Kicking a controversy to curb
By MAC ENGEL
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
Sam Hurd, left, helps kicker Mike Vanderjagt celebrate his 50-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Vanderjagt started the scoring in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory with a 26-yard field goal.
IRVING -- Mike Vanderjagt had a lot of thoughts running through his mind last week, most of which he didn't share.
For an outspoken personality, it was a rare moment of self-control.
"It was 100 times harder than missing a kick against Pittsburgh," the former Indianapolis kicker said, referring to last season's playoff loss.
"It was hard to take and real hard to deal with. I came to a new team and wanted to kick for the reason I was here. When you aren't provided that opportunity, it's discouraging."
The Cowboys kicker clearly was unhappy with the way his situation was handled over the past two weeks, but on Sunday night he did his best to answer any question about whether he's still good at his job.
One week after being a healthy scratch, Vanderjagt was activated and came through with field goals of 26 and 50 yards in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over the Redskins on Sunday night.
"I never doubted my ability to make field goals, but I guess certain people did. I hope I quieted some critics," Vanderjagt said. "I never doubted my ability, but you have to make sure you still have it."
It ends, probably for the foreseeable future, any notion that he will be a healthy scratch again.
And the "kicker controversy" cloud that followed the special teams since the final week of preseason has moved on, and the team can worry about different issues.
Vanderjagt will handle field goals. Shaun Suisham will handle kickoffs.
The first field goal was nothing for Vanderjagt to brag about, a 26-yarder in the first quarter to put the Cowboys ahead 3-0.
But his attempt in the fourth quarter was noteworthy. A 50-yarder from the right hash mark that still had plenty of distance. After he hit it, the 36-year-old Canadian beamed as if an anvil had been lifted off his back.
As he walked to the sidelines, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells told him it was the game-winner.
"It made me feel better. It was bigger than I thought it was," he said of Parcells' comment.
Vanderjagt signed a three-year deal, including a $2.5 million signing bonus, to fix the team's kicking problem. That problem might be fixed.
"When the city of Dallas doubts that you're a pretty good field-goal kicker, you have to make kicks for people to feel he is half decent," Vanderjagt said.
The only question remaining is how Vanderjagt will do when the kick is crucial, a kick from 40-plus yards with the game in the balance, a kick that kickers make their reputation on.
Until he makes that kick, some doubters will continue to raise their concerns.
The last big kick he attempted, a 46-yard potential game-tying field goal for the Colts in last season's playoffs, was wide right and ignited doubts that he would never be the same -- and that his two missed field goals in overtime of the preseason finale against Minnesota were an extension of that.
Vanderjagt has no such worries.
"I made a lot of game-winners, but no one seems to remember those," he said. "They want to talk about the last one you miss. To put that to rest, you have to make one and move on. I certainly hope that comes pretty soon.
Then he said with a smile, "And I wouldn't mind it being 22 yards."
In the know
Kicking it into gear
Mike Vanderjagt was 2-for-2 on field goals Sunday. Cowboys kicking performances over the past seven games (misses in parentheses):
Date, Opp Kicker Field goals/yds.
9/17/06 vs. Wash. Mike Vanderjagt 2-2/26, 50
9/10/06 at Jax Shaun Suisham 1-2/32, (36)
1/1/06 vs. Rams Shaun Suisham 1-2/22, (47)
12/24/05 at Car. Billy Cundiff 1-2/24 (32)
12/18/05 at Wash. Billy Cundiff 0-1/(38)
12/11/05 vs. KC Billy Cundiff 1-1/34
12/04/05 at NYG Billy Cundiff 1-1/34
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
Sam Hurd, left, helps kicker Mike Vanderjagt celebrate his 50-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Vanderjagt started the scoring in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory with a 26-yard field goal.
IRVING -- Mike Vanderjagt had a lot of thoughts running through his mind last week, most of which he didn't share.
For an outspoken personality, it was a rare moment of self-control.
"It was 100 times harder than missing a kick against Pittsburgh," the former Indianapolis kicker said, referring to last season's playoff loss.
"It was hard to take and real hard to deal with. I came to a new team and wanted to kick for the reason I was here. When you aren't provided that opportunity, it's discouraging."
The Cowboys kicker clearly was unhappy with the way his situation was handled over the past two weeks, but on Sunday night he did his best to answer any question about whether he's still good at his job.
One week after being a healthy scratch, Vanderjagt was activated and came through with field goals of 26 and 50 yards in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over the Redskins on Sunday night.
"I never doubted my ability to make field goals, but I guess certain people did. I hope I quieted some critics," Vanderjagt said. "I never doubted my ability, but you have to make sure you still have it."
It ends, probably for the foreseeable future, any notion that he will be a healthy scratch again.
And the "kicker controversy" cloud that followed the special teams since the final week of preseason has moved on, and the team can worry about different issues.
Vanderjagt will handle field goals. Shaun Suisham will handle kickoffs.
The first field goal was nothing for Vanderjagt to brag about, a 26-yarder in the first quarter to put the Cowboys ahead 3-0.
But his attempt in the fourth quarter was noteworthy. A 50-yarder from the right hash mark that still had plenty of distance. After he hit it, the 36-year-old Canadian beamed as if an anvil had been lifted off his back.
As he walked to the sidelines, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells told him it was the game-winner.
"It made me feel better. It was bigger than I thought it was," he said of Parcells' comment.
Vanderjagt signed a three-year deal, including a $2.5 million signing bonus, to fix the team's kicking problem. That problem might be fixed.
"When the city of Dallas doubts that you're a pretty good field-goal kicker, you have to make kicks for people to feel he is half decent," Vanderjagt said.
The only question remaining is how Vanderjagt will do when the kick is crucial, a kick from 40-plus yards with the game in the balance, a kick that kickers make their reputation on.
Until he makes that kick, some doubters will continue to raise their concerns.
The last big kick he attempted, a 46-yard potential game-tying field goal for the Colts in last season's playoffs, was wide right and ignited doubts that he would never be the same -- and that his two missed field goals in overtime of the preseason finale against Minnesota were an extension of that.
Vanderjagt has no such worries.
"I made a lot of game-winners, but no one seems to remember those," he said. "They want to talk about the last one you miss. To put that to rest, you have to make one and move on. I certainly hope that comes pretty soon.
Then he said with a smile, "And I wouldn't mind it being 22 yards."
In the know
Kicking it into gear
Mike Vanderjagt was 2-for-2 on field goals Sunday. Cowboys kicking performances over the past seven games (misses in parentheses):
Date, Opp Kicker Field goals/yds.
9/17/06 vs. Wash. Mike Vanderjagt 2-2/26, 50
9/10/06 at Jax Shaun Suisham 1-2/32, (36)
1/1/06 vs. Rams Shaun Suisham 1-2/22, (47)
12/24/05 at Car. Billy Cundiff 1-2/24 (32)
12/18/05 at Wash. Billy Cundiff 0-1/(38)
12/11/05 vs. KC Billy Cundiff 1-1/34
12/04/05 at NYG Billy Cundiff 1-1/34
posted by The Gryphon at 9:04 AM
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