Which Free Agent Kicker?
by BoyfromOz on Dec 20, 2009 5:58 AM CST
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Its clear Folk has to go. Since his surgery he has got the yips bad. Reminds me of Vandershank. A shame because he is was clutch in his first two years. But maybe he can straighten things out over the offseason and we can give him another chance in training camp next year. He has used up all his chances this year.
I think what fits best for us to finish off this year is an aging veteran who was cut because his leg strength wasn't quite there anymore. Beuhler means we don't have to worry about kickoffs.
Some names for considersation:
Matt Stover - age 41 - would have been perfect, even a Dallas native. Unfortunately picked up by the Colts on Oct 15. Kicked 9/11 (82%) since, with one of those misses over 50.
Mar-TEEN Gramatica - anyone want him back? Kicked only 60% in limited action last year - probably not....
John Carney - age 45 - 13/17 (76%) - so not the greatest stats - but then we can't be that picky. On NO roster but has been inactive for the last 3 games. Hartley kicked ok against us, maybe NO will open up that roster spot. Think Peyton will do us any favours - after last night...
Mike Nugent - age 27 - a pretty ugly 3/9 this season (33%) - including 2 misses against us in the opener. Not an option - just picked up by the Cardinals
Jason Elam - age 39 - just cut by Atlanta. A struggling 12/19. Perfect under 30 (unlike Folk), but currently a 50:50 shot for anything longer. Did kick 93% last year and has kicked 436 FG's in his career - but may have lost his mojo.
Shaun Suisam - age 27 - had kicked a perfect 12/12 through the first 10 games. Basicly seems to have been cut due to 2 bad misses. One against us from 30-39 that could have won them the game, another against NO from 20-29 that lost them that game. Also doesn't have great leg-strength.
Taylor Mehlhaff - age 24 - only 4 kicks in his NFL career and missed 1 (from 20-39). Drafted by NO in the 6th round last year but cut by them. Tried in Vikes training camp this year but lost out to Ryan Longwell (not bad competition). A risk given his lack of experience. Similarly Brandon Coutu was drafted by Seattle in the 7th this year buy lost out to Olindo Mare.
Slim pickings. I am sure the coaches will know of kickers who weren't able to displace a vet during training camp. Unless they can find one, it seems to me that Suisam is the best of a not so great bunch with maybe Elam second. He has kicked 85.7% this season, but based on the two misses you wouldn't want to rely on him in a clutch situation. If the coaches check him out it will be more about testing his head than his leg.... But you can bet he will be motivated against the skins. And he is familiar with the stadium.
Footnote:
Could be worse - Redskins picked up Gano for Suisam and he listed as questionable for Monday's game vs the Giants - hurt foot - their punter may be kicking. (Not good for us though).
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I tried to click on all of them
right now my 80 yo mother in law can kick better than Folk. Those shots of him kicking in warmups was disturbing. I’d bet it’s Suisam this week though
To whoever voted to keep Folk...
well, just sayin I’m glad you’re not our GM. C’mon man. Did you see those kicks. He gots to go!
Seriously...
I sat there with an armada of armchair coaches last night, stunned by the miss. The only thing we could agree on was there not being ANY way he could be our kicker next week. He just can’t. I love me some Folk, and if he catches on with another team I’ll cheer for him, but he just can’t be our kicker anymore. The only option would be to deactivate him the last 2 weeks of the season, see if he can get his head on straight, and put in Bueller.
Bueller is a mixed bag. The coaching staff said he’s nowhere near ready, but this coaching staff is an absolutely horrible judge of who’s ready and not ready for the league.
Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.
by Lord Humungus on Dec 20, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions
Folk has to go.
I thought he could work through the slump, but Dallas can’t wait any longer to make a move. He could have cost us that game.
How bout dem Frogs!!!!
None of the above?
Try out soccer players? As long as they make a concerted effort to finder the best kicker possible on a week’s notice. I don’t think NFL kicking experience is even necessary. As long as they can reliably put it through the uprights and don’t have the mentality to fold under pressure.
After first kick that Folk made...
Never a good sign when your kicker and his team is celebrating a 44-yarder as if they were almost surprised that he drilled it right down the middle.
And the missed chip-shot… high comedy. I had visions of an enormous stomach punch loss dancing in my head.
Anyway, regarding what kicker to pick up… My preferance would be Elam. If you’re picking up a kicker Week 16 in a season, you better get a guy that’s been around the block a few times.
Anyway, big win for you guys last night. I saw a lot a few areas that should be major concerns. but for the most part it was a really well-rounded win. Looks like the division could be decided Week 17.
Too bad the Punt, Pass, and Kick finals aren't until the play offs;
I ’m sure there will a boy or girl there who could make a 24 yard-er pretty consistently!
We could just go Mike Leach style
and have Dr. Pepper hold a field goal kicking contest and sign the winner. That kid Leach brought in is still kicking for Tech.
Give me team chemistry and emotion over stats any day. Do you think 34,000 Ranger fans were screaming their asses off over Pudge and his .275 OBP?
I say go with Elam.
Do NOT go with Nugent <——-I was at this game; Favre’s Jets debut (preseason)
2009 Dallas Cowboys: 10-6
2009 New York Jets: not 11-5 :(
2009-2010 Dallas Mavericks: 57-25
Well
now that we are a dome team, perhaps a kicker who is statistically mediocre could help because it is easier to kick in a dome….
So I would rather find someone who has been doing a bad job of kicking outside than someone who has been doing a bad job of kicking it a dome.
AND WHOEVER WAS SAYING WE SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED MASON…. YOU WERE RIGHT.
Courtesy of wikipedia
Buelher started all of the 2007 season: in 13 games, he successfully made 16-of-19 field goals and 52-of-54 extra points, plus he made 3 tackles. Thirty-five of his 84 kickoffs kept opponents within their 20-yard line, with 18 touchbacks.
Buehler started all 13 games as a senior in the 2008 season, making 9 of 13 field goals and 65 of 66 extra points.4 Three of his four missed field goals during the season came during his final regular season game against rival UCLA, where he missed all three attempts in a 28–7 Trojans victory. Buehler blamed himself for trying to do a different routine before his final regular-season game.5 He was able to bounce back during the 2009 Rose Bowl, making his one field goal attempt and successfully kicking all five extra points in a 38–24 victory over Penn State.4
He should get a shot before anybody, and any of you saying he can’t kick FG’s are mistaken and are basing that off of who know’s what.
+1
I don’t know why he’s dismissed right off the bat. Buehler shot get the first shot.
It sucks that this is even a discussion. DAL carries 2 kickers and neither one is trust-worthy apparently.
If they go the FA route, I guess Elam would be my choice.
Drago says, "We must break you!"
by APerfectStar on Dec 20, 2009 4:13 PM CST up reply actions
Hell of a time to be looking for a kicker..
I made some alcohol/euphoria-induced comments on the game thread last night about keeping Folk. After further review, I have to admit it’s best we replace him. Even if they put him on the mental IR list.. Can’t afford to come away with no points if a drive stalls inside the 20.
I would first try Buehler, but if that doesn't work
I would look into Suisham or Coutu.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
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