Among things fans of an NFL team get concerned about, the kicking game is pretty well down the list. That said, the struggles of any kickers (however brief they might be) fill a special (and dismal) place in the psyche of Minnesota Vikings' fans.
So when Will Reichard carried struggles from late in his rookie season into the beginning of training camp, it was a notable thing. Time would tell if he could get back on track, and to that end, he is a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals through two preseason games with three makes of at least 47 yards.
Some of Reichard's early camp struggles could be traced back to a change in the Vikings' placekicking operation. The competition between Ryan Wright and Oscar Chapman for the punting job also meant Chapman was getting some run as the holder. While it's a simple thing and easy to take for granted, subtle differences between holders should not be dismissed.
During a joint practice with the New England Patriots heading into the Vikings' second preseason game, the battle between Wright and Chapman for the Vikings' punting job took a dramatic turn toward the challenger. One day, in this case, a particularly bad one for Wright by all accounts, is not going to determine a position battle. But it made an under-the-radar position battle something to watch in the second preseason game.
A subtle thing looms very large in Minnesota Vikings punter battle
Wright and Chapman equally split four punts against the Patriots on Saturday. Chapman averaged 52.5 yards per punt to Wright's 50.5, so there wasn't a big difference there.
Overall, this preseason, there is a noticeable difference in net average. According to Football Database, Wright has a 38.8 net average on his four preseason punts, while Chapman has a net average of 49.3 yards on his three punts. When the games start to count, that much of a difference in net average can be impactful.
Reichard went 4-for-4 on field goals against the Patriots, with makes from 34, 54, 47, and 27 yards out. The holder on the last three of those attempts was Chapman.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic pointed out why that is noteworthy, as he named Chapman one of his risers coming out of the second preseason game.
"Last year, the Vikings signed punter Seth Vernon as competition for Ryan Wright. Vernon could boot the ball a mile, but his accuracy and holding ability prevented him from winning the job."
"Chapman, an undrafted rookie from Auburn, appears to be a more capable competitor. He averaged 52.5 yards on two punts Saturday and held for three of kicker Will Reichard’s field goal makes. The holding has given Wright a leg up in past seasons, but Chapman is making a push."
The edge Wright has been holding onto in the Vikings' punter competition now seems to be gone. If Chapman is equally good as a holder and a better punter, the choice between the two will be easy.