DC.COM: Blog: Can The Cowboys Afford To Keep Two Kickers?
Posted by rphillips at 4/30/2009 4:23 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
The Cowboys' 2009 draft class and rookie free agents are trickling into Valley Ranch this afternoon for their physicals on the eve of a three-day rookie mini-camp. Of the 20-player group, USC kicker David Beuhler might be the most intriguing prospect.
The Cowboys have no complaints about Nick Folk's career 86.8 field-goal percentage, but they drafted Beuhler as a potential kickoff specialist/special teams player. In addition to his powerful leg, they like his athleticism; he originally was recruited as a safety coming out of high school and outlifted 27 offensive linemen at the NFL scouting combine in February.
Carrying two kickers is a luxury. Bill Parcells kept Mike Vanderjagt and Shaun Suisham for four games in 2006 and it drove him crazy. He would've rather kept another backup/special teams player with that 53rd roster spot. The difference here is, the Cowboys think Beuhler might be athletic enough to do more than kick off.
I asked head coach Wade Phillips if he could afford to keep three quarterbacks (Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, presumably fourth-round pick Stephen McGee) and two kickers on his 53-man roster if he ends preseason with some injury problems at other positions. He said the Cowboys discussed that scenario before the draft, knowing full well they'd likely keep their rookie quarterback on the 53 as a developmental player and not risk placing him through waivers en route to the practice squad. So they would've have taken Beuhler in the fifth round without confidence he could fit somewhere.
Phillips recalls the Broncos signing Brad Daluiso as a kickoff specialist during his time in Denver. Asked about Beuhler's kickoffs, he said, "This kid is far better than anyone we've seen in a long time. He consistently kicks it from the 30 into the end zone and sometimes deep into the end zone. It gives you a chance. I think we can do it."
-Rob Phillips
The Cowboys' 2009 draft class and rookie free agents are trickling into Valley Ranch this afternoon for their physicals on the eve of a three-day rookie mini-camp. Of the 20-player group, USC kicker David Beuhler might be the most intriguing prospect.
The Cowboys have no complaints about Nick Folk's career 86.8 field-goal percentage, but they drafted Beuhler as a potential kickoff specialist/special teams player. In addition to his powerful leg, they like his athleticism; he originally was recruited as a safety coming out of high school and outlifted 27 offensive linemen at the NFL scouting combine in February.
Carrying two kickers is a luxury. Bill Parcells kept Mike Vanderjagt and Shaun Suisham for four games in 2006 and it drove him crazy. He would've rather kept another backup/special teams player with that 53rd roster spot. The difference here is, the Cowboys think Beuhler might be athletic enough to do more than kick off.
I asked head coach Wade Phillips if he could afford to keep three quarterbacks (Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, presumably fourth-round pick Stephen McGee) and two kickers on his 53-man roster if he ends preseason with some injury problems at other positions. He said the Cowboys discussed that scenario before the draft, knowing full well they'd likely keep their rookie quarterback on the 53 as a developmental player and not risk placing him through waivers en route to the practice squad. So they would've have taken Beuhler in the fifth round without confidence he could fit somewhere.
Phillips recalls the Broncos signing Brad Daluiso as a kickoff specialist during his time in Denver. Asked about Beuhler's kickoffs, he said, "This kid is far better than anyone we've seen in a long time. He consistently kicks it from the 30 into the end zone and sometimes deep into the end zone. It gives you a chance. I think we can do it."
-Rob Phillips
posted by The Gryphon at 9:44 PM
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