2012 NFL Draft: Georgia Kicker Blair Walsh Confident in Abilities

Georgia Bulldogs' kicker Blair Walsh is the real deal, and he's going to provide quite a value for whichever team picks him up in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Special teams is absolutely integral to the success of an NFL franchise, and if you need proof of that just take a look at what Adam Vinatieri did for the Patriots.

Having a guy that can kick field goals in any circumstance is a huge advantage. Be it from long-range, in the elements or in a clutch situation.

How many times do we see three points being the difference in the game?

This is the advantage Walsh can bring to an NFL team, and he's very confident in his abilities.

I was able to interview Walsh at the 2012 NFL Combine, and we talked about his strengths as a kicker amongst other interesting topics.

Check it out.

I’m Assuming You've Always Wanted to Be Some Kind of Pro Athelete, Right?

Absolutely, when I was a kid I wanted to play professional soccer, and once I realized that dream wasn’t going to be realized I became a kicker, fell in love with kicking and the whole sport of football.  Now I’m hoping to be a place kicker in the NFL.

You Are Almost There, You Are Here at the Combine. What’s That Like for You?

It's crazy; the fact that it is right in front of you and you are about to go through the entire process—you’ve gone through a good amount of it so far. It’s crazy to see your dreams unfold right in front of you, and you have to go grab your place in the NFL and be a starting kicker.

What Is the Most Nerve Racking Kick You Ever Made?

Sophomore year Tennessee, 52 yards.  We were down by, I think, three, and it’s the middle of the game, and they needed it.  Tennessee’s got about 110,000 people in there, and they are all screaming at you and yelling at you, and I drilled it right down the middle, and the place went silent for a little while, and that was kind of cool.  Yeah, it was cool.

Do Kickers Model Themselves After Other Kickers?

Of course, I think a big thing I do is look at everybody else’s style and the way they kick and I sort of break little things off and try to incorporate that into my game.

A guy I really admire is Robbie Gould.  I think the way he approaches each and every kick is very solid, and he’s a great kicker obviously for the Bears, and he’ll be there for a long time.

What’s Your Rhythm for Kicks? How Do You Get into It?

Actually the one thing that I do is, my grandmother passed away about 2 years ago, and I sort of always have her name written on my wrist, and what I’ll do is I will hold my wrist and point up to the sky, just sort of my way of just telling her I’m thinking of her right before I run onto the field.  I’ve always done it.

Elements, Weather, Stuff Like That. Is That Something That Kickers Worry About?

You just sort of got to go out and kick. You can’t fret about it, but you have to be aware of the situation around you.

If you have wind you got to play the wind, but being in the SEC and playing in front on 92,000 people every weekend it definitely helps your nerves and you get used to it, and I feel like I’m a more confident kicker because of it. I think I translate that well over the next level.

If I’m an NFL Team I Have a Choice, What Makes You the Guy That I Want to Draft?

I think what makes me the guy you want to draft is my ability to kick long field goals as well as be accurate in shorter to intermediate field goals.  I’m a pretty good kickoff guy as well, and I have probably the strongest leg in this draft class, and I think I’d be an asset to any team that drafts me.

Follow Blair on Twitter: @BlairWalsh57