MagicMarker

...is John Clayton nuts?

This is ESPN's intro to the Colts article:

"The biggest signing of the offseason was ... a kicker? For the Colts, the answer may prove true. John Clayton checks in from Colts camp, where hope lies in the foot of Adam Vinatieri."

His first topic is how important the Vinatieri signing is to the Colts?

What? This makes no sense! Yes, I agree Adam was Mr. Clutch and Vanderjagt is a jerk, but come on. How much can he really help them?

Vanderjagt has the highest field goal percentage in NFL history, and it is even higher outdoors than indoors. He missed two field goals last year in the regular season. Two!

Sure, he missed the critical one against the Steelers badly....but, if he made that one, would anybody expect that Vinatieri would be an upgrade at all?

And, let's face it...that field goal against the Steelers was, what, 46 yards? That is the outside of Adam's range. It's no lock that he makes that kick. Plus, Adam's last attempt for us, in the fourth quarter of the Denver game that would have cut the 11 point lead to 8 -- critical for us-- and he missed.

Don't get me wrong....I loved Adam and wished we'd signed him, but Vanderjagt was no slouch either. If Vinatieri is an upgrade, it's a very small one. Most likely, he'll make no difference in where the Colts finish at all.

So, am I wrong in thinking that those who write about the major upgrade the Colts made with Vinatieri and just getting way ahead of themselves?

Alk

I have said this before but had the Colts actually kept James then the Vinatieri signing could have been the signing to put them over the top. Vanderjagt flat out missed a kick that Vinatieri would have made at least 9 times out of 10. That being said, no way does Vinatieri fill the void that was left by James when he signed with the Cardinals. Peyton is in trouble this season and I'm going to love every minute of it as Vinatieri sits on the bench just waiting and hoping that offense can even get within field goal range.

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BelichickFan

Everyone's remembering the kick against the Steelers and forgetting that none of the Colts' other playoff losses have ever been due to the FG kicker. And if Bettis hadn't fumbled the Colts would have lost that one by more than a FG too.

broadwayjoe

Very well put the blame will go on the kicker and the offensive line and any other unit but seldom is placed where it really belongs and true fans know where that is.

BelizePats

No, you're not wrong. I loved AV but I did not like the way he departed. His range on field goals and kick offs was slipping and I'll eat my hat if he only misses two for the Colts this fall.
Its no upgrade, except for maybe in the locker room.

Rich

miDeuce

It's because they have nothing else to give the Dolts love on (a media requirement these days) and what else can they point to that they did to upgrade their team this year? Tying up even more cap space in their #2 WR? I love how much the media is downplaying the loss of Edge. Everyone wants to write off Corey Dillon after one injury plagued season, yet they lose one of their mainstays completely and all the media can talk about is how Addai will make everyone forget about him. I highly doubt it. Yes replace Edgerrin James with an aging kicker and that will be the difference between another choke and the Super Bowl.

BradyisGod

You're so right. This morning they were saying how Mungro and Dominic Rhodes racked up 1000+ yards when Edge was out. Of course, they didn't mention they were 6-10 or whatever record they had.

Murphys95

Actually, I buy into Clayton's claim, but for a different reason - because of the loss of Edgerrin James, I think the role of the kicker will be magnified in Indy. A quick glance at Indy's 2005 season shows that they didn't have one regular season game which came down to a field goal to win it. For the most part the Colts won going away last season.

With the loss of James, however, things will almost certainly be different in Indy this year. I can envision the Colts having a number of games that come right down the wire, games that would require a clutch kicker in order to win it.

In other words, the Colts offensive prowess may have been diminished by the loss of Edgerrin James, which in turn may lead to more close games, which ultimately leads to Vinatieri being a very important acquisition for them.

MagicMarker

Murphys95 -- Now I get back to my other point. Vanderjagt is the highest percentage kicker in NFL history, inside and outside. Even if the Colts are in more close games, how big of an upgrade be over the best percentage kicker ever?

Yankees/Colts

Uh, no.

Once again, Vanderjagt also lost the Miami playoff game. Manning drove them down the field to win, just like Brady did vs. the Rams, but Vanderjagt missed it. Vanderjagt also missed vs. the Pats which would have given the Colts home field advantage. Then in the Steeler game, Peyton drove the Colts down the field to win, just like Brady did vs. the Panthers, but Vanderjagt missed it. If he makes it, the Colts win the Superbowl. Vanderjagt missed as many big FGs as Vinatieri made. It's an easy job when your kicker actually makes them.


And if when Brady fumbles the ball away to the other team in the snow, they let the team who recovers it actually keep it, the Patriots don't have a Superbowl victory.

Except against the Rams to win the Superbowl...

Vinatieri will kick 50 yarders indoors.