If there was any doubt about how the Vikings would handle their kickers and punters going forward, new special teams coordinator Matt Daniels made it clear Tuesday at the TCO Performance Center in Egan.

While outgoing kicker Greg Joseph and outgoing punter Jordan Berry are still on the roster, they won’t be guaranteed jobs next season. Not with two rookies, kicker Gabe Brkic and punter Ryan Wright, in the mix.

“There will be a full kicker competition and a punters competition,” Daniels said. “That’s why we brought in Gabe Brkic and Ryan Wright.”

For the Vikings, the goal is to create competition within each positional battle and then see how each player responds to it.

Looking specifically at Joseph, he started off slow last season and then finished strong. While most people remember missing a 37-yard field goal as the deadline expired in Week 2, a 34-33 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he eventually scored 33 on 38 and 36 of 40 on extra points for the season.

Those are respectable numbers for a kicker, and so Brkic will likely have his work cut out for him as he attempts to topple Joseph for the job.

As for Berry, he left something to be desired last season with his midfield numbers. He averaged 46.5 yards per punt, with a net average of 40.8. To put that into perspective, Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger, who Daniels worked with last season, led the NFL with a net average of 44.6 yards per punt.

That could leave the door open for Wright to get back to work if Berry struggles in training camp.

How will the Vikings evaluate each positional battle?

Even though the coaching staff plans to keep tabs on everything from what each player does in the weight room to how they behave in the boardroom, ultimately it comes down to their performance on field.

“We tracked all the stats,” Daniels said. “The numbers will speak for themselves.”

SMITH PROGRESSIVE

After missing last season with a torn meniscus, tight end Irv Smith Jr. is slowly returning to full power. He hit roads at full speed during OTAs, and new offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was impressed with what he saw.

“Last week, I remember he went on a tailoring route where he had to bend inside against Cover 2,” Phillips said. “He really dug his foot into the ground and he tore himself in there, and I said, ‘Wow, that’s the Irv that I saw on tape a couple years ago, right there . He is progressing really well.

Phillips credits tight ends coach Brian Angelichio for getting the position group on the same page.

“He trains them hard,” Phillips said. “We are delighted to know where they are.”

PRESENCE INSIDE

While the effectiveness of the 3-4 defensive scheme will depend on the dominance of the edge rushers — aka Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith — new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell knows the importance of his inside linemen.

Whether it’s Dalvin Tomlinson, Harrison Phillips or Armon Watts, the Vikings will need them all to step up next season. Asked about the potential of the defense, Tomlinson was full of praise.

“I think the sky is the limit with all the pieces we have,” he said. “All we have to do is keep coming together.”

BRIEFLY

The Vikings are expected to have joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers this preseason before their August 20 exhibition game at US Bank Stadium.