Over the last couple weeks, Zone Coverage has broken down the Minnesota Vikings post-draft roster by position group.
Previous stories:
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive line
Quarterbacks
Defensive line
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
Today’s Focus: Specialists
The veteran trio of Ryan Longwell, Chris Kluwe and Cullen Loeffler now seems like a distant memory. The Vikings have since cycled through a new punter and placekicker and are once again in search of reliability in the kicking game. Meanwhile, their longsnapper enters his third year on the job and appears to be the only secure one of the bunch.
Departures: Jeff Locke (IND)
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Arrivals: Marshall Koehn, Ryan Quigley, Taylor Symmank
Already rostered: Kai Forbath, Kevin McDermott
THE PUNTERS: Taylor Symmank, Ryan Quigley
As I outlined on April 4, the Vikings have a competition on their hands between Quigley and Symmank. Quigley is probably a worse career punter than Jeff Locke, who was typically in the bottom half of the league, and Symmank has no professional experience. That being said, the Vikings don’t ask for much from their punters in terms of distance. This competition will probably come down to hang time and punts inside the 20. If all things are equal, Symmank should have the edge based on his age and upside, though holding will be a considering factor as well.
THE KICKERS: Kai Forbath, Marshall Koehn
Even after going 15-for-15 last year on field goals, Forbath is still going to have to earn the job over Koehn, the 24-year-old. Even though 2016 was a partial season for Forbath, it was arguably his best since 2012. His main issue was extra points, as he went just 11-for-14 on PATs. Koehn was Iowa’s primary placekicker for two seasons and went a combined 10-of-11 between 20-29 yards, 5-of-9 between 30-39 yards, 10-of-13 between 40-49 yards and 2-of-2 beyond 50 yards.
We don’t know much about is Koehn’s kickoff leg. We do know that Forbath’s is weak. However, the new NFL touchback rules mitigate the effects of weaker legs since it might be preferable to avoid a touchback anyway, provided kickers can get good hangtime.
There is one other variable in the competition as well. Since Quigley and Symmank are rotating in as holders — and Symmank is the more inexperienced of the two — the placekickers’ performances may vary based on their holder that day.
Koehn had a nice moment at Wednesday’s OTA practice as he hit roughly a 45-yard field goal to cap the team’s two-minute drill, while Forbath missed his kick in the same drill. That being said, this should still be Forbath’s competition to lose after his good work a year ago.
THE LONG SNAPPER: Kevin McDermott
The Vikings extended McDermott to a long-term deal that will kick in this year and run through 2020. The Vikings have had no apparent issues with McDermott, and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer routinely defended the quality of his snaps as former kicker Blair Walsh was struggling last year. McDermott is the only specialist who can really be resting easily right now.
PREDICTION
Making the roster: Symmank, Forbath, McDermott
