F.B.N. said:
Come on Nube...JSP is too good a poster for you to shoot from the hip.
Gramatica's kickoffs are shorter than AV
20-29:..47/50.....94%
30-39:..47/58.....81%
40-49...28/47.....60%
...50+:..15/24.....62%
Career:137/179 76.5%
Vinatieri:
20-29:..103/107...96%
30-39:...76/92.....83%
40-49:...70/99.....71%
...50+;....8/17.....47%
Career:263/321 81.9%
Informative stats. But if you really look at them, Gramaticas overall # is lower partially due to kicking a TON more (% wise) 50+ yarders. 13% of his kicks vs 5%.
If you consider that BB passed on long FGs last year, that may be an upgrade because clearly there has never been a lack of confidence in leg strength from Gramaticas former coaches. And his % is excellent from far out.
The 2% difference in the closest 2 ranges is really statistically insignificant ot me.
The HUGE difference and potential dropoff is the 40-49 yard range. For Gramatica to have been as effective as AV in that range, he would have had to make 5 that he missed. Of course thats only about a kick a year?????
It all shows my point. Kickers are kickers. If you dont f-up you'll find one who is successful 80% of the time.
AV was a 'great clutch kicker' BUT he is seen as that because he had the OPPORTUNITY to be. When you are successful at something in the clutch that everyone converts 80% of the time, you are clutch mostly becausae you had the chance not because you made what everyone else would miss. I totally disagree that outside of a select few, kicker are less effective under pressure than on normal kicks.
All of the above excludes the Snow Bowl kick which I think no other kicker would have made. Quite honestly though, having the kicker who made that kick instead of a replacement who is about as good overall would have nothing to do with any kicks they attempt next year, unless we have another Snow Bowl.
No knock on AV but it amazes me how much making a kick that almost any pro has an 80% conversion rate at becomes so glorified, and the 52 players that put him into a postion to do his routine job get overlooked and people think "Vinatieri won the SB" Its ludicrous. Im thrilled as hell we had him, love the memories, but the chances that not having Vinatieri costs a SB win are 1 in a million. (And his age doesnt make him more likely ot not be the guy who misses the clutch kick)
Not to dance on the grave, but how funny would this be? Pats lead Colts 21-20 in 4th quarter of the AFCC in Foxboro. Colts line up for game winning FG to go to the SB, and Vinatieri misses. Or its tied Vinatieri misses with 1:35 left, then Gramatica makes a 53 yarder at the gun?
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