2024 Offseason Discussion (moves, rumors, hopes & dreams!)
Apr 30, 2024 15:40:24 GMT -6
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Uncle and dougpaschal like this
Post by Funkytown on Apr 30, 2024 15:40:24 GMT -6
Another position that I expect to have some added competition is Punter. Ryan Wright had a decent start to his career as an UDFA in 2022, and while is Y/P avg actually increased in 2023 to 48.9 from his 47.4 avg in 2022, his touchbacks % increased significantly from just 1 touchback in 2022 to 7 in 2023 and they came at very inopportune times during games, too. Sometimes the role of a Punter is to boom punts to "reverse the field" (ie, when your deep in your own territory and can't move the ball), and other times the role should be to pin the opponent deep in their territory, and Wright's ability to do that diminished in 2023 - his % of punts that last inside the 20 significantly declined in 2023 to just 28.8%, which was 5th worst in the entire NFL.
Another Punter should be brought in at some point before Training Camp to provide some competition to Wright to ensure the Viking's are maximizing their ability to on Special Teams. I'm anticipating some better punt coverage with some of the UDFA's the Viking's brought in this year (ie, Bo Richter seems like he could be a weapon on ST), and I'm also hoping for some better punting, too.
From Vikings.com:
The Vikings have added a second punter to the roster.
Minnesota signed free agent Seth Vernon, the team announced Tuesday.
Mostly recently, Vernon spent the 2022 offseason and training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, who signed him as an undrafted rookie. He was released on Aug. 16, 2022.
Vernon was a standout at Portland State, who also are the Vikings.
As a senior in 2021, he averaged 44.9 yards per punt. He averaged 54.8 yards on six punts in his only game of the 2020 season (remaining games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2019, he averaged 43.2 yards per boot.
Over his time at Portland State, Vernon recorded 93 punts with an average of 44.6 yards per kick. He downed 27 punts inside the 20-yard line and recorded 29 punts of 50 or more yards.
Vernon's career average ranks second in Portland State history.
Minnesota signed free agent Seth Vernon, the team announced Tuesday.
Mostly recently, Vernon spent the 2022 offseason and training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, who signed him as an undrafted rookie. He was released on Aug. 16, 2022.
Vernon was a standout at Portland State, who also are the Vikings.
As a senior in 2021, he averaged 44.9 yards per punt. He averaged 54.8 yards on six punts in his only game of the 2020 season (remaining games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2019, he averaged 43.2 yards per boot.
Over his time at Portland State, Vernon recorded 93 punts with an average of 44.6 yards per kick. He downed 27 punts inside the 20-yard line and recorded 29 punts of 50 or more yards.
Vernon's career average ranks second in Portland State history.