quite fascinating to watch. I wish I could have heard more of what they were saying. From where I was watching, it was like a golfer and a swing coach.

After an hour of watching that, I gained an even greater appreciation for what kickers do than I already had.

If you think about it, kickers do all this practice and all this theorizing and working on their technique ... and then they have to do it in the cold and wind and snow with 70,000 people screaming and 11 big dudes trying to block the kick.

Like you said, Jim, Priefer must have seen something in Walsh's technique that he felt he could fix ... and there's little doubt that he has.

[glg]

Bumping this up, he tied or beat all of them! The page has been updated on nfl.com

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:
• Most field goals 50 yards or more, season, no misses: 8, Jason Hanson, 2008 (Walsh:
• 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

[yezzir]

Being a kicker in the NFL would scare the #### outta me. I would put it 2nd behind QB as the most pressure at a position.

[NextQuestion]

I was all for Longwell getting out of here. Couldn't get us a touchback and couldn't hit from 45+ very well.

[John_Viveiros]

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

• Most field goals made, rookie season: 35, Ali Haji-Sheikh, New York Giants, 1983

Maybe we should consider this before putting Walsh into the Hall of Fame. The only thing I remember about Ali Haji-Sheikh is that his nickname ended up being Ali Haji-SHANK, presumably because he got the yips and started missing the easy ones. I would be only a little surprised if Walsh had a bit of a tougher season next year. The same way Crosby for Green Bay has been really reliable, until this season.

[Hunter Morrow]

Totally different animals. Walsh has missed 3 all year, 1 was a block, he plays in a dome and the longer they are, the better he is. He'll be a 90+ percenter beasting out 50 yarders for a decade.

HUGE to get him.

[headless_norseman]

Grabbing someone like that in the 6th is a steal. Besides, who the hell else you gonna draft in the 6th that will make the team, let alone be that productive and make the pro bowl?