Kicking Woes Continue For Redskins

By Kiel Maddox
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Updated: October 2, 2012

AP Photo/Brian Blanco

The Washington Redskins felt they finally found their kicker after veteran Billy Cundiff was released by the Baltimore Ravens at the end of August, but as they found out yesterday, they still have searching to do.

Yesterday in Tampa Bay, Billy Cundiff struggled from distances that are well within his range. 41 (twice), 57 and 31. Obviously the 57 yarder field goal is hard for even the best of kickers, but the other three should have been made, especially by a kicker who two years ago made the Pro Bowl.

Due to the misses, Tampa Bay was able to make a comeback and eventually take the lead, before quarterback Robert Griffin III lead the offense down the field to set up Cundiff for the game winning field goal. A field goal he barely snuck through the left up right. Had the kick been another two yards, the Redskins easily could have gone home 1-3.

Late in the offseason the Redskins release Graham Gano, a kicker known for kicking the field goals of lengthy distances and making them. That’s not to say he didn’t struggle at times, but he was definitely on his way up in the NFL. Jumping from a 68.6% in 2010, to a 75.6% in 2011. Had his special teams been able to block better for his kicks, his numbers would have been a bit better.

Last season Billy Cundiff kicked for 75.7%, and his entire career has been up and down, not to mention the failure to come through in the clutch situations, such as we saw in the playoffs last year against New England.

Throughout his career Cundiff has been considered ‘money’ from anything within the 30 yard distance range, after that his numbers drop drastically.

Washington needless to say isn’t an offense that is going to score on every drive, and with them getting into the thick of their schedule starting this week it’s safe to say Cundiff will be required to attempt some of those lengthy field goals again. Kicks that have never been friendly to him.

If Washington expects to stay in games for the rest of the season they’re going to need a kicker who can hit from long distances, otherwise they better start drawing up plays to convert fourth downs.