Billy Cundiff And Competition

[cursona pirate]

Injury and confidence shook him last season. I can see him winning the kicking competition and gaining confidence back. Kcking is a mental game.

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1336842804' post='1076848']


This is something that bothered me a lot about last season. I read somewhere during camp/preseason (don't ask me where, I couldn't tell you) that Billy had been practicing 55-60 yarders and hitting them somewhat decently. Obviously that wasn't happening in the season, which makes me wonder if its purely a confidence thing with him.
[/quote]

His leg was surely stronger at the beginning of the season before his injury. By midseason, he was barely making it to the back of the endzone, but I remember him kicking it out of the endzone early on. Who knows what kind of physical shape he will be in this year, but one thing is for certain, he will always be thinking of the horrible wide-to-the-left miss.

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1336773965' post='1076495']
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/RavensInsider/status/201058103200972801"]https://twitter.com/#!/RavensInsider/status/201058103200972801[/url]

We may have a bit of competititon
[/quote]

Why the heck didn't Harbs call a timeout there?????

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='cursona pirate' timestamp='1336853310' post='1076908']
Injury and confidence shook him last season. I can see him winning the kicking competition and gaining confidence back. Kcking is a mental game.
[/quote]

I guess Yogi Berra summed it up, “Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical.” Replace baseball with kicking a football and you have it.

[GrimCoconut]

I think Tucker has a very legitimate shot to beat Billy. I like Billy, but he never looks confident. I know that looks are unimportant but in this situation I feel there may be some validity to it. I don't care what Flacco looks like, but the kicker should look ready not fearing for his life. Kicking is all about confidence, and if he does not have that we have botched chip shots like in New England.

I like Tucker. He is scrappy. He fits our team in his personality. I like it that he wants to be in clutch situations. No kicker is perfect, but a kicker needs to make the ones that count.

[JO_75]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1337024193' post='1077609']
I think Tucker has a very legitimate shot to beat Billy. I like Billy, but he never looks confident. I know that looks are unimportant but in this situation I feel there may be some validity to it. I don't care what Flacco looks like, but the kicker should look ready not fearing for his life. Kicking is all about confidence, and if he does not have that we have botched chip shots like in New England.

I like Tucker. He is scrappy. He fits our team in his personality. I like it that he wants to be in clutch situations. No kicker is perfect, but a kicker needs to make the ones that count.
[/quote]

I think so too. I don't know how long it will take but maybe before the third and 4th pre-season games or at least after the third and don't drag it all the way through the pre-season.

[JO_75]

Does anyone know what jersey number Tucker is wearing? I looked on the player roster page and he isn't even listed.

[rmw10]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1337025443' post='1077621']
Does anyone know what jersey number Tucker is wearing? I looked on the player roster page and he isn't even listed.
[/quote]

I haven't seen his jersey number, but apparently he was at the minicamp on tryout basis with the full expectation of being signed. That will probably come in the next few days, and then he'll be on the roster.

[HaX]

I'll never forgive cundiff

[cursona pirate]

I don't understand the confidence thing about billy. How can you tell he isint confident because the way he looks. There is no validity. How do you want kickers to show their confidence? Smile while they are kicking? You can't judge someones confidence based on their face expression while their on the field.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='cursona pirate' timestamp='1337033818' post='1077692']
I don't understand the confidence thing about billy. How can you tell he isint confident because the way he looks. There is no validity. How do you want kickers to show their confidence? Smile while they are kicking? You can't judge someones confidence based on their face expression while their on the field.
[/quote]
That's a very fair argument and I would normally be very inclined to agree with you. I normally do when it comes to Flacco. The only reason I even use it is because of these reasons:

1.) Billy always looked frightened, when he comes on the field, walks to the locker room, does interviews, etc.
2.) The way he carries himself, interviews, etc. Here I am not talking about aesthetics, I am talking about impression. He doesn't give a lot of eye contact in his interviews, he's always looking away, etc.
3.) Billy does not kick confidently, and this is sole reason why I believe he lacks confidence. The other two points are supplementary points to this one. Billy Cundiff seems to let the pressure get to him when he kicks very easily, which is a big reason why I believe he had the misses he did. Perhaps he was injured and that affected his confidence in his leg this year, I don't know. I do remember watching him kick kickoffs and being surprised he wasn't getting them into the back of the endzone. This was early in the year. I'm not sure what it was, but something was very different about Cundiff this year.

In the end, I would take Billy over Steve every day. I'm just concerned whether or not he has the confidence in himself to move on from this devastating loss. My concern is compounded by the fact that he doesn't appear confident, doesn't sound confident, and doesn't kick confidently to me. I know that may sound ridiculous, to kick confidently, but that's how I see him.

And no, I don't expect him to come out there smiling or anything. I definitely don't want him walking out there looking scared, though. That's how he looks, too. Not confused, but scared. Again, there might have been more to last year than I know. I am not an insider here. I just think he looked scared, sounded scared, and kicked scared.

[cursona pirate]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1337037429' post='1077721']
That's a very fair argument and I would normally be very inclined to agree with you. I normally do when it comes to Flacco. The only reason I even use it is because of these reasons:

1.) Billy always looked frightened, when he comes on the field, walks to the locker room, does interviews, etc.
2.) The way he carries himself, interviews, etc. Here I am not talking about aesthetics, I am talking about impression. He doesn't give a lot of eye contact in his interviews, he's always looking away, etc.
3.) Billy does not kick confidently, and this is sole reason why I believe he lacks confidence. The other two points are supplementary points to this one. Billy Cundiff seems to let the pressure get to him when he kicks very easily, which is a big reason why I believe he had the misses he did. Perhaps he was injured and that affected his confidence in his leg this year, I don't know. I do remember watching him kick kickoffs and being surprised he wasn't getting them into the back of the endzone. This was early in the year. I'm not sure what it was, but something was very different about Cundiff this year.

In the end, I would take Billy over Steve every day. I'm just concerned whether or not he has the confidence in himself to move on from this devastating loss. My concern is compounded by the fact that he doesn't appear confident, doesn't sound confident, and doesn't kick confidently to me. I know that may sound ridiculous, to kick confidently, but that's how I see him.

And no, I don't expect him to come out there smiling or anything. I definitely don't want him walking out there looking scared, though. That's how he looks, too. Not confused, but scared. Again, there might have been more to last year than I know. I am not an insider here. I just think he looked scared, sounded scared, and kicked scared.
[/quote]
I agree with what you said. Good points. I really hope he can recover from the lost.

[JO_75]

[quote name='rmw10' timestamp='1337025846' post='1077625']
I haven't seen his jersey number, but apparently he was at the minicamp on tryout basis with the full expectation of being signed. That will probably come in the next few days, and then he'll be on the roster.
[/quote]

I just saw that his college number was 19 and we know that number will never be worn here in Baltimore. So maybe he go with number 1 or even 9?

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1337053941' post='1077820']


I just saw that his college number was 19 and we know that number will never be worn here in Baltimore. So maybe he go with number 1 or even 9?
[/quote]
there's now a pic on the main page with him wearing number 6

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='TheMadRaven' timestamp='1336581101' post='1075028']
I personally hope Tucker somehow wins the starting position. I can't even look when Cundiff lines up on Madden let alone real life. [u][b]I miss Matt Stover man [/b][/u]lol.
[/quote]

Matt Stover is RETIRED!!! let it go and move on bruh! he has! lol! but your comment about Cundiff on madden is hilarious! lol!

~Mili

[JO_75]

[quote name='horus13corvineus' timestamp='1337092552' post='1077954']
there's now a pic on the main page with him wearing number 6
[/quote]

Let's see, Cundiff got hit with the Boller curse, we don't have any bad memories of players wearing 6 do we?

[Free Agent]

From Tucker's own Youtube channel, here's a video of him making a 70 yard field goal. Apparently this guy has quite the powerful leg.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28wQOvEu2PU&feature=plcp"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28wQOvEu2PU&feature=plcp[/url]

[JO_75]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1337095539' post='1077980']
From Tucker's own Youtube channel, here's a video of him making a 70 yard field goal. Apparently this guy has quite the powerful leg.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28wQOvEu2PU&feature=plcp[/media]
[/quote]



What is the NFL Record for longest Field Goal? After seeing that, I have all the confidence that he would make any Field Goal no matter the distance.

[Free Agent]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1337095986' post='1077986']


What is the NFL Record for longest Field Goal? After seeing that, I have all the confidence that he would make any Field Goal no matter the distance.
[/quote]

The longest is a 63 yarder, I believe. And I agree, this guy appears to have a phenomenal leg.

[jazz1988]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1337095986' post='1077986']


What is the NFL Record for longest Field Goal? After seeing that, I have all the confidence that he would make any Field Goal no matter the distance.
[/quote]


yeah but its alot different when you have to do that with crowd noise and knowing that team really needs you to make this 70 yard field goal or any distance

[Free Agent]

[quote name='jazz1988' timestamp='1337096506' post='1077989']
yeah but its alot different when you have to do that with crowd noise and knowing that team really needs you to make this 70 yard field goal or any distance
[/quote]

Agreed, but some kickers simply don't have the leg strength to make a kick like that, pressure or no pressure. Tucker apparently does have the leg strength, which is a major plus.

[JO_75]

[quote name='jazz1988' timestamp='1337096506' post='1077989']
yeah but its alot different when you have to do that with crowd noise and knowing that team really needs you to make this 70 yard field goal or any distance
[/quote]

Your right, it is different but he seemed to kick that with ease and you have to think there was some pressure of wanting to make the field goal since it was being taped. So I'm sure to him it felt like a situation where he had to make it.

[callahan09]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1337095539' post='1077980']
From Tucker's own Youtube channel, here's a video of him making a 70 yard field goal. Apparently this guy has quite the powerful leg.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28wQOvEu2PU&feature=plcp[/media]
[/quote]

Looks pretty windy, too. The way his shirt and shorts are flapping in the wind.

[JO_75]

[quote name='callahan09' timestamp='1337097167' post='1077997']
Looks pretty windy, too. The way his shirt and shorts are flapping in the wind.
[/quote]

Plus you can hear the wind as well, now that makes it even more impressive.

Looks like we got our brand new Kicker, let's just hope Harbs sees it that way and keeps him instead of releasing him.

[Yatagarasu]

I think the Front Office regret signing all that money to Billy Cundiff.

However after Matt Stover retired, our situation with the kickers were a mess.

[s]Steve Hauschka[/s]
[s]Shayne Graham[/s]
[s]Graham Gano[/s]
Billy Cundiff...
Justin Tucker?

I compared the top kickers around the league and guess what I found...

David Akers
2011: 44-52 / 84.6% / long 55 / 7-9 in 50+ range
Career: 82.2% / 22-41 in 50+ range

Connor Barth
2011: 26-28 / 92.9% / Long 55 / 2-3 in 50+ range
Career: 83.9% / 6-10 in 50+ range

Josh Scobee
2011: 23-25 / 90% / Long 55 / 5-6 in 50+ range
Career: 78.8% / 18-29 in 50+ range

SeaBass (Sebastian Janikowski)
2011: 31-35 / 88.6% / Long 63 / 7-10 in 50+ range
Career: 79.6% / 36-66 in 50+ range

Rob Bironas
2011: 29-32 / 90.6% / Long 53 / 6-7 in 50+ range
Career: 86.3% / 21-29 in 50+ range

Neil Rackers
2011: 32-38 / 84,6% / Long 54 / 4-5 in 50+ range
Career: 80% / 26-48 in 50+ range

Adam Vinatieri
2011: 23-27 / 85.2% / Long 53 / 2-3 in 50+ range
Career: 82.9% / 12-25 in 50+ range

There's plenty of kickers that have better career average than Cundiff, who's at 76.7%. I assume 2010 was a fluke year because he somehow had a strong leg.

[Yatagarasu]

Justin Tucker might be a real gem because he can do punting duty too.

[jazz1988]

[quote name='Corvus Amplus' timestamp='1337097521' post='1078001']
I think the Front Office regret signing all that money to Billy Cundiff.

However after Matt Stover retired, our situation with the kickers were a mess.

[s]Steve Hauschka[/s]
[s]Shayne Graham[/s]
[s]Graham Gano[/s]
Billy Cundiff...
Justin Tucker?

I compared the top kickers around the league and guess what I found...

David Akers
2011: 44-52 / 84.6% / long 55 / 7-9 in 50+ range
Career: 82.2% / 22-41 in 50+ range

Connor Barth
2011: 26-28 / 92.9% / Long 55 / 2-3 in 50+ range
Career: 83.9% / 6-10 in 50+ range

Josh Scobee
2011: 23-25 / 90% / Long 55 / 5-6 in 50+ range
Career: 78.8% / 18-29 in 50+ range

SeaBass (Sebastian Janikowski)
2011: 31-35 / 88.6% / Long 63 / 7-10 in 50+ range
Career: 79.6% / 36-66 in 50+ range

Rob Bironas
2011: 29-32 / 90.6% / Long 53 / 6-7 in 50+ range
Career: 86.3% / 21-29 in 50+ range

Neil Rackers
2011: 32-38 / 84,6% / Long 54 / 4-5 in 50+ range
Career: 80% / 26-48 in 50+ range

Adam Vinatieri
2011: 23-27 / 85.2% / Long 53 / 2-3 in 50+ range
Career: 82.9% / 12-25 in 50+ range

There's plenty of kickers that have better career average than Cundiff, who's at 76.7%. I assume 2010 was a fluke year because he somehow had a strong leg.
[/quote]

I dont think Cundiff performance in 2010 was a fluke year for most of the season he was playing hurt and I think it hurt his ability to play at a high level

[tonyg6996]

I'm liking Tucker a lot now. Yes, I'll be honest, it mainly started from reading the articles on the front page. But looking into him more I think he looks really promising. Even if Billy wins out, it will only be good for him to have somebody breathing down his neck. In fact, I think missing that was part of why he was off last year. Either way Tucker will help our kicking.

[Gail Kiser]

I'm not a big fan of Cundiff. They should have kept Stover not cut him because of his age not his performance. I'm not saying Cundiff is bad, he's just not good enough. He needs to be replaced.

[rmw10]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1337053941' post='1077820']
I just saw that his college number was 19 and we know that number will never be worn here in Baltimore. So maybe he go with number 1 or even 9?
[/quote]

He's number 6 in case you were still wondering. There's a picture of him on the front page.