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Walsh goes long way to making people forget Longwell

Article by: MARK CRAIG , Star Tribune
Updated: September 9, 2012 - 11:54 PM

Rookie kicker Blair Walsh was put on the spot right away and came through not once but twice.

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AlohaMikeSep. 10, 12 5:12 AM

After the opening weekend at the box office, I'd say the Blair Walsh Project is rated A+!!!

TabarnooshSep. 10, 12 5:56 AM

Yeah that Speilman is a real idiot isn't he. Come on Speilman haters. Let's hear your sorry excuses and justification now. Oh, I'll start. "Well, it's only the first game and the Vikes should have won anyway and they had to go to OT and the offense looked bad at first and yada yada yada". Check the score board one last time haters. That's all that matters. NEXT!

quilamollySep. 10, 12 8:27 AM

Obviously Longwell was one of the best kickers in league history but he was definitely near the end of his career and just didn't have a leg for long kicks anymore. Walsh's 55 yard kick would have been good from at least 60 if needed. Having the opposing offense average their starts after kickoffs from the 19.5 was so much nicer then the past years when it seemed like they were always out past the 30.

ddellwoSep. 10, 12 8:34 AM

A gutty performance by the young rookie -- something that could also be said of Harrison Smith during yesterday's performance! Skol!

frnorthSep. 10, 12 8:40 AM

You can't fix everything in one off season when you go 3-13. But it really looks like the Vikes fixed a lot of things that will help us make some progress this year and contenders for at least the playoffs next year. Skol!

voner26Sep. 10, 12 8:48 AM

Nice win. Defense is still very suspect allowing people to get behind them several times and thanks to miss fires they got out of it. Aginst a more season and accurate QB it would have been curtains. Nice to see AP run as well as he did with some decent blocking up front. The bright spot was definetly the rookie kicker Walsh who sent his kickoffs deep or out of the end zone along with his accurate kicking. Without him it would have been over at the end. The Fraser designed defense still is a stinker and won't survive against many teams.

TabarnooshSep. 10, 12 8:52 AM

Agreed voner26. This Tampa 2 is going the way of the Model T. Offensive coordinators know how to beat it just like they figured out how to beat the Bears 46. Just look at Mike Tomlin and his embracing the Zone Blitz in Pittsburg. True, they lost yesterday but they win many more than they loose. Tampa 2 doesn't scare anybody.

siouxchampSep. 10, 12 9:07 AM

Who's Longwell???

McIntyreSep. 10, 12 9:11 AM

Right on voner26 and Tabarnoosh. The Tampa 2 just isn't effective against the spread formations that are increasingly common these days. But back on topic, Walsh is a great addition so far. The kid has a heck of a leg, and he's an ice man; exactly what one wants in a kicker.

dl00025Sep. 10, 12 9:30 AM

Awesome pressure kicks saved the vikes today obviously but as far as "lone brights spots" i gotta say that Percy Harvin was the catalyst in this game. That man is ridiculous the way he can bury a guy or plain leave him picking their jock off the ground as he jukes around him. Give him a big extension. He is the man!

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