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Purplexing
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 3614
Location: Outside Valhalla, looking in.
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 Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 9:07 am Post subject: |
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The progress of The Blair Walsh Project thru training camp and pre-season should determine his role.
If he progresses to the point he shows his past good accuracy, but isn't quite ready to replace Longwell, he could be kept as a KOS, or be put on the PS,
depending on how well he has progressed and how far he has to go.
If he is put on the PS and is lost to another team, there shouldn't be a big concern because it would mean he didn't progress well enough to be protected by being placed on the active 53 man roster.
If his accuracy needs improvement, he can be kept on the active roster as a KOS.
Seeing Walsh's past accuracy problem, I am hesitant to drop Longwell in 2012.
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vike daddy
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Rookie Blair Walsh has yet to hear from Ryan Longwell. That's not a shock given that Walsh, for all intents and purposes, is positioning himself to steal Longwell's job. The Vikings used a sixth-round selection to nab Walsh, confident the kicker out of Georgia can regain the form he showed in 2009 and '10 when he was an All-Southeastern Conference standout.
Walsh: "You do what you know how to do and do what you've been doing for the last six or seven years. I'm confident in my abilities. We'll see how it all shakes out. Just being on the same field with Longwell and competing with him is an honor."
Frazier said Friday he didn't foresee keeping two kickers around.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/150252595.html
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CriminalMind
Joined: 25 Aug 2011
Posts: 2965
Location: Toronto, CA
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| Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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If you don't foresee keeping 2 kickers, and you spend a 6th round pick on close to the 1st-3rd best kicker in the draft.... I think its more then just competition at the K position.
Thats a pretty big statement, but of course he didn't shut the door absolutely on 2 kickers,
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vike daddy
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 10:24 am Post subject: |
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| CriminalMind wrote: | | If you don't foresee keeping 2 kickers, and you spend a 6th round pick on close to the 1st-3rd best kicker in the draft.... I think its more then just competition at the K position. |
1) Frazier says that to motivate both kickers.
2) Frazier particularly is telling Walsh it's do or die time.
that's how i would read it.
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vike daddy
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
Posts: 66612
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.
Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been.
You've been in the pipeline, filling in time,
provided with toys and Scouting for Boys.
So welcome to the machine.
Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.
What did you dream? It's alright we told you what to dream.
You dreamed of a big star, he played a mean guitar,
He always ate in the Steak Bar. He loved to drive in his Jaguar.
So welcome to the machine.
Pink Floyd, 1975
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CriminalMind
Joined: 25 Aug 2011
Posts: 2965
Location: Toronto, CA
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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| vike daddy wrote: | | CriminalMind wrote: | | If you don't foresee keeping 2 kickers, and you spend a 6th round pick on close to the 1st-3rd best kicker in the draft.... I think its more then just competition at the K position. |
1) Frazier says that to motivate both kickers.
2) Frazier particularly is telling Walsh it's do or die time.
that's how i would read it. |
Guess it was more then just motivation.
Based on his quote earlier, this move should not have been a total surprise.
If there is an inference to be made, its that both Leslie and Rick are completely on the same page, thats positive
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SteelKing728
Joined: 23 Aug 2008
Posts: 10869
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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| SteelKing728 wrote: | | CriminalMind wrote: | I think we keep 2 Kickers - Longwell grows him for one year, and joins a contender for the 2013 season.
I think the "extra" cut will come from S/CB/WR.
I would lean toward that extra cut from S/CB, as Simpson (WR) would be missing games early. |
Why would Longwell have any interesting "grooming" Walsh? Its not like these guys are QBs or WRs. Most teams are smart to carry only 1 kicker. You effectively waste a roster space by holding onto 2.
I wouldn't be too happy if I'm Longwell. The writing is on the wall for him. |
Looks like I was right on this part. It came alittle earlier than expected, but I'm not surprised by the move. I felt all along we weren't going to keep two kickers. (before I even knew of the report)
But Longwell's career isn't over. Its hard to determine exactly what team would pursue him. You sure get an accurate kicker, but you limit yourself with a guy who's spotty past 50 yards, and his kickoffs aren't great.
Anyways, I think some stress has been lifted from Walsh. He has breathing room. That doesn't mean he can just suck as a kicker and Minnesota won't do anything, but he doesn't have anyone breathing down his neck. He can focus.
for the both of them, I wish the best of luck.
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vike daddy
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Bermuda Viking
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
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Location: Paget, Bermuda
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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"Walsh’s touchback stats are better than Longwell’s, but not by an overwhelming margin. Walsh converted 19-of-68 touchbacks last season while kicking from the 30-yard line instead of the NFL’s 35. But he averaged 65.4 yards per kickoff, slightly above Longwell’s 64.8 average.
The Vikings might need a few more yards there to call this experiment a success."
http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/2012/05/17/longwell-less-vikings-better-hope-walsh-is-touchback-machine/
I would have thought the boom of Walsh was much bigger than Longwell's.... it isnt.
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disaacs
Joined: 13 Dec 2005
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Location: Brownbackistan
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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The fact that Walsh can already kickoff better than Longwell without all the advantages that a NFL kicker has in offseason work should be viewed as a positive, not a negative.
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Bermuda Viking
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
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Location: Paget, Bermuda
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| disaacs wrote: | | The fact that Walsh can already kickoff better than Longwell without all the advantages that a NFL kicker has in offseason work should be viewed as a positive, not a negative. |
Roger that. Yet I was under the impression that kicking off was a strength of Walsh, and we are comparing that to Longwells weakness.
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Klomp
Joined: 11 Aug 2011
Posts: 3394
Location: The Home of Schwan's Ice Cream
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Bermuda Viking wrote: | "Walsh’s touchback stats are better than Longwell’s, but not by an overwhelming margin. Walsh converted 19-of-68 touchbacks last season while kicking from the 30-yard line instead of the NFL’s 35. But he averaged 65.4 yards per kickoff, slightly above Longwell’s 64.8 average.
The Vikings might need a few more yards there to call this experiment a success."
http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/2012/05/17/longwell-less-vikings-better-hope-walsh-is-touchback-machine/
I would have thought the boom of Walsh was much bigger than Longwell's.... it isnt. |
Found this interesting:
Kicked off much better at the combine than for the Bulldogs. “He’s got a great, I mean great leg,” another coach said. “He had a 4.64 hang time on a kickoff at the combine. That’s almost unheard of. Every now and then you’ll get a guy with a great leg who might get a 4.4. And they’re using brand-new NFL balls. That was incredibly impressive.”
http://blutarsky.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/the-lesson-of-blair-walsh/
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vike daddy
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
Posts: 66612
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Bermuda Viking wrote: | "Walsh’s touchback stats are better than Longwell’s, but not by an overwhelming margin. Walsh converted 19-of-68 touchbacks last season while kicking from the 30-yard line instead of the NFL’s 35. But he averaged 65.4 yards per kickoff, slightly above Longwell’s 64.8 average.
The Vikings might need a few more yards there to call this experiment a success."
http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/2012/05/17/longwell-less-vikings-better-hope-walsh-is-touchback-machine/
I would have thought the boom of Walsh was much bigger than Longwell's.... it isnt. |
in reading some Georgia based blogs about Walsh, the fans heavily criticize the coach's stubborness in insisting Walsh kickoff directionally, trying to hit the corner of the endzone.
that would result in fewer yards down the field stats-wise, even though the ball traveled far enough to make it deep in to the endzone.
hmmm...
i think the Vikes are doing the right thing here, and i was as surprised as anyone when they let Longwell go. they are showing Walsh they have faith in him and asking him to be responsible to improve. that, and they are going to coach him up like crazy.
in another article i read, Walsh stated he had too many coaches during his college career telling him what to do. the kid needs consistency from this point on.
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Bermuda Viking
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 4525
Location: Paget, Bermuda
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| vike daddy wrote: | | Bermuda Viking wrote: | "Walsh’s touchback stats are better than Longwell’s, but not by an overwhelming margin. Walsh converted 19-of-68 touchbacks last season while kicking from the 30-yard line instead of the NFL’s 35. But he averaged 65.4 yards per kickoff, slightly above Longwell’s 64.8 average.
The Vikings might need a few more yards there to call this experiment a success."
http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/2012/05/17/longwell-less-vikings-better-hope-walsh-is-touchback-machine/
I would have thought the boom of Walsh was much bigger than Longwell's.... it isnt. |
in reading some Georgia based blogs about Walsh, the fans heavily criticize the coach's stubborness in insisting Walsh kickoff directionally, trying to hit the corner of the endzone.
that would result in fewer yards down the field stats-wise, even though the ball traveled far enough to make it deep in to the endzone.
hmmm...
i think the Vikes are doing the right thing here, and i was as surprised as anyone when they let Longwell go. they are showing Walsh they have faith in him and asking him to be responsible to improve. that, and they are going to coach him up like crazy.
in another article i read, Walsh stated he had too many coaches during his college career telling him what to do. the kid needs consistency from this point on. |
That's good info. Cheers on that.
I have to admit I will miss Longwell more for the guy he is and what he did in the past, but I didnt think he had alot more so this move at this time doesnt bother me at all.
As in all these decisions the proof is in the pudding and if we can peg losses on Walsh then frankly the rest of the draft went pretty darn well! ;P
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heydudemanG
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 2922
Location: Minneapolis
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| Bermuda Viking wrote: | "Walsh’s touchback stats are better than Longwell’s, but not by an overwhelming margin. Walsh converted 19-of-68 touchbacks last season while kicking from the 30-yard line instead of the NFL’s 35. But he averaged 65.4 yards per kickoff, slightly above Longwell’s 64.8 average.
The Vikings might need a few more yards there to call this experiment a success."
http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/2012/05/17/longwell-less-vikings-better-hope-walsh-is-touchback-machine/
I would have thought the boom of Walsh was much bigger than Longwell's.... it isnt. |
I really dont think we'll notice a difference in kick distance at all. We Only kept this guy because Longwell was due to much money. With that said he is an amazing kicker but you can't find Ryan Longwells unaffectable kicking. He will win that game for you. Lets hope Blair is half of the kicker longwell is in the 4th quarter.
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