Walsh not satisfied

[dead_poet]

Why would you be? I mean, it was only one of the best rookie kicking campaigns, what, ever?

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_237 ... source=rss

[bigskyeric]

We are very lucky to have such a talented team. And having Walsh is such an important piece to the puzzle. Can't quite make it and get convert that 3rd down?.... Walsh will knock in 3 points. (how many games were lost by 3 points during our 3-13 season?) Need a little extra help on defense? Walsh will keep them back at the 20 to start almost every time. This is going to be a fun season !

[Eli]

I hope he can sustain it. No doubt he has a huge leg, but field goal kicking is 99% mental. We've seen dozens of successful kickers over the years who have one bad season and their confidence is shaken and they're never the same again. Those who can do it year in and year out are rare.

[jackal]

True Kicking a mental but Walsh a horrible year in college
Which is why he slipped so low to us in the draft. Walsh was
Able to recover from that very well.

[Funkytown]

True Kicking a mental but Walsh a horrible year in college
Which is why he slipped so low to us in the draft. Walsh was
Able to recover from that very well.

Or because kickers don't typically get drafted too high--if at all. I don't believe he "slipped." Many were shocked he got drafted at all, especially as high as he did. It's interesting how people can perceive things so differently, right Demi?

I love Walsh, though. He is a definite surprise. I hope he can continue his success and not end up like Mason Crosby. That guy is sad. Won't be surprised if the Pack move on, but I'd much rather they keep him.

[jackal]

I heard Spielman (I think ) talk about Walsh and how he came to the Vikings ..

He kicked for the University Of Georgia and had a couple of strong years. His senior was
pretty poor. I think he went 14 for 32 for the year. The Vikings Coached the Senior Bowl and
the special teams coach watched Walsh and noticed something about his kicking style.
The coach at Georgia was doing something wrong with his kicking motion. The Vikings
had the inside tract because of coaching the bowl.

They also picked up Harrison Smith because of the inside info from coaching the senior
bowl.

[dead_poet]

Meh...I'll lump Lock in with Walsh. Kickers should be used to not getting as much respect, so I'm sure he won't mind if I don't give him his own thread. Positive reviews about Locke, though, so far.

On rookie punters Jeff Locke, Sam Martin

Expectations rise for any specialist deemed talented enough to be drafted, and so there has been plenty of interest this summer in how the new punters in Minnesota (Jeff Locke) and Detroit (Sam Martin) are doing in training camp. Both were selected in the fifth round of the April draft, Locke at No. 155 overall and Martin at No. 165, and both are the heavy favorites to win the job this season.

At the moment, in fact, Locke is the only punter in Vikings camp. Martin is competing against Blake Clingan, who hasn't kicked in a game since the 2010 college football season. And both Locke and Martin are already wowing crowds with the raw distance on some of their kicks.

Monday, Locke booted one punt 65 yards in the air during team drills, according to Mark Craig of the Star Tribune. Another punt took a favorable roll and wound up 90 yards from the original line of scrimmage.

Locke can kick off if needed, but Vikings place-kicker Blair Walsh was one of the NFL's best in that category last season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... sam-martin

[Funkytown]

65-90 yard punts? Not too shabby. Can he kick it away and out of bounds if asked to?

[Mothman]

Thanks for the link regarding Locke. It's encouraging. If he comes through for the Vikings to anywhere near the degree Walsh did last year, they could find themselves with a solid pair of specialists for decade or more. That would certainly make the two picks used to draft those players choices well spent!

[PacificNorseWest]

Told ya'll drafting Locke where they did may not have been a bad decision. Obviously, nothing has been proven yet, but if this encouraging news manifests itself into real production come gametime, then the Vikings have a serious chess piece when it comes to huge aspects of winning games. That, to me, would make it well worth the pick.

[King James]

I wouldn't even ponder the thought of putting Locke on kickoffs. Not because I don't think he can kick but he needs fresh legs for those punts. If he's kiciking 65-90 yard punts then we will be in good shape. That means every time we punt on 4th down we have a great possibility of putting our opponents deep in their own territory. I like it! Make em earn every yard.

[dead_poet]

I wouldn't even ponder the thought of putting Locke on kickoffs. Not because I don't think he can kick but he needs fresh legs for those punts. If he's kiciking 65-90 yard punts then we will be in good shape. That means every time we punt on 4th down we have a great possibility of putting our opponents deep in their own territory. I like it! Make em earn every yard.

Without out-kicking the punt coverage unit, of course. That's partially what drew the ire of Childress/Priefer with Kluwe for a few seasons. A big punt with less-than-desirable hang time gives the returner a whole lot of time/field to work with. One of the quickest ways to Priefer's doghouse is with line-drive 60-yarders.

Also, we have to temper expectations there. I hope nobody is expecting 65-90 yard punts on average. That would make Locke the best punter in the history of the NFL. That 90-yarder was with nobody catching it and receiving a favorable bounce. I'm comfortable with consistent 55-yard boots that force fair catches every time or, if punting around midfield, inside the 20/10 yard line every time. Though it'd be nice if, just once, he kicked out of our own end zone and somehow pinned the other team inside the 20!

Side question: is it just me or have punters in the last 10 years or so almost abandoned the attempted "Coffin Corner" punts? You just don't seem to see those very often anymore. I wonder if they're lower-percentage punts that have more of a chance to backfire (give opponents better field position) than ones that drop in the middle of the field and give the coverage units the opportunity to pin teams inside the 10.

[dead_poet]

Walsh drills a 60-yarder: http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... d5db0c2727

[Mothman]

I'm comfortable with consistent 55-yard boots that force fair catches every time or, if punting around midfield, inside the 20/10 yard line every time.

You're comfortable with that. eh?

If he does that consistently, he'll follow in Walsh's footsteps and make the All-Pro team as a rookie!

Side question: is it just me or have punters in the last 10 years or so almost abandoned the attempted "Coffin Corner" punts? You just don't seem to see those very often anymore. I wonder if they're lower-percentage punts that have more of a chance to backfire (give opponents better field position) than ones that drop in the middle of the field and give the coverage units the opportunity to pin teams inside the 10.

I think you answered your own question. It seems like the coffin corner kick has gradually been phased out and replaced by the "drop and pin" approach you mentioned above. Teams must consider the latter a more effective strategy (or at least one they can implement more consistently).

[Funkytown]

Side question: is it just me or have punters in the last 10 years or so almost abandoned the attempted "Coffin Corner" punts? You just don't seem to see those very often anymore. I wonder if they're lower-percentage punts that have more of a chance to backfire (give opponents better field position) than ones that drop in the middle of the field and give the coverage units the opportunity to pin teams inside the 10.

You probably see it more on Madden than on the actual field. If someone can actually perfect it, it really is a nice weapon to have!

But coffin-corner tactics are showing few signs of life.

At least three factors preclude a revival: The speed of the game, the chance for a turnover, and coaching skill.

"The coffin corner went out so long ago," said Feagles, who entered the league with New England in 1988. "The reason I still do it is because I feel better kicking the angles. I aim for the 10 and I can control where the ball goes out.

The young players, they really have never been taught how to coffin corner.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/s ... id=3111471