The official Cut Neil Rackers thread

[azsouthendzone]

A clutch kicker comes in the same situation and drills it no matter who or when the timeout was called. The ball looked like a Beckham corner kick not a FG attempt.

 

[PoolBoy]

I don't not want a kicker that scores, but you guys are acting like Rackers sucks like he did a few years ago. He makes all but 2 kicks in the year. one was rushed onto the field in a clutch situation. i see very few kickers making in those circumstances. he's better than what's available and better than most kickers in the league.

 

[82CardsGrad]

So had it been a bad snap we recover call TO and kick again. But from what AJ posted it sounds like Fitz just called the TO by mistake.

Correct... but we were debating in my section why, after calling the TO didn't the Cards attempt a throw into the endzone? 14 seconds is a ton of time to run a pass play... and with one TO left, if Kurt got sacked or did complete a pass short of the endzone, we could have called our last TO to stop the clock and get rackers on the field....

 

[82CardsGrad]

How many teams do not attempt ONE 50 yard FG in a single season? It is one thing to play percentages and another to not have the ability to even attempt the kick. If your logic is correct then Whisenhunt is truly rewriting the rules of the game. I don't buy it.

I have no doubt that if Whiz felt we needed to attempt a 50 yarder at some point during the season, rackers would've been in there.
Whiz made the right calls. We won the west and won 10 games. Rackers was 16 for 17 in the regular season. He was due... And he will bounce back.

 

[azsouthendzone]

I don't not want a kicker that scores, but you guys are acting like Rackers sucks like he did a few years ago. He makes all but 2 kicks in the year. one was rushed onto the field in a clutch situation. i see very few kickers making in those circumstances. he's better than what's available and better than most kickers in the league.

I don't hate the guy I just think that he isn't what he used to be and that he is an incomplete player. It just seems as if his kickoffs are short and that his leg isn't what it used to be. He attempted nine 50 plus yard FGs in Whiz's first year, three the second, and zero the third. I just don't buy the argument that the punter is so good that punting outweighs kicking FGs. I think the Cards could do better. I will say that I think Rackers is a major headcase when it comes to game winners. Do you really want to feel lucky if he wins one from 29 yards out?

 

[82CardsGrad]

I don't hate the guy I just think that he isn't what he used to be and that he is an incomplete player. It just seems as if his kickoffs are short and that his leg isn't what it used to be. He attempted nine 50 plus yard FGs in Whiz's first year, three the second, and zero the third. I just don't buy the argument that the punter is so good that punting outweighs kicking FGs. I think the Cards could do better. I will say that I think Rackers is a major headcase when it comes to game winners. Do you really want to feel lucky if he wins one from 29 yards out?

How did the kicker for the Bengals do this weekend? Buffalo lost a super bowl on a wide right attempt... and on and on and on... it happens. But Rackers does just fine on kickoffs. Yesterday he put multiple balls into the endzone on a fly. One that went thru the endzone (the OT kickoff).
He missed one FG all year. IMO, Whiz cut down on the 50 yarders because he would rather invest in a punter who can pin the other team deep in their own territory, which is a strategy I am totally down with!

 

[Russ Smith]

I don't not want a kicker that scores, but you guys are acting like Rackers sucks like he did a few years ago. He makes all but 2 kicks in the year. one was rushed onto the field in a clutch situation. i see very few kickers making in those circumstances. he's better than what's available and better than most kickers in the league.

That's the whole thing with a kicker though, it's what you do on clutch kicks that separates the good ones from the bad ones.

Rackers knew it was possible he'd be called on to win the game there. Maybe not the timing he expected but he just completely choked that kick it wasn't like Crosby's miss where he had to hit it perfect because of how long it was and just barely missed right. Rackers kick would have missed from 10 yards closer.

 

[PJ1]

A clutch kicker comes in the same situation and drills it no matter who or when the timeout was called. The ball looked like a Beckham corner kick not a FG attempt.

His approach to the kick told you he would miss it. It was a complete choke and as far as injury is concerned he was hitting from 53 yards in warmup according to Buck and Aikman. I like Rackers alot but he just never makes the clutch kick.

 

[azsouthendzone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCBBUMnRqbo&feature=player_embedded

 

[ajcardfan]

We still had one timeout left...

Actually, we didn't. Fitz called our last one, and the scoreboard got it wrong.

Here's Urban on it...

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2010/01/11/fitz-great-receiver-not-great-at-clock-work/

 

[ajcardfan]

That's the whole thing with a kicker though, it's what you do on clutch kicks that separates the good ones from the bad ones.

Rackers knew it was possible he'd be called on to win the game there. Maybe not the timing he expected but he just completely choked that kick it wasn't like Crosby's miss where he had to hit it perfect because of how long it was and just barely missed right. Rackers kick would have missed from 10 yards closer.

I think what hurts Rackers in those situations is why we like him in others. He just gets too jacked up. Under pressure, you need to be able to slow your mind down and let your body do it's routine. It's not like he's NEVER done it, he has, but it's been a long time now and he has a lot of crucial misses on resume since the last time he was clutch.

 

[phillycard]

He kicked a ball through the uprights on a kickoff folks.

His mechanics are fine, IMO he choked.

Let's not rewrite history here, when I saw him pacing the sidelines I knew we were screwed and we hadn't crossed the 50 yet.

He had too much time to realize it was about to come down to him, once that sunk in, he repeated something that has happend more than once before.

It's just MO but you can't show mercy to a kicker or it will bite you.

People are just letting him off because we won the game, if Rogers hits that pass the first play of OT, Rackers is cut tomorrow.

Coaches can't let that slide you need clutch more than you need big legs and regular season stats, a kicker must be clutch.

this! Great post conraddobler.

 

[Shane]

People are just letting him off because we won the game, if Rogers hits that pass the first play of OT, Rackers is cut tomorrow.

Great now we have not one but two fortune tellers on this board.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2160627&postcount=48

Last sentence in above link.

 

[Black Jesus]

He needs to be cut. He has never hit a game winner.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Great now we have not one but two fortune tellers on this board.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2160627&postcount=48

Last sentence in above link.

Your point is?

 

[Duckjake]

He needs to be cut. He has never hit a game winner.

Rackers hit a 31 yard FG in overtime as the Cards beat Atlanta 30-27 in 2007.

Also made a 29 yd FG with 1:38 in that game for the tie and earlier that year made a 42yd FG with 1:47 left as the Cards beat Seattle.

But those don't make up for missing the FG in the Monday Night Meltdown. He's been on my cut list ever since.

Even though if he'd have made that we probably wouldn't have Whisenhunt as HC or Warner as starting QB.

 

[chickenhead]

I think what hurts Rackers in those situations is why we like him in others. He just gets too jacked up. Under pressure, you need to be able to slow your mind down and let your body do it's routine. It's not like he's NEVER done it, he has, but it's been a long time now and he has a lot of crucial misses on resume since the last time he was clutch.

I agree. When the game is on the line and the opposition is driving, what scares you the most is seeing a kicker loose on the sidelines, then come trotting in like a great closer in baseball. Seeing Rackers frantic just doesn't seem right for the situation. A punitive move doesn't help us--cutting him totally depends on the replacement. But can't you work with a kicker the same way you'd work with a QB or any other player? I know they are treated as "a breed apart," but seriously. It's important.

 

[Treefiddy]

Great now we have not one but two fortune tellers on this board.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2160627&postcount=48

Last sentence in above link.

Not only that, but if we lost the game, then our season would be over and Rackers a free agent. There's a big differnce between cutting a guy and just not resigning them.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Not only that, but if we lost the game, then our season would be over and Rackers a free agent. There's a big differnce between cutting a guy and just not resigning them.

There was talk of franchise tagging him this off season. I'll bet that gets re-thinked. I hope he redeems himself this week. I think Whiz is trying to take the pressure off Rackers by saying it was his fault. Your kicker should be able to run in at the last second, if needed, and make the kick. In a different situation, what if the clock is running down and the FG team sprints on to attempt a kick. To me , that's no different and the kick should be made. Especially a 34 yard attempt.

 

[Shane]

Your point is?

That we have two supposed fortune tellers on the board? I think it was pretty clear.

 

[john h]

That's it. No more chances for Rackers.

One missed kicked from an injured Rackers and we cut him? He has been one of the best kickers in the NFL with one of the strongest legs. He will recover from his injury and be back to his old self soon enough. The Cards supposedly inked the backup kicker for the playoffs. This because of the injury to Rackers. I was surprised to see his kickoffs going as far as they did which was right to the goal line and then some. His injury was a type that would very much effect a kicker. The guy we signed was cut because he had missed 3 out of 4 FG. He made everyone of his extra points and a field goal or two for us. What I do not know was he suited up for the game?

 

[ajcardfan]

That kick was a little more than a normal miss. Even if he tried it from extra point range, I'm sure he still would've missed it. I was watching from the SIDE, (the ball was snapped directly in front of me) and I knew it was off before it was even half way there.

 

[JC_AZ]

Not necessarily an excuse, but I agree with a previous post that he was caught off guard expecting the Packers to call a timeout and then panicked to get the kick off...

He only missed one all year (54+) that I can remember, so not sure firing is in order...JMHO

 

[cardsfanmd]

Let Hightower kick the clutch ones

We know Timmy has the leg and he's shown himself to be money when it counts.

Rackers does so much that is good that you want/need him on the team for kickoffs, but he flat out sucks when it counts.

I finally figured out how to make a video and put it on youtube so if anyone wants to bet me that I can't make a 34 yarder 10 out of 10 times I will match any amount. Matter of fact, I'd also be willing to bet that I could make 5/10 lefty.

 

[Shane]

We know Timmy has the leg and he's shown himself to be money when it counts.

Rackers does so much that is good that you want/need him on the team for kickoffs, but he flat out sucks when it counts.

I finally figured out how to make a video and put it on youtube so if anyone wants to bet me that I can't make a 34 yarder 10 out of 10 times I will match any amount. Matter of fact, I'd also be willing to bet that I could make 5/10 lefty.

I'll take that bet.