3 questions to late for work.

[geo]

“I’m a Raven and I want to always be a Raven,” Ravens offensive tackle Jared Gaither told Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times.

 

Do I hate those kind of statements! And next thing he is not a Raven or?

 

Dan Kolko of MASN gave a breakdown of Cundiff vs. Graham and Rackers in a recent column, noting that while the two free agents would be an upgrade in overall accuracy, Cundiff was perfect on three playoff field goals attempts last season. Graham missed both of his playoff attempts while Rackers went 1-of-3 in the postseason.

 

With playoffs on the Ravens’ mind, Cundiff’s postseason performance could give him an edge.

 

I like Kolko but an edge, is that serious? Only edge Cundiff has.. he is here and they are not.

 

While fans, media and coaches debate the merits of overtime reform, SI.com’s Peter King believes one fact is undeniable: this was a referendum on Roger Goodell’s authority and power.

 

Yeah the owners saved Goodell more than anything. A strange farce, a pretty harmless decision (and not a very good one), and the NFL has to ask the owners, and making it to a vital case for Goodell, why was this so important, Goodell? What am I missing?

 

http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/?p=4690

[ForceEight]

I'd like to see Graham more than any of them, but Cundiff isn't far behind. Rackers can't make the big kick.

[dc.]

I want Rackers.

[vmax]

Rackers is mrschanney's favorite player.

 

Cundiff scored the only points vs the Colts in the playoffs.

 

The new overtime rule makes no sense to me. Wouldn't you first try it out during the regular season?

 

Why is nobody biting on Gaither?

[ForceEight]

I want Rackers.

Why? He's the oldest. He has the worst field goal percentage. He'd never been on a playoff team in his career until 2008.

 

Cundiff probably isn't the long-term option. Rackers, though, just scares me. All else equal, it has to go to Graham, no?

 

---

 

Apparently, Ozzie and Harbaugh have met with Graham. http://www.examiner.com/x-2962-Baltimore-Ravens-Examiner~y2010m3d29-Ravens-have-not-contacted-Stover-set-sights-on-Graham

[thundercleetz]

I would be worried about Rakers as well. He has a rocket for a leg, but he has kicked in a kicking friendly environment his whole career and still has problems making the big kick. Graham has kicked in the weather unfriendly AFC North his whole career, and save for last season, was a great kicker in this league. I'll take Graham.

[faaaaaaq]

I would be worried about Rakers as well. He has a rocket for a leg, but he has kicked in a kicking friendly environment his whole career and still has problems making the big kick. Graham has kicked in the weather unfriendly AFC North his whole career, and save for last season, was a great kicker in this league. I'll take Graham.

And really just had problems in the Playoffs. My vote goes to Graham as well

[yagersports]

And really just had problems in the Playoffs. My vote goes to Graham as well

 

Very well thought out and delivered. Allow me to retort....another way to say the above is....he's good except for when it matters.

 

Yet another way to put it is the guy chokes under pressure.

 

Once again if I'm allowed to expand further, he'll be dependable until you need him to win in the playoffs.

 

Sounds like a sound plan! Let's bring him in! Maybe we could find a great regular season QB that folds up shop in the playoffs as well!

 

Honestly....sometimes I wonder about people.

[ForceEight]

Sounds like a sound plan! Let's bring him in! Maybe we could find a great regular season QB that folds up shop in the playoffs as well!

I think we might already have one. haha

[yagersports]

I think we might already have one. haha

 

You know lol....as I was typing I was thinking please don't let anyone notice lol. I was tryin to make a point without exposing one of our own possible weaknesses lol. Can't get away with anything here lol.

[faaaaaaq]

Very well thought out and delivered. Allow me to retort....another way to say the above is....he's good except for when it matters.

 

Yet another way to put it is the guy chokes under pressure.

 

Once again if I'm allowed to expand further, he'll be dependable until you need him to win in the playoffs.

 

Sounds like a sound plan! Let's bring him in! Maybe we could find a great regular season QB that folds up shop in the playoffs as well!

 

Honestly....sometimes I wonder about people.

Here are Graham's lifetime stats.

 

Yr Pct

2009 82.1

2008 87.5

2007 91.2

2006 83.3

2005 87.5

2004 87.1

2003 88.0

2002 72.2

2001 75.0

TOTAL 85.2

 

He has an 85% lifetime average, which means he's going to miss 3 out of 20 kicks. It may be the case that the Playoff pressure caused those misses or it may be that that was just his three out of twenty. He has a real live leg with many TouchBacks per year. Kickoffs are nearly important in the total picture as Field Goals. That's why Stovepipe isn't still our kicker, so, I'll stand behind my statement that I prefer Graham.

[ForceEight]

The kickoff argument isn't a great example in making the case for Graham. He's in Stover territory, while Rackers is one of the best in the league at kickoff averages and touchbacks.

[yagersports]

Here are Graham's lifetime stats.

 

Yr Pct

2009 82.1

2008 87.5

2007 91.2

2006 83.3

2005 87.5

2004 87.1

2003 88.0

2002 72.2

2001 75.0

TOTAL 85.2

 

He has an 85% lifetime average, which means he's going to miss 3 out of 20 kicks. It may be the case that the Playoff pressure caused those misses or it may be that that was just his three out of twenty. He has a real live leg with many TouchBacks per year. Kickoffs are nearly important in the total picture as Field Goals. That's why Stovepipe isn't still our kicker, so, I'll stand behind my statement that I prefer Graham.

 

Didn't seem to bother the Colts any???? Stover kicked many for them all year and it wasn't Stover that lost them the Super Bowl. Hmmmm. Who gives a damn how many FGs a kicker hits during the regular season if they miss the big one???

 

Do you honestly thing the Bills and fans shrug their shoulders and say well.....Norwood hit a lot of kicks during the regular season so we'll let the Super Bowl one slide.

 

Do you thing the Minnesota Vikings with a 15-1 season with a Perfect kicker give a rats ass he didn't miss a FG until the very last play of the NFC championship game and they went home instead of to the Super Bowl??? He was reeeeaaaaallllll good in the regular season though, probably best ever!

 

What about the Titans. They had an upstart defensive team with no offense on the ropes until there regular season wonder Del Greco missed two very important kicks. In case you have forgot, that upstart team was us!!!!

 

Kicking in the postseason is the most important stat. If we have an 80% or better kicker that shanks a few here and there but is money when the pressure is on, there's no reason to get rid of them. There is no room for guys with weak stomachs in this game. I'll take a Vinateri any day. The guy is never incredible during the regular season average wise, however he's money when in counts......and that is WHAT MATTERS.

[vmax]

Solid points yeager.

 

Because of age and mileage, I kept waiting for Stover to go "Al Del Grecco" the last few years...especially in the playoffs late in the year when his leg got tired.

Didn't happen.

 

[yagersports]

I scratch my head as to why we ever let Stover go. The guy didn't get touchbacks, but that certainly wasn't killing us. It's not ideal, but also not something that breaks a teams back. I remember coaches saying they were frustrated that they had to keep a kickoff specialist on the roster. So what, we couldn't have one extra guy on the sideline that would probably see no action and not contribute in any form or fashion?

[thundercleetz]

Here is some info on Rackers and his struggles:

 

Rackers could be done in Arizona

 

Rackers made 16 of 17 attempts during the regular season. He has performed at a Pro Bowl level at times. But the Cardinals never appeared close to re-signing him after the season. Rackers suffered a critical miss in the playoffs, but he was playing hurt and coach Ken Whisenhunt later took responsibility for sideline confusion that interrupted Rackers' usual routine. After the playoffs, though, Whisenhunt seemed irked that Rackers' injury was worse than first thought.

 

Getting Rackers would certainly be a risk as he has rarely kicked in the type of weather he would experience in the AFC North, but like Force said, his live leg would be a huge plus for us on kickoffs.