DC.COM: Blog: Can The Cowboys Afford To Keep Two Kickers?

[Cbz40]

Can The Cowboys Afford To Keep Two Kickers?
Posted by rphillips at 4/30/2009 4:23 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com


[FONT=verdana,geneva]The Cowboys' 2009 draft class and rookie free agents are trickling into Valley Ranch this afternoon for their physicals on the eve of a three-day rookie mini-camp. Of the 20-player group, USC kicker David Beuhler might be the most intriguing prospect.[/FONT]
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The Cowboys have no complaints about Nick Folk's career 86.8 field-goal percentage, but they drafted Beuhler as a potential kickoff specialist/special teams player. In addition to his powerful leg, they like his athleticism; he originally was recruited as a safety coming out of high school and outlifted 27 offensive linemen at the NFL scouting combine in February.


[FONT=verdana,geneva]Carrying two kickers is a luxury. Bill Parcells kept Mike Vanderjagt and Shaun Suisham for four games in 2006 and it drove him crazy. He would've rather kept another backup/special teams player with that 53rd roster spot. [/FONT]The difference here is, the Cowboys think Beuhler might be athletic enough to do more than kick off.



I asked head coach Wade Phillips if he could afford to keep three quarterbacks (Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, presumably fourth-round pick Stephen McGee) and two kickers on his 53-man roster if he ends preseason with some injury problems at other positions. He said the Cowboys discussed that scenario before the draft, knowing full well they'd likely keep their rookie quarterback on the 53 as a developmental player and not risk placing him through waivers en route to the practice squad. So they would've have taken Beuhler in the fifth round without confidence he could fit somewhere.


Phillips recalls the Broncos signing Brad Daluiso as a kickoff specialist during his time in Denver. Asked about Beuhler's kickoffs, he said, "This kid is far better than anyone we've seen in a long time. He consistently kicks it from the 30 into the end zone and sometimes deep into the end zone. It gives you a chance. I think we can do it."


-Rob Phillips

 

[5Stars]

A really stupid question from a stupid Cowboy fan.


Is it really hurting the team as a whole by just keeping ONE guy on the active 53?

I mean, just one guy out of all the others?

I just don't understand how keeping one guy instead of another player active would really hurt?

 

[Cbz40]

A really stupid question from a stupid Cowboy fan.


Is it really hurting the team as a whole by just keeping ONE guy on the active 53?

I mean, just one guy out of all the others?

I just don't understand how keeping one guy instead of another player active would really hurt?

You and me both Mr 5 Stars.

 

[Woods]

I'd bet this is one of the big reasons the Cowboys wanted to draft Unger - other than Unger is a very good prospect in his own right.

Unger could have possibly played OG, OT (probably RT), and obviously Center. We could have gone with 9 OL and had 1-2 guys on the PS, just in case.

Frankly said, Unger could have replaced both Berger and C Proctor.

With Brewster, he should hopefully be able to play both OG and RT. I'd guess that McQuisten is really going to have to show something to keep a roster spot.

Finally, we may only keep 5 WRs on the roster this year as well, and that could potentially help the numbers too.

 

[5Stars]

You and me both Mr 5 Stars.

I just don't get it at all.

For example...let's say a team keeps all the 53 except one guy (like this kicker dude)...but all through the game, some of those players that are active never play? Not even one snap!

I know it might be because of an injury to an important position, but how often does that ever happen?

I'm corn-fused!

 

[Cbz40]

I'd bet this is one of the big reasons the Cowboys wanted to draft Unger - other than Unger is a very good prospect in his own right.

Unger could have possibly played OG, OT (probably RT), and obviously Center. We could have gone with 9 OL and had 1-2 guys on the PS, just in case.

Frankly said, Unger could have replaced both Berger and C Proctor.

With Brewster, he should hopefully be able to play both OG and RT. I'd guess that McQuisten is really going to have to show something to keep a roster spot.

Finally, we may only keep 5 WRs on the roster this year as well, and that could potentially help the numbers too.

I would say you make a very good point...It's a shame we missed out on Unger.

Keeping only 5 WRs is a good possibility.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

A really stupid question from a stupid Cowboy fan.


Is it really hurting the team as a whole by just keeping ONE guy on the active 53?

I mean, just one guy out of all the others?

I just don't understand how keeping one guy instead of another player active would really hurt?

I think it all goes back to Parcells' agonizing over that last gameday spot. Plenty of coaches have done this over the years... Dan Reeves among them.

 

[5Stars]

I think it all goes back to Parcells' agonizing over that last gameday spot. Plenty of coaches have done this over the years... Dan Reeves among them.

Maybe you are right...

Does anyone really think that if the Cowboys trotted out 52 players on game day that they could not win a game?

I just don't get the philosophy, but then again, I never played the game.

 

[Sarge]

Once Beuhler starts kicking the ball outta endzone and putting the oppostion on the 20 yard line every single time, people will forget real quick that he's taking up a roster spot. All one really has to do is reflect back to last year and realize just how ****ty our special teams were. This will resolve a lot of the problem in that regard.

 

[5Stars]

Once Beuhler starts kicking the ball outta endzone and putting the oppostion on the 20 yard line every single time, people will forget real quick that he's taking up a roster spot. All one really has to do is reflect back to last year and realize just how ****ty our special teams were. This will resolve a lot of the problem in that regard.

I think you are right, Sarge! Plus, he will stick his head in there to make a tackle, not just sit back and wiff on a return man.

Who was that Mexican kicker that the Boyz had that did the same thing? The kicker that Larry Allen jacked up in one game? I forget his name...but he was not afraid to get into the mix...even if he sucked!

:laugh2:

 

[ethiostar]

Game day active roster is 45 players, i thought. Not that it makes much difference to the discussion here.

 

[junk]

Maybe you are right...

Does anyone really think that if the Cowboys trotted out 52 players on game day that they could not win a game?

I just don't get the philosophy, but then again, I never played the game.

There's more to it than that. You only have 53 roster spots. If you keep 2 kickers, you limit the number of developmental players you can keep on your active roster.

That means you could potentially miss out on the Romos, Craytons and Austins of the world. It means you could lose another Matt Moore.

With 12 draft picks that they hope to develop, those roster spots are at even more of a premium.

 

[guag]

Once Beuhler starts kicking the ball outta endzone and putting the oppostion on the 20 yard line every single time, people will forget real quick that he's taking up a roster spot. All one really has to do is reflect back to last year and realize just how ****ty our special teams were. This will resolve a lot of the problem in that regard.

Not to mention that if he's able to help out in other areas of special teams, such as the punt team in some capacity (since he can tackle apparently), he wouldn't really be wasting a roster spot after all.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I wonder if Bueller has good enough hands to hold for FGs? Imagine if he'd been holding in the Seattle game when Tony dropped the snap... He'd have blown that Seattle safety into next week.

Of course, Bueller would've just picked up the ball himself, kicked every Seahawk out of the way, and walked in for the TD.

 

[tomson75]

Of course, Bueller would've just picked up the ball himself, kicked every Seahawk out of the way, and walked in for the TD.

I already love this guy.

The Buehler/Norris references are going to be ample for months to come.

 

[Woods]

I already love this guy.

The Buehler/Norris references are going to be ample for months to come.

We may need to sticky a Buehler/Norris reference thread for this coming season.

 

[speedkilz88]

There's more to it than that. You only have 53 roster spots. If you keep 2 kickers, you limit the number of developmental players you can keep on your active roster.

That means you could potentially miss out on the Romos, Craytons and Austins of the world. It means you could lose another Matt Moore.

With 12 draft picks that they hope to develop, those roster spots are at even more of a premium.

Crayton actually started out on the practice squad. Romo and Moore are also bad examples since they are keeping 3 qbs this year anyway. The Austin one makes sense but there will still be another seven inactive spots to redshirt someone with talent. There are always going to be judgment calls at the end of the roster no matter what.

 

[5Stars]

Game day active roster is 45 players, i thought. Not that it makes much difference to the discussion here.

:laugh2:

I told you I was stupid!

But yeah...what difference does it make?


If the Cowboys trot out 44 players on game day, does that mean they will lose the game? I just don't get it...as evidenced by my posts!

:laugh2:

 

[Cbz40]

:laugh2:

I told you I was stupid!

But yeah...what difference does it make?


If the Cowboys trot out 44 players on game day, does that mean they will lose the game? I just don't get it...as evidenced by my posts!

:laugh2:

Hey! Your not so stupid......we trotted out 43 players on game day on several occasions last season.

 

[5Stars]

There's more to it than that. You only have 53 roster spots. If you keep 2 kickers, you limit the number of developmental players you can keep on your active roster.

That means you could potentially miss out on the Romos, Craytons and Austins of the world. It means you could lose another Matt Moore.

With 12 draft picks that they hope to develop, those roster spots are at even more of a premium.

Sweet post...

I never considered that!

But, then again, sometimes players on the active roster on game day never see a snap?



Teach me here...because it makes no sense to me.