CFZ How important is it to have a quality kicker?

Bobhaze · Aug 9, 2022

In short: Very, very important. Here’s some evidence:

In 2019, a whopping 73% of NFL games were decided by a FG or less. Meaning nearly 3 of 4 games could have been decided by the guy who wasn’t drafted and played only a handful of plays each game. (Link: https://www.abc15.com/sports/super-...hought-but-they-are-key-to-super-bowl-success)
Last season in 2021, in the first 2 months of the season an NFL record was set with the number of games going down to a final play. (Link: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/13/nfl-has-record-number-of-games-going-down-to-final/)
According Vegas oddsmakers, almost 20% of all NFL games since 2003 were literally decided by the kicker. It’s why oddsmakers most often have a 3 pt margin set for set for most betting lines.
Last year in the divisional round of the playoffs, 3 of the 4 winning teams won their games with a game winning FG. That was an a new NFL record. (Link: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...h-kickers-dominate-divisional-round-showdowns
We should have/could have been 13-4 instead of 12-5 last year if Greg Zeurline didn’t miss an XP and chip shot FG vs Tampa Bay in that 31-30 loss on opening day. Frustrating.

This could go on….Can we all agree having a dependable K is critical if you’re serious about winning in the playoffs? Or even just to MAKE the playoffs.

I believe the Cowboys know this. But seems like the search for a better K has been going on since Dan Bailey lost his mojo a few years ago. Here’s hoping the team finds someone better than what we’ve settled for since Bailey left.

How important is an NFL kicker? Recent history says very important.

jnday · Aug 9, 2022

I can skip reading your thoughts on the situation. Jerry and Steven will be exposed for lies that only hurts the team.

Hawkeye19 · Aug 9, 2022

Agreed. A reliable and consistent K is a needed weapon. The Jones Boys don’t seem too worried about investing any resources in upgrading the position though.

Brett Maher come on down! What could possibly go wrong with this plan?

Doomsday77 · Aug 9, 2022

Bobhaze said:
In short: Very, very important. Here’s some evidence:

In 2019, a whopping 73% of NFL games were decided by a FG or less. Meaning nearly 3 of 4 games could have been decided by the guy who wasn’t drafted and played only a handful of plays each game. (Link: https://www.abc15.com/sports/super-...hought-but-they-are-key-to-super-bowl-success)

Last season in 2021, in the first 2 months of the season an NFL record was set with the number of games going down to a final play. (Link: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/13/nfl-has-record-number-of-games-going-down-to-final/)

According Vegas oddsmakers, almost 20% of all NFL games since 2003 were literally decided by the kicker. It’s why oddsmakers most often have a 3 pt margin set for set for most betting lines.

Last year in the divisional round of the playoffs, 3 of the 4 winning teams won their games with a game winning FG. That was an a new NFL record. (Link: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...h-kickers-dominate-divisional-round-showdowns

We should have/could have been 13-4 instead of 12-5 last year if Greg Zeurline didn’t miss an XP and chip shot FG vs Tampa Bay in that 31-30 loss on opening day. Frustrating.

This could go on….Can we all agree having a dependable K is critical if you’re serious about winning in the playoffs? Or even just to MAKE the playoffs.

I believe the Cowboys know this. But seems like the search for a better K has been going on since Dan Bailey lost his mojo a few years ago. Here’s hoping the team finds someone better than what we’ve settled for since Bailey left.

How important is an NFL kicker? Recent history says very important.

When we had good kickers (reliable), I feel like our strategy was to just get into FG position when scoring a TD wasn't necessarily needed. Maybe now with a better O-line we will have plays designed knowing we won't be able to count on 3 points.

JayFord · Aug 9, 2022

Having a quality kicker is the most important part of special teams

its the difference between your drives getting points and not

go on 12 play drive that covers 76 yards and you get stopped by a D that figured you out? cool lets get 3....but what happens if you get nothing?

JJHLH1 · Aug 9, 2022

Having a reliable kicker is huge.

Kickers can’t be trusted though, and I don’t necessarily blame the team for not investing in one since they can go sour quicker than any position.

Reid1boys · Aug 9, 2022

when games are often decided by a td or less.... it is extremely important to have a quality kicker.

john van brocklin · Aug 9, 2022

Bobhaze said:
In short: Very, very important. Here’s some evidence:

In 2019, a whopping 73% of NFL games were decided by a FG or less. Meaning nearly 3 of 4 games could have been decided by the guy who wasn’t drafted and played only a handful of plays each game. (Link: https://www.abc15.com/sports/super-...hought-but-they-are-key-to-super-bowl-success)

Last season in 2021, in the first 2 months of the season an NFL record was set with the number of games going down to a final play. (Link: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/13/nfl-has-record-number-of-games-going-down-to-final/)

According Vegas oddsmakers, almost 20% of all NFL games since 2003 were literally decided by the kicker. It’s why oddsmakers most often have a 3 pt margin set for set for most betting lines.

Last year in the divisional round of the playoffs, 3 of the 4 winning teams won their games with a game winning FG. That was an a new NFL record. (Link: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...h-kickers-dominate-divisional-round-showdowns

We should have/could have been 13-4 instead of 12-5 last year if Greg Zeurline didn’t miss an XP and chip shot FG vs Tampa Bay in that 31-30 loss on opening day. Frustrating.

This could go on….Can we all agree having a dependable K is critical if you’re serious about winning in the playoffs? Or even just to MAKE the playoffs.

I believe the Cowboys know this. But seems like the search for a better K has been going on since Dan Bailey lost his mojo a few years ago. Here’s hoping the team finds someone better than what we’ve settled for since Bailey left.

How important is an NFL kicker? Recent history says very important.

The Cowboys make head scratching decisions all the time.
This year its FG kicker and OL

75boyz · Aug 9, 2022

Norwood and Viniateri come to mind just off the top of my head for both bad and good in the biggest of moments.
A lot of the regular season NFL games are also separated by one play or come down to ONE play or game ending kick.
It sure does help to have that clutch kicker nowadays that you can depend on to do his job.
I have no idea what the FO is thinking now after having just went through a failed Zeuerlein experiment of 2021.

Maher already failed here once before.

Its mind boggling.

maryquality · Aug 9, 2022

A quality kicker is very important.

Outlaw Heroes · Aug 9, 2022

Salary cap numbers say 'not all that important.' It's not just the clowns in our FO that don't value kickers all that much. They're not valued much around the league, as evidenced by their relatively paltry earnings.

Bobhaze · Aug 9, 2022

Outlaw Heroes said:
Salary cap numbers say 'not all that important.' It's not just the clowns in our FO that don't value kickers all that much. They're not valued much around the league, as evidenced by their relatively paltry earnings.

I hear you but last year, the Cowboys actually paid K Greg Z. $2.8 million which was the 11th highest paid K in the NFL. We could certainly discuss whether that was a good investment or not but they have spent some cash in the past. Don’t know what they will end up paying the final K they go with this year.

Outlaw Heroes · Aug 9, 2022

Bobhaze said:
I hear you but last year, the Cowboys actually paid K Greg Z. $2.8 million which was the 11th highest paid K in the NFL. We could certainly discuss whether that was a good investment or not but they have spent some cash in the past. Don’t know what they will end up paying the final K they go with this year.

We'll see. The truth is that kickers are more or less interchangeable. It's not a position teams really worry about unless they have a terrible one. As long as he's average, most teams consider that good enough and won't go looking to spend big money for an upgrade. Right now, we're unclear on whether we even have an average kicker on the roster. But we probably do and there's a good chance that this won't be a big concern this season, apart from the occasional miss (or cluster of misses) that cause us to pull our hair out over most kickers most years.

Ranching · Aug 9, 2022

jnday said:
I can skip reading your thoughts on the situation. Jerry and Steven will be exposed for lies that only hurts the team.

Lol.. and you are still a fan? Lol!!!!!

Ranching · Aug 9, 2022

jnday said:
I can skip reading your thoughts on the situation. Jerry and Steven will be exposed for lies that only hurts the team.

I skip it because it's just stupidity to drum up some likes...

links18 · Aug 9, 2022

Kickers' job is so specialized that they kind of exist on a different plane than the rest of the team. You can have a great kicker and still stink overall, but if you want to win in the age of parity, you better have at least a competent kicker. It's not clear we even have that and we kind of just doubled down on risk by signing Maher.

Hadenough · Aug 9, 2022

Kickers are important but this team attempts too many field goals because of the inconsistencies at QB especially in the redzone.

PAPPYDOG · Aug 9, 2022

Ranching said:
I skip it because it's just stupidity to drum up some likes...

The 5th drink has kicked in...... :muttley:

Ranching · Aug 9, 2022

PAPPYDOG said:
The 5th drink has kicked in......

More like 15th....I'm a big man...

acr731 · Aug 9, 2022

Get a good QB and offense who can put the ball in the endzone on a more consistent basis and the kicker is a little less important.

CFZ How important is it to have a quality kicker?

Bobhaze

jnday

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Hawkeye19

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Doomsday77

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JayFord

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JJHLH1

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Reid1boys

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john van brocklin

Captain Comeback

75boyz

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maryquality

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Outlaw Heroes

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Bobhaze

Outlaw Heroes

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Ranching

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Ranching

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links18

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Hadenough

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PAPPYDOG

There are no Dak haters just Cowboy lovers!!!

Ranching

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acr731

Jerry learned to GM from Pee Wee Herman