Redskins Sign K Billy Cundiff, Release Gano

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

FG% numbers are not enough to judge a kicker. The mix of kicking distances plays a role in driving the kicker's overall percentage. Let's analyze Gano vs Cundiff from various distances over the last two seasons combined:

0-19 Yards, both 100% (one attempt each)
20-29 Yards, Cundiff 100% on 20 attempts, Gano 88% on 25 attempts
30-39 Yards, Cudiff 86% on 21 attempts, Gano 56% on 16 attempts
40-49 Yards, Cundiff 82% on 17 attempts, Gano 76% on 25 attempts
50+ Yards, Cundiff 14% on 7 attempts, Gano 44% on 9 attempts

Look at the atrocious performance from Gano from 30-39 yards. Those are FGs you have to make, especially if you're still developing as a Red Zone offense. If you're kicking from 30-39 it means the ball sits at the 13 - 23 yard line. It means your red zone offense stalled, and you desperately need to put those points on the board to atone for the lost TD opportunity in the red zone.

With Cundiff, you know you can't count on a 50 yarder to win the game, but at least you can plan for that. You know your 2 minute offense needs to target the 25 yard line to put the game away safely. With Gano, it almost doesn't matter whether you're trying a 55 yarder or a 35 yarder, he's shaky from both distances. You can't count on him to make it, every time he comes out it's a dice roll.

Stronger leg does not equal better kicker. Give me Cundiff.

Fine post, Schneed.

It is a fortunate team that has a kicker who can win a game with a 50+ yard FG. That is, if that kicker is also accurate at shorter distances. Unfortunately, there weren't any of those kickers available to the Redskins.

Given the choice between a kicker who is accurate inside of 50 yards but who can't hit the long FG's or a kicker who is not accurate inside of 50 yards but who has the ability to hit 50+ yard FG's, the smart coach takes the former every time. That is the choice that was presented to the Redskins coaches and they made the smart choice.

A few small points:

No kicker can be counted on to make the long FG's in the same way that a kicker can be counted on to make the shorter FG's.

Cundiff did choke on a short FG attempt in the AFC Championship game but that doesn't make him a choke artist for life, except in Baltimore.

It was almost certainly Cundiff's missed FG in the AFC Championship game alone that made him unwelcome in Baltimore and available to the Redskins. I think that miss turned out to be a good thing for the Skins.