In defense of NFL kickers (1 Viewer)

[jdoggydogg]

I hear a lot of former and current NFL players say that they hate kickers. Some NFL players say that kickers aren't real NFL players. Fine. No one would compare a kicker to a linebacker.

But let's examine the Monday night game of Chi @ AZ. Neil Rackers missed two field goals, and he is getting roasted for it. But AZ gave up three TDs in the span of 15 minutes. Did the kicker allow two defensive TDs?

If kickers are so worthless, then perhaps the QB or the linebackers that are so tough should kick the field goals? That would be silly. Why? Because they can't do it. I don't understand how NFL teams can make several mistakes throughout a game and then blame a loss on their kicker.

:end of rant:

 

[jonessed]

I hear a lot of former and current NFL players say that they hate kickers. Some NFL players say that kickers aren't real NFL players. Fine. No one would compare a kicker to a linebacker.But let's examine the Monday night game of Chi @ AZ. Neil Rackers missed two field goals, and he is getting roasted for it. But AZ gave up three TDs in the span of 15 minutes. Did the kicker allow two defensive TDs?If kickers are so worthless, then perhaps the QB or the linebackers that are so tough should kick the field goals? That would be silly. Why? Because they can't do it. I don't understand how NFL teams can make several mistakes throughout a game and then blame a loss on their kicker.:end of rant:

Kickers aren't worthless. Anyone that thinks so is an idiot.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Everyone thinks kickers are worthless until they need him to kick a game winning FG with :03 left on the clock.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Kickers are mainly looked down upon because they aren't in the same athletic stratosphere as the other players.

 

[Del Griffith]

Since they've started showing the ground level view from behind the holder, I've had a new found respect for kickers. Every kick looks nearly impossible, even the short ones. A guy will be lined up for a 30 yarder, and I'll be like, "How the hell is he gonna hit THAT???"

 

[jdoggydogg]

Kickers are mainly looked down upon because they aren't in the same athletic stratosphere as the other players.

Certainly. I agree. But kickers are often the scapegoat for a loss when the team has made several errors throughout the game.

 

[Team Tosh]

Since they've started showing the ground level view from behind the holder, I've had a new found respect for kickers. Every kick looks nearly impossible, even the short ones. A guy will be lined up for a 30 yarder, and I'll be like, "How the hell is he gonna hit THAT???"

That's interesting because earlier this season I was thinking the same thing and couldn't put my finger on it. It seemed like the goal posts had gotten smaller or something, but instead they are just showing it from a different angle.

 

[JayMan]

Since they've started showing the ground level view from behind the holder, I've had a new found respect for kickers. Every kick looks nearly impossible, even the short ones. A guy will be lined up for a 30 yarder, and I'll be like, "How the hell is he gonna hit THAT???"

That's interesting because earlier this season I was thinking the same thing and couldn't put my finger on it. It seemed like the goal posts had gotten smaller or something, but instead they are just showing it from a different angle.

And when you stand underneath the goal posts... it seems that they are 10 feet apart!... I always wondered how a guy could "automatically" kick a ball from 40 yards out between these two... knowing that he has less than 2 seconds to do so...

 

[The Future Champs]

Since they've started showing the ground level view from behind the holder, I've had a new found respect for kickers. Every kick looks nearly impossible, even the short ones. A guy will be lined up for a 30 yarder, and I'll be like, "How the hell is he gonna hit THAT???"

That's interesting because earlier this season I was thinking the same thing and couldn't put my finger on it. It seemed like the goal posts had gotten smaller or something, but instead they are just showing it from a different angle.

And when you stand underneath the goal posts... it seems that they are 10 feet apart!... I always wondered how a guy could "automatically" kick a ball from 40 yards out between these two... knowing that he has less than 2 seconds to do so...

They should hit everything from 40 yards (maybe 45) and closer every time. Should. But just like Tiger Woods should hit the green on almost every par 3 he plays, or should hit the fairway every time he tees off, he doesn't. You don't always get a good kick in, just like sometimes even the best golfer in the world mi####s (did you see Tiger put that shot over the concession building?). Only a kicker doesn't have a chance to hit out of the rough or get up and down for a par. Add to that the fact that for Rackers the game was on the line, there are 11 guys yelling and waving and trying to block it, he has the snap and hold to deal with, 70,000 fans screaming, everyone looking at you. Jeez, the pressure must be huge. BTW- The shots from behind the kicker are really just a perspective thing with the camera, they must use a serious wide angle for that shot.

 

[Gr00vus]

Add to that the fact that for Rackers the game was on the line, there are 11 guys yelling and waving and trying to block it, he has the snap and hold to deal with, 70,000 fans screaming, everyone looking at you. Jeez, the pressure must be huge. BTW- The shots from behind the kicker are really just a perspective thing with the camera, they must use a serious wide angle for that shot.

That's their job. Get paid a few hundred thousand or more a year to go on the field for a couple of plays a game and kick a ball through a stationary target and kickoff a few times. That's it. If the line doesn't keep the other team from blocking your kick or the holder blows the hold, it's not your problem. But if you're 40 and in with no external errors your job is to make the damn kick. They deserve all the criticism they get when they blow it - especially twice. You've got 50 other guys who've bled and gotten pounded for 60 minutes depending on you to trot out there in your nice clean uniform and kick a ball through the uprights. Failure to do so validates any harsh words directed your way as a result.

 

[f360spyder]

Add to that the fact that for Rackers the game was on the line, there are 11 guys yelling and waving and trying to block it, he has the snap and hold to deal with, 70,000 fans screaming, everyone looking at you. Jeez, the pressure must be huge. BTW- The shots from behind the kicker are really just a perspective thing with the camera, they must use a serious wide angle for that shot.

That's their job. Get paid a few hundred thousand or more a year to go on the field for a couple of plays a game and kick a ball through a stationary target and kickoff a few times. That's it. If the line doesn't keep the other team from blocking your kick or the holder blows the hold, it's not your problem. But if you're 40 and in with no external errors your job is to make the damn kick. They deserve all the criticism they get when they blow it - especially twice. You've got 50 other guys who've bled and gotten pounded for 60 minutes depending on you to trot out there in your nice clean uniform and kick a ball through the uprights. Failure to do so validates any harsh words directed your way as a result.

I agree 100%. It's not like they didn't know they would have to deal with a huge amount of pressure once in a while. If the kick is blocked, that's usually out of the kicker's control. Plus, with the amount of practice, conditioning, and leg strength these guys get, 40yds and closer should be pretty damn close to a gimme.

 

[j3r3m3y]

Kickers are mainly looked down upon because they aren't in the same athletic stratosphere as the other players.

Certainly. I agree. But kickers are often the scapegoat for a loss when the team has made several errors throughout the game.

Kinda like relief pitchers.When you only do one thing, you better do it well.

 

[Gr00vus]

Kickers are mainly looked down upon because they aren't in the same athletic stratosphere as the other players.

Certainly. I agree. But kickers are often the scapegoat for a loss when the team has made several errors throughout the game.

Kinda like relief pitchers.When you only do one thing, you better do it well.

Kinda, but relief pitchers still have it much tougher than a kicker - there's a guy on the other end of the pitch who has a lot to say about what happens. With a kicker, given a clean snap and good blocking it's just the kicker, the ball and the goal posts. No sympathy for you!

 

[jdoggydogg]

Add to that the fact that for Rackers the game was on the line, there are 11 guys yelling and waving and trying to block it, he has the snap and hold to deal with, 70,000 fans screaming, everyone looking at you. Jeez, the pressure must be huge. BTW- The shots from behind the kicker are really just a perspective thing with the camera, they must use a serious wide angle for that shot.

That's their job. Get paid a few hundred thousand or more a year to go on the field for a couple of plays a game and kick a ball through a stationary target and kickoff a few times. That's it. If the line doesn't keep the other team from blocking your kick or the holder blows the hold, it's not your problem. But if you're 40 and in with no external errors your job is to make the damn kick. They deserve all the criticism they get when they blow it - especially twice. You've got 50 other guys who've bled and gotten pounded for 60 minutes depending on you to trot out there in your nice clean uniform and kick a ball through the uprights. Failure to do so validates any harsh words directed your way as a result.

Sure. But again, if it's so easy, then why do we even need the kicker? How many WRs have you seen drop a perfect pass that's right in their hands?

 

[Gr00vus]

Sure. But again, if it's so easy, then why do we even need the kicker? How many WRs have you seen drop a perfect pass that's right in their hands?

You don't think receivers get roasted when they drop easy, potentially big targets?I never said it was easy. I said it's their job - it's what they do, it's ALL they do.. They're professionals, hypothetically the 32 best in the world at what they do right now, and compared to what the other players have to do, it is a much less demanding role. Failure is pretty much inexcusable.

 

[Wingnut]

I like it when idiot kickers get liquored up.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Sure. But again, if it's so easy, then why do we even need the kicker? How many WRs have you seen drop a perfect pass that's right in their hands?

You don't think receivers get roasted when they drop easy, potentially big targets?I never said it was easy. I said it's their job - it's what they do, it's ALL they do.. They're professionals, hypothetically the 32 best in the world at what they do right now, and compared to what the other players have to do, it is a much less demanding role. Failure is pretty much inexcusable.

I agree with all of that. I just think it's silly to blame a kicker for a loss last Monday night when the entire team choked in the fourth quarter.

 

[Gr00vus]

Sure. But again, if it's so easy, then why do we even need the kicker? How many WRs have you seen drop a perfect pass that's right in their hands?

You don't think receivers get roasted when they drop easy, potentially big targets?I never said it was easy. I said it's their job - it's what they do, it's ALL they do.. They're professionals, hypothetically the 32 best in the world at what they do right now, and compared to what the other players have to do, it is a much less demanding role. Failure is pretty much inexcusable.

I agree with all of that. I just think it's silly to blame a kicker for a loss last Monday night when the entire team choked in the fourth quarter.

To be sure there's plenty of blame to go around - James, coaching staff, etc. But Rakers could have and should have made all that a moot point by making one of the two field goals he missed. He definitely is right up there at the top of the list of culprits for last nights choke job.