2014 Redskins UDFAs

[McD5]

Forbath: 57 kickoffs, only 14 touch backs. 24%

24% also happens to be his career average.

Tops in the league last season? You guessed it, Graham Gano. 78%.

 

[Jimbo]

Jimbo, I recently came across the kicking stats on Forbath, and the kickoffs weren't pretty.

He was near the worst, if not the absolute worst in the league in terms of touch backs. Conversely, the kicker we brought in was near the top.

What's the easiest way to guarantee that no one ever returns a kickoff for a TD against us? Don't give them a chance.

The heat's on. Let the competition begin.

I certainly have no problem with competition at kicker. I'm not so sure you draft one just for competition sake, though. Hocker kicked off 151 times for an average of 66.6 yards per kick and 79 touchbacks. While the 79 touchbacks part is impressive, 66.6 yards per kick from the 35 yard line makes it sound like he's barely getting the ball into the endzone. I attended a couple Air Force games this past season and noticed any ball going 3 - 5 yards deep on a kickoff wasn't being returned because touchbacks were going to the 25 yard line whereas they only go to the 20 in the NFL. Perhaps that padded his stats, perhaps not.

While I would love more touchbacks, I don't want them coming at the expense of 3 points on the scoreboard. Kai seldom missed. We'd need to say the same for Hocker before I'm ready for a new kicker.

 

[Bulldog]

The Redskins suffered for years with kickers that had strong legs but could never master being consistent, clutch performers.

I would be leery of jettisoning Forbath unless he is clearly beaten out on FGs.

Ultimately, we could have Robert Malone kick off if that is what it takes.

I don't want to see a rookie Hocker make the team, kick the ball into the end zone regularly but then miss a 31 yard field goal on Monday night against Dallas.

If you go back to 2012 Kai was a key factor in a number of those 10 wins.

 

[Fear The Spear]

Yea I agree - consistency on FG's is far more important than consistency on Touchbacks.

 

[CounterTrey]

Add me to the consistency list. I think it's interesting that many of this year's draftees/signings have special teams expertise and history. Sounds like Gruden is once again putting a premium on ST in Washington which can only be a good thing.

 

[Bulldog]

Of course the devil's advocate retort about Forbath and the touchbacks is that if the Redskins had coverage teams that were worth a damn his landing balls at the 5 yard line wouldn't be such an issue.

Before they moved the ball up 5 yards NFL teams once upon a time actually had to defense kickoff returners once in awhile

 

[HOF44]

Kai seldom missed.

This was my recollection as well, but then I looked up the stats, Kai was bottom half of the NFL on field goal % last season. So the move makes more sense now.

Percentage Of Field Goals Made Leaders - Qualified

	FIELD GOALS	EXTRA POINTS
RK	PLAYER	TEAM	FGM	FGA	PCT	LNG	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	XPM	XPA	PCT
1	Matt Prater, PK	DEN	25	26	96.2	64	2-2	4-4	5-5	8-8	6-7	75	75	100.0
2	Steven Hauschka, PK	SEA	33	35	94.3	53	0-0	10-11	9-9	11-12	3-3	44	44	100.0
3	Shaun Suisham, PK	PIT	30	32	93.8	48	0-0	9-9	13-15	8-8	0-0	39	39	100.0
4	Dan Bailey, PK	DAL	28	30	93.3	53	2-2	2-2	8-9	10-10	6-7	47	47	100.0
5	Greg Zuerlein, PK	STL	26	28	92.9	54	0-0	7-7	10-10	8-9	1-2	34	34	100.0
6	Stephen Gostkowski, PK	NE	38	41	92.7	54	1-1	8-8	13-13	11-13	5-6	44	44	100.0
	Justin Tucker, PK	BAL	38	41	92.7	61	0-0	10-10	12-13	10-11	6-7	26	26	100.0
8	Josh Scobee, PK	JAX	23	25	92.0	55	0-0	3-3	12-12	4-5	4-5	22	23	95.7
9	Nick Novak, PK	SD	34	37	91.9	50	1-1	9-9	13-16	9-9	2-2	42	42	100.0
10	Nick Folk, PK	NYJ	33	36	91.7	54	0-0	8-8	10-11	12-14	3-3	27	27	100.0
	FIELD GOALS	EXTRA POINTS
RK	PLAYER	TEAM	FGM	FGA	PCT	LNG	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	XPM	XPA	PCT
	Dan Carpenter, PK	BUF	33	36	91.7	55	0-0	13-13	6-6	10-11	4-6	32	32	100.0
12	Robbie Gould, PK	CHI	26	29	89.7	58	0-0	11-11	6-7	6-7	3-4	45	46	97.8
13	Mason Crosby, PK	GB	33	37	89.2	57	1-1	13-13	8-8	6-8	5-7	42	42	100.0
14	Phil Dawson, PK	SF	32	36	88.9	56	0-0	12-13	6-6	10-11	4-6	44	44	100.0
	Matt Bryant, PK	ATL	24	27	88.9	53	0-0	9-9	7-8	5-5	3-5	39	39	100.0
	Graham Gano, PK	CAR	24	27	88.9	55	0-0	9-9	4-5	5-7	6-6	42	42	100.0
17	Josh Brown, PK	NYG	23	26	88.5	52	0-0	8-8	7-8	7-8	1-2	31	31	100.0
18	Adam Vinatieri, PK	IND	35	40	87.5	52	0-0	6-6	10-11	15-17	4-6	34	34	100.0
19	Blair Walsh, PK	MIN	26	30	86.7	54	0-0	7-7	12-12	5-6	2-5	43	44	97.7
20	Rob Bironas, PK	TEN	25	29	86.2	55	0-0	10-10	8-9	5-7	2-3	41	41	100.0
	FIELD GOALS	EXTRA POINTS
RK	PLAYER	TEAM	FGM	FGA	PCT	LNG	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	XPM	XPA	PCT
21	Jay Feely, PK	ARI	30	36	83.3	52	0-0	9-11	7-8	11-12	3-5	37	37	100.0
22	Alex Henery, PK	PHI	23	28	82.1	51	0-0	8-8	7-8	7-10	1-2	45	45	100.0
23	Mike Nugent, PK	CIN	18	22	81.8	54	0-0	2-2	6-7	7-9	3-4	52	53	98.1
	Kai Forbath, PK	WSH	18	22	81.8	50	0-0	3-4	10-10	4-6	1-2	26	26	100.0
25	Billy Cundiff, PK	CLE	21	26	80.8	51	0-0	7-7	5-6	7-9	2-4	32	32	100.0
26	Rian Lindell, PK	TB	23	29	79.3	54	0-0	3-3	12-14	4-6	4-6	31	31	100.0
27	David Akers, PK	DET	19	24	79.2	53	1-1	5-5	6-8	4-7	3-3	42	43	97.7
28	Ryan Succop, PK	KC	22	28	78.6	51	0-0	6-6	9-10	6-8	1-4	52	52	100.0
29	Caleb Sturgis, PK	MIA	26	34	76.5	54	1-1	4-4	10-12	8-10	3-7	33	33	100.0
30	Randy Bullock, PK	HOU	26	35	74.3	51	1-1	7-7	5-5	12-17	1-5	26	26	100.0
	FIELD GOALS	EXTRA POINTS
RK	PLAYER	TEAM	FGM	FGA	PCT	LNG	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	XPM	XPA	PCT
31	Garrett Hartley, PK	NO	22	30	73.3	55	2-2	5-6	5-8	9-13	1-1	41	41	100.0
32	Sebastian Janikowski, PK	OAK	21	30	70.0	53	0-0	6-6	4-6	8-11	3-7	37	37	100.

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[Fear The Spear]

Another advantage to this "kid" they drafted, is he can also punt.
That could be significant, if he could back up our punter, and do a decent job of filling in, due to an emergency.

 

[Bulldog]

When you run down that list of NFL kickers so many have come through here.

Worries me about giving up on Forbath too soon.

Akers, Suisham, Novak, Gano, Nugent were all here.

So was Cundiff but he was awful as he still evidently is

 

[Boone]

I hope they are just 'motivating' Forbath. He was great his rookie season on FGs and while he needs to improve on touchbacks, I like him a lot. The new kid Hockers does not have 'wow' stats - so I'm honestly not sure why he's an automatic upgrade over Kai. Color me skeptical...

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I hope they are just 'motivating' Forbath. He was great his rookie season on FGs and while he needs to improve on touchbacks, I like him a lot. The new kid Hockers does not have 'wow' stats - so I'm honestly not sure why he's an automatic upgrade over Kai. Color me skeptical...

Big leg, and supposedly accurate from 60-65. Kiper loved the pick, but that only makes me more skeptical.

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[MikeSr619]

accurate from 65 would be pretty special. I dont know if even Janikowski was accurate from that distance. Would be nice to have that.

 

[Bulldog]

He was 3-4 on 50 plus field goals.

Didn't see any reference to 60/65 yard accuracy or leg strength.

Usually guys with no miss potential get drafted earlier like Janikowski and Chip Lohmiller.

 

[Boone]

Big leg, and supposedly accurate from 60-65. Kiper loved the pick, but that only makes me more skeptical.

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Look at his college stats, they aren't that impressive. Scouting reports mention 'ball does not explode off his foot'. He is not known for a big leg. Just going by what I've read. If we're going to use a draft pick on a college kicker, he ought to be the stuff of legend imho. I've never even heard of this kid prior to the draft...

 

[Lanky Livingston]

accurate from 65 would be pretty special. I dont know if even Janikowski was accurate from that distance. Would be nice to have that.

He was 3-4 on 50 plus field goals.

Didn't see any reference to 60/65 yard accuracy or leg strength.

Usually guys with no miss potential get drafted earlier like Janikowski and Chip Lohmiller.

It was something Kiper said in the post draft analysis special. Kiper was raving about the kid. I've never heard of him either.

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[McD5]

Who has better eyes than I do? Here is Forbath's competition. He has a big leg--no question.

I'm just trying to see exactly how far these kicks are.

 

[MikeSr619]

those are all during practice where there is no pressure and it appears that he is kicking it 50 yards.

 

[McD5]

You make great points Mike. Practice, no rush and no pressure.

A lot of pros can hit 60, and a few even 65 in warm ups.

And looking more closely, I agree that the majority seem to be 50-52 yards out.

To his credit, most seem to make it with room to spare. And one kick, the one on the emblem, I'm going to guess is 60, simply due to the paint on the field. But I could be way off--I'm not familiar with that stadium.

Also, how many did he miss during the filming? We are only seeing his best.

 

[McD5]

Now this is a little interesting. Yes, it's Friday night and I'm bored.

Here is a kick from the new kid in high school. Now this one is amazing.

It appears he is kicking from the 38. Adding ten would make it 48? And it appears to clear by another 15.

That would be roughly 63 yards in high school.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I_aOwFOQogg