Vikings Kicker Greg Joseph is Getting Plenty of Praise
K. Joudry
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If things keep going like they currently are, the Vikings will have Greg Joseph as their kicker in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.
The veteran journeyman has been having a strong camp, as evidenced by the various positive remarks from folks who follow the team. Recently, the team’s Twitter account sent along a video of Joseph drilling a huge kick:
Earlier in the offseason, Matt Daniels – the new special teams coordinator – was outspoken about his confidence in Greg Joseph as the Vikings’ kicker:
I’ll put it on record now and say that I firmly believe that Greg Joseph will have his best year in his career this year. I’ll put it out there right now, I’m sure of it. The way he finished up his summer, the way he prepared, and how he has come back and hit the football is the best that I’ve seen him. I’ve only been around him four, five months, but he…has missed two kicks out of 35 kicks that he had in three sessions that we’ve had.
Greg Joseph played pretty well for the Vikings in 2021. His Week 2 miss certainly stands out in fans’ collective mind, but he bounced back to play well for the majority of the year. Going 33/38 on field goals is solid, especially given that he hit 7/9 from 50+. He has a strong leg; he got a touchback on more than 80% of his kickoffs. Seeing him improve on his 90% XP number would be a welcome development in the upcoming season.
For the most part, Vikings fans have a fair bit of anxiety when it comes to purple kickers. This is a fanbase that has had more than its fair share of heartbreak. Until we see a kicker drill clutch kicks to advance in huge games, Minnesota fans will likely be wary about anyone who is lining up for a field goal.
Greg Joseph, to his credit, appears to really embrace the pressure that comes from being the Vikings kicker. Minnesota’s leadership has signalled their desire to compete in 2022 through their concerted effort to retain their talented veterans. As a result, Joseph will be getting opportunities to kick the ball in meaningful games. Being able to give his team a critical 3 points in important moments will certainly help to complement the improvements we’re all expecting from the offense and defense.
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