OFFICIAL Kicker Stats

[MilesHigh]

Ok... I've spent the last hour going through EVERY live chat from practice and gathering data to see which Kicker was doing better. Bad news, they're pretty much neck and neck. I did also credit Buehler for his 1 FG during the Broncos game, and as I go on I will continue to keep track...

I don't know if I was the only one wondering or not, but even if I was, my question is now answered...

In the last two practices it's been advantage Buehler. Hopefully Buehler can grind it out and use this competition for the better. Who knows what Kai Forbath has in the tank. Kai was only 85% in his last year in College.

***There was one FG that Bailey hit in the 40 range that was unclear. Refs called it "good" but Tim MacMahon and others said they didn't think it would be good, due to the fact that the team was using a make shift goal post (pvc). I did give him credit, however, but that is something to think about. With that miss he would be 33 of 43 bringing his percentage to 76.74%

 

[Hoofbite]

Buehler getting just good enough right now and bailey doing just bad enough that this competition will not provide any sort of kicker that I will have faith in.

 

[MilesHigh]

I personally love Buehler and hope that he evens out over the next practices and pre-season games.

 

[ThreeandOut]

Even if Buehler doesn't win the job as the field goal kicker, I think he will stay on as a kickoff specialist. He likely gets a spot that would go to one of the core special teams players likely Holley or McCray.

With the kick off now at the 35 yard line, he's going to largely make the kick coverage unit obsolete. On those rare occasions where a kick off is returned, Buehler is a pretty good at making the tackle himself. You could also use him on other special teams units like he was used his rookie year.

 

[MilesHigh]

Even if Buehler doesn't win the job as the field goal kicker, I think he will stay on as a kickoff specialist. He likely gets a spot that would go to one of the core special teams players likely Holley or McCray.

With the kick off now at the 35 yard line, he's going to largely make the kick coverage unit obsolete. On those rare occasions where a kick off is returned, Buehler is a pretty good at making the tackle himself. You could also use him on other special teams units like he was used his rookie year.

Which makes sense, because I asked Tim MacMahon about the new KO rules. I asked him since there is a lesser need of special teamers, do you use their spots for depth? He said it's very likely that Joe D doesn't get to keep McCray AND Holley.

 

[tomson75]

From todays practice report:

Undrafted rookie free agent kicker Dan Bailey (Oklahoma State) had his worst day of camp. He was 1-for-4 on field goal attempts. He made a 29-yarder but proceeded to miss from 34, 39 and 44 yards. Meanwhile, starter David Buehler was 3-for-4. His 34-yarder was wide right. Overall, Buehler is now 35-for-49 in camp and Bailey is 37-for-46.

 

[MilesHigh]

They must've had a few kicks in practice they didn't talk about in the live chat. He also, likely, didn't credit Buehler for the Broncos FG.
Honestly, though, I don't think those numbers are correct. I sent mine to Tim MacMahon, he said good work, dunno if he knows the true numbers.

 

[durrrr]

Even if Buehler doesn't win the job as the field goal kicker, I think he will stay on as a kickoff specialist. He likely gets a spot that would go to one of the core special teams players likely Holley or McCray.

With the kick off now at the 35 yard line, he's going to largely make the kick coverage unit obsolete. On those rare occasions where a kick off is returned, Buehler is a pretty good at making the tackle himself. You could also use him on other special teams units like he was used his rookie year.

I think that is pretty unlikely. The new kickoff rules diminish Buehler's value. Bailey is able to get touchbacks, so there's no real reason to carry Buehler as a kickoff specialist.

 

[MilesHigh]

I think that is pretty unlikely. The new kickoff rules diminish Buehler's value. Bailey is able to get touchbacks, so there's no real reason to carry Buehler as a kickoff specialist.

It actually doesn't, but we'll see if they keep him... especially since teams are now allowed to have 46 players on their game day roster instead of the old 45.

 

[RastaRocket]

Buehler getting just good enough right now and bailey doing just bad enough that this competition will not provide any sort of kicker that I will have faith in.

Yep this is what I am thinking.... I love Buehlers potential but it's starting to get annoying.

 

[JBS]

It actually doesn't, but we'll see if they keep him... especially since teams are now allowed to have 46 players on their game day roster instead of the old 45.

That doesn't change anything...seeing as how your #3 QB now eats up a roster spot..unless you want to risk going w 2qbs on Sunday and if they both go down, you are screwed

 

[RastaRocket]

I think that is pretty unlikely. The new kickoff rules diminish Buehler's value. Bailey is able to get touchbacks, so there's no real reason to carry Buehler as a kickoff specialist.

Also, kicking short of the end zone is almost better now.

 

[tomson75]

I think that is pretty unlikely. The new kickoff rules diminish Buehler's value. Bailey is able to get touchbacks, so there's no real reason to carry Buehler as a kickoff specialist.

That's debatable. I read here earlier that the touchback percentage before they changed it from the 35 to the 30 was something like 28%. Someone also posted the touchback percentage thus far in the preseason games, and it was around 34% IIRC.

There are a few kickers that have legs capable of becoming outliers in this category....Janikowski and Beuhler come to mind. I'd guess their percentages would be closer to 85-90%.

IMO, that would be hugely beneficial. Unless the rookie's leg is stronger than the average NFL kicker's....

I think it's quite obviously a misconception that we're seeing here.

 

[ThreeandOut]

I think that is pretty unlikely. The new kickoff rules diminish Buehler's value. Bailey is able to get touchbacks, so there's no real reason to carry Buehler as a kickoff specialist.

It depends on how frequently Bailey can get the touchback. If Bailey gets a touchback on 40% of his kicks but Buehler can get a touchback 70% of the time, then there is a real advantage keeping Buehler. I think there is still some question about Bailey's consistentcy on his kick offs.

 

[durrrr]

It actually doesn't, but we'll see if they keep him... especially since teams are now allowed to have 46 players on their game day roster instead of the old 45.

It actually doesn't what? Diminish Buehler's value? How do you figure?

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Ok... I've spent the last hour going through EVERY live chat from practice and gathering data to see which Kicker was doing better. Bad news, they're pretty much neck and neck. I did also credit Buehler for his 1 FG during the Broncos game, and as I go on I will continue to keep track...

I don't know if I was the only one wondering or not, but even if I was, my question is now answered...

In the last two practices it's been advantage Buehler. Hopefully Buehler can grind it out and use this competition for the better. Who knows what Kai Forbath has in the tank. Kai was only 85% in his last year in College.

***There was one FG that Bailey hit in the 40 range that was unclear. Refs called it "good" but Tim MacMahon and others said they didn't think it would be good, due to the fact that the team was using a make shift goal post (pvc). I did give him credit, however, but that is something to think about. With that miss he would be 33 of 43 bringing his percentage to 76.74%

Your last column pretty much says who's the frontrunner.

 

[Hoofbite]

That's debatable. I read here earlier that the touchback percentage before they changed it from the 35 to the 30 was something like 28%. Someone also posted the touchback percentage thus far in the preseason games, and it was around 34% IIRC.

There are a few kickers that have legs capable of becoming outliers in this category....Janikowski and Beuhler come to mind. I'd guess their percentages would be closer to 85-90%.

IMO, that would be hugely beneficial. Unless the rookie's leg is stronger than the average NFL kicker's....

I think it's quite obviously a misconception that we're seeing here.

I don't think you can accurately compare to previous days of 35 yard line kick offs.

Players are bigger, stronger and faster all around. Theres specialized kicking balls that just sit and wait to be hammered down field.

I actually think the number of kickers who can kick it deep is much greater than stats would lead anyone to believe.

Lets say there's a kicker who can kick 75 yards on a line but only he goes for some extra hang time and kicks the ball 68. He's probably not gonna get a bunch of touchbacks.

But from the 35 if he kicks it as far as he can regardless of hang time, he's putting it in the back of the endzone, if not through the endzone.

Even if the guy doesn't get all of it on the kick and gets it 2-3 yards deep on a line, the coverage team is still 5 yards closer than they have been and the return man isn't going to get as big of a return as he would have last year.

I think the number of kickers who have previously sacrificed distance for hang time is much, much larger than we have been thinking.

 

[speedkilz88]

Your last column pretty much says who's the frontrunner.

I think you've missed Bailey's slump. They aren't going keep him because of a hot start. He's been missing quite a bit lately.

 

[RastaRocket]

I think you've missed Bailey's slump. They aren't going keep him because of a hot start. He's been missing quite a bit lately.

Plus Buehler is the veteran with in game experience..... If it's anywhere near close he will be favored. I'd say it's pretty close right now.

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think you can accurately compare to previous days of 35 yard line kick offs.

Players are bigger, stronger and faster all around. Theres specialized kicking balls that just sit and wait to be hammered down field.

I actually think the number of kickers who can kick it deep is much greater than stats would lead anyone to believe.

Lets say there's a kicker who can kick 75 yards on a line but only he goes for some extra hang time and kicks the ball 68. He's probably not gonna get a bunch of touchbacks.

But from the 35 if he kicks it as far as he can regardless of hang time, he's putting it in the back of the endzone, if not through the endzone.

Even if the guy doesn't get all of it on the kick and gets it 2-3 yards deep on a line, the coverage team is still 5 yards closer than they have been and the return man isn't going to get as big of a return as he would have last year.

I think the number of kickers who have previously sacrificed distance for hang time is much, much larger than we have thinking.

This is the part you are getting it wrong. Coaches don't want to ever see line drive kicks. Because it increases the chances of a big return which they want to avoid at all costs. DeCamillis has even said in interviews it's his goal hang the ball up high and to the goal-line so that they can stop the returner inside the 15.