CFZ How important is it to have a quality kicker?

CowboyRoy · 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.

Its HUGE in my book. Great kicker can win you 2 or 3 games every year and is big in the playoffs more than anything.

Without McPherson Cincy doenst get past the first round.

Cmac · Aug 9, 2022

Flamma · Aug 9, 2022

It's great to have a good kicker. But I never once thought any of our seasons were going to be determined by a kicker. I don't even remember the names of our kickers back in the 90s. If you have a legit contender, it's not because of the kicker.

Yes, a bad kicker can screw up a game, but so can great kickers as seen in the 1998 NFC championship game, and the 2005 AFC Divisional playoff game.

I'll take a kicker that hits 70% on a contender, than a kicker that doesn't miss on an average team any day of the week.

glimmerman · 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.

We have had several games of losing by a FG or XP. Or both. The bucs game last year. We played well but missed simple kicks. These missed XP are killers. They moved the attempt back and all teams have a problem. I don’t see it changing. No longer a chip shot. It puts more importance on a consistent kicker..

eromeopolk · 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.

Go ask the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots how important is a place kicker?

Then go ask Jimmy Johnson how important to the 1993 season was Eddie Murray.

ondaedg · Aug 9, 2022

Nothing more deflating for an offense than to drive the ball downfield and the kicker misses a makeable kick.

thunderpimp91 · Aug 9, 2022

Having a great kicker isn't a big deal until you don't have one...

Flamma · Aug 9, 2022

ondaedg said:
Nothing more deflating for an offense than to drive the ball downfield and the kicker misses a makeable kick.

It happened all the time in the 70s and 80s yet the best team still won the SB in most cases.

Bates · Aug 9, 2022

Flamma said:
It happened all the time in the 70s and 80s yet the best team still won the SB in most cases.

Yeah, my first thought would be that’s because of the disparity back then, but I don’t have anything to back that up. I wonder if games are closer today then back then. I would think so due to parity. I’d look it up but feeling lazy right now.

nightrain · Aug 9, 2022

I seem to recall poor kicking costing the Cowboys a game or two or three last year.

goshann · 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.

agree but I don’t think we win the Tampa game if he makes those. Brady would have just scored more

ghst187 · Aug 9, 2022

Let’s ask Cincinnati last year, Buffalo Bills in 1991/92…

Flamma · Aug 9, 2022

Bates said:
Yeah, my first thought would be that’s because of the disparity back then, but I don’t have anything to back that up. I wonder if games are closer today then back then. I would think so due to parity. I’d look it up but feeling lazy right now.

The better teams are still going to win today, regardless of kicker. In most cases, if not the best team, the second best team. I used the 1998 NFC championship game as an example. A Hall of Fame kicker missed what would have sealed their trip to a SB. Any kicker can miss in big moments. Worry about the roster, not the kicker.

Bates · Aug 9, 2022

Flamma said:
The better teams are still going to win today, regardless of kicker. In most cases, if not the best team, the second best team. I used the 1998 NFC championship game as an example. A Hall of Fame kicker missed what would have sealed their trip to a SB. Any kicker can miss in big moments. Worry about the roster, not the kicker.

That seems to be the approach most teams take.

LifetimeBoysFan · Aug 9, 2022

Kicking game is vital. I think it is one of the most taken for granted positions there is. Esepcially when you have a solid run for years with consistency and are spoiled with more makes than misses and are winning games by comfortable margins regularly. Don’t ever under estimate the kicker either, am I right Dan Marino? They’ll never forgive or forget a bad hold.

big dog cowboy · Aug 9, 2022

Bobhaze said:
How important is it to have a quality kicker?

Buzzbait · Aug 9, 2022

goshann said:
agree but I don’t think we win the Tampa game if he makes those. Brady would have just scored more

Maybe, but I'd like to have put it to the test anyway.

Croomraider · Aug 9, 2022

I was on the board hoping we'd get Evan Mcpherson (super bowl year 1).
Cowboys took Josh Ball #138.
Evan Mcpherson went pick #149 in the 2021 draft.

People in the Dallas organization should be fired over not drafting kickers, end of story!

FVSTONE · 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.

How important is to have a quality QB? I rest my case...............

Havic · Aug 9, 2022

acr731 said:
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.

Yes, but when the playoffs come, these games are close and you cannot afford to not put points on the board with your kicker.

CFZ How important is it to have a quality kicker?

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