It appears the Vikings are showing genuine interest in Missouri Western kicker Greg Zuerlein. Previously having had a private workout
with the Vikes, Zuerlein visited with them again at Winter Park last
Tuesday. Considering each NFL team is permitted but 30 visits by draft-eligible
prospects, it would be a stretch to assume that the Vikings would burn
one on a kicker if they had no interest in him -- kickers generally are
not the subject of smokescreens.
Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell will be 38 years-young in August and is
coming off a down season last year having converted only 78.6 percent of
his field goals -- his worst season percentage since his last year with the
Packers in 2005. Likewise, even with kickoffs being moved up to the
35-yard line last year in an effort to limit injuries, Longwell still
struggled to take advantage of the rule-change thus limiting opponent
kick-returns. He ranked 29th in the league in touchbacks in 2011 at a
meager 24.36% while only 25% at home kicking indoors. Longwell is but
one season into a four-year, $12 million contract which he was extended
last July, and is scheduled to make $1.2 million next season -- hardly
breaking the bank for a proven veteran kicker. Regardless, for a
rebuilding team looking to infuse the roster with younger players, the
Vikings cannot afford to neglect evaluating a kicker of Zuerlein's
ability.
Zuerlein began his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha
and was a two-time All-MIAA Conference kicker who led the country in
touchbacks. After taking a medical red-shirt in 2010 following hip
surgery -- and after the NCAA turned down his appeal to kick at a Division
I school -- Zuerlein transferred to Missouri Western when UNO pulled the
plug on its 99 year-old football program due to budget shortages. In
2011, Zuerlein led the nation in field goals per game (2.30) and broke a NCAA and MIAA
record with 21 consecutive field goals while also setting an NCAA record
going 9-for-9 in field goals from 50-plus yards, including two 58-yard
field goals. Impressive indeed for someone not being a mule named Gus.
With additional compensatory picks granted to them at the end of the
fourth-round, the Vikings may now be in good position to use a
late-round selection on a talented young kicker. Even if they intend to
use Longwell next season, the Vikings need to do a better job planning
ahead and not waiting until there is a roster void before targeting
positions.
They shouldn't wste a pick on a freaking kicker. They have to many other needs that need to be addressed and even using picks later in the draft is still better than none at all. Brady, Welker, and Colston were guys that were all got in the late rounds which goes to show you that you never know unless you try.
ReplyDeleteThey need to look at every position as a possible upgrade, that's how you improve! Longwell can't even get the ball to the 20 on kickoffs and when you play Hester twice a year you could be looking at Longwell's kickoffs making a difference in winning or not right there. If Zurlein is available in say the 6th round they nedd to get him!
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