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What will keep us from the Super Bowl: the kicking game

Discussion in 'Houston Texans' started by rterry, Oct 23, 2012.

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  1. rterry

    rterry Member

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    Before I get lit for being a bummer right after a 43-13 win, hear me out. I think the Texans have all the pre-requisites for at least a Super Bowl appearance, accept one.
    Why not expend a roster spot on a kick-off specialist that can kick the ball through the end-zone? Surely, not continuing to give up field position on almost every kick-off is worth that 53rd spot on your roster.

    When we finally had some momentum swing in the GB game, what happened, boom return to mid-field. You could feel the deflation through the television. When we are playing nothing but good teams in the playoffs, when everything is on the line, and momentum and one play here or there can turn the tide of the game, we have to be competetive on kick return coverage. Sure as sh** it will bite us sooner or later. Which is easier, sign a kicker to kick it through the end zone or teach a special team to keep it inside the 20 even though the return man has a running start at the five?
     
    #1 rterry, Oct 23, 2012
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  2. liljojo

    liljojo Member

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    Or we could just get a new ST coach.
     
    #2 liljojo, Oct 23, 2012
  3. macalu

    macalu Member

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    that's not going to strengthen Graham's leg. when your kicker can't even reach the endzone it's a huge liability. OP has a legitimate take. i'll grant you that the ST coach is at least responsible for how the coverage is played. but frankly, we need a new kicker.
     
    #3 macalu, Oct 23, 2012
  4. plates300

    plates300 Member

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    I hate our special teams. How is it that our kicker is the only one that can't kick it out of the end zone on kick offs? Our coverage on ST is piss poor as well - everyone here knows it. I hold my breath each time we punt or kick off hoping the opposing team doesn't get past the 30 yard line. Giving the opposing team good starting position is a nightmare waiting to happen.
     
    #4 plates300, Oct 23, 2012
  5. plates300

    plates300 Member

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    to add to my post above, even Jacoby Jones looked good returning punts for Baltimore which pretty much sums up our special teams play the past couple of years - piss poor.
     
    #5 plates300, Oct 23, 2012
  6. rterry

    rterry Member

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    At least for kick-offs it won't matter how good the coach is if every kick off is basically unreturnable. I would never gamble to try and keep the team inside the 20. I would gladly concede that every time. I miss having a great punter, but I haven't seen that part of our game as quite as much of a liability. Rarely do we not give up field position on the kick-off.
     
    #6 rterry, Oct 23, 2012
  7. josephnicks

    josephnicks Member

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    jacoby has been decent for the ravens all season, dont let your hatred blind you to the fact that he is a quality return man.. and he did all his damage in kickoff return not punt return, where he can actually showcase his speed. he rarely returned kicks for us, only punts..

    the problem is most fans never want to "waste" a mid-round pick on a kicker/punter or pay these guys but they expect some undrafted FA or end of his career vet to come in and boom kicks and nail 55+ yarders..

    hartmann would have been a decent option but he still has to sit out an 8 game suspension so no team will pick him up just to have him waste a roster spot for 8 games.. since the suspension was assessed while he wasnt on a roster he has to get picked up first before he serves it..
     
    #7 josephnicks, Oct 23, 2012
  8. mario_v

    mario_v Member

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    IMO, Shane Graham has got to go. He has a weak leg and cannot hit a 50 yarder. I truly believe he is going to cost us a game due to his weak leg.

    We need to get rid of him now before the playoffs. I can totally see this guy failing to make a 42 yard field goal in a playoff game, which we lose cause of him!
     
    #8 mario_v, Oct 23, 2012
  9. Nimo

    Nimo Member

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    1. The problem is not the kicker. Players are constantly returning the ball from the end zone. Even if you kick into the endzone, players are still bringing it out. The coverage is the problem.

    2. Everyone looks good returning against the Texans. Not just Jacoby. Plus Jacoby returned a kickoff 108 yards against Dallas the wek before.

    3. The texans had a kicker drafted pretty high but he couldn't out-kick Graham in the preseason.
     
    #9 Nimo, Oct 23, 2012
  10. Cannonball

    Cannonball Member

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    It might improve kickoff coverage (as well as punt coverage) which IMHO is the bigger issue.
     
    #10 Cannonball, Oct 23, 2012
  11. rterry

    rterry Member

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    Let me clarify. I'm not saying get rid of Graham. I would keep him for field goals. Give up Keo or the practice squad OL we just brought up for a kick-off only kicker. Surely there is one out there that can kick it deep in the end zone from the 35. Virtually every other team has one. We gave up a roster for a one-trick pony in Holiday so why not for one that could mean so much in regards to field position, especially with our shut down defense.
     
    #11 rterry, Oct 23, 2012
  12. Cannonball

    Cannonball Member

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    You do know he's 13/14 this year including a 51 yarder, right?
     
    #12 Cannonball, Oct 23, 2012
  13. plates300

    plates300 Member

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    Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the kicker we drafted had a groin issue or something. Graham didn't really beat him out but kind of won by default?
     
    #13 plates300, Oct 23, 2012
  14. Nimo

    Nimo Member

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    I don't believe you all are complaining about Graham. He has only missed one kick out of 14 tries. He hasn't missed a kick since the first game of the season, a 52 yarder.

    In comparison, Gostkowski has missed 3 kicks. So have Vinateri and Crosby.
     
    #14 Nimo, Oct 23, 2012
  15. josephnicks

    josephnicks Member

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    no way the texans carry 3 kickers on the 53 with the depth issues we have, plus the possible return of sharper already means someone will be cut..

    graham will have to kick line drives that roll out the endzone more often..
     
    #15 josephnicks, Oct 23, 2012
  16. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    Yeah, it's not like the only two options are touchback or 60-yard return. Better coverage would stop the 60-yard returns even if the ball wasn't kicked into the end zone every single kickoff....

    And yeah, pretty unbelievable that people are calling for the kickers head even though he's 13/14 this year. LOL.
     
    #16 ima_drummer2k, Oct 23, 2012
  17. Cannonball

    Cannonball Member

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    Yeah, he tore a groin muscle. Bullock was going to win the job, mainly because we spent a draft pick on him, but I think Graham was having a slightly better preseason. Speaking of which, Graham hit a 53 yarder in preseason. Bullock hit a 52 yarder.
     
    #17 Cannonball, Oct 23, 2012
  18. josephnicks

    josephnicks Member

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    that kick he missed was the most difficult kick he attempted all season.. everything else has been chip shots.. although he did shank a couple of easy chip shots in the playoffs like billy cindiff..

    bullock could easily do what graham has been doing, extra points and redzone field goals..
     
    #18 josephnicks, Oct 23, 2012
  19. Cannonball

    Cannonball Member

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    It took a lot of convincing (3 TDs) for Kubes to let Holliday on the roster. There's no way in hell he's going to carry an extra kicker for kickoffs.
     
    #19 Cannonball, Oct 23, 2012
  20. Nimo

    Nimo Member

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    Actually Graham out performed Bullock in the preseason and then he mysteriously had an injury right before it was cutting time.
     
    #20 Nimo, Oct 23, 2012
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