The Minnesota Vikings have spent the first part of training camp in an all-too-famil

EAGAN http://www.thevikingslockerroom.com/authentic-jarius-wright-jersey , Minn. — iar search for stability with their specialists for the kicking game, an issue that has persisted over most of the time sixth-year head coach Mike Zimmer has supervised the team.More Vikings coveragePreview: Cook, Vikings look to keep rolling vs. PackersTop Tweets: Vikings prepare for Packers with TMNT hype videoBarr, seasoned Vikings defense off to strong startNew offense, same Rodgers: Vikings prep for LaFleur’s PackersVikings re-sign center Jones, waive rookie TE DillonTheir latest attempt to address the problem could wind up as a dual solution, if Kaare Vedvik can develop into a reliable NFL performer in a pressure-packed role.For now, though, regardless of who lines up to kick and drops back to punt in the regular season and beyond, the priority for Zimmer and new special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf over the rest of the month will be to first establish a rhythm with those ever-important snaps and holds.If the ball doesn’t arrive just right, after all, a booming leg doesn’t matter much.To make room for Vedvik, who was acquired Sunday in a trade with Baltimore, the Vikings made the long-expected move of releasing long snapper Kevin McDermott to formally hand the job to rookie Austin Cutting. McDermott, a seventh-year veteran, held that role for the past four seasons, even returning to one game last year after losing a fingertip in the scrum on the line of scrimmage.“We figured we had to get the battery down so we weren’t using two snappers in and out, because we kind of worked on this operation, the field goal and things like that,” Zimmer said Monday after Vedvik took part in his first practice with the Vikings. “It’s not anything Kevin did. Kevin was a terrific team guy. Unbelievable person. It’s just the way it goes sometimes.”Cutting, a seventh-round draft pick from Air Force who received permission from the military to perform his two-year service requirement in a recruiting office in the Twin Cities area, was in a rather sober mood as he spoke to reporters about the situation after his first business-of-football experience of seeing his mentor McDermott discarded.Cutting was chosen for the underappreciated position as the cheaper, younger and more athletic option who, according to Zimmer, also snaps with a bit more velocity than his predecessor.“There is such a thing as too many reps, but not right now, so it’s good to be able to get in there and get used to everyone and all that,” Cutting said.Incumbent punter Matt Wile was the holder last season, and he struggled at times in his first year in the role. As camp began last month, the Vikings even gave wide receivers Chad Beebe and Adam Thielen a few turns Womens Matt Wile Jersey , clearly not committed to Wile as the ball-catcher for kicker Dan Bailey on field goals and extra points. Now Wile has a cut on his finger, an injury suffered in the exhibition game Friday that required stitches, so he didn’t so much as touch a ball during practice Monday.Vedvik did, connecting on a pair of field goals off a tee from 60 yards out on a side field that prompted the type of loud cheers from the crowd that is usually reserved for long touchdown passes.“I don’t really look at the distance. I just kind of kick it and try to make it through,” Vedvik said, downplaying the leg strength that has previously resulted in a 70-yard make in practice.Vedvik, whose first name is pronounced KOHR-ee, is a native of Norway who spent 2018 on the non-football injury list with the Ravens after suffering head and facial injuries in an apparent assault during a night out in Baltimore at the end of the preseason. He was a first-team All-Conference USA selection as a senior from Marshall in 2017, making 10 of 16 field goals with a long of 45 yards, converting 41 of 42 extra points and averaging 44 yards per punt with a long of 92 yards.Vedvik first came to the U.S. as a high school exchange student in Kansas, where he put his soccer skills to use on the football field after some encouragement by his host family. He eventually parlayed a strong performance at several kicking camps into a scholarship at Marshall. Now he’s with the Vikings, an appropriate team for a player with Norwegian roots.So is he a punter? A kicker? Both? He’s not picky.“I’m an athlete. I come in here, and I go to work,” Vedvik said. “Whatever I can do to contribute, whatever I can do to help this team win games and go to the Super Bowl, that’s what I want to do.”For the Vikings to finally win a Super Bowl, they’re going to need to figure out these specialist roles that have been in flux for years.The Vikings drafted kicker Blair Walsh in the sixth round in 2012 and watched him make the Pro Bowl as a rookie after taking over for stalwart Ryan Longwell, who is third on the franchise’s career scoring list with 633 points in six seasons and holds the Vikings career record with an 86% field goal conversion rate.They took the same tack the following year with punter Jeff Locke, replacing Chris Kluwe, but Walsh began to slump after getting a contract extension and then infamously missed the 27-yard field goal in the playoff game at home after the 2015 season that he never recovered from.Kai Forbath replaced Walsh in 2016 and fared relatively well in 2017 with Ryan Quigley as the punter and holder, but the Vikings changed both spots in 2018 with rookie kicker Daniel Carlson and the punter Wile.Then Carlson was dumped after two games, and Bailey entered the picture. Vedvik will likely replace Wile, but who knows? He could wind up as the kicker eventually, too, if not this year then perhaps in the future.“We need to get it figured out,” Zimmer said. Happy Wednesday, everyone!We’ve made it to the peak of the week, it’s an easy downhill coast into the weekend, and the next big game for our beloved purple and gold. I hope they’re keeping their focus on Detroit, because we’ve seen the Lions dig deep and play well above their seasonal average when they play the Vikings. On paper Dan Bailey Jersey , it looks to be one that the Vikings should be able to handle, but you can throw that paper out the window when it comes to divisional games, especially at this point in the season. It’s the end of the season, the Lions have nothing to lose, and they would like nothing more than to knock off a division rival who has their eye on the playoffs. So, the Vikes better be prepared, and I am confident they will be. The Lions defense has had a decent year, they’re about at the middle of the pack in most statistical categories, with the pass defense slightly above average, and the run defense slightly below average. In a deviation from the norm, it’s their offense that has been hurting them, and that is mainly due to a rash of injuries. Their WR corps was bombarded with injuries early in the season, and it has shown in their production. The Vikings secondary is very good in coverage, so I expect to see Detroit try to get the ball out quickly. If they have Stafford sit back in the pocket waiting for a WR to get open, the defense may shatter that single game team sack record that they tied earlier this season. In looking through some stats, I see that the Vikings are 4 for 11 this year on field goals from 40-49 yards. That’s 36%. Might as well just go for it on 4th if the ball is between the 23 & 33 yard lines, the conversion % would likely be higher than 36%. They’ve also managed to miss at least one field goal in every 10-yard incremental category, with the exception of the 10-19 yard category. That’s right, we have not missed a field goal from 10-19 yards this year! We haven’t attempted one, either, but hey, no need to get bogged down in details, gotta celebrate the little victories. If we’re down by 2 points with 3 seconds left in a playoff game, and we line up for a 40 yard field goal to win it, I’m relatively certain that I’ll have a heart attack before he ever kicks it. My dying words will be something about kickers being the root of all evil.........and I’ll also likely blame Ponder, to the confusion of the attending paramedics.Around the DN since our last open thread:Luft Krigare posted Good Morning Gjallarhorn Episode 041 - In the Raw With the Grand Poobah.Ted takes a look at Brian O’Neill, who is quietly having a pretty good rookie year. That’s odd, I keep hearing doomsday laments by some fans who claim we have the worst O line in the NFL and that Cousins will soon break in half.MarkSP18 looks at which college players are future Vikings. The lucky ones, of course.Four Minnesota Vikings have been named to the Pro Bowl, per Chris.Also from Chris http://www.thevikingslockerroom.com/authentic-randy-moss-jersey , Dalvin Cook has been nominated for the Week 15 FedEx Ground Player of the Week.Kyle Rudolph has a huge early lead in the voting for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, Chris has the details on how you can cast your vote.Vikings news from other sources and news from around the rest of the NFL:From FoxSports, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are nearing a milestone where they will join some elite company.At Vikings.com, David Carr looks at the film to see how the offense got back on track, the guys on Move the Sticks preview the Vikings-Lions match-up, and there’s plenty more to sift through in the media vault.Interim HC Joe Philbin isn’t planning to sit Rogers for the final two games, likewise for Rivera and Cam in Carolina, per NFL.com.Ray Rice is speaking out against domestic violence, and although he’s done with football, is looking to make a difference, per ESPN. Good for him. You commit a wrong, you own it, you take steps to become better, and you move on. That’s all you can ask of someone.We come to today’s media selection:Alright Vikings, you had aspirations coming into the season, and you can still get there, so finish what you started.Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:No discussion of politics or religionNo feeding of the trollsThis isn’t a male version of The View, so leave the gender hatred at the doorKeep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tagsNo pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employerIf you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go awayWhile navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasmWith that, the beer light is on and the bar is open. Belly up and tie one on. Don’t forget to tip your waitress, and try the offense. No really, it’s actually pretty good, we finally replaced the former chef.