Kickoff Specialists in the NFL

WSUCougar · 10-21-2003, 01:15 PM

As football sim fans we all know the value of roster slots, and I want to get some opinions on one related issue that seems to be prevalent in the NFL these days.

Is a kickoff specialist worth the slot?

A few points to consider:

With all the injuries that occur in a game/season (along with specialized substitution), it seems that positional depth is as crucial as it ever has been. Isn’t it more vital to have an offensive or defensive lineman, or some other position player, than a guy whose only role is to kickoff and perhaps be the emergency field-goal kicker?

I know that many kickers are weak at kicking off, either kicking it too short, too low, or both. However, unless you’ve got a guy who’s regularly reaching the end zone as a kickoff specialist (which seems rare), is the trade-off that worthwhile? In other words, is a 5-10 yard depth advantage on kickoffs (just a guess on my part) worth a roster slot?

As far as I’m concerned, field goal accuracy is the most important trait in a kicker. There are generally several kickers that struggle with accuracy, and eventually a few get booted and are replaced. It also seems that one or more kickers emerge from out of nowhere each season, as viable NFL kickers. Given all that, isn’t there enough decent kickers out there (in terms of accuracy) that weak kickoff guys could be sorted out of the mix? Or is it that NFL teams are more intent on a reliable field goal guy (i.e., Gary Anderson) than an unproven kid with a stronger leg?

I dunno. I guess I just don’t place as much value on the extra few yards on a kickoff. I’d be interested in hearing some other opinions and analysis.

Honolulu Blue · 10-21-2003, 01:26 PM

You bring up some good points. I think a kickoff specialist is a defensible idea under a few circumstances:

1) If he can kick kickoffs 75+ yards over half the time. I know of no one who can do this, but perhaps in 10 years we'll see some who can.

2) If the field goal kicker is old and/or injury prone (an injury prone kicker, that's funny...), it might be useful to have the heir apparent on the roster do kickoffs and short kicks to build his confidence for the future. This is more of a TCY trick than an NFL trick.

3) If the punter has a significantly stronger leg than the FG kicker, he should be handling kickoffs. I know this isn't what you meant, but I had to list it anyway.

In other circumstances I think there are better things that can be done with that roster space.

KevinNU7 · 10-21-2003, 01:26 PM

I'd rather have the guy who can make the 40 yard or lower every time then someone who can make a 55+ but shits the bed when the pressers on.

mckerney · 10-21-2003, 01:28 PM

With the K balls they are forced to use now I think it could be worthwhile to get someone just for kicking off if your FG kicker doesn't have the power. I know it was frusterating watching Elling kick to the 10 nearly everytime at the begining of the year for the Vikings.

cthomer5000 · 10-21-2003, 01:34 PM

John Hall circa 1998 would have been a worthwhile kickoff specialist.

Personally, I could certainly see the justification of the position. But he'd have to fit the following criteria:

1. Kick the shit out of the ball on kickoffs
2. Be able to be the "long field goal" kicker. He could come in for the 50+ kicks, and you have to believe he might actually make it.
3. He'd have to be able to be a passable emergency punter.

That way, with your 3 kickers you could have your super-accurate 40 and under kicker, your punter, and your backup at both positions.

TroyF · 10-21-2003, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KevinNU7
I'd rather have the guy who can make the 40 yard or lower every time then someone who can make a 55+ but shits the bed when the pressers on.

Preferably, you have a guy who can do both. The Chiefs are a good example. I love Morten Anderson. Great, great kicker. The odds of him hitting a 50+ yard field goal at the end of the game in anything but altitude is slim and none.

The Broncos were so sick of Elam's poor kickoffs, Micah Mohr now handles the KO duties. It was the main reason he won the punting job. The other punter outpunted him all camp, but couldn't kick off.

I don't think it is worth a roster spot though. The roster spots are so compressed already on special teams. Many teams already empoy long snappers, gunners and return men who don't do a lot of other things to help the team. Adding a KO specialist is just not worth it IMO.

TroyF

Ryche · 10-21-2003, 01:49 PM

Quote:

I know it was frusterating watching Elling kick to the 10 nearly everytime at the begining of the year for the Vikings.

Get used to it, Cortez will only be around until Elling's back is fully healed, probably one more week. There are not many kickers who put it past the 10 anymore anyway.

Funny thing is, I was looking at some of the draft reports of Elling when he came out of college, trying to find out more about him. One I saw said he was the best kickoff specialist in college or the pros. I think he was smoking some crack.

mckerney · 10-21-2003, 01:59 PM

I know Cortez will be gone soon, and he's not even a guy I'd consider for a fulltime kickoff only specialist if one was needed, but although Elling seems to have improved it is still a weakness of the special temas.

mckerney · 10-21-2003, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ryche
Funny thing is, I was looking at some of the draft reports of Elling when he came out of college, trying to find out more about him. One I saw said he was the best kickoff specialist in college or the pros. I think he was smoking some crack.

Plus Johnson was supposed to be able to kickoff when we'd drafted him, I don't know what the hell happened there.

I do think a lot of young guys drop off because of difficulties with the differences of the K balls from what they used to kick in college.

daedalus · 10-21-2003, 04:34 PM

I kinda think it's kind of a case-by-case situation. I mean, if I have a situation where I have a great kicker with limited leg strength (Morten Anderson is a brilliant example) then it's definitely a consideration. Some teams have starters who double on the special team (off-hand, uhhh, Woodson?) and that (not needing a return-specialist) may allow them the extra roster slot to afford a kickoff specialist. I mean, there has to be at least 4-5 teams this season so far that wish they had a kicker who could've dropped kickoffs in the middle of the endzone when they played the Chiefs.

WSUCougar · 10-22-2003, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by daedalus
Some teams have starters who double on the special team (off-hand, uhhh, Woodson?) and that (not needing a return-specialist) may allow them the extra roster slot to afford a kickoff specialist.

That's a good point. I guess if you look at it like an allocation of X number of roster slots for special teams, it makes more sense.

10-21-2003, 01:26 PM	#3
KevinNU7 College Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Beantown	I'd rather have the guy who can make the 40 yard or lower every time then someone who can make a 55+ but shits the bed when the pressers on. __________________ Boston Bashers - III.14 - (8347)

10-21-2003, 01:26 PM	#2
Honolulu Blue Dynasty Boy Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Michigan	You bring up some good points. I think a kickoff specialist is a defensible idea under a few circumstances: 1) If he can kick kickoffs 75+ yards over half the time. I know of no one who can do this, but perhaps in 10 years we'll see some who can. 2) If the field goal kicker is old and/or injury prone (an injury prone kicker, that's funny...), it might be useful to have the heir apparent on the roster do kickoffs and short kicks to build his confidence for the future. This is more of a TCY trick than an NFL trick. 3) If the punter has a significantly stronger leg than the FG kicker, he should be handling kickoffs. I know this isn't what you meant, but I had to list it anyway. In other circumstances I think there are better things that can be done with that roster space.

10-21-2003, 01:28 PM	#4
mckerney Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000	With the K balls they are forced to use now I think it could be worthwhile to get someone just for kicking off if your FG kicker doesn't have the power. I know it was frusterating watching Elling kick to the 10 nearly everytime at the begining of the year for the Vikings.

10-21-2003, 01:59 PM	#8
mckerney Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000	I know Cortez will be gone soon, and he's not even a guy I'd consider for a fulltime kickoff only specialist if one was needed, but although Elling seems to have improved it is still a weakness of the special temas.

10-21-2003, 04:34 PM	#10
daedalus Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000	I kinda think it's kind of a case-by-case situation. I mean, if I have a situation where I have a great kicker with limited leg strength (Morten Anderson is a brilliant example) then it's definitely a consideration. Some teams have starters who double on the special team (off-hand, uhhh, Woodson?) and that (not needing a return-specialist) may allow them the extra roster slot to afford a kickoff specialist. I mean, there has to be at least 4-5 teams this season so far that wish they had a kicker who could've dropped kickoffs in the middle of the endzone when they played the Chiefs.

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