Justin Tucker

[BlazeCarolina]

4 minutes ago, TD alt said:

Sorry, man, I just don't get the "we're not going to be competitive," argument. I think that developing a winning culture really matters. The kicker, perhaps unfairly, has undue weight on his shoulders. Though always seemingly understated, their importance is immeasurable. You can't see the rest of the guys working their asses off week after week to win, only to be let down by the kicker. It speaks to morale and a sense of security and belief. 

I don't know who Gino Garcia is (nice sports name), but I'll take your word for it that we should bring him in if available.

I was just looking at pre draft rankings for kickers because I don't really think drafting one is usually necessary.  Out of the top 5 guys, only two were drafted.  (oddly #1 and #5) 

Fitz seem to be tied for #2, and he was obviously our choice for some reason.

Ben Sauls (tied Fitz for #2 was signed bit Steelers).  That leaves Gino and I didn't see a team listed for him.

I agree on the winning culture, I am just not freaking out about Fitz already like a lot of people.

[BlazeCarolina]

1 minute ago, frankw said:

Ultimately you have to acknowledge the reality that Fitzgerald is a UDFA. It's still pretty early. When we get to preseason teams will be facing some roster dilemmas and if need be we can snatch up another young kicker. I mean honestly other teams have been facing the same issues the Panthers have with the kicker position. You simply don't see the rock solid cornerstone kickers like you used to anymore aside from a few rare ones. But other teams have managed to navigate similar situations without it becoming a catastrophe. The Panthers just need to follow the lead of those other teams.

Every kicker this year was undrafted except for two of them.  (ranked #1 and #5)

[NAS]

10 minutes ago, BEASTfromdaEAST said:

Cmon @NAS you're better than this 

Am I? Lol. I am desperate to win

[PleaseCutStewart]

Yeah, great idea... And while we are at it, lets trade 2 first round draft picks for Deshaun Watson and try to start an all-sexual assaulter squad

[frankw]

8 minutes ago, BlazeCarolina said:

Every kicker this year was undrafted except for two of them.  (ranked #1 and #5)

I understand that. But it's simply a different league for the position now. UDFA kickers now versus 20 or 25 years ago just aren't the same. You aren't going to stumble into an undrafted Adam Vinatieri.

[Shotgun]

56 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Yeah, let's sign a creep who also looks to have fallen off a cliff on the field. Brilliant.

Yeah, I'd rather just not have a kicker next season. lol

[PleaseCutStewart]

7 minutes ago, frankw said:

I understand that. But it's simply a different league for the position now. UDFA kickers now versus 20 or 25 years ago just aren't the same. You aren't going to stumble into an undrafted Adam Vinatieri.

I would say most starting kickers were probably drafted in the 6th, 7th, or UDFA. Hell, we drafted Butker however many years ago in the 7th and traded him away because we weren't patient.

Let's not do that again

[frankw]

3 minutes ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

I would say most starting kickers were probably drafted in the 6th, 7th, or UDFA. Hell, we drafted Butker however many years ago in the 7th and traded him away because we weren't patient.

Let's not do that again

In hindsight obviously we should not have traded Butker and it was a glaring boneheaded move but there's also the reality that we haven't done a damn thing competively the last 7 years anyways so

[BlazeCarolina]

12 minutes ago, frankw said:

I understand that. But it's simply a different league for the position now. UDFA kickers now versus 20 or 25 years ago just aren't the same. You aren't going to stumble into an undrafted Adam Vinatieri.

Just for discussion sake, let's take a look at those stats going down the ranking list.

#1 Chris Boswell UDFA

#2 Brandon Aubrey not even in the draft.

#3 Cameron Dicker UDFA

#4 Jason Sanders 7th round by Dolphins

#5  Kaʻimi Fairbairn UDFA

[Matthias]

[frankw]

8 minutes ago, BlazeCarolina said:

Just for discussion sake, let's take a look at those stats going down the ranking list.

#1 Chris Boswell UDFA

#2 Brandon Aubrey not even in the draft.

#3 Cameron Dicker UDFA

#4 Jason Sanders 7th round by Dolphins

#5  Kaʻimi Fairbairn UDFA

Right now looking at how other teams are handling the position if we are lucky we will get a kicker who is competent and reliable enough for two or three years and then reset again. Because there's a lot of fools gold out there too. Guys who will have a brief run over the course of a season and then crash.

[TD alt]

11 minutes ago, BlazeCarolina said:

Just for discussion sake, let's take a look at those stats going down the ranking list.

#1 Chris Boswell UDFA

#2 Brandon Aubrey not even in the draft.

#3 Cameron Dicker UDFA

#4 Jason Sanders 7th round by Dolphins

#5  Kaʻimi Fairbairn UDFA

I appreciate what you're saying, but Vinatieri was the most clutch kicker ever. I can't say that for those guys (I'll take Boswell though). 

[BlazeCarolina]

1 minute ago, frankw said:

Right now looking at how other teams are handling the position if we are lucky we will get a kicker who is competent and reliable enough for two or three years and then reset again. Because there's a lot of fools gold out there too. Guys who will have a brief run over the course of a season and then crash.

I only pay attention to the Panthers.  I was just trying to prove the point that you don't have to draft a kicker.  4/5 of the top kickers right now were undrafted.

I believe kicking is just one of those positions that is a bit fickle and you have to have a bit of luck.  It takes some trial and error sometimes.  We have to trial Fitz to see what we have.

[BlazeCarolina]

1 minute ago, TD alt said:

I appreciate what you're saying, but Vinatieri was the most clutch kicker ever. I can't say that for those guys (I'll take Boswell though). 

Yeah, and trying to say we will find the best kicker ever (or even need to) is a bit ridiculous to me.  He was one of a kind.