Kicker David Buehler: interesting pick

[Freelance]

First off, I hated the Cowboys draft. But you gotta wait and see on these things. Stephen McGee? Are you kidding me?

But I'm suddenly incredibly intrigued about the most confusing draft pick of the day: kicker David Buehler form USC.

My first reaction was, "we have a pro bowl kicker in Nick Folk that has proven to be more clutch than anyone we've had in 20 years, and we draft a kicker?"

I immediately thought of kickoffs, which Folk struggles with, but still, this still high for a kicker, especially when you have a great one already.

Then I heard some interesting facts about Buehler. He out-benchpressed 27 offensive lineman at the combine. He ran a 4.5 in the 40. He played RB and S in high school. And he's 6-2, 225 pounds.

Apparently not only will he kickoff, he'll play on the punt coverage and return teams potentially. That accounts for enough plays to make it worth taking two kickers to the game, which I generally don't like.

Plus, as HORRIBLE as Dallas' kickoff coverage was last year, if he can create a high percentage of touchbacks, that almost fixes the whole dang coverage team.

And this doesn't look like a kicker.

[slickdtc]

Seems like the new thing in the NFL is these multi-dimensional players. It was only a matter of time before we had a kicker that did more then just kick the football.

[ZB9]

I actually think the Cowboys had a decent draft overall, except for this pick. I did not understand this one.

1. I realize how valuable field position is and how bad the special teams sucked last season...but It is a reach drafting a kickoff specialist with a 5th round pick.

If you want to use Folk only on field goals, and are going to carry 2 place kickers, you can find a kickoff specialist in FA....and also, can Matt McBriar not boom kickoffs like most punters can?

2. Every roster spot is precious, and I dont like the idea of carrying three kickers. They are going to be carrying 3 QBs also, so a couple of spots are going to have to be thin (probably oline and DB).

This Buehler pick intrigues me. It will be fun seeing a kicker that can fly down the field looking to take someone's head off after the kick....but i know im going to be pissed come roster cut down and they have to cut a solid offensive lineman or defensive back to keep a kickoff specialist.

[wwharton]

ZB9, I think you missed his point. The kid would also be playing special teams so basically he'd be taking the spot of someone else who'd pretty much just be playing special teams. Not much of a loss if he's good enough to do that. Obviously he'd be kicking during the kick offs, but would also be on the field for punt coverage and returns and receiving kickoffs.

[ZB9]

Quote: Originally Posted by wwharton

ZB9, I think you missed his point. The kid would also be playing special teams so basically he'd be taking the spot of someone else who'd pretty much just be playing special teams. Not much of a loss if he's good enough to do that. Obviously he'd be kicking during the kick offs, but would also be on the field for punt coverage and returns and receiving kickoffs.

I got the point

he will be taking someone's spot as a 2nd placekicker. Being able to put him on punt coverage team doesnt matter. Although he is a really good athlete for a kicker, I seriously down he would be a better gunner than a DB or a better coverage guy than a linebacker.

Being a novelty does not add to his value as a kickoff specialist, which is what they drafted him for (and which can usually be found in FA)...the pick does intrigue me also, but it's going to end up being a wasted roster spot come roster cut down day. The Cowboys are going to have to go extra thin at OL or DB or LB so that they can keep 2 placekickers and a 3rd developmental QB.

[wwharton]

I think that remains to be seen. Too few teams draft players specifically for special teams. It's possible that, like you think, they drafted him as a kicker and are just happy that he can step on the field for other areas. It's also possible that they drafted him for his all around ability as a special teams player, meaning they expect him to be better than a backup DB or LB as a gunner or coverage guy. Can't say I know, but if they scouted his ability to do all of the above then he'd be a great addition.

[Sandman42]

I'm surprised some teams don't take the chance on Louis Sakoda or Sam Swank. Both were punters and kickers in college, so you could get away with just having 1 kicking specialist on the roster.

[Freelance]

Let's say he can hit 25-30 kickoffs into the end zone as touchbacks. How many points does that take off the defensive stats?

Folk led the league in kicking the ball out of bounds last year (some of that was coaching), and he had ZERO touchbacks.

It doesn't help much if you kick a 48 yard field goal only to give up a return to the 45 yard line on the following kickoff. It's like giving the three points right back most of the time, maybe seven.

Plus, I understand at USC that it was a common site to see him in on the tackles for kickoffs, so he's basically like another coverage guy on the coverage unit (most kickers just hang back).

Lastly, the likelihood of getting your placekicker hurt goes way down, and if he does (or if Buehler does), you've still got a kicker.

I like the move.