Watched the Game Again...Quick Analyses on Ficken

[…..]

You dont need to analyze each kick. Though I guess its nice that we all the sudden have a kicking expert here at ROD

Just stick to the facts. The facts are the dude missed 2 easy kicks in his shining moment.

Nuff said.

I really hope we arent talking about kickers after the Rams final game of this season.

 

[XXXIVwin]

View attachment 23438


First of all, it really bothered me that the Rams decided not to kick a field goal on the first drive, which would have been about 49-50 yards. I truly believe if the Rams had signed a veteran like Dan Carpenter or Garrett Hartley, they would have tried a field goal...That being posted away we go:

1. Missed extra point....Was not even close, did not strike the ball well and it faded right most Golfers recognize this as not following through or hitting the club open face.
2. Missed Field Goal...33 Yards, you have to make the kick, Ficken struck the ball much better, but again the ball began to fade somewhat and hit the upright dead on...No Good.
3. Second extra point....Dead on, his best kick of the day.
4. Third extra point...Good strike, ball did fade right again, but just towards the end.
5. Fourth extra point...Again good strike, went threw again faded a bit at the end.
6. Kickoffs...Two of the kickoffs were not returned with one being out of the end zone, one kick off was very short fielded at the ten yard line and because short kick Titans returned it to the 30. He did place the ball very well when the Rams went up 20-13, but it was returned to midfield. Again not sure if Fassel instructed him to kick it that way and it was fielded at the goal line to the Rams left, however, that request might have been asked for because they did not feel he could kick it out of the end zone.

I will admit I have been spoiled this year by Zuerlein and I was aware how good Zuerlein was with all the issues at kicker this year and now it has hit the Rams. When you look at the stats of the other kickers I can understand why Fassel went with the kid who gave the best workout, but if he misses the easy field goals again I would go with either Dan Carpenter who has the best field goal percentage or Jason Myers,(Jags) who has a big time leg and was just a few touch backs short of Zuerlein 63-60, Myers also has kicked a 58 yard field goal and when released by the Jags had missed 4 field goals, three of over 50 yards and a 35 yard FG against us for those who remember....Garrett Hartley is another, who had some success, but has not kicked since 2015 for the Steelers and then pulled his hamstring and was put on IR, concerned why he has not been signed with all the other issues around the NFL.

Thanks for the kick -by -kick analysis, den. That’s how I saw his kicks too. His first PAT was definitely a “slice.”

BTW, Greg had the straightest swing ever this year. Shockingly good form for GZ this year, amazing how he almost completely eliminated any hook or slice from his kicks, and no corkscrew action either... usually just dead-on straight and true. What a shame he got hurt.

Ficken has a natural “fade “ to his kicks, and obviously prefers the left hash if possible. His form looked much better in his Jacksonville tape as opposed to what I saw in Tennessee. Can he consistently kick it mostly straight but with a slight fade? Guess we’ll find out.

Kinda surprised they stuck with Ficken, but I think they did because (A) they think his swing is reasonably consistent and (B) they hope he is mentally tough and (C) his kickoffs were good enough.

Man, I am gonna freak out every time he lines up for a FG. We all miss the reliability of GZ.

 

[Merlin]

I will admit I have been spoiled this year by Zuerlein and I was aware how good Zuerlein was with all the issues at kicker this year and now it has hit the Rams. When you look at the stats of the other kickers I can understand why Fassel went with the kid who gave the best workout, but if he misses the easy field goals again I would go with either Dan Carpenter who has the best field goal percentage or Jason Myers,(Jags) who has a big time leg and was just a few touch backs short of Zuerlein 63-60, Myers also has kicked a 58 yard field goal and when released by the Jags had missed 4 field goals, three of over 50 yards and a 35 yard FG against us for those who remember....Garrett Hartley is another, who had some success, but has not kicked since 2015 for the Steelers and then pulled his hamstring and was put on IR, concerned why he has not been signed with all the other issues around the NFL.

Myers woulda been my guy. I like his range, and would hope that Fassell could get his head screwed back on straight.

That aside I respect the way they did it, giving Fassell the nod and all. But man. At least with Myers you got a damn cannon and a chance to get 3 here and there that the others don't give you.

 

[1maGoh]

Good job finding the cloud in the silver lining!

 

[Corbin]

View attachment 23438


First of all, it really bothered me that the Rams decided not to kick a field goal on the first drive, which would have been about 49-50 yards. I truly believe if the Rams had signed a veteran like Dan Carpenter or Garrett Hartley, they would have tried a field goal...That being posted away we go:

1. Missed extra point....Was not even close, did not strike the ball well and it faded right most Golfers recognize this as not following through or hitting the club open face.
2. Missed Field Goal...33 Yards, you have to make the kick, Ficken struck the ball much better, but again the ball began to fade somewhat and hit the upright dead on...No Good.
3. Second extra point....Dead on, his best kick of the day.
4. Third extra point...Good strike, ball did fade right again, but just towards the end.
5. Fourth extra point...Again good strike, went threw again faded a bit at the end.
6. Kickoffs...Two of the kickoffs were not returned with one being out of the end zone, one kick off was very short fielded at the ten yard line and because short kick Titans returned it to the 30. He did place the ball very well when the Rams went up 20-13, but it was returned to midfield. Again not sure if Fassel instructed him to kick it that way and it was fielded at the goal line to the Rams left, however, that request might have been asked for because they did not feel he could kick it out of the end zone.

I will admit I have been spoiled this year by Zuerlein and I was aware how good Zuerlein was with all the issues at kicker this year and now it has hit the Rams. When you look at the stats of the other kickers I can understand why Fassel went with the kid who gave the best workout, but if he misses the easy field goals again I would go with either Dan Carpenter who has the best field goal percentage or Jason Myers,(Jags) who has a big time leg and was just a few touch backs short of Zuerlein 63-60, Myers also has kicked a 58 yard field goal and when released by the Jags had missed 4 field goals, three of over 50 yards and a 35 yard FG against us for those who remember....Garrett Hartley is another, who had some success, but has not kicked since 2015 for the Steelers and then pulled his hamstring and was put on IR, concerned why he has not been signed with all the other issues around the NFL.

Yea, I was surprised we didn't give Myers a shot, but Fassel might have detected some mental issues with him. He was quite good as a rookie (aside from PATs) but has gotten progressively worse since then.

Have zero idea how we didn't pick Myers as well. Dude seems like the most solid option.

I am not on the Fickens train at all. I pray he proves me wrong and makes me look dumb but I see him tanking our season TBH.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Have zero idea how we didn't pick Myers as well. Dude seems like the most solid option.

I am not on the Fickens train at all. I pray he proves me wrong and makes me look dumb but I see him tanking our season TBH.

Jags fans upon Myers’ release:
“Thank God,” “about time,” “new guy can’t be any worse”, “Myers was a mess mentally”, etc etc. Just FYI.
https://www.duvalpride.com/showthread.php?tid=23756

 

[Corbin]

Jags fans upon Myers’ release:
“Thank God,” “about time,” “new guy can’t be any worse”, “Myers was a mess mentally”, etc etc. Just FYI.
https://www.duvalpride.com/showthread.php?tid=23756

I couldn't give a hoot what Jags say about him. At this point of the year your not going to find a Blue Chip top tier kicker anywhere. What you will find is someone who's not 0/1 from 36 yards our and 75% of XP's made.


Hell most of Myers misses came from 50+ yards. I'll take that over Ficken who can only make 3/5 kicks from the 30 something.

If you have him kick from less than 50 is practically golden. Give me Myers.

 

[XXXIVwin]

I couldn't give a hoot what Jags say about him. At this point of the year your not going to find a Blue Chip top tier kicker anywhere. What you will find is someone who's not 0/1 from 36 yards our and 75% of XP's made.


Hell most of Myers misses came from 50+ yards. I'll take that over Ficken who can only make 3/5 kicks from the 30 something.

View attachment 23456

If you have him kick from less than 50 is practically golden. Give me Myers.

Nice comeback! Those stats are indeed impressive.
Myers career FG: 10-19 from 50+ but 54-60 from 49 yards or less.

Fassel must have been concerned about those “mental scars” I guess. Myers was cut after the game against our Rams.
Sam scared the ficken hell outa me too... kinda surprised they stuck with him, I only hope that Fassel knows something we don’t...

 

[Corbin]

Nice comeback! Those stats are indeed impressive.
Myers career FG: 10-19 from 50+ but 54-60 from 49 yards or less.

Fassel must have been concerned about those “mental scars” I guess. Myers was cut after the game against our Rams.
Sam scared the ficken hell outa me too... kinda surprised they stuck with him, I only hope that Fassel knows something we don’t...

Amen! This is literally the only thing I'm concerned about going forward and honestly I see Ficken costing us a season TBH.

I honestly think they are trying to project confidence to secure Fickens morale and think that will pick him up but that is through training camp, pre season and a season of kicking. Not like this late in the season.

Plus the guys leg is weak asf! He can't hardly kick it into the endzone on kick offs! That is a tell tale sign right there is nothing else. I pray we fix this bad pickup after the Whiner game. Hopefully they see what I am seeing before it F's us!

p.s. Fassel is a genius when it comes to ST's but I hope he knows something we don't. Hell he knows more about ST's and football than me, but even coaches aren't perfect and make mistakes. Even good ones.

 

[XXXIVwin]

if Sam shits the ficken bed vs SF, they would have no choice but to go with a vet.

Really hope Ficken surprises us with a solid showing... his first game was pretty craptastic.

 

[den-the-coach]

That aside I respect the way they did it, giving Fassell the nod and all. But man. At least with Myers you got a damn cannon and a chance to get 3 here and there that the others don't give you.

Great point and add in the ability to consistently like Zuerlein to kick it out of the end zone too and that helps the special teams as well. Now I know when a team asks a kicker to kick the longer field goals and they miss, it can mess with their confidence, however, I would like to think the guy can get it there, that is for sure.

 

[den-the-coach]

I am not on the Fickens train at all. I pray he proves me wrong and makes me look dumb but I see him tanking our season TBH.

They signed the guy with the best workout so Ficken had that and the fact that he had not kicked before led Fassel to state that Ficken had no mental scars. Myers had the strongest leg of the group, Carpenter had the best FG Accuracy Percentage and Hartley was a combination of the two, but not kicking since 2015 I would like to know why? Anyway all of us love John Fassel and it was his call so we have to trust the process.

 

[den-the-coach]

You dont need to analyze each kick. Though I guess its nice that we all the sudden have a kicking expert here at ROD

 

[Zodi]

But, I'd suggest Argyou.....whatever the kids name is....he was a 2nd rounder for a reason.

Yeah, because the Bucs are trash.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Man how are you not an NFL coach lol you seem to know it all

Seriously...I got kids to raise....

Actually, I know very little about kickers...I know that guy the Pats have...that went to the Colts is damn good and beat us in the SB.

I also know, ST is not very important.....unless you have a terrible kicker.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Yeah, because the Bucs are trash.

I'll take poorly coached for $1000, Zodi.....LOL. Their hardknocks episodes were worse than ours....no discipline....scared to check Jamies....no clue how to get D-Jax the ball....and all that defensive talent....hell, I like their o-line too.

 

[Akrasian]

Let's not forget that the spread was -5 1/2, and they won by 4.

I, for one, had $36,000 bet on the spread. Ficken owes me those ROD credits.

 

[den-the-coach]

FWIW's seems Rams will stick with Ficken, I just hope with the backups playing against San Fran, Ficken gets multiple chances for FG's and kick offs so we can judge a larger body of work before post season.

 

[Merlin]

They signed the guy with the best workout so Ficken had that and the fact that he had not kicked before led Fassel to state that Ficken had no mental scars. Myers had the strongest leg of the group, Carpenter had the best FG Accuracy Percentage and Hartley was a combination of the two, but not kicking since 2015 I would like to know why? Anyway all of us love John Fassel and it was his call so we have to trust the process.

What concerns me most was the Rams not trying that first field goal. Makes me feel like the offense has to get down to the damn redzone to try for a FG, which is going to kill us vs a team like Minnesota.

I love this team and our chances, but losing GZ was enormous. Just a massive impact, and when I see Fickens out there I feel a sense of doom. Really hope I'm wrong man, but meh.