+- International Simulation Football League (https://forums.sim-football.com)
+-- Forum: Community (https://forums.sim-football.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Media (https://forums.sim-football.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=37)
+---- Forum: Graded Articles (https://forums.sim-football.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+---- Thread: *The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 (/showthread.php?tid=6681)
*The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 - run_CMC - 12-21-2017
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]The Specialist
Volume 2, Issue 2
”Professional football’s only Special Teams focused publication.”[/div]
Who’s ready to talk about ASFC kickers? I am! We’ll be going with the same format as Issue 1, so... let’s get to it.
Arizona OutlawsDean Jackson
29 of 29 Extra Points (100%)
22 of 25 Field Goals (88.0%) 1/1 from 50+
Longest FG: 51 yards
Season 4 DSFL Player for the Tijuana Luchadores
Rookie kicker Dean Jackson was the Outlaws first round pick, going fifth overall in the draft. He’s just signed a 3 year $5 million contract that will pay $1 million this season, $3 million next season, and $1 million in season 7. Although Jackson was happy to be drafted by his hometown team, it wasn’t an idea anyone was even considering until the unfortunate scandal involving former Outlaws kicker Christiano Ronaldo. The Arizona team went from a fantastic kicker to kicker-less overnight, and made it a priority to get Jackson. Expectations are high for him after his terrific performance in the DSFL, but some worry if he has enough power to sink the long range kicks often necessary to win games in the pros. He’s made very long kicks on the practice field, but his longest game situation kick is only 51 yards (successful, but also his only attempt from 50+).
Las Vegas LegionWayne Gooney
22 of 23 Extra Points (95.7%)
22 of 23 Field Goals (95.7%) 1/2 from 50+
Longest FG: 57 yards
Bojo Kicksit
17 of 18 Extra Points (94.4%)
16 of 20 Field Goals (80.0%) 2/3 from 50+
Longest FG: 56 yards
Spent Season 4 with the Colorado Yeti
Last issue I mentioned that Turkleton has the largest total contract of any kicker, at $9 million over 3 years. Well, Wayne Gooney doesn’t mind much because he’s getting paid $4 million to play this season. That sounds like a lot for a kicker because it is, but when you play at the level Gooney did in season 4, there’s no reason a team with plenty of cap space such as the Legion wouldn’t give him a comfortable contract. He didn’t get as many kicks as most kickers did, but his stats are still impressive. Wayne’s only missed field goal was from 50+, and he made it clear he can make them from long distance when he sunk a 57 yarder. Plus, a 95.7% extra point rate ain’t perfect, but it’s pretty dang close.
Unfortunately for the Legion, there are rumors circulating that he may retire after season 5 (and by rumors, I mean the Legion team budget spreadsheet says “RETIRE” next to his name for season 6). This is perhaps their reasoning for signing Bojo Kicksit, the former Yeti player. He was subpar in Colorado, but maybe they’re hoping that some time learning behind a high end kicker like Gooney will do him good. I highly doubt he or the team expect him to takeover kicking duties this season, as he’s being paid just $500,000 (and, again, they have Gooney).
Oh, and be on the lookout for the signing of DSFL punter Peg Leg. The deal hasn’t been finalized yet, but Las Vegas is looking to sign him to a 3 year, $4 million deal.
Orange County OttersBradley Madlad
50 of 51 Extra Points (98.0%)
21 of 31 Field Goals (67.7%) 2/7 from 50+
Longest FG: 53 yards
Excellent extra point performance. Not so excellent field goal performance. You’ve got to admire his coaches faith in him though: Madlad only made 2 kicks from over 50, but his coaches were willing to give him a shot 7 times over the course of the season. I don’t know that there’s much to discuss when it comes to the Otters kicking squad; on a deal that pays $500,000 a season for the next 3 seasons (including season 5), he’s a non-risk to the team financially, and the Otters’ general managers have made it clear they’re happy with him. So yeah, that’s all there is to it. If the Otters are able to pick a kicker late in the draft sometime, I’d do it (either you lose 500,000 for one year or you pick up a great sleeper), but there’s no reason they need to spend a high-round pick anytime soon. Even if that FG percentage is mildly upsetting to me...
San Jose SabercatsIyah Blewitt
40 of 43 Extra Points (93.0%)
25 of 29 Field Goals (86.2%) 3/5 from 50+
Longest FG: 54 yards
Okay, so, I cannot find anything anywhere relating to Iyah’s Blewitt’s season 5 contract (if it exists, and I imagine it does since the Sabercats don’t have any other kickers easily available). It’s probably out there... but I can’t find it. Oh well. He got paid $2 million in season 4.
Assuming the Sabercats sign/have signed Blewitt for this year, they’ve made a good decision. He doubles as their expert punter and had solid numbers in the kicking game, so I don’t see any reason San Jose wouldn’t sign him. He’s no Turkleton, but he is a solid player.
Wrap Up:
A good pick up by Arizona in light of Ronaldo’s forced retirement. You should never count a score before you’ve made it, but I’m optimistic for the rookie.
Don’t be surprised if the Legion is without Wayne Gooney next season, but until he’s gone, they have a reliable kicker.
The Otters are happy with Madlad, and Madlad seems happy with the Otters, seeing as he signed a new contract with them. If I were an Otters fan, I’d be happy too.
Not much going on in San Jose. Blewitt is an above average player and the Sabercats are in a good place with him.
Oh, and since I forgot in the first article: congratulations to Turk Turkleton and Iyah Blewitt for being named best punters of season 4, and to Stephen Harris for being named best kicker of season 4!
That’s all for today. The content of issue 3 hasn’t been decided yet, but it will likely be NSFL again. No worries though; DSFL articles will return. Thanks for reading!
——————————
1,020 words. Ready for grading.
GRADED
*The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 - tbone415 - 12-21-2017
Hot take: bring hot takes back
*The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 - run_CMC - 12-22-2017
(12-21-2017, 09:22 PM)tbone415 Wrote:Hot take: bring hot takes backThey will once the season has begun and I’m back to my normal/original format
*The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 - kckolbe - 12-22-2017
Still gonna do DSFL?
*The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 - tbone415 - 12-22-2017
(12-22-2017, 10:49 AM)run_CMC Wrote:They will once the season has begun and I’m back to my normal/original formatAwesome
*The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 - run_CMC - 12-22-2017
(12-22-2017, 10:50 AM)kckolbe Wrote:Still gonna do DSFL?For sure! Probably in Issue 3, Issue 4 at the latest.
*The Specialist, Volume 2 Issue 2 - kckolbe - 12-22-2017
(12-22-2017, 09:00 AM)run_CMC Wrote:For sure! Probably in Issue 3, Issue 4 at the latest.
Nice! There appear to be some solid return guys in this draft.