Blech.

 

I really think kicking can be a serious problem for us, its the elephant in the room for us right now that no one is really talking about, I don't have confidence in Sturgis being healthy and even when he is healthy I have no confidence in him.

I really hope we struck gold with John Potter.

 

thats approx. close to 3 days old news

 

You're right that it's something we just don't even bother talking about or addressing, probably because it's the last thing we want to pop up as a concern.

But Potter made kicks from 48 and 51 yards so that's pretty damn promising.

 

I think because we saw how Carpenter's missed kicks in 2012 might have been the difference makers as were a few of Sturgis misses last year, ie the NE game.

Apparently Potter has a great leg, its his accuracy that has always been in question.

 

Go for it more on 4th downs.

 

Is that something that is really important, though?

 

That doesn't bode well.

Call me old fashioned but I'll take an accurate kicker who can't be relied upon from 48 to 55 yards over a guy with a booming leg who will miss field goals you would otherwise count on. Although I guess kickoffs become a concern if the guy's leg is really weak.

When you get around that 48 to 55 yard area you should be thinking about going for it on 4th down anyway.

 

Right now Sturgis would have trouble making an extra point because of his groin. He may have a stronger leg when he is healthy, but he isn't and hasn't been during the preseason.

I don't see Sturgis making the team this year unless he can make a full recovery in the next two weeks and that probably isn't going to happen.

 

Bring Rob Bironas for a try

 

Agree with this..

 

Problems in the crotchal region, maybe Fin can shed some light on this.

 

5th. Round. Draft. Pick.

 

Seems like most of us, myself included, were all too happy to jettison the Montana boy last year in favor of the shiny new draft pick with the youtube video kicking 60 yard FGs. That sure as hades, (some folks call it hell I call it hades mmmmm) looks like a really bad decision now.

 

Unlikely. This isn't his first, or second stop.

Also, we seem to be depending on a few unlikely things to break our way this season. More than makes me comfortable.

 

Potter only made like 72% of his FGs in college, but as I recall reading, had a very high pct of touchbacks.

Buffalo won't likely keep both Carpenter and Dustin Hopkins, and when they waive the latter, I'd be putting in a claim.

Potter's scouting report prior to the 2012 draft:
Positives: Boasts a very strong right leg. Had 36 touchbacks in 2011, which, of course, comes from the 30-yard line in college rather than the 35 in the NFL. Has an efficient set-up and two-step kick. The ball explodes off of his foot and quickly rises, limiting the chance of blocks. Possesses an ideal frame to handle coverage duties and is a willing defender. Posted 36 tackles covering kicks over his career.

Negatives: While boasting great leg strength, Potter hasn't necessarily been able to translate that into accuracy, including from long distances. Only successfully completed 72.3% of his field goal attempts over his career and finished 0-3 in attempts over 50-yards in 2011... Certainly boasts the leg-strength to warrant consideration as a kickoff specialist but few teams are willing to make that kind of roster investment.

--Rob Rang

 

He looked to have a weak leg on kick offs in the first half. Maybe it was the wind. One of the PATs drifted, was close.

 

exactly. hated it then hate it now.

 

We aren't setting the hope at "hope he'll stick" though... I was responding to the idea that maybe he'll be gold, an unearthed gem.

This is his fourth stop.

So it's unlikely. Not impossible. Buuuut I wouldn't mortgage my home and bet the money on him making the Pro Bowl in his career. Or even on him being in the league three years from now.

 

So... great value?

 

Groin injury. Man that can linger.

 

Hey, come ON!!! Would you rather have points or touchbacks from kicking through the endzone????

 

And re: the point that he hit a couple long FGs... that's fine.... but I want to know how he'd kick under real pressure. That's when kickers eff up.

Next time he is about to kick, if I were the coach, I'd walk over to him and say "Miss this kick and I cut you first thing in the morning."

Then you'll see what you've got.

 

I'm tellin' ya, if this groin keeps nagging Sturgis he oughta have it removed.

 

Serious Q... did you have to look for that pic online or do you have a folder of 'em?

 

Yeah, but you game-plan for that. If you're 60 yards out on 1st down, you hit a 5 yard strike in the flats instead of running up the middle. It would be great to have Sturgis in there, but I'd take the more accurate, shorter-distance kicker in almost every situation. At least until Sturgis is back to 100%.

Then again, don't forget that Sturgis started his career 0/3 and cost us two wins last season. If we had a more accurate kicker, then we would have been a lock for the playoffs in week 15 instead of the epic meltdown that we all got to experience.

 

didnt agree with the release of Dan carpenter..I guess Ireland and his kicking background thought he might have found himself a gem..it's done and over with now, we dont know if the kid is gonna be out for long, just keep the potter kid until he's healthy.

 

I never liked Carpenter. I'm glad he's gone and with the Bills.

 

Headline, "former kicker turned GM drafts kicking bust."..lol

Jk on the bust, you have to stick with kickers, they go thru ruts, if you like the strength of the leg,if you like his swing, and he's been accurate in some clutch situations, then stick with the guy..

 

injuries have plagued sturgis since florida. at florida it always seemed to be his back though. its a shame really since at florida the guy was always clutch and could kick it from long distances with regularity. it is why last year kind of shocked me with all the misses to be honest.

 

Put him on the PuP? These damn groin injuries can linger like Deej at a Gold's Gym.

 

Okay, are we seriously.... SERIOUSLY... complaining about dropping a fifth on a kicker? Seriously?

 

Unfortunately, I had this gut feeling this would happen. I am no coach, but I suspect accuracy can be taught over the strength of kicks. I think tweaks in technique could certainly generate a more consistent kick. Maybe some of you guys who played can opine on this.

What is unfortunate is that with the quick change in direction when he kicks, he is essentially re-injuring the site with small tears to the muscles of his inner/upper thigh. He kind of needs those muscles to work and fire properly, being a kicker. Instability to the joint would also be of concern.

I know he has a top-notch crew working around him to get him back healthy, but sometimes these cases just need time.

With the history, I am just not sure the team will wait on him.

What are his odds of going on PUP? And how does that affect him (salary-wise, etc.) and the team?

 

Guy pulls his groin worse and more often than SICK does.

 

Sturgis was the best kicker in his class, some argue Hopkins but Sturgis did have a bunch of achievements under his belt to justify his draft placement especially when Carpenter was expensive and unreliable for us, but turned out to be good for the Bills....


With that said if this injury continues then we might as well cut Sturgis and bring in Bironas on a 2 year deal and find another kicker in a future draft..

 

Yeah. That's kind of like the second round for kickers.