As training camp ended in late August 2018, Daniel Carlson stated that he was prepared for the pressure of kicking in regular season games. The Minnesota Vikings selected him in the fifth round that year, marking him the franchise’s highest-drafted kicker. They had just won the NFC Championship and were looking forward to the Super Bowl. Carlson would have to convert high-pressure field goals for a team that has a history of missed kicks.
“Definitely embrace,” Carlson answered when a reporter inquired about the pressure. “I believe you want to be on a winning team. I got into a scenario where, given what they did last season, I’m simply going to run with it. Do my job one day at a time, and I hope to be a part of the success. As a bonus, I want to receive a large number of additional points. When we get some big field goals, I’ll be ready.
The Vikings did not give Carlson the job. They forced him to compete against incumbent Kai Forbath until three weeks before the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on September 9. Minnesota signed Forbath in the midst of the 2016 season to replace Blair Walsh, and he made 50 of 57 field goals. However, he missed eight extra points in one and a half seasons. The Vikings believed Carlson provided them a better chance to win close games.
“You make your decision,” Zimmer continued, “and live with it.”
Zimmer stuck to his decision for two games. Carlson scored a field goal and three extra points against San Francisco. But he missed three field goals in Minnesota’s 29-29 tie with the Green Bay Packers, including the game-winning 35-yarder in overtime. The Vikings waived Carlson 24 hours later. He joined with the Oakland Raiders in late October and has been with the team for the past six years.
Last season, Alabama’s Will Reichard surpassed Carlson as the SEC’s best scorer. The album alone only conveys so much. Kickers score more points than any other position, and those points are generally the result of opportunity. Reichard played at Alabama for five years, providing him plenty of opportunities to score. However, in college, he converted 84% of his kickoffs and 99.3% of his extra points. As a sophomore in 2020, he had a 14/14 record.
“The resumé speaks for itself.” “Being a career (84%) says a lot about who this guy is and how consistent he has been over the years,” said Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels. “He’s truly shown how consistent he can truly be, and he’s a guy that you can count on in the biggest moments.”
Those are famous last words in Minnesota, but Daniels has worked hard to improve the special teams mentality. He has nicknames for each player, gives them a plaque detailing the benefits of being on special teams, and designed special teams hats that everyone around the building wear. The Vikings have come a long way since Zimmer’s days as the gruff head coach who wore kickers.
“Do you know what? Guys are supposed to execute their jobs,” Zimmer said after Carlson missed three tries at Lambeau Field. “Perhaps we should have thrown the ball into the end zone a few times. I believed [Carlson] was going to succeed. They responded, “Place it in the centre of the field.” We positioned it right in the middle of the field, and he exercises them every day during practice. That’s what is disheartening.”
Zimmer’s remarks on Carlson were entirely accurate. He simply put more pressure on a guy who was already in a difficult situation. Dan Bailey, Walsh, and Forbath all reacted badly to Zimmer’s approach. Daniels holds his players to a high level while avoiding placing them in a bad mindset, and he has already given Reichart his vote of confidence. Daniels feels Reichart’s expertise at Alabama will enable him to deliver in crunch time.
“The biggest thing is how he performed in pressure situations, game-winning kicks,” he remarked. “It’s not just the National Championship game; it’s the Rose Bowl semifinal against Michigan. He had a 50-yarder and a 52-yarder, which were perhaps two of the most significant kicks in the entire playoff series.”
Reichart could have entered the draft a year sooner, but he chose to stay at Alabama to improve his ability to convert long field goals more consistently. According to Daniels, Reichart strokes the ball consistently and appears to be at ease from 50 yards and beyond. Reichart also received an extra year of kicking under pressure before turning professional. He agrees with Daniels that the Rose Bowl was a watershed moment in his college career.
“Some of my favourite kicks in my career were the Rose Bowl this year,” Reichart remarked. “As a kicker, I always believe that being able to kick well in high-pressure circumstances is quite vital. You have plenty of opportunities to do so while playing at Alabama. Whether it’s top-15 matchups, I mean, nearly every week we play in important games.”
It’s unclear whether Reichart’s success in college will translate to the professionals. Unlike other positions where the NFL’s size and speed impact young players, Reichart must mostly demonstrate his ability to convert meaningful kicks throughout the season. The key concern is how a kicker will handle pressure in the NFL than in college. Given Minnesota’s franchise history, any Vikings kicker is scrutinized. However, Alabama kickers must also perform under the limelight.
Carlson most certainly won his camp battle with Forbath due to his draft status, and Zimmer never made things easy for kickers. Perhaps Carlson might have received additional instruction before the season began. If he had been in a better circumstance in Minnesota, he might have become the kicker he is today with the Raiders. The Vikings likely anticipate Reichart to earn the position because of where they chose him. He will face immediate pressure. However, it will primarily come from fans in the stadium and at home, rather than the coaching staff who are committed in his development.
Leave a Reply