Bears & NFL Talk 67: Who needs a kicker anyway?

[MurrayBannerman]

You can't hit a kicker right after a kickoff. It's kind of like a QB after an interception. You can't touch the kicker if he makes no attempt to block or get into the play. However, if the kicker is anywhere near the ball or making an attempt to make a play, they are fair game. In fact, you can't do that to any player nowadays. Blind side hits on any player who are not even making an attempt on the play warrants a personal foul. Warren Sapp seriously hurt Kyle Clifton on an blindsided hit.

In a muffed field goal attempt, players are fair game unless they are actively running away from the ball.

Who says she'd be doing kickoffs? Who says she has to stay on the field during a muffed field goal?

 

[MurrayBannerman]

Specialist as kickoff specialist and FG specialists. They used to have them back in the day. They have it in college with the bigger rosters.

Pat O'Donnell takes kickoffs for the Bears.

 

[piteus]

Who says she'd be doing kickoffs? Who says she has to stay on the field during a muffed field goal?

And thus the competitive disadvantage. Are NFL teams trying to win a game or doing charity?

 

[Kurtosis]

She would have to be pretty damn good to waste a roster spot on a kickoff specialist (assuming the team’s punter isn’t taking those duties).

 

[piteus]

Pat O'Donnell takes kickoffs for the Bears.

No, he doesn't. Robbie kicked off ... and then we had a bunch of scrubs afterwards. Cairo Santos had a bad groin and thus O'Donnell had to kick off. Parkey and Pineiro both do kickoffs.

 

[HawksBeerFan]

Pat O'Donnell takes kickoffs for the Bears.

O'Donnell has taken 6 kickoffs for the Bears in his entire career. Give me a break.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

Specialist as kickoff specialist and FG specialists. They used to have them back in the day. They have it in college with the bigger rosters. Thus, all kickers will have to do kickoffs, FGs, onside, and extra points ... unless the punter can also do it. The only kicker who can in today's game is that kid Minnesota just traded for.

Viniteri doesn't do kickoffs anymore. Maybe the onsides, I don't know, but not the normal ones.

 

[MurrayBannerman]

No, he doesn't. Robbie kicked off ... and then we had a bunch of scrubs afterwards. Cairo Santos had a bad groin and thus O'Donnell had to kick off. Parkey and Pineiro both do kickoffs.

You're right. The blurb lied to me in his google result.

averaged 45 yards on punts and had 95 percent touchback rate of kickoffs ..... The Bears selected Pat O'Donnell from Miami with the 191st pick in the sixth.

Looks like Bradley Pinon and Rigoberto Sanchez kicked off for SF and Indy last year. Mitch Wisnowsky will be kicking off for SF this year.
2018 NFL Kickoff Statistics | The Football Database

 

[piteus]

I'm all for equality. I have no issue if Lloyd wants to try out. However, we all know this is a PR stunt. Not by her ... but by the NFL teams. I'm not up for that.

And we all watch enough soccer to know the professional men kick a lot farther than the professional women. That doesn't mean the USWNT isn't fun to watch ... heck they've been a lot more fun to watch than the USMNT recently. That said, come on. The top male kick are going to be better than the top female kickers. Add to the potential of a NFL freak of nature hitting a female kicker, it's not worth it.

I'd be far more excited to see a top female soccer player tryout for a MLS team. That makes more sense.

 

[piteus]

Viniteri doesn't do kickoffs anymore. Maybe the onsides, I don't know, but not the normal ones.

Guess why Vinateri is still on the team? Could it be because he's the greatest kicker of all time? You need to be that good to be a FG specialist in the NFL these days.

 

[piteus]

You're right. The blurb lied to me in his google result.



Looks like Bradley Pinon and Rigoberto Sanchez kicked off for SF and Indy last year. Mitch Wisnowsky will be kicking off for SF this year.
2018 NFL Kickoff Statistics | The Football Database

Both Robbie and Vinateri can still kick off. They are also the 3 best kickers in the game along with Tucker. That's how great you need to be to have a caddie on kickoffs as you age as an all time great kicker.

 

[Illinihockey]

Why couldn't she kick off? There are hardly any returns in the NFL anymore, everyone can kick it out of the endzone. When teams get returns its because the opposing team is trying to let them by hanging the ball up in the air.

 

[MurrayBannerman]

Both Robbie and Vinateri can still kick off. They are also the 3 best kickers in the game along with Tucker. That's how great you need to be to have a caddie on kickoffs as you age as an all time great kicker.

Okay, fine. That's the bar. Let's see if she can clear it.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

As for weather a woman could actually do it, I personally have my doubts. But if someone wants to give it a shot, more power to them. But unless I'm missing something, there haven't been full time female kickers in college have there? I know there's been some that have been on the team, but have there been anyone to actually just been the full time kicker?

 

[HawksBeerFan]

Why couldn't she kick off? There are hardly any returns in the NFL anymore, everyone can kick it out of the endzone. When teams get returns its because the opposing team is trying to let them by hanging the ball up in the air.

The NFL touchback rate averages around 60%...

NFL Football Stats - NFL Team Kickoff Touchback Percentage on TeamRankings.com

A lot are not returned but "hardly any" is not even remotely accurate.

 

[MurrayBannerman]

As for weather a woman could actually do it, I personally have my doubts. But if someone wants to give it a shot, more power to them. But unless I'm missing something, there haven't been full time female kickers in college have there? I know there's been some that have been on the team, but have there been anyone to actually just been the full time kicker?

There was one girl who got cut from LSU's team because she couldn't hit. So, I doubt the opportunity is seriously provided anymore.

 

[piteus]

Okay, fine. That's the bar. Let's see if she can clear it.

Fine by me ... but remember, both Vinateri and Gould earned that right by being great over a period of time. It was merit based. They both kicked off for a long time before that.

If anything, Lloyd earned the right to tryout for a MLS team. She's a 37 year old female soccer legend on the downside of her career. Not even 37 year old EPL players get tryouts in the NFL. I can do without the circus.

 

[MurrayBannerman]

Fine by me ... but remember, both Vinateri and Gould earned that right by being great over a period of time. It was merit based. They both kicked off for a long time before that.

If anything, Lloyd earned the right to tryout for a MLS team. She's a 37 year old female soccer legend on the downside of her career. Not even 37 year old EPL players get tryouts in the NFL. I can do without the circus.

For the latter, I'd guess it's because they have no interest.

 

[piteus]

The NFL touchback rate averages around 60%...

NFL Football Stats - NFL Team Kickoff Touchback Percentage on TeamRankings.com

A lot are not returned but "hardly any" is not even remotely accurate.

Belichick changed the math on this. He doesn't like giving the ball on the 25 on touchbacks. He'll tell his kicker to kick it high and near the goal line and dare them to return it. The NFL wants more touch backs. Unfortunately, the new rules backfired. Because kickers now kick from the 35 and not 30 anymore, the kickoff teams get a head 5 yard start.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

There was one girl who got cut from LSU's team because she couldn't hit. So, I doubt the opportunity is seriously provided anymore.

In doing some googling of female college football players, Rebecca Longo came up. She was the first the female to earn a football scholarship a few years ago as a kicker. There are all kinds of "Is this the first female to play in the NFL" articles. She red shirted a year, then transferred, never kicked at all. So I can't help but role my eyes a bit when I see stuff like this. Either way, I personally could do without all the hyperbole, first take style debate and virtue signaling. If she wants to give it a shot, go for it and good luck.

Admittedly, my frustration has much more to do with me not so slowly turning into an old man and my frustration at the click baityness of today's society, than weather or not she has an actual chance. I'll go back to my porch now and yell at those pesky teenagers, lol.

 

[Illinihockey]

She won't tryout because she can't kick the ball, not because she's going to get hurt

 

[TheSting]

Why couldn't she kick off? There are hardly any returns in the NFL anymore, everyone can kick it out of the endzone. When teams get returns its because the opposing team is trying to let them by hanging the ball up in the air.

NFL teams would have to make a separate dressing room / locker room for one female for both home and away games. Not happenin bruh

 

[TheSting]

Who says she'd be doing kickoffs? Who says she has to stay on the field during a muffed field goal?

lol. There are far bigger issues at play here. Dressing room would have to be completely set apart from the rest of the team for one player for both home / away games. Also, if you played or watched male on male sports, you know butt slapping one another after a good play is a guy thing. So you have these athletes who have accepted butt cheek tappin as a way of congratulating one another from pee wee ball on.

What do you think would happen during the heat of the moment and you forget there is a female behind the facemask and a light tap on the buttocks is caught on camera after said female makes a big kick. There would be a sheeet storm all over social media something of which no franchise wants to have to deal with or answer too.

 

[chicagoskycam]

As for weather a woman could actually do it, I personally have my doubts. But if someone wants to give it a shot, more power to them. But unless I'm missing something, there haven't been full time female kickers in college have there? I know there's been some that have been on the team, but have there been anyone to actually just been the full time kicker?

I don't have an issue with a woman kicking in the NFL. I don't want to see them get destroyed either by some 260 lbs guy but... they have the option to get involved in a play or not. It's kind of like UFC where I don't enjoy the female matches for some reason, it actually bothers me. On the flip side I prefer the Women's National soccer team vs. the mens.

 

[TheSting]

WOW!