How the Minnesota Vikings will improve following their tie with the Packers

Improvement No. 2:

Special Teams

After a blocked punt in the game’s first quarter gave the Packers’ a 7-0 lead, it became clear that the Vikings’ special teams were having some fairly significant problems. Anyone who watched the Vikings’ preseason could see something was off.

After the week 3 (preseason) game against Seattle at home, where now ex-Viking kicker Carlson missed two field goals and now ex-Viking Ryan Quigley punted terribly, Minnesota special teams coach Mike Priefer called the performance of his unit “unacceptable”.

Since that game, Priefer has now seen his kicking specialists completely turn over.

To date, new punter Matt Wile has shown no clear upgrade over Quigley. In week one against the 49ers, Wile had a 38.3 yard average on six punts, while last Sunday he fared better, averaging 51 yards on 4 punts.

But this group will improve immediately with new kicker Dan Bailey on the practice and game field. The Vikings now replace a rookie with a complete loss of confidence with an All-Pro veteran, which will pay dividends across the ranks of the line.

Longtime Vikings returner Marcus Sherels has made little impact in 2018 and has now seen his touches diminish, as both rookie cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Holton Hill fielded kickoffs on Sunday. Hughes returned one kick 48 yards and Hill another for 28.

Look for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer to continue to address errors and “unacceptable” performances on Priefers’ squad by directly addressing the unit’s coach and players. Zimmer may also, like he has done in the past, replace special teams’ players with offensive and defensive Viking starters to make the unit more athletic, smart, and aggressive.