Over the course of their respective careers, Longwell has been a much better kicker. Over the past 5 years his FG pct was above 83% except for last year...Folk not so much
HTML: Some notes: * Vikes signed Longwell to a 4-year, 12 million dollar contract extention (3.5 guaranteed) just prior to the 2011 season. * Longwell's previously near-90% accuracy rate in 2009-2010 drops to 78% in 2011. * Minnesota drafts Blair Walsh out of Georgia in the 6th round. Since Longwell didn't have a 'big leg' on kickoffs to begin with (in a dome no less-post GB), accuracy obviously was his bread & butter. As for their draft pick Walsh, while Walsh was considered by some as the next best kicker after Texas A&M's Randy Bullock, Walsh (who does have a big kickoff leg) did slump during his final year at UGA. Walsh as a senior: FG overall: 21-35 30-39 yards: 10-14 40-49 yards: 5-12 (?!!) 50 yards+: 2-5 (long of 56). All that above aside, do you sign Longwell knowing that you're probably going to have to reserve another roster spot just for a kickoff specialist especially considering the Meadowlands' November-December cold & wind? -
Folk might be frustrating but that's only because he'll pull the occasional 30-yarder wide right. His accuracy, ignoring his "injured" season, is on a par with most of the NFL and he's proven clutch in the play-offs (unlike most of our previous K's who have shit the bed Kaeding-style). There are only a handful of kickers that are a true upgrade over Folk and we are not in a position to get them right now. Longwell is barely an upgrade, if one at all.
The only redeeming factor about Folk that we have seen over the past couple of years is that he'll make the clutch kicks when needed. He does seem to miss too many of the gimme points though. Still, I'll take Folk over Billy Cundif
aging dome kicker who had terrible numbers last year when forced to kick where there were things like wind
Mr T ruined the kick game I think Weatherford and Feely were perfect- cheaped out and kept he revolving door going...
I've bitched about TJ Conway from day one. Over-inflated 47.3 gross average his senior year due in large measure to his kicking (Idaho Vandals) in a dome with 'warm' road games at Cal, Utah (not late-season), Arizona & Hawaii. Hang time sub-par as well. He do blow.
