RIP Ray Guy

Franklin said that he needed to feel the ball to kick well. Dunno about the other guys, but like them, as a kid. I used to try to kick and punt barefoot in my front yard. Hurt like hell.

ESPN just did a fun story on Jeff Wilkins, who was, well kinda, the “last” barefoot kicker.

The secret identity of the NFL's last barefoot kicker

 

I remember when the Broncos got rid of David Treadwell after the 1992 season. Treadwell had been in Denver for four years and hit 78% of his kicks. But he had limited range and was zero for four career from 50 yards of more. So the Broncos drafted Jason Elam and dumped Treadwell.

Paul Zimmerman pointed out at the time that even 15 years previous a 78% kicker would have gotten a new contract and been a franchise icon. But the kickers have gotten so good that anything less than 80% with at least a 55 yard range is unacceptable.

 

Not absolutely positive but I think the first soccer style kicker, that I remember, was Roy Gerela for the BC Lions in like ‘66 or so. Does that predate one of the Gogalaks who kicked for Houston Oilers? All from memory..

 

It was Ted, not Roy Gerela, who played for BC in 67. Pete Gogolak played for Buffalo in 64-65. Looked it up.

 

The increase in range is incredible, too. Through the 2005 season there had been four field goals in NFL history of 60 yards or longer. Since the start of the 2006 season there have been 25.
There have been seven made field goals of 58 yards or longer this season alone. Coaches seem much more willing to give guys a shot from 55+ during the regular flow of the game, whereas that used to be reserved for hope-and-pray moments at the end of a half or game.

 

This is a great bit:

THE 1980s WERE a deeply weird time. In the NFL, this oddness manifested itself in any number of fads, including rampant mullets, unironic mustaches, Christmas sweaters as gameday clothing for coaches and an abiding affection for garish (but largely useless) neckrolls. The presence of barefoot kickers -- men willingly choosing to take off their shoes and kick in everything from mud to frozen turf or ice because they saw it as a strategic advantage -- was just another part of a very strange show.

 

I watched an NFL Films segment that said Bob Timberlake, the Giants’ kicker in 1965, was the tongue-in-cheek impetus for the AFL-NFL merger. In ‘65, he went 1-for-15 (!) on FG tries (granted, he was a QB), which made the Giants make the first trade within the leagues for Pete Gogolak, and the rest is history.

 

Awesome story, goalmouth. Thank you for sharing it.

 

Excellent points.

 

Luit—

Serious question:

Explain what value a punter provides that can’t be measured in yards-per-punt or net yards per-punt.

 

That might be a bit of an urban myth, embellished by Michaels himself. Apparently Namath wound up paying the bar tab for Michaels that night and gave him and a teammate a ride back to their hotel.

Maybe number or percentage of kicks that wind up with the opposition starting its drive behind the 20-yard line.

 

That’s a major factor in net yards-per-punt because it means you’re avoiding a touchback.