Devil's Advocate - 45th Man

[Shinywalrus]

Look, I vomited in my mouth a little at the David Buehler pick. It might have been the Brats and Beer, but it might also have been the shock of seeing Cowboys Selection followed by the letter "K".

But I'm having trouble finding a justifiable reason for not drafting a kickoff specialist and keeping him on the 45-man roster. So I'm begging someone, for my sanity, tell me who else we could keep on the 45-man that would add 700+ total yards of field position for us.

Nick Folk averaged a gross kickoff of 60 yards last year. Buehler averaged 68. In addition, Bueher achieved a touchback rate of 54.55% - as a result, the chances of a touchdown return would be reduced dramatically, and the net return differential between the two would be almost certainly higher. Let's assume that that only adds a yard to Buehler's net kickoff superiority, just to be conservative.

If the Cowboys kick off 80 times next season and average 9 yards of additional field position per kickoff, we've just added 720 yards.

Remembering, of course, that I'm as sick about this pick psychologically as everyone else, can someone tell me how Stanback, Berger, Ball or Brown is going to do this for us?

Barring an answer, I might have to choose not to hate the pick.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Psst...It's a 53 man roster.

Oh, you mean a game day roster...

Sorry.

 

[adamknite]

Psst...It's a 53 man roster.

psst, you can only suit up 45 on gameday.

 

[InDakWeTrust]

Only 45 dress each Sunday....

 

[Smith22]

Psst...It's a 53 man roster.

I'm pretty sure he was reffering to the 45 man game day roster.

 

[swj010]

Look, I vomited in my mouth a little at the David Buehler pick. It might have been the Brats and Beer, but it might also have been the shock of seeing Cowboys Selection followed by the letter "K".

But I'm having trouble finding a justifiable reason for not drafting a kickoff specialist and keeping him on the 45-man roster. So I'm begging someone, for my sanity, tell me who else we could keep on the 45-man that would add 700+ total yards of field position for us.

Nick Folk averaged a gross kickoff of 60 yards last year. Buehler averaged 68. In addition, Bueher achieved a touchback rate of 54.55% - as a result, the chances of a touchdown return would be reduced dramatically, and the net return differential between the two would be almost certainly higher. Let's assume that that only adds a yard to Buehler's net kickoff superiority, just to be conservative.

If the Cowboys kick off 80 times next season and average 9 yards of additional field position per kickoff, we've just added 720 yards.

Remembering, of course, that I'm as sick about this pick psychologically as everyone else, can someone tell me how Stanback, Berger, Ball or Brown is going to do this for us?

Barring an answer, I might have to choose not to hate the pick.

He is not just a kicker. He is a punter and practiced as a postion player in 2 or 3 positions. He is a football player who can kick. The Cowboys also think he can play special teams on kick and punt coverage. If that works out, this is a brilliant pick. You get a kickoff specialist but do not have to waste a slot on game day if he can play special teams as well. Sure, there's a risk he will fail at special teams, but that's true of any draft pick. This is "outside the box" but has the potential for a big payoff. So, in the end, we not only gain the 720 additional yards from better kicking, we do so with someone who can also contribute on the return units.

 

[DBOY3141]

Berger went to Miami as a FA.

 

[CowboyMort]

Excellent post!

 

[links18]

Do they still kick-off from the 35 yard line in college? I honestly can't remember......:bang2:

 

[DasTex]

Do they still kick-off from the 35 yard line in college? I honestly can't remember......:bang2:

Yup - still the 35

 

[Shinywalrus]

Do they still kick-off from the 35 yard line in college? I honestly can't remember......:bang2:

Nope, moved to 30 before '07 season, I think.

 

[fortdick]

Buehler was brought in to keep the locker room in line. Anyone that gets to selfish or starts complaining they are getting the ball, Jerry sends Buehler in to straighten them out.

Buehler can kick Jackie Chan and Jett Li's butts.

 

[jterrell]

He is going to take Carlos Polk or Tra Battle's spot likely on gamedays. In another words he is still a special teams slot.

He is a coverage guy as well as a kick off specialist.

Plus if we did see an injury to Folk we'd have another kicker we trust on the roster.

5th round is high for a kicker but guys like Neil Rackers who went in r6 have provided years of to their team while about 35% of the 6th rounders are out of the league in 3 years. If the guy can cover kicks then he is a steal here. Pure special teams but a vital cog in that special teams play.

 

[AbeBeta]

He is not just a kicker. He is a punter and practiced as a postion player in 2 or 3 positions. He is a football player who can kick. The Cowboys also think he can play special teams on kick and punt coverage. If that works out, this is a brilliant pick. You get a kickoff specialist but do not have to waste a slot on game day if he can play special teams as well. Sure, there's a risk he will fail at special teams, but that's true of any draft pick. This is "outside the box" but has the potential for a big payoff. So, in the end, we not only gain the 720 additional yards from better kicking, we do so with someone who can also contribute on the return units.

You'd think he'd be on kick coverage, since he'd be, you know, kicking off

All this stuff is nice about him practicing at other positions is nice but the fact that he didn't actually play a position other than K/P in college suggests it is very unlikely he'd do so as a pro - unless you believe USC is deeper than the Cowboys.

 

[links18]

You'd think he'd be on kick coverage, since he'd be, you know, kicking off

All this stuff is nice about him practicing at other positions is nice but the fact that he didn't actually play a position other than K/P in college suggests it is very unlikely he'd do so as a pro - unless you believe USC is deeper than the Cowboys.

Hopefully he does a better job covering kicks than Folk did on that opening kick-off in the Arizona game last year. I am not against the concept of having a kick-off specialist, but I am still perplexed as to why McBriar can't be taught to kick-off or try long FGs?

 

[NeonNinja]

I think they mean how althletic he is that he will "help" on the kickoff coverage after the kick. I didn't like the pick but if we did have an injury to Folk like we had with Mcbriar then we are covered. And if he can get touchbacks all the better.

 

[AbeBeta]

I think they mean how althletic he is that he will "help" on the kickoff coverage after the kick. I didn't like the pick but if we did have an injury to Folk like we had with Mcbriar then we are covered. And if he can get touchbacks all the better.

Regardless, he's still the last line of defense on the kickoff, so the amount of "upgrade" he is not substantial in that area.

Personally, I have really mixed feeling on a KO specialist - Sure, if you've got a 40 year old kicker then go ahead but so many young guys come into the league being mediocre at kickoffs and develop later. so taking that away from Folk seems premature.

 

[31smackdown]

I'm all for the KO specialist, even if he can't do anything else besides tackle the kick returner if needed. From the video that I've seen this guy was landing kicks on the back line.. more than 5 yards deep in the endzone and they didn't look like line drives either.

When you look at the Cowboys draft I think they were thinking that their poor special teams performance, especially kick coverage, of last year combined with the new rules for the wedge required them to make a significant investment in ST. When you think about it, it makes great sense that if you can get a touchback even 30% of the time and make them return kicks from the goalline instead of the 10 yard line, it will significantly help your team and your defense. Offensive playcalling is much different at the 20 than it is at the 30 even, never mind the 35 yard line.

Does anyone have the stat on the avg. starting field position of cowboys opponents last year?

 

[Khartun]

I haven't seen what percentage of his kicks he made in school, but could it be that he is also an eventual replacement? If Folk keeps up kickin like he has, when his contract is out he will want big money. Jerry doesn't like to pay kickers so having someone in the wings isn't a bad thing.

 

[Sandyf]

Remember also the new rule change on kickoffs and punt returns. There can only be 2 guys in a wedge whereas before you had 3 to 5 guys in a wedge before so special teams play is going to change and speed will be essential.