Don't Forget About Kickers..

[RayZ27]

I'll leave you guys to answer.

[Rav'n Maniac]

I feel Graham will win out because of his accuracy but, I sure would hate to see Billy kicked to the curb after coming in and helping us so much last season. I also think an important perspective on this duel that is sometimes overlooked is kickoffs. Having someone who can place it in the end zone consistently truly helps in the field position battle limiting returns.

[RavensAllTheWay]

I'm scared because one of them will have to make crucial, maybe even game winning kicks this season. That thought is just frightening. I'm not really sold on either of these guys in the clutch.

I'm not saying they suck, I just haven't seen enough clutchness outta them (yes I said clutchness).

Only reason the thought is frightening is because of Hausch....no I can't say it.

[KyKobra]

Cundiff all around seriously.
Not only do I like the guy but look at his first game 4/4 perfect! I visited the training facility and while I was their I checked the workout board and cundiff wasn't done for the week. While I was on the private tour through the gym cundiff walks in an generally ignores us and just works out. I loved that because he wasn't distraced by me and the guide talking at all.

[edreedfromtheu]

I'm really hoping that the offense does what it's supposed to this year and the Ravens are scoring touchdowns regularly and we don't have to worry about field goals.

Which just leaves kick-offs... so whoever has the stronger leg gets the job.I don't care about being cute and trying to kick it really high so the coverage can try and stop them inside the 5 yard line. Just give me someone who can kick it through the endzone. That's all I want. Touchback every time. Nothing wrong with that! And if you do that, you also save the legs and wear/tear on your special teams guys so they are fresh for returning kicks or if they happen to also play on offense or defense.

[Purple Nurple]

Whoever wins, someone will miss a field goal. I hope everyone is prepared.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' date='30 July 2010 - 01:04 AM' timestamp='1280469859' post='440487']
Whoever wins, someone will miss a field goal. I hope everyone is prepared.
[/quote]

Agreed. I can already see the "Fire [Insert Kicker Who Won Here]! Bring in [Insert Left Out Kicker Here]!" threads. Graham's good still, may not be as accurate as he once was, but he's still good. Certainly much better than we've been accustomed to lately. Cundiff was never elite, but he did well last year. Both men will be prone to some misses, some clutch, some not. It's easier said than done, but people need to not start lynching whoever wins whenever they miss a kick.

[ed.s52]

I just have one question...

If Graham made those two field goals in the playoffs against the Jets (and Cincy still let him go), would this even be up for discussion?

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='30 July 2010 - 02:08 AM' timestamp='1280470111' post='440489']
Both men will be prone to some misses, some clutch, some not. It's easier said than done, but people need to not start lynching whoever wins whenever they miss a kick.
[/quote]

Its inevitable. I'd bet my life on it.

[Purple Punishment]

Misses happen, its human imperfection, if you cant kick a field goal, do not bother ragging on these 2 professionals whos job relys on many variables as wind, timing and mechanics. If one of those things are off just a bit, a miss is more likely to happen. Kicking a field goal is not easy and please be happy that we dont have Haushka kicking for us!

This forum is starting to bug me with people thinking the Ravens are perfect and invincible, then when a mistake is made, people are ready to send em' packing. Be for your team and know that they can win or lose games and know that everything cannot be executed to perfection every time.....

[JEEPercreepermd]

Reminds me of when we lost to the Patriots last season. Before the game started there were trolls starting "16-0" threads. After the game it was, "Fire Mattison" "Fire Harbaugh" "Clayton Sucks" "Start Troy Smith".

But yes, we should be prepared for one of these guys to miss a kick somewhere down the line this year. If one of them does, it's not the end of the world. Actually, I feel confident with either.

[Perfekt]

i know that shane has been consistant thru out his career so im not really concerned about who wins but i just felt like billy was a great fit for this team. it was hard losing my favorite safty blanket in stover but im sure who ever wins it will be best they were truly the better option.

[Crax]

Looks like Graham is in the lead so far

From CBS Rapid Reports
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/BAL/all_tags/today
[quote]
It's early, but the first round of the Ravens' kicking competition between Shayne Graham and Billy Cundiff goes to Graham. He went 4-for-4, and Cundiff went 3-for-4, missing from 45 yards.
[/quote]

[Reddawn36]

I say we take this guy

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwj9VEU7YJQ[/media]

[RayZ27]

did you guys think that kick vs. panthers was hard for graham. i know it was raining but what do you guys think?

[ravensfan160]

My issue with Graham is this. He's a bit like the former Colt kicker who was super accurate in the regular season but missed in the playoffs which is exactly what Graham did last year. He lost the Bengals the game. I'm not saying Cundiff will be a lot better but can we really trust Graham after last year? The Bengals clearly felt they couldn't since they released him.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1282062601' post='453086']
My issue with Graham is this. He's a bit like the former Colt kicker who was super accurate in the regular season but missed in the playoffs which is exactly what Graham did last year. He lost the Bengals the game. I'm not saying Cundiff will be a lot better but can we really trust Graham after last year? The Bengals clearly felt they couldn't since they released him.
[/quote]
I feel the same way, but I think that we [i]can[/i] say that Cundiff is better. I think he made as many kicks as Graham missed in the playoffs this year.

[AnotherPurpleBird]

[quote name='darklight1216' timestamp='1282066699' post='453153']
I feel the same way, but I think that we [i]can[/i] say that Cundiff is better. I think he made as many kicks as Graham missed in the playoffs this year.
[/quote]

Given that the Bengals gave him 3 total playoff kicks in 7 years...just says he had one bad game. That sample size isn't enough to draw any conclusions. Certainly doesn't give a warm fuzzy, but given the rest of the 7 years performance for the Bengals, and more importantly, against us...I'd still be happy to have him.

Cundiff isn't handing him the job though. Battle looks to be good for both of them. I'd say they are both gonna end up somewhere if they keep this up.

[Joe5Flacco]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1282062601' post='453086']
My issue with Graham is this. He's a bit like the former Colt kicker who was super accurate in the regular season but missed in the playoffs which is exactly what Graham did last year. He lost the Bengals the game. I'm not saying Cundiff will be a lot better but can we really trust Graham after last year? The Bengals clearly felt they couldn't since they released him.
[/quote]
Mike Vanderjagt im guessing is who you are talking about?

[Ravenseconbeast]

Cundiff was consistent last year, but unfortunately Graham will get the job b/c his a bigger name.

I have a feeling Bengals are saying "I told you so" when Graham misses big kicks in playoffs like he did with Bengals for 3 years.

[ravensfan2430]

big cundiff fan.. he had a lot of pressure comming in last year as we wanted steve H's head on a platter after the vike's game. Everyone in Baltimore was watching him closely and he performed well.

Plus do you guys really want to hear Bengals fans laugh at us when Graham misses a game winning field goal against them this year. Granted it would be really sweet if he hits it.

[Corvus]

I think the second poll question which I was forced to answer to vote on the first is unfair. I want the kicker who the coaches determine is the better of the two to win the job, so i really have no "favorite" as that question implies.

However, my gut says that Cundiff is gonna win this thing. I think a lot of people are assuming Graham has the leg up (no pun intended) because he is the more recognizable name, has a little more regular season kicking experience, and because of the money attached to him. From what I have been seeing/reading, Cundiff has been slightly more consistent so far in the competition. I know that 50 yarder in the rain was a very hard kick for Shayne on Thursday and if it had been Cundiff, he likely would have had a very hard time making it as well. But I just read Cundiff nailed all of his attempts today, including two 51 yarders in a row. First was good but they redid it because of a camp penalty, and the redo after Suggs apparently tried to scare him on that one. We will see though, i agree with whoever said we should be scoring all touchdowns anyway, but we all know that won't always happen. It will be a good competition right down to the last day of cuts, may the best man win.

EDIT: Just thought of this, at least Shayne's playoff misses last year aren't forcing him to see a "sports psychiatrist" as Nate Kaeding of the Chargers did. He was even worse than Shayne in the playoffs last year.

[Malkavian Raven]

I put Cundiff for both; the guy just needed someone to give him a shot & that's what the Ravens did. He wasn't upper echelon of the kicking brigade, but neither was Stover toward the start of his career.

You look at the stats, they're pretty much neck-and-neck:

Cundiff: 18-for-23, Long 46

Graham: 23-for-28, Long 53

I'm looking at this from a long-term perspective & I'd go with Cundiff 999 times out of a 1000; that one other time would be when I tried to lock-in my answer too quickly and accidentally pushed the wrong button. I make errors, it happens.

[JEEPercreepermd]

I'll support whoever wins the job! I think we all could have confidence in either of them.

It will be interesting to see how the split up the kicks in this next game, because Graham got both of the FG attempts, while Cundiff got kickoffs and PAT's.

[Perfekt]

i go with billy because he can make field goals plus kick off where im not so high on shane for the kick offs.

[Guest RBates]

Billy will win this battle but i love that he has a great kicker pushing him.