8 biggest battles heading into the Vikings 2021 training camp
By Adam Carlson
Long snapper
Top competitors:
- Turner Bernard
- Andrew DePaola
The importance of a long snapper is often overlooked. Fans and the media don’t want to think there is a problem until there are some bad snaps or mistakes that cause a team like the Vikings to lose out on points or field position.
For Minnesota, specials teams have been a mess for a while now. They have been unable to find a consistent trio of the kicker, punter, and long snapper and it has shown in the disappointment that the unit has put on the field over the past few seasons.
Making a decision between the returning Andrew DePaola and rookie Turner Bernard could be one of the biggest decisions for the Vikings that gets the smallest amount of media attention. The responsibility to consistently perform flawlessly is tough since the only time a player at this position typically gets attention is if they make a mistake.
Because they are less likely to make errors at this level at this time, DePaola has to be considered the favorite at the moment. While that could change during camp, experience and familiarity with holder and punter Britton Colquitt has to give him the edge.
Projected winner: Andrew DePaolo