Tag: Kickers

News: Cowboys consider QB in 2020 draft, Jerry talks Jamal Adams

The final 2020 mock drafts, a flashback to the Johnny Manziel-to-Dallas near miss, and the trade value chart started by Jimmy Johnson.

NFL Draft Eve brought no shortage of eleventh-hour revelations and rumblings in Cowboys Nation. But it is the final opportunity for all the mock drafters to call their shots. What Jerry Jones and Company will do with the their seven picks is anybody’s guess, but there’s intel that suggests all of it is fair game, from secondary to linebacker… to, even, quarterback.

From ironing out last-minute technical issues to the all-important last press conference that may reveal the front office’s strategy, the Cowboys’ draft table is basically set. The club even cleared two more places with a pair of day-before cuts. Flashback to the draft that almost brought Johnny Football to Big D, and check out the pricing system that revolutionized how every team now approaches draft-pick trades, courtesy of Jimmy Johnson. And after all that draft-day appetite-whetting, find out why one business icon ultimately thinks the NFL won’t be getting down to business on the field any time soon.

Cowboys open to drafting quarterback in 2020, but it would have nothing to do with Dak Prescott :: CBS Sports

It’s no secret that the Cowboys have had communications with quarterback Jalen Hurts ahead of the the 2020 NFL Draft. Patrik Walker breaks down how this has nothing to do with QB1… and everything to do with QB2.

Cowboys pre-draft press conference glitchy, but telling :: Cowboys Wire

The annual pre-draft press conference with the Dallas Cowboys front office is usually an important sneak peek behind the curtain. Find out their philosophy and thoughts headed into the 2020 NFL Draft, including Jerry Jones’s own take on the chances of trading the team’s first-round pick for a veteran free agent.

Film room: 4 best-case scenarios for the Dallas Cowboys in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL draft :: The Dallas Morning News

John Owning takes a very deep look into some of the possible bigger scores of the first round for the Cowboys. Trade back? Premier corner? Multiple possibilities will be available to Dallas at 17.

Updates: Cowboys waive kicker Vizcaino :: The Mothership

And then there were two. The team has waived Tristan Vizcaino, who was signed to a futures deal in January. Since then, the club has signed veteran Greg Zuerlein and retained the services of Kai Forbath, setting up a two-man positional battle once camp begins.

Final 2020 Dallas Cowboys 7-round Mock Draft Prediction :: Inside The Star

The experts are making their final predictions for the 2020 NFL Draft and the Cowboys. Here, Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun is selected with pick number 17.

Cowboys to need return-man solution in draft after releasing WR :: Cowboys Wire

The Dallas wide receiver room is a little less populated with the club cutting Lance Lenoir. The 2017 undrafted free agent never really caught on with the Cowboys, with special teams play seeming to offer his most likely route to a gameday role. Clearly, the front office is now looking elsewhere for 2020.

NFL Draft trade value chart: What each 2020 pick is worth based on the Jimmy Johnson model :: Sporting News

It was revolutionary when the Cowboys coach came up with the idea, but now every team in the league uses (more or less) his system of assigning numerical values- price tags, almost- to draft picks. Here’s the cheat sheet for what every pick in 2020’s draft is worth, making putting together (or grading) trades a matter of basic math.

Cowboys feel like they have tackled the NFL draft challenges head-on :: ESPN

Amidst a world in flux, the Cowboys have adjusted admirably and taken care of plenty of needs headed into draft weekend. Take a look back at some of the big moves made, along with final preparations for the 2020 Draft.

Unforgettable NFL draft experiences, from Manning to Manziel :: NFL.com

NFL.com’s Judy Battista recounts the tense moments in 2014’s green room as Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel waited for his name to be called. Jerry Jones had wanted him at 16, and, depending on the version of the story, it took son Stephen actually snatching the card out of his father’s hand for the club to select Zack Martin instead.

B/R Staff’s Bold Predictions for 2020 NFL Draft :: Bleacher Report

Everybody likes predictions. But everybody loves bold predictions! Bleacher Report calls their shots: Jordan Love will go before Justin Herbert, Derek Carr will become a draft day trade victim, and wide receiver Tee Higgins will be the steal of the draft.

Bill Gates explains why most sports are going to be gone a lot longer than fans realize :: Insider

This weekend’s draft will be a nice appetizer, but fans may be waiting a while for the main meal when it comes to the NFL season. Microsoft’s co-founder says sporting events will be the last of the societal norms to return due to the high risk of close-range contagion.

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Falcons 2020 roster breakdown: Special Teams

Younghoe Koo and Ryan Allen brought stability to the Falcons’ special teams situation after poor performance and injuries slowed the group down over the first half of the 2019 season.

Younghoe Koo and Ryan Allen brought stability to the Falcons’ special teams situation after poor performance and injuries slowed the group down over the first half of the 2019 season.

Josh Harris was the model of stability throughout the year regardless of who was kicking, holding or punting. The team has some decisions to make as we enter the 2020 offseason.

After breaking down Atlanta’s quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends, defensive backs, defensive line and linebackers, let’s examine the special teams units.

2019 Depth Chart and Results

K Younghoe Koo 

23-for-26 on field goals, 15-for-16 on extra points, onside kick specialist

K Matt Bryant

9-for-14 on field goals, 14-for-15 on extra points

P Ryan Allen

28 punts, 1,172 yards, 37.5 net average, 14 inside 20

P Matt Bosher

9 punts, 377 yards, 36.7 net average, 2 inside 20

P Matt Wile

6 punts, 290 yards, 44.7 net average, 3 inside 20

P Kasey Redfern

9 punts, 371 yards, 36.9 net average, 3 inside 20

Current 2020 Contracts

LS Josh Harris

Signed through 2021 on a veteran minimum salary each year.

Pending Free Agents: What Happens?

K Younghoe Koo

Exclusive Rights Free Agent

This one is an easy call. Koo was an exceptional kickoff guy and did a great job once he had a chance as a kicker. His range is limited to inside of 50, but he only had three misses on his 26 chances. That’s a 90 percent conversion rate. The Falcons could do worse than Koo on a second-year player’s minimum salary deal. This is the definition of low risk, high reward.

P Matt Bosher

Unrestricted Free Agent

Matt Bosher had an average of 41.9 yards per punt before his injury. The problem with keeping Bosher is that his leg looks like it’s finally starting to regress. Atlanta should be happy for the nine years they got out of Bosher and let him walk to another team. He seemingly had a down year in terms of total average, but his career average is closer to 46 yards per punt.

P Ryan Allen

Unrestricted Free Agent

On the flip side, Ryan Allen was one of the best punters the Falcons have had in terms of directional punting and pinning teams deep. On his 28 punts, 14 of them landed inside of the 20 yard line (50 percent). For comparison, even in Bosher’s best season, he had a 47 percent rate during in 2016 and punts inside the 20 just 39 percent of the time.

Possible Cuts

There likely won’t be any cuts in this positional grouping. The Falcons get back a consistent long snapper in Josh Harris at the veteran minimum for his position. They aren’t hurting for $400,000 the way some teams are and would be wise to keep the veteran long snapper.

Free Agents to Consider

K Nick Folk

Nick Folk has had a better career than Younghoe Koo to this point. But Folk is clearly on the downward slide. He did well with the Jets, but failed out in Tampa. That being said, it looked like he got his confidence back in New England after taking 2018 off. Folk connected on 82 percent of his kicks with the Patriots while being perfect on extra points.

P Lachlan Edwards

The Falcons could look towards Lachlan Edwards in free agency. His career average of 45.5 yards per punt is in the top half of the league.

2020 NFL Draft targets

K Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

Blankenship is a local Georgia talent who went to Sprayberry High School in Marietta growing up. He’s got massive power in his leg and can be an exceptional kickoff talent in the NFL based on his college results. He also has the power in his leg that Younghoe Koo doesn’t seem to have. There is some concern about his percentage falling year to year, though.

P Drue Chrisman, Ohio State

If the Falcons decide to forgo a punter in free agency, looking towards someone in the late rounds of the draft like Drue Chrisman would be a smart move. He averages over 44 yards per punt nearly every year up in the mid-west. Chrisman should see better averages in the pros in while playing more domes.

Out-of-Box Move to Consider

Trading for K Daniel Carlson from the Raiders

While it’s unlikely the Raiders would want to trade away Carlson, he’s the best option to go after. He has three more years of controllable cheap play and would fit in well with the Falcons. Unfortunately, the value wouldn’t be better for Carlson than it is for Koo. Carlson only hit 19 of his 26 attempts and missed two extra points.

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