| Vikings kicker Blair Walsh has been chosen to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. (US Presswire) |
Vikings K Blair Walsh was named to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday, yet another honor for the rookie kicker. So far this season Walsh has:
- Tied a team record for longest field goal -- 56 yards (last Sunday in Houston).
- Put his name in the NFL record books for most 50-plus field goals in a season -- nine.
- Made three 50-plus yard field goals (50, 53, 51) on Dec. 16 against St. Louis, tying an NFL record.
- Logged the fourth most touchbacks in the league this season (49), which is the Vikings' franchise record.
Walsh’s NFL record of nine field goals of 50-or more yards is no small feat. He has hit on all nine attempts from that distance this season. Furthermore, he passed legendary kickers Morton Anderson, who is a Hall of Fame candidate, and Lions K Jason Hanson, who likely will be when he retires. But the rookie still knows his place in the kicking hierarchy.
“That may make me one better in that category statistically, but those guys have much better careers than I’ve had because they’ve lasted [so long in the league]. Those guys are such good kickers; I have a long way to go to prove myself at that level.”
To pass those legends in his first season in the league is heady stuff. But Walsh says that it’s not hard to keep his thoughts on what matters, as his team is vying for a playoff spot this weekend.
“You’ve got to really love what you do and be able to put all that stuff aside,” Walsh said. “The accolades and the individual success, that’s second to team. The team will always come first, and that’s how you have to treat it.”
In addition, he has his veteran holder (Chris Kluwe) and long snapper (Cullen Loeffler) to keep him grounded. “They do,” Walsh said. “They remind me how old I am and how short I am all the time.”
Walsh’s season is even more remarkable coming off last year, when he had arguably his worst college season as a senior at Georgia. But Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer saw something in his delivery that he was able to change, and it has made a big difference in Walsh’s performance.
“We were able to really pinpoint what it was that caused the problems last year and we fixed it,” Walsh said. “Just slowed it down a little bit and really focused on what I was doing and being able to see the ball a little longer. That allowed me to have better mechanics and everything sort of clicked from there.”
For more Vikings news and notes, follow Joe Oberle on Twitter @CBSVikings and@joeoberle.