RustyBourneHorse
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Like many of you, I was unimpressed with K Brett Maher last year. Yes, he showed a strong leg, but accuracy....not so much. I also must say that I'm quite bothered that competition for him hasn't arrived yet. So, I took on the task of looking for talent at kicker.
As I often do, I like to look internationally for talent that can help the Cowboys, as well as domestically. One of my favourite international leagues (as I've made known) is the Japanese X-League. Well, I just happen to have found on YouTube a kicker from Osaka, Japan who currently plays for the Elecom Kobe Finies. He went to Osaka University where he was a kicker. Here's a profile of him: https://profile.ameba.jp/ameba/takeru-yamasaki
So, here's a video of him:
As you can see, he's got a rocket of a leg. How often did we complain last year about Maher's inability to get a touchback? Well, as you can see, several of Yamasaki's kickoffs, including at a combine that he went to, were touchbacks. Additionally, you'll find that his field goals are very strong. He made one in the video from 64 at about the 5:10 mark of the video.The kick looked to me like it could've been just good from about 70. I seem to recall that the big reason that Maher made the team over Bailey was the 60 yard kick he put in against Houston and later against Philly. Yet, Yamasaki's video shows to me that he's got an even bigger leg. I think the video shows that Yamasaki deserves an invite to minicamps and training camp. I think he'll be very good competition for Maher. Personally, I think Yamasaki would unseat Maher.
As I often do, I like to look internationally for talent that can help the Cowboys, as well as domestically. One of my favourite international leagues (as I've made known) is the Japanese X-League. Well, I just happen to have found on YouTube a kicker from Osaka, Japan who currently plays for the Elecom Kobe Finies. He went to Osaka University where he was a kicker. Here's a profile of him: https://profile.ameba.jp/ameba/takeru-yamasaki
So, here's a video of him:
As you can see, he's got a rocket of a leg. How often did we complain last year about Maher's inability to get a touchback? Well, as you can see, several of Yamasaki's kickoffs, including at a combine that he went to, were touchbacks. Additionally, you'll find that his field goals are very strong. He made one in the video from 64 at about the 5:10 mark of the video.The kick looked to me like it could've been just good from about 70. I seem to recall that the big reason that Maher made the team over Bailey was the 60 yard kick he put in against Houston and later against Philly. Yet, Yamasaki's video shows to me that he's got an even bigger leg. I think the video shows that Yamasaki deserves an invite to minicamps and training camp. I think he'll be very good competition for Maher. Personally, I think Yamasaki would unseat Maher.
