Former Yellowjacket Deserves Shot In The NFL

Former RCTC Yellowjacket Rhys Lloyd finished his collegiate career this winter when the Gophers won their bowl game and wrapped up the 2004 season. Lloyd's football career has taken him from England, where he was a "futbol" player, to Eastview High School, to RCTC and then on to the U. There is no doubt where the next step should be: to the NFL and specifically, to the Minnesota Vikings.

Those of us who are Vikings fans are keenly aware of the importance of the kicker in a football game. We remember one of the most hillarious bloopers in the history of football when Bucky Scribner fumbled, then swung his foot and missed the ball completely before being swamped by defenders. We've put up with names like Aaron Elling, Darren Bennett and Jose Cortez, all of whom fall short of Jan Stenerud. Or even guys like Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson who were superstars in their day...if only we could have had them in their day. Now they just take up extra roster spots, forcing us to add players who can kick the ball further. And they create an awkward "What do we do here?" range when the offense stalls at the 30 yard line.

Now that we've seen the impact a bad kicker can have on the game--and that of a kicker without range--it's time to see what a good one can do. The Vikings should sign Ryhs Llyod this year.

I'm not saying he should be our first round draft pick. We have plenty of other problem areas to address. But we need to get a good kicker. We don't need someone different for punting, kicking off, kicking field goals inside 35 yards and kicking field goals outside 35 yards. We need one player who can do all of the above. And Lloyd is the guy.

Minnesota fans are already in love with him. He has range in excess of 60 yards if the conditions are right. He can punt, and his running-punt style opens the door to fake punts as well. He won't be a problem off the field. He has an intensity about him and isn't intimidated. You can't ice him. And as Gopher fans learned against Wisconsin in 2003, he can make the big kick.

There are plenty of reasons to get rid of every kicker currently on the roster and make room for one man. That man is Rhys Lloyd. Let's just hope he looks good in purple.