Question about kickers (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

Something I've always wondered. Please enlighten me if you have the answer.

If there was a guy who could kick the ball deep into, or completely out of the end zone every time, wouldn't he be one of the most valuable people in the NFL? If you could eliminate the possibilty of a kickoff return for a TD, or even having the other team start on the 30 or 40 yard line, wouldn't that be a HUGE competitive advantage? A team that has to go 80 yards every possession is in for a long afternoon.

Are you telling me that with some 6.5 billion people in the world, there is not one person who can kick a regulation NFL football out of the end zone every time? Some soccer player in Argentina or Brazil, maybe? Would this person be worth a roster spot and a fat contract? Without a doubt! So with all the money that goes into scouting, how come nobody has discovered a big leg yet?

 

[BassNBrew]

Something I've always wondered. Please enlighten me if you have the answer.Some soccer player in Argentina or Brazil, maybe? So with all the money that goes into scouting, how come nobody has discovered a big leg yet?

Maybe because soccer players wear cups???

 

[Wingnut]

Good question. Apparently footballs have a ceiling on how far they can be kicked from a tee, with Earth's gravity and all, and that celiling (on a consistant basis) is less than the distance from the tee to out of the endzone.

 

[Raider Nation]

Good question. Apparently footballs have a ceiling on how far they can be kicked from a tee, with Earth's gravity and all, and that celiling (on a consistant basis) is less than the distance from the tee to out of the endzone.

I can see that in cities such as Seattle (where Josh Brown says kicking there is like kicking "through soup"), but in other cities, it should not be that much of an issue. Especially in Denver and in domes. I guess the balls the kickers use are hard as rocks, also. That's by design, I believe, so that there are kickoff returns.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Kickoffs get longer every year, but they've also moved the tee back 10 yards in the last ~20 years or so, from the 40 to the 30. So no one will ever kick touchbacks every time (they'd just move the tee back to the 25), but yes, it's a big advantage if an opposing team has to start on the 20 every time.

 

[jevy]

What I always wondered is why don't the punters try to kick the ball towards the sidelines and out of bounds, rather then overkicking and knocking it into the endzone.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Kickoffs get longer every year, but they've also moved the tee back 10 yards in the last ~20 years or so, from the 40 to the 30. So no one will ever kick touchbacks every time (they'd just move the tee back to the 25), but yes, it's a big advantage if an opposing team has to start on the 20 every time.

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

What I always wondered is why don't the punters try to kick the ball towards the sidelines and out of bounds, rather then overkicking and knocking it into the endzone.

I agree with this. The "coffin corner" is a lost art.

 

[Bri]

What I always wondered is why don't the punters try to kick the ball towards the sidelines and out of bounds, rather then overkicking and knocking it into the endzone.

I agree with this. The "coffin corner" is a lost art.

And it's silly that punters in college and even HS didn't ask "Why has Sean Landeta played so long?" You'd think someone would have caught on

 

[Bri]

Good question. Apparently footballs have a ceiling on how far they can be kicked from a tee, with Earth's gravity and all, and that celiling (on a consistant basis) is less than the distance from the tee to out of the endzone.

Not really trueJohn Hall was phenomenal as a rookie K getting the ball out of the endzone a very high percentage of the time. I remember stats thrown on the screen back then but no clue if he set a record or not.

 

[TitusIII]

You will see more teams begin to scout Europe/S. America for high quality kickers in the coming years. And you are correct in assuming that having an individual who can kick the ball out of the endzone is a huge advantage

 

[jevy]

Didn't the Chargers have an Aussie Rules Football or rugby player as a kicker one year? Any remember his name or how he did?

 

[Bri]

Something I've always wondered. Please enlighten me if you have the answer.

If there was a guy who could kick the ball deep into, or completely out of the end zone every time, wouldn't he be one of the most valuable people in the NFL? If you could eliminate the possibilty of a kickoff return for a TD, or even having the other team start on the 30 or 40 yard line, wouldn't that be a HUGE competitive advantage? A team that has to go 80 yards every possession is in for a long afternoon.

Are you telling me that with some 6.5 billion people in the world, there is not one person who can kick a regulation NFL football out of the end zone every time? Some soccer player in Argentina or Brazil, maybe? Would this person be worth a roster spot and a fat contract? Without a doubt! So with all the money that goes into scouting, how come nobody has discovered a big leg yet?

It's the roster spot.Take Indy for example preferring to lose one of the better kickers ever(personality aside) rather than use another roster spot. While they wound up with Adam, they didn't know at the time and just had enough with Vandy. Parcells is annoyed with it right now. Think about it, you've got a guy that doesn't tackle on ST or play on punt returns etc but he just kicks.

As for one guy in 6.5 billion stuff-

distance+accuracy(for FG) are needed plus the all important "money" mentality when the game is on the line.

Travis Dorsch I've always found interesting. Punter and a Kicker with a strong leg, he'd save a roster spot! He's never realy latched on in the NFL though he's hopped from team to team.

Jets have a soccer punter. I wouldn't doubt his big leg could kickoff but Nugent's fine.

Pats had a punter Rich Camarillo that punted 89 yards once, he couldn't kick off all that well IMO.

 

[diesel7982]

Something I've always wondered. Please enlighten me if you have the answer.

If there was a guy who could kick the ball deep into, or completely out of the end zone every time, wouldn't he be one of the most valuable people in the NFL? If you could eliminate the possibilty of a kickoff return for a TD, or even having the other team start on the 30 or 40 yard line, wouldn't that be a HUGE competitive advantage? A team that has to go 80 yards every possession is in for a long afternoon.

Are you telling me that with some 6.5 billion people in the world, there is not one person who can kick a regulation NFL football out of the end zone every time? Some soccer player in Argentina or Brazil, maybe? Would this person be worth a roster spot and a fat contract? Without a doubt! So with all the money that goes into scouting, how come nobody has discovered a big leg yet?

Does anyone find it humorous that a Raiders' fan is asking this?

Janikowski was supposed to change the way field position was played in the NFL with his huge kickoffs, but alas....

 

[Raider Nation]

Something I've always wondered. Please enlighten me if you have the answer.

If there was a guy who could kick the ball deep into, or completely out of the end zone every time, wouldn't he be one of the most valuable people in the NFL? If you could eliminate the possibilty of a kickoff return for a TD, or even having the other team start on the 30 or 40 yard line, wouldn't that be a HUGE competitive advantage? A team that has to go 80 yards every possession is in for a long afternoon.

Are you telling me that with some 6.5 billion people in the world, there is not one person who can kick a regulation NFL football out of the end zone every time? Some soccer player in Argentina or Brazil, maybe? Would this person be worth a roster spot and a fat contract? Without a doubt! So with all the money that goes into scouting, how come nobody has discovered a big leg yet?

It's the roster spot.Take Indy for example preferring to lose one of the better kickers ever(personality aside) rather than use another roster spot. While they wound up with Adam, they didn't know at the time and just had enough with Vandy. Parcells is annoyed with it right now. Think about it, you've got a guy that doesn't tackle on ST or play on punt returns etc but he just kicks.

Completely disagree, Bri. If you asked every NFL head coach if he would give a roster spot to a guy who ONLY kicks off, but the coach is guaranteed that the player would make the other team start from the 20 every time, every single coach would not only say yes, but he would personally pick up the guy from the airport.

 

[Raider Nation]

Didn't the Chargers have an Aussie Rules Football or rugby player as a kicker one year? Any remember his name or how he did?

Punter Darren Bennett. I don't recall him kicking off, however. Maybe I'm incorrect.

 

[TitusIII]

Something I've always wondered. Please enlighten me if you have the answer.

If there was a guy who could kick the ball deep into, or completely out of the end zone every time, wouldn't he be one of the most valuable people in the NFL? If you could eliminate the possibilty of a kickoff return for a TD, or even having the other team start on the 30 or 40 yard line, wouldn't that be a HUGE competitive advantage? A team that has to go 80 yards every possession is in for a long afternoon.

Are you telling me that with some 6.5 billion people in the world, there is not one person who can kick a regulation NFL football out of the end zone every time? Some soccer player in Argentina or Brazil, maybe? Would this person be worth a roster spot and a fat contract? Without a doubt! So with all the money that goes into scouting, how come nobody has discovered a big leg yet?

It's the roster spot.Take Indy for example preferring to lose one of the better kickers ever(personality aside) rather than use another roster spot. While they wound up with Adam, they didn't know at the time and just had enough with Vandy. Parcells is annoyed with it right now. Think about it, you've got a guy that doesn't tackle on ST or play on punt returns etc but he just kicks.

Completely disagree, Bri. If you asked every NFL head coach if he would give a roster spot to a guy who ONLY kicks off, but the coach is guaranteed that the player would make the other team start from the 20 every time, every single coach would not only say yes, but he would personally pick up the guy from the airport.

Cutting-edge GM's will begin to look at these soccer players in due time...

 

[Raider Nation]

What I always wondered is why don't the punters try to kick the ball towards the sidelines and out of bounds, rather then overkicking and knocking it into the endzone.

I agree with this. The "coffin corner" is a lost art.

And it's silly that punters in college and even HS didn't ask "Why has Sean Landeta played so long?" You'd think someone would have caught on

This is particularly frustrating when a team is punting from the opposition's 40 yard line... just outside of FG range. The punter BOOMS the ball through the end zone, and he doesn't even bother trying for the coffin corner! What do you have to lose?!?!?!

 

[Chase Stuart]

MT addressed this issue awhile back.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/wordpress/?p=110

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

Pretty sure that when I was a kid it was the 40. Then the 35. Now the 30. But my memory could be wrong.Sure enough...1974: Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns. In 1994, the kickoff would be moved further back, to the 30-yard line.

 

[Mike Herman]

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

Pretty sure that when I was a kid it was the 40. Then the 35. Now the 30. But my memory could be wrong.Sure enough...1974: Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns. In 1994, the kickoff would be moved further back, to the 30-yard line.

They also reduced the height of the tee. Perhaps the biggest change to minimize touchbacks was the 1999 addition of the K-ball rule.

 

[Tick]

MT addressed this issue awhile back.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/wordpress/?p=110

Awesome article.

 

[Bri]

MT addressed this issue awhile back.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/wordpress/?p=110

Awesome article.

Really? I felt like he was getting to a point but stopped short. Usually agree with ya about MT but this one left me wanting more

 

[Bri]

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

Pretty sure that when I was a kid it was the 40. Then the 35. Now the 30. But my memory could be wrong.Sure enough...1974: Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns. In 1994, the kickoff would be moved further back, to the 30-yard line.

They also reduced the height of the tee. Perhaps the biggest change to minimize touchbacks was the 1999 addition of the K-ball rule.

huh? k-ball?

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

Pretty sure that when I was a kid it was the 40. Then the 35. Now the 30. But my memory could be wrong.Sure enough...1974: Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns. In 1994, the kickoff would be moved further back, to the 30-yard line.

They also reduced the height of the tee. Perhaps the biggest change to minimize touchbacks was the 1999 addition of the K-ball rule.

huh? k-ball?

Kicker only balls, marked with a "K".

 

[Bri]

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

Pretty sure that when I was a kid it was the 40. Then the 35. Now the 30. But my memory could be wrong.Sure enough...1974: Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns. In 1994, the kickoff would be moved further back, to the 30-yard line.

They also reduced the height of the tee. Perhaps the biggest change to minimize touchbacks was the 1999 addition of the K-ball rule.

huh? k-ball?

Kicker only balls, marked with a "K".

ahhh muchas gracias senor

 

[GregR_2]

Interesting bit I found from gooling, here on FBG of all places. An intereview with Feely:

FBG: One of the adjustments from college to the NFL was the new K-balls used in each game. Does it really make as much difference as we're led to believe?JF: Yes, it does. The interesting thing is that you can get a good K-ball or a bad K-ball. A K-ball is not a different ball in anyway than the regular game ball; it's just a ball that has not been broken in. The balls the quarterbacks use, they'll take them down, they'll rub them, they'll break them in, and use them throughout the week to have them not be so new. The K-balls are brand new right out of the box. You're not allowed to do anything to them. You're not allowed to kick them at all before the game. You can get a good new ball, or a bad new ball. The difference between a good new ball and a bad new ball is probably about ten yards on a kickoff or a field goal. If you get a bad ball when you go to kickoff, I'll even tell our guys on our kickoff team, "Hey it's a bad ball, be ready for a short kick." Because I know regardless of how well I kick it, it's not gonna come down probably any deeper than the ten yard line.FBG: Can you tell when you hold a bad ball, or do you actually have to kick it to find out?JF: You can tell when you hold it. You can tell by feeling it, because the seams ridge up. The ends, which are supposed to be round, are kind of square. The difference between a nubby ball and a smooth ball, the nubby balls are bad balls that are not going to go as far. The smooth balls, the way they're supposed to be, they going to go a lot farther.

 

[Mike Herman]

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

Pretty sure that when I was a kid it was the 40. Then the 35. Now the 30. But my memory could be wrong.Sure enough...

1974: Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns. In 1994, the kickoff would be moved further back, to the 30-yard line.

They also reduced the height of the tee. Perhaps the biggest change to minimize touchbacks was the 1999 addition of the K-ball rule.

huh? k-ball?

Kicker only balls, marked with a "K".

ahhh muchas gracias senor

LINKSee section 2 for rule changes that impacted kicking, and section 14 for info on the dreaded K-ball.

 

[Bri]

It used to be the 35 last I recall.

Pretty sure that when I was a kid it was the 40. Then the 35. Now the 30. But my memory could be wrong.Sure enough...

1974: Kickoffs: moved to the 35-yard line (from the 40-yard line) to reduce touchbacks, promoting more excitement with kickoff returns. In 1994, the kickoff would be moved further back, to the 30-yard line.

They also reduced the height of the tee. Perhaps the biggest change to minimize touchbacks was the 1999 addition of the K-ball rule.

huh? k-ball?

Kicker only balls, marked with a "K".

ahhh muchas gracias senor

LINKSee section 2 for rule changes that impacted kicking, and section 14 for info on the dreaded K-ball.

wow that's some pretty awesome work their Mike(and lil bit by Andrew) I can't even read it all now it's so much. Thank you very much for the link and effort