vike daddy Posted July 31 Author Share Posted July 31 Returnee Ryan Wright and newcomer Seth Vernon are competing for the punting job, and each had an opportunity to execute as part of the scenario of the offense stopped at midfield. After a third-down pass from Sam Darnold to Aaron Jones, Sr., was stopped shy of the sticks, Wright punted with the line of scrimmage at the defense's 45-yard line and was able to down his attempt at the 2. Similarly, a third-down pass from J.J. McCarthy to Robert Tonyan was stopped shy of the line to gain. Vernon punted with the line of scrimmage at the 50 and downed the ball at the 3. Kicker Will Reichard, a sixth-round pick who won the kicking competition with consistent accuracy, attempted and missed from 52 and 54 yards before aiming true on a 55-yarder. https://www.vikings.com/news/red-zone-fire-pivotal-situations-training-camp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemperFeist Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 It’s been noted that Wright has been the sole holder for placekicks. If that’s accurate, then the punting competition doesn’t appear to be an equal opportunity competition. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 (edited) On 7/31/2024 at 5:06 AM, SemperFeist said: It’s been noted that Wright has been the sole holder for placekicks. If that’s accurate, then the punting competition doesn’t appear to be an equal opportunity competition. The Vikings capped Saturday's session with a kicking period for rookie Will Reichard. After knocking one in from the 33-yard distance of an extra point, Reichard followed with accurate blasts through the uprights from 42, 46, 48, 53 and 58 yards. Each kick had room to spare. Minnesota opted to have punter Ryan Wright serve as the holder for all six kicks by Reichard. https://www.vikings.com/news/quarterbacks-extend-plays-reichard-dials-long-distance 6 for 6 today, 5 for 5 earlier this week. several from 50+ yards. Edited August 4 by vike daddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 6 Author Share Posted August 6 (edited) For whatever it’s worth, PFF graded Ryan Wright as the 13th best punter in 2022 before dropping him down to 20th in 2023. Securing good field position is going to continue being priority #1. However, being able to set the kicker up for success on field goals is part of the equation. The simple fact that Wright is getting all of the 1st-team reps in that capacity functions as a subtle hint that he’s leading the punter competition. Entering Year 3 in the NFL, Ryan Wright is still only 24. He’ll carry a $986,668 cap hit into the season if he makes the team. https://purpleptsd.com/2024/vikings/top_news/subtle-hint-vikings-battle/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook seeing that Reichard is becoming automatic on his kicks, what about having Vernon start holding and see if Reichard's success drops? i can't see it destroying his kicking confidence or anything, and could make for some useful info. but then it's probably too late for that now, what with pre season games beginning soon. Edited August 6 by vike daddy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemperFeist Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 If Vernon was wowing coaches, I would expect to see him practicing as the holder. If the reports that Wright has been the only holder for field goals is still accurate, I think it would be safe to assume that Vernon has not done anything to separate himself from Wright when it comes to punting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 The NFL is stacked with decisive ball carriers possessing exceptional quickness and vision. It'll be important to strategize where the ball is kicked and in what manner. What kick works best? A fastball? A squib? A knuckleball or highball? The situation will dictate rookie kicker Will Reichard's approach. Well, Reichard or a position player. There are a couple Vikings players raising their hands to give it a go. "If we can find a guy who can consistently put it in play, or put it in the end zone or put it within the landing zone, we'll definitely do that because it's an advantage," Daniels said. "If you do add a guy in there who is unaccounted for from a kickoff return standpoint, and he's a free hitter, you'll want to do that." https://www.vikings.com/news/nfl-new-kickoff-rules-matt-daniels-special-teams-decisions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 11 Author Share Posted August 11 The NFL is still working out the kinks on the new kickoff rule, and on one preseason play on Saturday, the players, coaches and on-field officials all seemed confused. On the play, the Jaguars were kicking off and the Chiefs had Mecole Hardman and Deneric Prince back to receive. Prince let the ball sail over his head, thinking it was going to be a touchback, but it landed in the end zone and then bounced back out to the 1-yard line. Hardman then ran into the end zone, kneeled down, and scooped up the ball. The officials initially ruled touchback. Replay then reversed that call and made it a safety because Hardman was the one who brought the ball back into the end zone. Andy Reid: “I think they’re trying to work that out. Normally when a ball goes in the end zone and you touch it there, then it’s a dead ball, but we’ll get it cleared up and see what they come up with,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. Doug Pederson: “I’m just glad they went to review. The ball landed in the end zone, and now by rule that’s still a live ball. Last year that would have been down — it would have been dead and the ball comes out to the 25 last year. Now the ball is live. So the ball was in the end zone, came out to about the half yard line. The returner was in the end zone but pulled the ball back into the end zone when he took a knee, so safety. That’s the rule. Safety.” https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/chiefs-puzzled-by-ruling-of-safety-on-mecole-hardman-kickoff-return Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 For weeks, I’ve believed that plenty of coaches will decide not to take the bait as to the new “dynamic” kickoff. In lieu of running the risk of long returns, they’ll strategically kick the ball out of the end zone and give up the 30 — just as they routinely gave up the 25 in recent years. If, as it was through the first full week of the preseason, the average starting field position after a return was the 28.5, why not make it the 30 and take a touchdown off the table? There’s another benefit to having a standard practice of kicking out of the end zone. As one source recently explained to PFT — and as at least one team is thinking about the situation — a strategy of always kicking off out of the end zone allows the team to avoid spending time practicing kickoff returns. Those reps can be used on something else. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/kicking-out-of-end-zone-and-conceding-the-30-has-another-benefit-saved-time-at-practice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede700 Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 8 hours ago, vike daddy said: If, as it was through the first full week of the preseason, the average starting field position after a return was the 28.5, why not make it the 30 and take a touchdown off the table? Because every yard counts. Under the previous system, I never really understood why they didn't just kick it really high and to around the 2 every time, because they could have continuously buried their opponents inside the 20. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikeManDan Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 This phase of the game left a lot to be desired against the Raiders. Hopefully they can get things squared away the remainder of training camp and preseason. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 18 Author Share Posted August 18 The Vikings opted to have third-year punter Ryan Wright handle punting duties in the first half against Cleveland. Wright punted three times, totaling 133 yards with a net average of 44.3 yards and a long of 58. He also deftly forced a fair catch at the 6 with a 40-yard punt that was kicked with the ball pointed down. Seth Vernon's lone punt of the day went for 43 yards. vikings.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 So with Seth Vernon being released the Vikings have their 2024 specialists set K: Will Reichard P: Ryan Wright LS: Andrew Depaola 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 19 Author Share Posted August 19 in the Browns game, did we just kick it through the endzone every time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 20 Author Share Posted August 20 During the preseason, Ryan Wright proved to be more effective [than recently released Seth Vernon.] The opening game featured Wright booting the ball 3 times for a 57.0 average to stand alongside a net of 45 yards per punt. He landed 1 inside the 20. Meanwhile, Vernon averaged 45 yards while netting 36 yards. Against Cleveland, Wright continued to do well. He booted the ball a trio of times and averaged 44.3 yards per kick. A pair landed inside the 20, which is what Minnesota is looking to see. Ryan Wright, 24, will carry a $986,668 cap charge into the season. https://purpleptsd.com/2024/vikings/top_news/vikings-end-one-competition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 Through three preseason games, the Vikings kicked off 18 times (including one kick that followed a safety at Cleveland). Eleven of those kickoffs reached the end zone, and eight resulted in touchbacks. Minnesota seemed perfectly fine with opting for touchbacks while playing with the lead. Opponents kicked off to Minnesota a total of 11 times. Four of those kicks reached the end zone, and three resulted in touchbacks. vikings.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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