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.

[skinsnut]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

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.

I recall another guy that choked in the playoffs that ended up with the Skins...his name Byner, that worked out pretty well for us.

[skinsnut]

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.

Schneed's ability to run the numbers is making a believer out of me on this move....good job!

[Chico23231]

Schneed FTW!

[Schneed10]

As for the clutch playoff miss last year from Cundiff, we don't have a large enough sample size of clutch attempts from him to judge whether or not he's truly a choker. With pressure on him, Gano never showed me he was a clutch guy, so it's not like Gano has a feather in his cap in the clutch department.

Just give me reliability. At kicker I want a Toyota Camry, not a Maserati.

[dgack]

It's worth pointing out that Gano was once in a camp battle with the illustrious Steven Hauschka for the Ravens' kicker job, and Hauschka beat him out, before choking his way to a pink slip and being replaced by Cundiff.

If anything, that tells me that it's not just some irrational hatred of Gano by Shanahan, just that Cundiff is a better all-around kicker.

The bigger issue with Cundiff, IMO, is why he's been with so many different teams. It seems like he just can't find a place where they're happy with him, warts and all, and get comfortable.

[12thMan]

So what, we cut Gano. It's not like it was D.Hall or anything.

[CrazyCanuck]

HATE this move. I'm not doing any work today.

God help Cundiff if he misses some of those <50 "layups". I will smack him down over and over in the smackdown thread.

[mbedner3420]

Originally Posted by CrazyCanuck

HATE this move. I'm not doing any work today.

God help Cundiff if he misses some of those <50 "layups". I will smack him down over and over in the smackdown thread.

I'm almost positive you just wanted an excuse not to work today.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by mbedner3420

I'm almost positive you just wanted an excuse not to work today.

Typical Canadian. Pfft...

[CapitalDefense]

Originally Posted by CrazyCanuck

HATE this move. I'm not doing any work today.

God help Cundiff if he misses some of those <50 "layups". I will smack him down over and over in the smackdown thread.

B.Cundiff 46 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-N.Sundberg, Holder-S.Rocca.

[jbcjr14]

I like this move. Cundiff has proven to be money inside of 50 yards. Hopefully that is all he has to try. We shall see how it all plays out, but I do not see this as anything other than an upgrade and confidence that we will kick a shedload inside 50 yds this year due to an improved offense.

[mooby]

I'll admit I wasn't especially happy about this when I first heard the news, but we have found the silver lining. I'd rather have automatic from inside the 50 than a 50/50 shot from anywhere on the field.

[FRPLG]

NC_Skins apparently has an irrational dislike for Danny Smith who is generally considered one of the top guys in the league. If only we had a better ST coach I am sure Gano would be HOF bound.

Our ST have not been nearly as bad as you think NC. At all.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

NC_Skins apparently has an irrational dislike for Danny Smith who is generally considered one of the top guys in the league. If only we had a better ST coach I am sure Gano would be HOF bound.

Our ST have not been nearly as bad as you think NC. At all.

True and we should remember Shanahan could have replaced him with his own guy when he took over. He obviously kept him on for good reason.