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If the Vikings are going to continue to be a defensive team that relies on field position getting a better punter this offseason should be a priority. Here is my suggestion: http://www.businessinsider.com/aussie-p ... nt-2015-12

Also wanted to add in that if a punter can pass or run effectively you can run fakes that work a surprising amount of the time and win games for you. Having come from watching Hekker on the Rams I can tell you how awesome it is to have a punter who can pass.

Here is an interesting article on the lost art of the coffin corner punt:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id ... sando_mike

I would like to see the Vikings draft the all American punter from North Dakota state University. Guy is good.
Locke has never impressed me, not once. He has been pretty average at best his whole time with the vikings.

I think Walsh has struggled more since Locke has been holding for him too. Don't know if the stats back it up.

The Breeze wrote:I think Walsh has struggled more since Locke has been holding for him too. Don't know if the stats back it up.

I agree. I don't know if it has anything to do with that, but it is true.

Not a fan of Locke either. But I dont want to pay for another 5th round punter either.

I would bring four or five punters into camp undrafted and let them fight for the job...

The Breeze wrote:I think Walsh has struggled more since Locke has been holding for him too. Don't know if the stats back it up.

In 2012, Walsh's rookie season, he was 35-of-38. That included 10-for-10 beyond 50 yards. He missed one kick from 30-39, and two from 40-49, none from inside 30. His holder -- Chris Kluwe.

Since then, Walsh has missed two (counting Sunday) from 20-29, eight from 30-39 (counting extra points), four from 40-49, and nine from 50+. That's 23 missed kicks in three years. Those totals don't count the nightmarish 2015 preseason. His holder for all three years -- Jeff Locke.

Correlation = causation? Don't know. Those are the numbers. You be the judge.

PurpleMustReign wrote: I agree. I don't know if it has anything to do with that, but it is true.

A good, experienced holder is huge for a solid kicking game. It's a dirty secret among kickers that a whole lot of kickers have lost jobs due to a team taking a third string rookie quarterback or something and making him into a holder. You'd think punters should be good holders, and they usually are the best, but if they're still inexperienced there's a good chance that they're not all that.

But if a holder can't get a ball in proper position and he's got laces in twice in a game, that's pretty horrible. Kicking off the laces screws with the spin and if a kicker practices a kick repeatedly with a certain hold, that ball's got to be exactly the same in a game as in those practices.

As far as punters go, he's been pretty up and down. He had a few good games but consistency has been a real problem.

J. Kapp 11 wrote: In 2012, Walsh's rookie season, he was 35-of-38. That included 10-for-10 beyond 50 yards. He missed one kick from 30-39, and two from 40-49, none from inside 30. His holder -- Chris Kluwe.

Since then, Walsh has missed two (counting Sunday) from 20-29, eight from 30-39 (counting extra points), four from 40-49, and nine from 50+. That's 23 missed kicks in three years. Those totals don't count the nightmarish 2015 preseason. His holder for all three years -- Jeff Locke.

Correlation = causation? Don't know. Those are the numbers. You be the judge.

Wow...i thought there was some drop off but I had no idea it was that pronounced.
No tellingif it's on Locke, or if Kluwe is watching games with a Locke voodoo doll.
As someone who really thought Kluwe was run outta Mankato (instigated by his own choices and actions), all I can do is shake my head and wonder about the difference.
I wonder if Kluwe got any smug satisfaction with how the season ended?

Yes he does!

J. Kapp 11 wrote: In 2012, Walsh's rookie season, he was 35-of-38. That included 10-for-10 beyond 50 yards. He missed one kick from 30-39, and two from 40-49, none from inside 30. His holder -- Chris Kluwe.

Since then, Walsh has missed two (counting Sunday) from 20-29, eight from 30-39 (counting extra points), four from 40-49, and nine from 50+. That's 23 missed kicks in three years. Those totals don't count the nightmarish 2015 preseason. His holder for all three years -- Jeff Locke.

Correlation = causation? Don't know. Those are the numbers. You be the judge.

It'd be nice to have at least one more year of Kluwe holding to get a better idea if he was just regressing or if the holder just makes that big of a difference. Whatever happened to the backup QB being the holder anyway?

Does anyone on the team besides Locke have holding experience? Could be way to get Patterson on the field

Cold is temporary. Purple Pride is forever.

PurpleMustReign wrote:Does anyone on the team besides Locke have holding experience? Could be way to get Patterson on the field

Cold is temporary. Purple Pride is forever.

Actually it would be awesome to have an athlete of that caliber holding. think of the possibilities!

What happened to the days where the backup qb was the holder? Seems to make sense in a lot of ways, usually great hands, potential for fakes will keep defenses honest.

Not sure if old man Hill has any experience doing it or if he can consistently squat down to do the jobs with his ancient knees.

Maelstrom88 wrote:If the Vikings are going to continue to be a defensive team that relies on field position getting a better punter this offseason should be a priority. Here is my suggestion: http://www.businessinsider.com/aussie-p ... nt-2015-12

As a ute fan, I love Tom Hackett. I'd love to see him on the Vikings, but I don't think he'll last longer than the 5th round, so we'd have to decide if that's worth it.

He's won the Ray Guy award, and was the only active player playing when the released the all time Pac 12 team this year.
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... 6&genpos=P

He's also had some good fakes and one hand grabbed a bad snap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuPKSSaiyZE&html5=1