54 replies to this topic

[Coach55]

Everyone is voicing so much concern about keeping John Potter, yet no one ever is against keeping Ruvell Martin or Corey McIntyre because they are Specialists.  Here is the reality - by keeping Potter it actually opens up roster spots.  For kickoffs, NFL teams dislike using their good players as there is a significant increased risk in injury (punts don't have the set up as a kickoff), therefore teams need 10 quality players for kick coverage.  By having Potter, you eliminate the need for these 10 players and roster spots on players such as McIntyre, could be used elsewhere. One would argue that most of these people are also on punt coverage, but that actually isn't entirely true given the nature of the play (you may have 5-6 players overlapping).

[Captain Hindsight]

I don't disagree with your argument but i think keeping a guy like potter just ensures that your defense gets an advantage of having more field to defend each time the other team gets the ball. Making Sanchez drive 80 yards is better than having him  drive 30

[Doc]

Haven't seen the games, but is he handling all KO's and what has his touchback percentage been?

[PromoTheRobot]

Makes as much sense as keeping a wildcat QB that converts 3rd and short 75% of the time.

PTR

[marauderswr80]

This preseason his touchback % is 100!!!!

Hes 5 for 5!

He makes the team!

Edited by marauderswr80, 22 August 2012 - 12:03 PM.

[swnybillsfan]

Doc, on 22 August 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

Haven't seen the games, but is he handling all KO's and what has his touchback percentage been?

he's been freakin' great, and i think he is somewhere around 100% seriously, every kickoff i have seen him boot has gone either into the back half of the endzone or out of it. i'm real good with this kid having a roster spot.

[K-9]

swnybillsfan, on 22 August 2012 - 12:05 PM, said:

he's been freakin' great, and i think he is somewhere around 100% seriously, every kickoff i have seen him boot has gone either into the back half of the endzone or out of it. i'm real good with this kid having a roster spot.

How can you say he's been great when he's been wide left on every kickoff attempt?

GO BILLS!!!

[marauderswr80]

Noones returned the ball....idc what the kick looks like

[NickelCity]

Coach55, on 22 August 2012 - 11:56 AM, said:

Everyone is voicing so much concern about keeping John Potter, yet no one ever is against keeping Ruvell Martin or Corey McIntyre because they are Specialists.  Here is the reality - by keeping Potter it actually opens up roster spots.  For kickoffs, NFL teams dislike using their good players as there is a significant increased risk in injury (punts don't have the set up as a kickoff), therefore teams need 10 quality players for kick coverage.  By having Potter, you eliminate the need for these 10 players and roster spots on players such as McIntyre, could be used elsewhere. One would argue that most of these people are also on punt coverage, but that actually isn't entirely true given the nature of the play (you may have 5-6 players overlapping).

While I'm not disagreeing with your overall premise, I think there are a ton of people on this board who were against keeping Ruvell, especially last season.

[need therapy]

K-9, on 22 August 2012 - 12:09 PM, said:

How can you say he's been great when he's been wide left on every kickoff attempt?

GO BILLS!!!

Lol

I think that keeping Potter makes a lot of sense in terms of field position.  You make the opposing team drive 80 yard for a TD and if the defense gets a 3 and out, the Bills will start on offense around their 35 or so.

[JESSEFEFFER]

I do not think they want to expose Rian Lindell to having to either make tackles or take on blockers.  His shoulder injury last year really contributed to their second half slide.  Since they seem to be all in this year, I think they want him to be making their "gotta have them" kicks.

Edited by JESSEFEFFER, 22 August 2012 - 12:22 PM.

[I_want_2_BILL_Lieve]

I agree with the over all premise. But it DOES tend to get rather windy in Orchard Park in late November and December. We still will need a kick coverage team when he kicks into the wind.

Edited by I_want_2_BILL_Lieve, 22 August 2012 - 03:10 PM.

[jimmyo]

Doc, on 22 August 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

Haven't seen the games, but is he handling all KO's and what has his touchback percentage been?

You don't even see the ball once it leaves the tee because he pretty much kicks it into the middle of the lower deck. Dude is for real.

[Bud Adams]

marauderswr80, on 22 August 2012 - 12:02 PM, said:

This preseason his touchback % is 100!!!!

Hes 5 for 5!

He makes the team!

As I recall, the Raiders drafted Janikowski 17th overall mostly because of his ability to kick the ball into the endzone. Yeah, I know... It's the Raiders, but still.

I would be shocked if he doesn't make the team. We need all the positive field position we can get.

BA

[jimmyo]

JESSEFEFFER, on 22 August 2012 - 12:21 PM, said:

I do not think they want to expose Rian Lindell to having to either make tackles or take on blockers.  His shoulder injury last year really contributed to their second half slide.  Since they seem to be all in this year, I think they want him to be making their "gotta have them" kicks.

That's a great point, I forgot about Lindell's injury and how he got it while tackling a guy who got past coverage. Keep him for the ice-in-your-veins field goals, and have the kid gradually learn and take over all the kicking duties.

[matter2003]

Statistacally speaking, opponents starting field position is the best indicator of whether they score or not...every yard of field position positively increases an opponents points per drive, and conversely, every fewer yard lessens their points per drive.  If the Bills can get them in a 3rd and long a few times a game starting at the 20, they can turn loose the pasha rush and a sack would result in the Bills getting exceptional field position in return....in short, depending on how many kickoffs we have in a game, could equal 50-100 yards of field position total, or more if you figure the Bills will get better field position from their drive starts as well if they force a quick punt...

[K-9]

Bud Adams, on 22 August 2012 - 12:53 PM, said:

As I recall, the Raiders drafted Janikowski 17th overall mostly because of his ability to kick the ball into the endzone. Yeah, I know... It's the Raiders, but still.

I would be shocked if he doesn't make the team. We need all the positive field position we can get.

BA

The bigger reason is that Janikowski was a two time consensus All American and career 80% kicker in college who was freakishly accurate from long distances. His booming kickoffs were icing on the cake.

GO BILLS!!!

matter2003, on 22 August 2012 - 12:54 PM, said:

Statistacally speaking, opponents starting field position is the best indicator of whether they score or not...every yard of field position positively increases an opponents points per drive, and conversely, every fewer yard lessens their points per drive.  If the Bills can get them in a 3rd and long a few times a game starting at the 20, they can turn loose the pasha rush and a sack would result in the Bills getting exceptional field position in return....in short, depending on how many kickoffs we have in a game, could equal 50-100 yards of field position total, or more if you figure the Bills will get better field position from their drive starts as well if they force a quick punt...

What is this pasha rush you speak of? I know it used to be a strategy in the Mongolian Goat Head Tournaments, but I've never seen it used in the NFL. It's high time though.

GO BILLS!!!

[Charles Romes]

Nothing kills the momentum of having scored like a long return.  Potter helps keep the momentum after a score.   He also helps reduce injuries.

[JR in Pittsburgh]

I don't know--a bit torn on this one.

With the kickoff line pushed up, shouldn't every starting NFL kicker be able to boom touchbacks on a regular basis? Lindell can drill a 53 yard FG, but he can't be counted on to kick touchbacks?

[section122]

JR In Ann Arbor, on 22 August 2012 - 01:14 PM, said:

I don't know--a bit torn on this one.

With the kickoff line pushed up, shouldn't every starting NFL kicker be able to boom touchbacks on a regular basis? Lindell can drill a 53 yard FG, but he can't be counted on to kick touchbacks?

Different technique.  Golf is a good analogy here.  Think about the guys who can drive the ball extremely far they generally have poor accuracy on shorter shots and the guys who are accurate at short distances don't necessarily boom the ball.  It takes a special player (like a Janikowski) to do both.