The Minnesota Vikings are better for having Dan Bailey and Britton Colquitt.
After the Minnesota Vikings released rookie kicker Daniel Carlson after week two of the 2018 season, they signed veteran kicker Dan Bailey.
Since the releasing Blair Walsh after week 10 of the 2016 season, they brought in Kai Forbath and then released him before the start of the 2018 season in favor of the rookie Carlson.
The hope was that Bailey will solve the team’s kicking woes both in the present and for years to come.
Bailey spent his first seven seasons in the league with the Dallas Cowboys and is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history.
In 14 games with Minnesota in 2018, he went 21/28 (75%) on field goal attempts. He also made 75% of his attempts in 2017, but made 84% of his field goals or higher from 2011-2016, including a league-high 93.8% in 2015. He also made his only Pro Bowl appearance that season.
When Bailey did not become as automatic in 2018, it left Vikings fans thinking “here we go again.”
Last season however he returned to his old self. He made 27 out of 29 field goal attempts (93.1%), which was the fourth time in his career he converted on 93% of his kicks or higher. He did miss four extra point attempts in 44 attempts (90.9%), but his field goal kicking was certainly one of the bright spots for the team last season.
So how did Bailey return to form? Punter Britton Colquitt’s holding certainly helped. In 2018, his holder was Matt Wile, who is not as good of a holder as Colquitt.
Special teams coach Marwan Maalouf and rookie long snapper Austin Cutting could have also played a very critical role in Bailey’s resurgence. Kickers struggled more under previous special teams coach Mike Priefer (not all of it should be blamed on Priefer though).
As of August 18, he has converted on all seven of his field goal attempts in camp. Since Walsh’s excellent 2012 rookie season, the Vikings kicking has not been great. Since last season though, it has turned back in the right direction.
Having continuity in this league helps a lot in this league, especially in the kicking game. Bailey having his holder, long snapper, and special teams coach all back for the second year in a row certainly help his chances of him repeating his success in 2020.
One of the biggest keys to success for Minnesota this season will once again be the kicking game.