Are in the unfortunate position of not having a reliable Field Goal Kicker? That would be a very tough and unfortunate position to be in, if it were true.
We have a kicker. Just an inconsistent one who has fragile confidence. Just as big as the kicker is a new long snapper, Jason Kyle is injured and done for the year. In the Seattle game this past Sunday almost every long snap was a bit off, including the missed PAT.
I know a solid answer to this question come April 2011, he wears P & G and is tied for the most FG's in college this season. Unfortunately that won't help this season very much.
Payton doesn't waste time. He just replaced the long snapper. Hartley is in a sophomore slump. I bet he works his way out of it if we can tolerate his misses right now. New Orleans Saints sign new long snapper | NOLA.com
Dude has exactly one responsibility in life, to accurately snap the ball on kicks. That's it. That's all he does. And every single snap was off on Sunday. How can you get to the NFL and EVERY long snap you make is bad?
I'm not sure we can wait around to find out. Payton is giving him the benefit of the doubt, so who am I to argue. But, having a reliable kicker is an absolute must going forward. If he misses another kick that costs us a game, I think he's gone.
I watched his miss on Sunday severl times. I don't care what Pyton said, the snap wasn''t that great. It appeared to affect him.
Is it just me or does anyone else notice; even on his xpoints, he pulls the ball left. The only reason he doesn't miss them is because it's so close. I'd venture to say that only 1 out of every 3 or 4 xp is a 'right down the middle' kick. I have serious concerns about him. Confidence is a funny thing, especially in kickers. You'd think after the post season and Super Bowl that he had, his confidence would be at an all time high. But now, his body language is such that he HOPES he makes the kick instead of KNOWING he'll make it. I bet in practice, when there's no pressure, he makes 100/100 and that's why Payton keeps him on.
