vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Bucs have the Percy antidote
Posted by: Mark Craig under Vikings, NFC, Percy Harvin Updated: September 16, 2011 - 8:49 AM
Eyes were raised in July when the Bucs gave punter Michael Koenen a six-year, $19.5 million deal with $6.5 million in guaranteed money.
But there's definitely some added value for a strong punter who's also a great kickoff specialist. Those who disagree, go back and watch Percy Harvin's season-opening return for a touchdown in San Diego.
If the Vikings choose to use Harvin on kickoffs in Sunday's home opener against the Bucs, chances are Koenen simply boots the ball out of the end zone or so deep that even Harvin wouldn't bring it out.
Koenen, the former Falcon, had 106 touchbacks from 2005 to 2010, third most in the league. And that was when the ball was kicked off from the 35-yard line. In 2010, the Falcons led the NFL in opponents' average starting position (22.2-yard line).
With kickoffs now at the 35-yard line, Koenen kicked deep three times in last week's loss to Detroit. All three were touchbacks. He also had an onside kick late in the game.
Harvin had just the one opportunity. After that, the Chargers either kicked away from him or the Vikings inserted Lorenzo Booker, figuring he'd have a better chance of getting an opportunity to return the ball.
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