Dan Bailey's accuracy

[JD_KaPow]

It would be interesting to know the peak accuracy of some of the past kickers. I assume that most of them trailed off at the end of their careers.

This is only season-by-season, but it looks like the highest non-Bailey peak is Vanderjagt after 2003 (his perfect season), when his percentage stood at 87.9%. The only other guy who's ever been over 87% at the end of a season is Nate Kaeding, who stood at 87.2% after his 6th season.

Both these guys serve as cautionary tales. We lived through what happened to Vanderjagt. Kaeding had one more just-okay season and then injuries ended his career. Here's hoping Bailey has some Morten Andersen in him.

 

[DeaconMoss]

You guys kill me. This is something you enjoy but never talk about. It's like your driver off the tee box. When you are hitting it long and straight, don't mention it and keep playing the game. As soon as you think about it or mention it, you duck hook one in the junk. Please leave money Bailey off your posts. Some things are better left unsaid.

 

[xwalker]

This is only season-by-season, but it looks like the highest non-Bailey peak is Vanderjagt after 2003 (his perfect season), when his percentage stood at 87.9%. The only other guy who's ever been over 87% at the end of a season is Nate Kaeding, who stood at 87.2% after his 6th season.

Both these guys serve as cautionary tales. We lived through what happened to Vanderjagt. Kaeding had one more just-okay season and then injuries ended his career. Here's hoping Bailey has some Morten Andersen in him.

I thought it was career numbers...

Some of the comparison numbers that Adam referenced where career numbers, not single season numbers.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I thought it was career numbers...

Some of the comparison numbers that Adam referenced where career numbers, not single season numbers.

Sorry, I was unclear. The numbers I posted were accuracy from the beginning of the kicker's career through his nth season. So, they're "career up to that point", not individual seasons (the peak for an individual season is 100%).

 

[xwalker]

Sorry, I was unclear. The numbers I posted were accuracy from the beginning of the kicker's career through his nth season. So, they're "career up to that point", not individual seasons (the peak for an individual season is 100%).

OK, that's what I thought originally.

I assume that most kickers had a higher career percentage at some point before their final game and final career percentage.

 

[Zordon]

You guys kill me. This is something you enjoy but never talk about. It's like your driver off the tee box. When you are hitting it long and straight, don't mention it and keep playing the game. As soon as you think about it or mention it, you duck hook one in the junk. Please leave money Bailey off your posts. Some things are better left unsaid.

This. Surprised thread hasn't been locked.

 

[percyhoward]

I swear, they could change the goal posts to be four feet wide, and Bailey would still be at 75 percent.

git'er dun, jerruh

 

[Red Dragon]

You guys kill me. This is something you enjoy but never talk about. It's like your driver off the tee box. When you are hitting it long and straight, don't mention it and keep playing the game. As soon as you think about it or mention it, you duck hook one in the junk. Please leave money Bailey off your posts. Some things are better left unsaid.

Do you really think our posts here in the Zone affect Bailey's accuracy?

 

[joseephuss]

It would be interesting to know the peak accuracy of some of the past kickers. I assume that most of them trailed off at the end of their careers.

Vanderjagt didn't get started until he was 28 years old. He was a 86.% for his career total and 87.5 % just for Indy. His last season in Indy he hit 92% and then came to Dallas and hit 72.2% during his one partial season.

Some of Matt Bryant's best seasons have been during his mid 30s. Same with Matt Stover and Adam Vinitieri.

The whole process field goal kicking is much better now than in the way back. The snaps, the holds and of course the kicks. The stadiums also play a part. A few of the newer outdoor stadiums seem to be influenced less by the wind as many of the open aired stadiums of the past were. The turf also seems to be in better condition in today's NFL. All of these things contribute to more consistent kicking.

 

[jrumann59]

I've always thought he was solid at field goals, but I did question his ability to handle kickoffs. He has come a long way in that area since entering the league. Nothing needs to be said about his field goals.

His kickoffs are pretty inconsistent and it is not game to game but kickoff to kickoff. Sometimes he is out of the endzone, sometimes mostly out of the endzone and then he hits one about 5 yards deep.

 

[Doomsday101]

When you need 3 just call D-Money the man does not miss.

 

[WoodysGirl]

His kickoffs are pretty inconsistent and it is not game to game but kickoff to kickoff. Sometimes he is out of the endzone, sometimes mostly out of the endzone and then he hits one about 5 yards deep.

But at least they get to the end zone. I don't believe he always got them there, at first.

 

[jrumann59]

It would be interesting to know the peak accuracy of some of the past kickers. I assume that most of them trailed off at the end of their careers.

I do not think accuracy goes but I think distance does. I sort of view kickers as MLB pitchers, early on some may rely on accuracy or leg strength but as they get older they learn their craft and bring it all together and in the twilight of their careers they may not be able bring it from way out but can hit it to a spot majority of the time.

 

[jrumann59]

But at least they get to the end zone. I don't believe he always got them there, at first.

yes his early career he was hit ot miss to the endzone at all but I think the rule change to the return game, by moving up kickoffs, has helped him a great bit.

 

[DallasEast]

Hopes.

I hope Dan Bailey has a long fruitful career.

I hope all or most of his career will be in Dallas.

I hope he will have opportunities to kick in conference and Super Bowl championships.

And I hope to live long enough to see how long it will take for Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors to enshrine him if those hopes hold true. Jan Stenerud was inducted on the first or second ballot I think. If Bailey's success exceeds Stenerud's and he does not get into the Hall on the first or second year of eligibility, it will be another case of bias towards ex-Cowboys players. That would be extremely pitiful (again).

 

[Direwolf63]

Dan Bailey = https://encrypted-tbn1.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRoAKL956GQyFMIIA4ucJzKXvJXHy28Qbq3IaaW0g7JoqV9zjI5

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

that is why I was shocked he missed the potential winner against Houston but knew he would not miss the next one

he is pure money

 

[AdamJT13]

It would be interesting to know the peak accuracy of some of the past kickers. I assume that most of them trailed off at the end of their careers.

Taking the last one, two or three seasons off any kicker's career still doesn't put anyone else over 90 percent. And neither does taking the first one, two or three seasons off anyone's career.

It's the young kickers who don't have enough field goals to qualify yet who are the ones who might challenge Bailey. The two biggest threats are the Ravens' Justin Tucker (90.2 percent), who needs to make 17 more kicks to qualify, and the Vikings' Blair Walsh (89.3), who needs 25 more. And of course, Bailey needs to keep his percentage up there to stay on top.

 

[perrykemp]

If he continues this pace does anyone think he gets in the HOF?

If he plays 12-14 years and ends up hitting the same percentage he has hit up to now.... I say he has a chance.

Kicking has evolved greatly in the past couple of years. As an example there are 12 kickers kicking at 90%+ rates this year and 4 kickers who have kicked 100% so far.

Bailey's 91% career average is incredible, however, there is a whole need breed of kickers out there that are making this look too easy.

Frankly, that's why there have been rumblings about changing the kicking game (FGs) in recent years. FGs are becoming too automatic.

 

[perrykemp]

Sebastian Janikowski is a 79.9% kicker for his career. He has had one single season where he converted over 90%. That was in 2012 when he converted 91.2%, which is the same as Bailey's career percentage.

Mason Crosby, whose name often came up on this site as someone Dallas should have drafted has never converted 90% of his FGs in a single season. His career average is 79.1%.

Crosby is an example of this spike in kicking accuracy that has been seen across the league the last couple of years. From 2007 - 2012 Crosby vacillated between mediocre and horrifying (63% in 2012) and since then his average has spiked to 89.1% the last two years.

When cruddy kickers like Crosby are basically hitting 90%, it does make you question whether the critics that claim FGs made to be made more difficult (in some way that isn't clear to me) are right that something needs to change.