Does it seem like kickers have been less reliable this year? My 'feeling' is that more FGs were missed this year than other years in this century. Maybe I'll look for some stats if I get a minute later...
What is?
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Does it seem like kickers have been less reliable this year? My 'feeling' is that more FGs were missed this year than other years in this century. Maybe I'll look for some stats if I get a minute later...
What is?
Here's what I will say, it is indeed an underappreciated skill. I believe it was Phil Simms who said kickers face more pressure than any other player, including the QB, and I don't disagree with him. There are already numerous factors to deal with and take into consideration before the ball is even snapped, then the kicker has to make on the fly timing adjustments as well, on top of kicking the ball extremely hard, and straight. Numerous times the entire game, season even, rides on their shoulders.Personally, I think kicking is one of the most unappreciated aspects of the game.
Several things:Cut him some slack. He's old and his vision must be going. (An absolutely total joke! Love ya' Merckx, as you may be the only person on here older than me! Oh, I am wearing reading glasses while typing this, yes.)
I was also wrong on my Ray Guy comment. Guy actually broke 45 yards per punt in his rookie season. Oddly, that was one season he didn't win the punting title, Jerrell Wilson of the Chiefs did. Never the less, as Merckx says, punters consistently punt farther than before as a whole. Tres Wey of Washington nearly broke the 50 yard average this season, a number that's been attained a few years (Lee, Lechler, the aforementioned Baugh, who also played some defense!).
Just an edit for clarity. While I've been biased about Guy, and felt it was obvious he'd be the first punter to into the Hall, I also feel as though a few others could, maybe should be there. Wilson being one of them. Jeff Feagles and Reggie Roby also come to mind. Roby had a huge leg and quick step, and there must be a highlight reel of Feagles having balls bounce inside the 5 yard line and go out of bounds, pinning teams deep, he did it so many times for so many years. I'd have to do some research, but a few other guys could get there as well, Lechler evevtually.
Here's what I will say, it is indeed an underappreciated skill. I believe it was Phil Simms who said kickers face more pressure than any other player, including the QB, and I don't disagree with him. There are already numerous factors to deal with and take into consideration before the ball is even snapped, then the kicker has to make on the fly timing adjustments as well, on top of kicking the ball extremely hard, and straight. Numerous times the entire game, season even, rides on their shoulders.
Never the less, I find games decided by FG's a lot less interesting that games decided by plays featuring the offense vs. the defense when it comes down to the last plays. This is why I advocate removing the flags from the poles at the very least (yes, I realize this does nothing in domes), and would even be good with them moving the uprights closer together, like they tested in one of the Pro Bowls a few years back. Some years ago Joe Gibbs advocated eliminating the FG in football entirely. I wouldn't go that far, but it's food for thought.
That would depend on the definition of 'fan'.And for kickers if the field goal is for the win or tie if they miss it is all on them from fans for why they lost. They could be perfect all night and something in the kicking process is off from any of the three and causes a miss and it's all on the kicker. Plus if the snapper or holder screws up, the kicker still receives majority of the blame.
-FGs should only be one point (if we want to get into changing rules).
Yeah Garrett at the Giants is an odd one but not the oddest so far ! Yet he wasn't calling the plays at the Cowboys anyway and McCarthy has agreed that he won't be calling the plays either.......for the moment ! Sounds like another Jerry decision but one that might end up being overturned later if the Cowboys are not looking playoff bound.While I was out to eat tonight I spied a TV with a 'classic 1998' NFL playoff game: GB vs. SF. I saw Favre duking it out with a SF lineman! And Mariuci having an absolute meltdown at the refs about something. It would have been fun to watch more but those two peaks almost got me in trouble!
EDIT: in other news...Garrett does end up at NYG. It just feels wrong to me.
Yeah...I was watching some of that game last night on the NFL Network. I remember watching it live on my old Panasonic tube TV back when I was a young(er) man. Lol. Did you happen to notice a young Andy Reid there on the sidelines? He was quarterbacks coach & assistant head coach under Holmgren.While I was out to eat tonight I spied a TV with a 'classic 1998' NFL playoff game: GB vs. SF. I saw Favre duking it out with a SF lineman! And Mariuci having an absolute meltdown at the refs about something. It would have been fun to watch more but those two peaks almost got me in trouble!
I think there's a lot of pressure on Reid. This is their best chance to get to the SB as NE was their stumbling block last year (no surprises there). NE was one & done and Baltimore, who I thought would have the inside track to the SB, was upset. I think KC is the better team and they're at Arrowhead with a 100% Mahomes. So, as much as KC has to stop (or slow) Henry, Tennessee has the monumental task of stopping Mahomes. And since KC lost to them earlier in the season, they won't be taking them lightly and the revenge factor will be in full mode.Skip Bayless picked the Titans to beat the Patriots and the Ravens and he is now picking them to beat the Chiefs. Kudos for that because most of the ESPN and Fox so called experts never mentioned the Titans pre playoffs or just as an afterthought. It seems most of them are tipping the 49ers to win the other game as well. Some people are expecting something miraculous from Rodgers. I still think most of the pressure is on Andy Reid and Rodgers with their playoff records. For me the only way that Green Bay can win is to not let the 49ers defense settle and mix up their play calls and tempo and hope that the 49ers have some turnovers and flags. If the 49ers run game works as well as it did against the Vikings then GB will struggle. I still tend to think that the 49ers will find a way to win and for once I will agree with Bayless and take the Titans who look out gunned on paper but I think they have the style of play to bother the Chiefs who don't have a great run defense usually. Expect the Titans to stick to the script that has served them well so far in the playoffs.
I could listen to Steve Young talk football all day. Definitely one of the better NFL media experts out there.Yeah...I was watching some of that game last night on the NFL Network. I remember watching it live on my old Panasonic tube TV back when I was a young(er) man. Lol. Did you happen to notice a young Andy Reid there on the sidelines? He was quarterbacks coach & assistant head coach under Holmgren.
Another interesting tidbit: That was Steve Young's last full season - the following year he played in only the first 3 games before a season-ending concussion and ultimately his retirement. If they had the helmets they have now, he might have been able to play a few more years.
Jimmy Garappolo comes to mind. Earl Thomas as well.I get the most improved but also comeback player? Would have been better to give it to someone else. He came back from being ***, others came back from serious injuries and played more than 10 games.
Can't believe people are knocking him with his stats. Comparing him to Mahomes and others. Sure he doesn't rack up huge yards regularly but he makes plays and limits his mistakes. He has surprised many people. He doesn't have the raw skill of a Mahomes or Rodgers but he's become a winner on a pretty well balanced team. Some of those deep balls he has been throwing have been outstanding. He's the right QB for a team like the Titans and it's working well at the moment. See how he copes with the Kansas pass rush. I think it could turn out to be the better game of the two.Maybe what helped him getting Comeback was being injured all of 2017, injured again in 2018 and missed 5 games from it (not close to the amount of time as Grappolo or Thomas), completely overlooked, talked down upon, and demoted. To then come out and have the regular season he had with the possibility of career highs if he played all 16 games. I think he deserves both as that criteria makes me think of both awards. I could see a big passing game tomorrow. Some people forget that the Titans were averaging 30+ with Tannehill and have like a 97% red zone TD percentage. They haven't kicked a field goal in weeks.
Can't believe people are knocking him with his stats. Comparing him to Mahomes and others. Sure he doesn't rack up huge yards regularly but he makes plays and limits his mistakes. He has surprised many people. He doesn't have the raw skill of a Mahomes or Rodgers but he's become a winner on a pretty well balanced team. Some of those deep balls he has been throwing have been outstanding. He's the right QB for a team like the Titans and it's working well at the moment. See how he copes with the Kansas pass rush. I think it could turn out to be the better game of the two.
Yes, there were several 'questionable' calls (and that one was CRAZY!).Congratulations to the Chiefs progressing, their offense definitely is something else with their speed and Mahomes ability to extend plays. Andy could finally get his Super Bowl. The defense stepped up huge.
Not anywhere near the reason they lost as the Titans had some bad penalties and I felt the Chiefs got away with a little but the refs doing ref things:
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