Parcells considering using two kickers against Redskins
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Wrtier
Bill Parcells is thinking about doing what for him has always been the unthinkable – playing two kickers.
“I really don't want to do it, but we might,” Parcells said Thursday.
Parcells is reluctant to replace second-year player Shaun Suisham with ninth-year pro Mike Vanderjagt because Suisham is better at kickoffs. But Suisham missed a field-goal attempt from 36 yards in Sunday's 24-17 loss to Jacksonville.
Vanderjagt sat out the opener with a groin injury. The training staff has cleared him to play Sunday night against Washington, but Parcells said he wants to see Vanderjagt consistently make kicks in practice.
But if Vanderjagt plays, the Cowboys lose Suisham's booming kickoffs. And if Parcells suits up both kickers, he loses a 45-man game-day roster spot that normally would be filled by a special-teams performer.
“Whatever you do could be wrong,” Parcells said. “It's one of those deals.”
One thing is certain: Parcells values deep kickoffs, something Suisham can deliver.
“We might save ourselves some field position on kickoffs and that could be pretty important,” Parcells said.
“There is a lot of hidden yardage in this game. Last week on kickoffs, (Jacksonville's) average start of possession was on the 19-yard line. Now that's 10 yards behind where the average start of possession in the league is. That's a whole first down.
“That doesn't sound like much. But over the course of the game, (kick) two or three or four of those, and you've got 40 yards and that starts to translate into a small number of points probably.”
Parcells said he would likely take one less linebacker or running back to the game if he decides to use both kickers.
“In both cases, that would take a pretty good special-teams player out of the mix,” Parcells said.“You've got a little domino (affect) no matter what you do. If it's a linebacker, then it creates problems maybe on your nickel defense, or on your goal-line defense or on a couple of special teams. If you go with a back, maybe you are altering your kickoff team.
“It's really not something I look forward to deciding, to tell you the truth.”
Parcells could face other roster decisions if receiver/punt returner Jamaica Rector's injured ankle sidelines him.
Parcells said he hasn't decided who will return punts if Rector can't play. The two likely candidates would be cornerback Terence Newman and No. 3 receiver Patrick Crayton.
If Rector can't play, Parcells must also decide whether to use only three receivers or dress either Sam Hurd or Miles Austin.
Express-News Staff Wrtier
Bill Parcells is thinking about doing what for him has always been the unthinkable – playing two kickers.
“I really don't want to do it, but we might,” Parcells said Thursday.
Parcells is reluctant to replace second-year player Shaun Suisham with ninth-year pro Mike Vanderjagt because Suisham is better at kickoffs. But Suisham missed a field-goal attempt from 36 yards in Sunday's 24-17 loss to Jacksonville.
Vanderjagt sat out the opener with a groin injury. The training staff has cleared him to play Sunday night against Washington, but Parcells said he wants to see Vanderjagt consistently make kicks in practice.
But if Vanderjagt plays, the Cowboys lose Suisham's booming kickoffs. And if Parcells suits up both kickers, he loses a 45-man game-day roster spot that normally would be filled by a special-teams performer.
“Whatever you do could be wrong,” Parcells said. “It's one of those deals.”
One thing is certain: Parcells values deep kickoffs, something Suisham can deliver.
“We might save ourselves some field position on kickoffs and that could be pretty important,” Parcells said.
“There is a lot of hidden yardage in this game. Last week on kickoffs, (Jacksonville's) average start of possession was on the 19-yard line. Now that's 10 yards behind where the average start of possession in the league is. That's a whole first down.
“That doesn't sound like much. But over the course of the game, (kick) two or three or four of those, and you've got 40 yards and that starts to translate into a small number of points probably.”
Parcells said he would likely take one less linebacker or running back to the game if he decides to use both kickers.
“In both cases, that would take a pretty good special-teams player out of the mix,” Parcells said.“You've got a little domino (affect) no matter what you do. If it's a linebacker, then it creates problems maybe on your nickel defense, or on your goal-line defense or on a couple of special teams. If you go with a back, maybe you are altering your kickoff team.
“It's really not something I look forward to deciding, to tell you the truth.”
Parcells could face other roster decisions if receiver/punt returner Jamaica Rector's injured ankle sidelines him.
Parcells said he hasn't decided who will return punts if Rector can't play. The two likely candidates would be cornerback Terence Newman and No. 3 receiver Patrick Crayton.
If Rector can't play, Parcells must also decide whether to use only three receivers or dress either Sam Hurd or Miles Austin.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:29 PM
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