Post by Funkytown on May 17, 2023 10:44:48 GMT -6
Legit kicking competition? Who says no?!
Daily Norseman: Will The Vikings Actually Have A Kicker Competition This Year? by Tyler Ireland
Link:
www.dailynorseman.com/2023/5/16/23723502/minnesota-vikings-greg-joseph-jack-podlesny-kicker-competition
Daily Norseman: Will The Vikings Actually Have A Kicker Competition This Year? by Tyler Ireland
On May 5th 2022, the Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with undrafted free agent kicker Gabe Brkic. The expectation was that he would compete against the incumbent Greg Joseph in training camp for the starting job. That never came to fruition, because one month later the Vikings waived Brkic and Greg Joseph won the starting job unopposed.
Greg Joseph would go on to have a very inconsistent season for the Vikings. On one hand, it was a career year for Joseph who made a series of clutch field goals in close games. He made a chip shot field goal against the Washington Commanders, capped off the largest comeback in NFL history against the Indianapolis Colts, and most prominently, Joseph nailed a record-breaking 61 yard game winner against the New York Giants in the regular season.
On the other hand, Joseph made just 78.8% of his field goals last season, which ranked in the bottom 5 of starting kickers in 2022. What was even more infuriating was that Joseph only made 87% of his extra points, which ranked as the 3rd worst in NFL that season. Greg has this penchant for making the easiest kicks look impossible, while simultaneously making the most insanely clutch kicks from long distance look easy. He kind of reminds me of Blair Walsh before he missed the 27 yarder, because watching them both was like being on an emotional rollercoaster.
Fast forward to 2023, the Vikings have once again brought in some competition at kicker via undrafted free agency. The competition in question is former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Jack Podlesny who spent three seasons with the Bulldogs. Podlesny is similar to Greg Joseph, in that they both have plenty of experience kicking in big games where the stakes are high. Unlike Greg Joseph, Jack Podlesny struggles kicking from range, making a mere 54% of his field goals from over 40 yards out.
Podlesny’s lack of range, accompanied with the fact that he’s going against someone who has pre-existing chemistry with long snapper Andrew DePaola and punter Ryan Wright, makes it highly improbable that he beats out Greg Joseph for the starting job. That’s disappointing, because this is the second consecutive offseason where the Vikings haven’t fully invested in signing a kicker who is at least top 3 in his draft class. CBS Sports has Jack Podlesny ranked as the 4th best kicker in the 2023 draft class behind Jake Moody, Chad Ryland, and B.T. Potter.
Greg Joseph would go on to have a very inconsistent season for the Vikings. On one hand, it was a career year for Joseph who made a series of clutch field goals in close games. He made a chip shot field goal against the Washington Commanders, capped off the largest comeback in NFL history against the Indianapolis Colts, and most prominently, Joseph nailed a record-breaking 61 yard game winner against the New York Giants in the regular season.
On the other hand, Joseph made just 78.8% of his field goals last season, which ranked in the bottom 5 of starting kickers in 2022. What was even more infuriating was that Joseph only made 87% of his extra points, which ranked as the 3rd worst in NFL that season. Greg has this penchant for making the easiest kicks look impossible, while simultaneously making the most insanely clutch kicks from long distance look easy. He kind of reminds me of Blair Walsh before he missed the 27 yarder, because watching them both was like being on an emotional rollercoaster.
Fast forward to 2023, the Vikings have once again brought in some competition at kicker via undrafted free agency. The competition in question is former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Jack Podlesny who spent three seasons with the Bulldogs. Podlesny is similar to Greg Joseph, in that they both have plenty of experience kicking in big games where the stakes are high. Unlike Greg Joseph, Jack Podlesny struggles kicking from range, making a mere 54% of his field goals from over 40 yards out.
Podlesny’s lack of range, accompanied with the fact that he’s going against someone who has pre-existing chemistry with long snapper Andrew DePaola and punter Ryan Wright, makes it highly improbable that he beats out Greg Joseph for the starting job. That’s disappointing, because this is the second consecutive offseason where the Vikings haven’t fully invested in signing a kicker who is at least top 3 in his draft class. CBS Sports has Jack Podlesny ranked as the 4th best kicker in the 2023 draft class behind Jake Moody, Chad Ryland, and B.T. Potter.
Link:
www.dailynorseman.com/2023/5/16/23723502/minnesota-vikings-greg-joseph-jack-podlesny-kicker-competition
... and neither is this Chris guy.