ratoppenheimer
Posts: 9555
Joined: 12/9/2007
From: cascais, portugal...still in exile
Status: online
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ORIGINAL: kgdabom
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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes
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ORIGINAL: David F.
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ORIGINAL: Ricky J
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ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes
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ORIGINAL: David F.
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ORIGINAL: marty
I still wouldn't trust Carlson for a game winner in a playoff game, despite his regular season success.
I am not sure if Zimmer ruins kickers, or if he doesn't convey confidence, or whatever it is winning HCs convey to their kickers.
Blair Walsh was all pro. Dan Bailey was the most accurate kicker in history. Carlson missed three of four FGs for us in the TWO GAMES we kept him (he was one of only two drafted kickers that year - the other was Jason Sanders). Since we cut him he's missed 12 total out of 92. That's 87% including being 7 of 11 from 50+.
Based on post game comments about Joseph, Zimmer seems committed to being more positive or at least, giving a longer leash to the kicker this year.
An acknowledgement probably of his past meddling.
Of course, its a catch-22 right? Drop the axe too soon and you might be rejecting a Carlson ... hang on too long and your Walsh has more opportunities to not get it right.
I think Spielman and Zimmer have tried different things but, at this point, I'm not sure they can get out of their own way ... even when they just stand and watch and do nothing.
I've noticed that even prior to this last hiccup as well.
This one didn't cost them the game, though, so maybe it made swallowing the pill a little easier.
We just can't expect our kickers to be 100%. When Green Bay played Cincinnati Mason Crosby missed THREE field goals - and Green Bay still won. The offenses job isn't over once we're in field goal range and the kick should never be taken for granted. This isn't a knock on Cousins (who has been mostly excellent this season) but more a knock on the coaches and fans - driving the team into field goal range DOES NOT constitute a game-winning drive. It's only a game-winning-drive if the kicker makes it. If you don't want to take an 80% chance on a win then scheme for a TD. Blaming your kicker for losses is a coward's way out.
Cowardly? No, that's way over the top. If you are including fans. Are you?
Every situation is different but for the most part, your odds are far better to get in field position and kick a FG than to get the ball into the endzone.
Some coaches and QBs refuse to give up on a death-blow TD until they are out of downs or clock ... so they HAVE to settle for a FG.
Unfortunately for us, we have a coach and a QB that are so entrenched in minimizing risk, they default to field goal position way too early. I suppose Cajones has a part in that but IMO its more about being closed-minded.
And yes, as well as he's played, Cousins has a big part in our methodical approach to working down the field for a kick (and ignoring riskier throws that might put the game away with a TD).
I do agree that some fans put far too much blame for a loss on a missed walk-off FG.
IMO that is denial ... but cowardly? C'mon.
FGs under 40 yards are close to automatic. Well over 90%. Trying for a TD instead of kicking the FG I'm sure has a less than 90% success rate. It's just that it didn't work out for us that has us saying go for the TD.
zimmer seemed to give up on shortening the fg's on those last three drives against Carolina - that turned out the be a problem....
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