Monday, April 6, 2009

Kicker competition


For all the talk of Jay cutler trade rumors, Jason Campbell handling the situation as a pro, and the management continues to embarrasses themselves, it time now to focus on the team needs once again. While the O-Line and D-Line received attention as our team needs, special teams had become a area of concern last season. The fans really want a new field goal kicker when Shaun Suisham struggles down the stretch. He was reliable at the 1st half of the year, kicking 50 yard field goals, booming his kickoffs, and pinning opposing teams at the goal line as well. Then he faded as the season were down. However, replacing Suishman, and the kicking game in general, could become more problematic according to Jason La Canfora.

"The problems with the kicking game are severe enough that the team is planning to bring four combined kickers/punters, none of whom is a sure thing or has a strong resume, to camp.

The guy signed to push Suisham, Dave Rayner, is a fourth-year player out of Michigan State who has bounced around and failed to find any sort of permanent home. He attempted all of one field goal in 2008, with the Bengals, and the Redskins are his sixth team since 2005. Rayner hasn't spent an entire season with one NFL team since 2006.

This one will play out in camp and preseason games, and it's hard to really call anyone the leader. Suisham got a one-year contract tender, and the organization has been patient with him the past few years, but you get the sense this is make-or-break time. Rayner isn't someone who is going to inspire immediate confidence or provide a sense of long-term security, and this might be his last shot at an NFL career. There's plenty of motivation for both players but perhaps neither is the ultimate solution."


Of course, neither of them is a great choice. It seems the team is in a lose, lose situation, and with the team getting a 7th round draft pick back from the Mark Burnell trade, they may have to draft a kicker in the 4th, 5th, or 7th round.

Position Battle: Kicker



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