Minnesota Vikings: Preseason Week 3 stock down
By Luke Sims
Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh (3) kicks a 37 yard field goal as punter Jeff Locke (18) holds in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
2) Blair Walsh, kicker, Minnesota Vikings
Blair Walsh’s struggles are no surprise at this point. Connecting on two of three attempts against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night actually represents a step forward for the struggling kicker.
The big news after the game focused mostly on Walsh’s 50-yard boot as an emergency punter, but Walsh isn’t paid for being able to step in for punters. He’s paid to connect on field goals and that’s something he has struggled to do all preseason.
I’ve outlined the declining trend of Blair Walsh before, but it’s worth noting his continued struggles each week. Place kickers are valuable players and Walsh simply has to step up for the Minnesota Vikings.
Through the preseason Walsh has completed just four of nine attempts in four games. He also missed one of nine extra points.
The Vikings need a reliable kicker who can give them the “automatic” seventh point on touchdown drives.
The Vikings need a reliable kicker who is getting closer to 90% of his kicks through the uprights, not closer to 50%.
Of all the positions on the Vikings roster, place kicker worries me the most. Maybe that is a good sign for the rest of the team, but I believe it’s a more accurate reflection of just how horrendous Walsh has been.
A 2/3 performance shouldn’t be a cause for celebration (but hitting 66.66% of kicks is in this case). Misses should be a shock the NFL level, not the norm.
I don’t know how Walsh needs to be motivated, but it’s clear that there is a problem that needs to be addressed.
Next: Backup quarterback raises concerns