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Taking your Blair Walsh temperature

New Seahawks kicker comes with baggage, upside

NFL: Preseason-Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks
If you squint a little they look almost like Seahawks road unis
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Do you, Rando F. Gull, have a fever for Blair Walsh, or a cold shoulder to give him? When he steps out onto the field to attempt that first field goal of the season, how are you going to be feeling? Warm and fuzzy, or clammy-palmed?

It’s Get In Touch With Your Emotions Day at the ol’ Field Gulls Saloon & Watering Hole. None of us know what’s going on inside Walsh’s head or what’s twitching in the arch of his foot. So try your own head!

To set the stage: Walsh brings a brilliant resume pockmarked with high-profile failures to the CLink. One failure stands out. It’s one of the main reasons the Seahawks have won playoff games in five consecutive seasons. One forgettable/unforgettable kick.

yay? yay. but yay?

After that high-profile failure, Walsh’s 2016 was nothing special: 12-16 on FG and 15-19 on XP. He was let go midseason by the Vikings.

His 2013-2015 seasons had been great: 86-104 on FG with five XP misses.

His 2012 had turned out exceptional: 35-38 on FG and 10-10 beyond 50. He was an All-Pro as a rookie.

Yeah, but those are numbers. He could be very good, better than Steve Hauschka even. Or he could never recover on a mental level. Or something in between. Kickers are notoriously high-varance. All we have right now is our gut. How do you feel about him replacing Steve Hauschka?

Poll

Which of the following best describes your sentiments about Blair Walsh, Seahawks kicker?

This poll is closed

  • 1%
    Yessssss I am stoked
    (35 votes)
  • 12%
    I think he’ll be good; it was time to move on from Hauschka
    (242 votes)
  • 35%
    I think he’ll be good; sad to see Hauschka go
    (697 votes)
  • 20%
    Fine, I guess. I dunno. Kickers, man. /shrug
    (389 votes)
  • 5%
    This is gonna end badly, I can feel it
    (106 votes)
  • 7%
    Noooooo I already miss Hau$ch
    (154 votes)
  • 14%
    Dangerous gamble at an overlooked position. This better work out.
    (289 votes)
  • 1%
    He won’t even make the team out of camp next question please
    (29 votes)
1941 votes total Vote Now

That makes four Gull Polls in our summer-long daily series. For a collection of polls so far, click here.