Do We Have a Kicking Problem?

[KendrickPanther]

Graham Gano missed his 6th field goal of the season. All six came in one possession games. We are 3-1-1 when Graham misses a field goal. His percentages on the season are very respectable. He's made 27-33 with only 1 miss inside 40 yards.

 

My grievance with Gano is we don't trust him on long field goals. A great kicker is a weapon. You know you can get three points even if the drive stalls. Gano hasn't earned our trust and he hasn't earned Ron's trust.

 

Performance aside, we are paying this guy big money. His $1.75m cap hit is the 13th largest on the active roster. He's making more than any of our Wide Receivers. 

 

Do we have a problem? Can we trust this guy to win a Division? Win a Wild Card? He's a nice guy but being nice doesn't put the ball through the uprights. 

 

The NFL is discussing rules changes that could narrow the goal posts to lower field goal %s. If those changes occur, does Gano become more valuable? Or less? 

[fieryprophet]

It was a poor hold.

[PhillyB]

these misses would matter a lot less if we didn't consistently integrate game-winning field goals into Mike Shula Gameplans LLC's patented Beat 'em by Three^TM © 2014 

[CRA]

No.

45-50 yarders aren't automatic. Gonna miss some of those

[KendrickPanther]

Yeah Philly I think you make a great point. Our Field Goal attempts always matter because we struggle to score points. Teams like the Colts will give away 14 points and take them right back. Every trip across the 50 is precious in Shula ball.

[camycamcan]

All you have to do is think of olindo mare and u realize no

[Omega Atrocity]

Gano is fine. 27/33 is very good. We need to work on the way we play offensively, we kick far too many field goals in the red zone.

[blackcat]

I have no problem with Gano. Anytime you get 45+ Yard attempts, you're going to miss a few. Our issue is norther kicking game, it's the fact that inside the 20, we suck and swallow.

[SIGCHI222]

Good new is, he's gotten it out of his system and should be good-to-go for the next 5 games.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

if gano was consistently missing shorter field goals, then yes.

but since he's asked to kick 90+ yarders on a regular basis, then no.

[Brooklyn Bully]

No.

 

All kickers miss. Kasay missed. Morten Andersen missed.

 

Gano and other kickers are simply an easy scapegoat to blame poor play or losses on when they do miss.

 

You loved him last year. If we were 12-4 this season you'd not even question it.

[TheRed]

Yeah, when your offense is quite possibly the worst in the NFL in the red zone, you can't really be too mad at your kicker.

 

At the same time, we knew Gano was inconsistent, but we signed him to a lengthy extension anyways.

 

You would think we had learned our lesson about this from Mare.

[Captain Obvious]

off topic but it Looks like the NFL are going to experiment with shortening the width of the posts in the pro bowl.  

 

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/field-goal-posts-jay-glazer-pro-bowl-kickers-punters-121414

 

[rayzor]

gano is nowhere near close to being the problem shula is or our red zone efficiency.

 

and it's not his fault that he keeps on getting put in positions where he is asked to kick 45+ yarders so frequently because we have a HC who can't manage a game worth a crap after 4 years on the job.

 

 

tbh, i trust him a whole lot more than i trust rivera/shula.