Vikings Message Board.Com

Demi wrote: That drives me crazy. I wonder what the stats are but it seems like the center or right hash would be much better angles for a right footed kicker.

The team does not have control over placement of the ball on any play if I'm not mistaken. I think that a play would have to go out of bounds to the right to make the right hash mark.
If Walsh needs to have it specifically placed on the right side in order to make FG's, that concerns me.
Seeing as we gave Walsh an extension it is unlikely they would bring competition in right away, but I am sure they checked the market to see who is potentially available.
Watching post game presser was kind of humorous watching Zimmer dance around the question if he was concerned about Walsh.

Mercy Percy wrote:Not saying this is going to happen but look at Mason Crosby, he was atrocious for a little bit of that one year, they stuck with him even when he was in his own head and I think its payed off for the Pack. I think you gotta stick with Blair because hes proven he can be a pro bowl kicker.

I was thinking of Mason "the line" Crosby last night too.

CbusVikesFan wrote:The team does not have control over placement of the ball on any play if I'm not mistaken. I think that a play would have to go out of bounds to the right to make the right hash mark.

It would either have to go out of bounds or end outside of the hash marks. You're correct that teams don't have control over where the ball is placed. The only "control" they have comes in the form of what play they call on the previous down and where it ends up. That's why, when a team is setting up a FG late in games and has a down or two to spare, they will sometimes run the ball up the middle or to a particular side in an effort to improve the placement for their kicker.

As I understand it, spotting the ball works like this:

— If a play ends inside the hash marks, the ball is spotted where the ball-carrier went down.

— If a play ends up out of bounds or finishes outside the hash marks, the ball is spotted on the hash marks on that side of the field.

— If a pass is incomplete, the ball is returned to the previous spot.

Mothman wrote: It would either have to go out of bounds or end outside of the hash marks. You're correct that teams don't have control over where the ball is placed. The only "control" they have comes in the form of what play they call on the previous down and where it ends up. That's why, when a team is setting up a FG late in games and has a down or two to spare, they will sometimes run the ball up the middle or to a particular side in an effort to improve the placement for their kicker.

As I understand it, spotting the ball works like this:

— If a play ends inside the hash marks, the ball is spotted where the ball-carrier went down.

— If a play ends up out of bounds or finishes outside the hash marks, the ball is spotted on the hash marks on that side of the field.

— If a pass is incomplete, the ball is returned to the previous spot.

PA said with the new extra point rule, the kicker gets to choose.

fiestavike wrote: PA said with the new extra point rule, the kicker gets to choose.

That's extra points.

Ball placement for field goals follows the same rules as ball placement on any other play from scrimmage. As summarized above by Jim.


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Field goals are a different story you rarely have a choice there but I'm assuming if he's kicking PATs from the left hash in the game, that's where he's practicing kicking them from. That's a lot of kicks where he's hitting the ball with a right draw to it. All I'm saying is maybe it's worthwhile to make him kick his PATs from different positions so he isn't so used to pushing the ball in one direction.

Demi wrote: That drives me crazy. I wonder what the stats are but it seems like the center or right hash would be much better angles for a right footed kicker.

You must not play golf.

It's all about using angles to manage your misses. If you're a right-footed kicker and hook the ball (most do) you set up on the left and aim at the right goalpost (or the right side of the fairway if you're playing golf). That way, if you miss a little right, it still hooks back to the right side. If you hit it where you aim, it comes right back to the middle. If you pull it, you still have a chance to stay good on the left. No matter what, the ball is always hooking back TOWARD where you want it to end up.

But if you hook the ball and line up on the right, you're dead if you pull it. No chance. It's going to end up way left because the ball is hooking AWAY from where you want it to go. Lining up on the right when you know you're going to hook the ball essentially cuts the width of the goalpost (or the fairway) in half.

Draw it out on paper. It makes sense.

Walsh seemed to be pushing the ball weak-right last night. Like golf, it really doesn't matter where you line up if you're shanking it.

Let's hope this will not turn out to an embarrassing contract for Minnesota. Should have waited to see how Blair would response this season before signing him long-term. But water under the bridge.

HardcoreVikesFan wrote:Let's hope this will not turn out to an embarrassing contract for Minnesota. Should have waited to see how Blair would response this season before signing him long-term. But water under the bridge.

Yep I agree. Except with the last spot. We may have to look for a kicker, and have 2 on the roster, at least for a while. IF Walsh cant get over his mental problems, or kick outdoors, he will cost us games, no win games for us. And this may be one of our best opportunities to win it all. It wouldnt have hurt to wait. He wasnt that exceptional last year.

One last thought, you think Priefer is telling him to set up on the side hash marks? Typically a FG gets blocked over the center. By kicking from the hash, the ball is less likely to go over the center of the line and thus less likely to get blocked.

Mothman wrote: It would either have to go out of bounds or end outside of the hash marks. You're correct that teams don't have control over where the ball is placed. The only "control" they have comes in the form of what play they call on the previous down and where it ends up. That's why, when a team is setting up a FG late in games and has a down or two to spare, they will sometimes run the ball up the middle or to a particular side in an effort to improve the placement for their kicker.

As I understand it, spotting the ball works like this:

— If a play ends inside the hash marks, the ball is spotted where the ball-carrier went down.

— If a play ends up out of bounds or finishes outside the hash marks, the ball is spotted on the hash marks on that side of the field.

— If a pass is incomplete, the ball is returned to the previous spot.

Yes, thank you. You sir, may know a little bit about football.

Mercy Percy wrote:Not saying this is going to happen but look at Mason Crosby, he was atrocious for a little bit of that one year, they stuck with him even when he was in his own head and I think its payed off for the Pack. I think you gotta stick with Blair because hes proven he can be a pro bowl kicker.

Great point

fiestavike wrote: I was thinking of Mason "the line" Crosby last night too.

The line?

Jordysghost wrote: The line?

Rocky Balboa reference. Mason "the line" Dixon. Sorry.

J. Kapp 11 wrote:Draw it out on paper. It makes sense.

Walsh seemed to be pushing the ball weak-right last night. Like golf, it really doesn't matter where you line up if you're shanking it.

http://www.mecmoss.com/why-is-it-easier ... ed-kicker/

Yeah figured I'd google it and first thing I found.

I just assumed being on the right hash, and kicking lined up with the right post would pull it to the left without much adjustment.
Kicking from the left hash lined up with the left post, you'd have to kick it to the right to adjust for the pull.

Should have waited to see how Blair would response this season before signing him long-term.

Well, we do go back indoors next season. So maybe he'll get a shot beyond this season regardless? Seems like a bad idea to count on improved play indoors, when plenty of games aren't indoors. He'll have plenty of chances, will the GM be willing to move on after the season if he does struggle? Might be hard to do.