singersp
09-15-2006, 08:38 AM
Posted on Fri, Sep. 15, 2006
Where's the 'Long' in Longwell? (http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/sports/15525132.htm)
VIKINGS: Kickoffs were short against Washington.
BY JON KRAWCZYNSKI
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell certainly didn't live up to his name, at least on kickoffs, in the season opener at Washington.
He wasn't very long off the tee, consistently landing his kickoffs around the 10-yard line Monday night. Longwell couldn't figure out why he wasn't kicking the ball deeper, but promised to return to the form he showed in the preseason when the Vikings play Carolina at the Metrodome on Sunday.
"It was one of those things where I was trying a bunch of different things to try and get them deeper," Longwell said Thursday. "The first one I hit really well and it came down at like the 9- or 10-yard line and I was shocked it came down that short.
"So they'll definitely be deeper, there's no question. And they were all preseason, but the other night was just a weird night with the way the wind was blowing and the balls we had just didn't fly."
Other than the short kickoffs, Longwell's first game as a Viking was a success. He hit a 31-yard field goal to win the game and added another before halftime that proved crucial in the outcome.
"I thought it was OK. I think we're still getting better," Longwell said. "The field goal we made before halftime was real big momentum-wise. We're much better than we were six weeks ago and we need to be perfect. But to test it on the game-winner, that's the ultimate test, the pressure for snap, hold and kick. We came through there."
Special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro, who held the same job with the Panthers last season, said he was confident Longwell would improve on kickoffs in the Dome.
"Certainly I would like to see the kickoffs a little deeper than they were," Ferraro said. "I think you will see that on Sunday."
Longwell was racking his brain for justifications on Thursday, even jokingly blaming the new footballs with new Commissioner Roger Goodell's name on them, replacing Paul Tagliabue's.
"The balls have a lot of say in how we perform," Longwell said. "The new Roger Goodell balls, I guess, didn't arrive in time. They weren't too broken in. We'll be better this week for sure. I think you'll see my kickoffs more like they were in the preseason than they were the other night."
KLUWE'S NIGHT
Longwell wasn't the only Vikings kicker having trouble getting the ball to fly.
Punter Chris Kluwe, who earned a reputation last year as one of the league's heavy hitters, averaged just 28.4 yards a punt on five punts against the Redskins.
"I just think he had a bad night," Ferraro said. "I don't expect to see that kind of a performance from him again. He knows he needs to improve, and he will. It was just a bad evening."
Kluwe, who is coming off knee surgery in the offseason to repair torn ligaments in his kicking leg, said he wasn't concerned.
"Just a bad night," Kluwe said.
FAMILIAR FACE
Carolina guard Mike Wahle knows a thing or two about playing in the Metrodome.
The veteran played his first seven seasons in Green Bay, which meant an annual trip to one of the noisiest stadiums in the NFL.
Wahle recalled one run-in quarterback Brett Favre had with Ragnar the Viking, the team mascot who likes to drive his motorcycle on the turf when the team first comes on to the field.
"When I was up there with Brett one year, the guy was driving by and Brett hit him with a football," Wahle said. "It was hilarious."
Wahle is getting his teammates ready for a raucous atmosphere that includes loud music and louder fans.
"It gets real loud. They pump in music from extra speakers they put behind your bench so you can't hear anything," Wahle said. "We might have to go out there early and yank the plugs or something, I guess."
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Vikings rookie defensive end Ray Edwards impressed in his debut Monday night.
Edwards was considered by some to be a reach when the Vikings picked him in the fourth round of April's draft. But his speed and athleticism has put him right into the thick of the defensive line rotation, behind starter Erasmus James.
"Ray is not mesmerized by the bright lights, and that was the case on Monday night," defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin said. "I thought his play was solid. Of course he has some areas in which he can improve. Mainly, it needs to take place on the practice field."
Edwards didn't record a sack, but he did tip a pass by Mark Brunell at the line of scrimmage and nearly intercepted it.
"I'm definitely getting more comfortable," Edwards said. "I'm just trying to go out there and make things happen when I get the opportunity."
GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE
The Vikings announced that, as of Thursday evening, 300 tickets remained for sale for the home opener.
Where's the 'Long' in Longwell? (http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/sports/15525132.htm)
VIKINGS: Kickoffs were short against Washington.
BY JON KRAWCZYNSKI
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell certainly didn't live up to his name, at least on kickoffs, in the season opener at Washington.
He wasn't very long off the tee, consistently landing his kickoffs around the 10-yard line Monday night. Longwell couldn't figure out why he wasn't kicking the ball deeper, but promised to return to the form he showed in the preseason when the Vikings play Carolina at the Metrodome on Sunday.
"It was one of those things where I was trying a bunch of different things to try and get them deeper," Longwell said Thursday. "The first one I hit really well and it came down at like the 9- or 10-yard line and I was shocked it came down that short.
"So they'll definitely be deeper, there's no question. And they were all preseason, but the other night was just a weird night with the way the wind was blowing and the balls we had just didn't fly."
Other than the short kickoffs, Longwell's first game as a Viking was a success. He hit a 31-yard field goal to win the game and added another before halftime that proved crucial in the outcome.
"I thought it was OK. I think we're still getting better," Longwell said. "The field goal we made before halftime was real big momentum-wise. We're much better than we were six weeks ago and we need to be perfect. But to test it on the game-winner, that's the ultimate test, the pressure for snap, hold and kick. We came through there."
Special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro, who held the same job with the Panthers last season, said he was confident Longwell would improve on kickoffs in the Dome.
"Certainly I would like to see the kickoffs a little deeper than they were," Ferraro said. "I think you will see that on Sunday."
Longwell was racking his brain for justifications on Thursday, even jokingly blaming the new footballs with new Commissioner Roger Goodell's name on them, replacing Paul Tagliabue's.
"The balls have a lot of say in how we perform," Longwell said. "The new Roger Goodell balls, I guess, didn't arrive in time. They weren't too broken in. We'll be better this week for sure. I think you'll see my kickoffs more like they were in the preseason than they were the other night."
KLUWE'S NIGHT
Longwell wasn't the only Vikings kicker having trouble getting the ball to fly.
Punter Chris Kluwe, who earned a reputation last year as one of the league's heavy hitters, averaged just 28.4 yards a punt on five punts against the Redskins.
"I just think he had a bad night," Ferraro said. "I don't expect to see that kind of a performance from him again. He knows he needs to improve, and he will. It was just a bad evening."
Kluwe, who is coming off knee surgery in the offseason to repair torn ligaments in his kicking leg, said he wasn't concerned.
"Just a bad night," Kluwe said.
FAMILIAR FACE
Carolina guard Mike Wahle knows a thing or two about playing in the Metrodome.
The veteran played his first seven seasons in Green Bay, which meant an annual trip to one of the noisiest stadiums in the NFL.
Wahle recalled one run-in quarterback Brett Favre had with Ragnar the Viking, the team mascot who likes to drive his motorcycle on the turf when the team first comes on to the field.
"When I was up there with Brett one year, the guy was driving by and Brett hit him with a football," Wahle said. "It was hilarious."
Wahle is getting his teammates ready for a raucous atmosphere that includes loud music and louder fans.
"It gets real loud. They pump in music from extra speakers they put behind your bench so you can't hear anything," Wahle said. "We might have to go out there early and yank the plugs or something, I guess."
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Vikings rookie defensive end Ray Edwards impressed in his debut Monday night.
Edwards was considered by some to be a reach when the Vikings picked him in the fourth round of April's draft. But his speed and athleticism has put him right into the thick of the defensive line rotation, behind starter Erasmus James.
"Ray is not mesmerized by the bright lights, and that was the case on Monday night," defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin said. "I thought his play was solid. Of course he has some areas in which he can improve. Mainly, it needs to take place on the practice field."
Edwards didn't record a sack, but he did tip a pass by Mark Brunell at the line of scrimmage and nearly intercepted it.
"I'm definitely getting more comfortable," Edwards said. "I'm just trying to go out there and make things happen when I get the opportunity."
GOOD SEATS AVAILABLE
The Vikings announced that, as of Thursday evening, 300 tickets remained for sale for the home opener.