2012 NFL Season Predictions – Top 5 Kickers in the NFL: They are often the smallest players on the field and usually the butt of jokes, but when the game is on the line, kickers can become the most valuable people on the football field. No, they don’t have the physical build or sheer athleticism of players at other positions, but there is something to be said for having the ability to kick a ball between two uprights from 50-plus yards away. Not to mention that there is no middle ground on any kick. Whenever they take the field, a kicker knows they are either going to fail or succeed. Unlike dozens of offensive and defensive plays that aren’t even remembered each game, not a single field goal goes unnoticed. Having a reliable kicker that can deliver in the clutch can ultimately decide a team’s fate. With that in mind, here is a look at the top place kickers in the NFL for the upcoming season.
2012 NFL Predictions: Top 5 Kickers
1. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders
He went on a wild streak for a few years, but Janikowski has knocked in at least 80 percent of his kicks the last four seasons. He has knocked in more than 30 field goals in each of the last two seasons, and in 2011, he drilled 31 of his 35 attempts. Of course, the real beauty of Janikowski is ridiculous kick power. Without question, he has the strongest leg in the game. Over the last three years, he boasts longs of 61, 59 and 63. Last season, he hit seven of his 10 attempts from beyond 50 yards. Janikowski gives the Raiders a luxury no other team has. As long as they get to midfield, he has a realistic shot of splitting the uprights.
2. Rob Bironas, Tennessee Titans
Bironas has emerged as the most-consistent kicker in the game in recent years. He has connected on more than 80 percent of his attempts for the last five years and has topped 90 percent in each of the past two years. During the five-year stretch he has gone 144-for-162 on field goals, which equates to 88.9 percent. He has plenty of range to go along with his accuracy, nailing field goals from beyond 50 yards in all seven years of his NFL career. Last year, he went 6-for-7 on attempts from beyond 50 yards. Bironas brings the perfect blend of power and accuracy to the kicking game.
3. Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears
Kicking in the elements of Solider Field isn’t easy, but Gould has made it look that way in recent years. He has connected on more than 83 percent of his attempts for the past six years, hitting at least 24 field goals in all six seasons. Gould has also expanded his range over the past three seasons, culminating in a 6-for-6 performance from beyond 50 yards in 2011. He didn’t miss a single kick from inside 40 yards last season either. In conditions that are often windy and occasionally snow covered, Gould flat out gets the job done.
4. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers
His first year in San Francisco, Akers continued what has been an excellent four-year stretch. He has knocked in more than 80 percent of his attempts in all four seasons, topping 84 percent in the last three. Akers has also been one of the most-productive kickers in the league, hitting at least 32 field goals in each of the last four years. Last year, he drilled an NFL-record 44 field goals. Anyone questioning whether or not his leg is holding up after 13 seasons should take notice of the seven field goals he connected on from beyond 50 yards in nine attempts in 2011. Akers gets called on a lot, and he delivers almost every time.
5. Josh Scobee, Jacksonville Jaguars
Playing in Jacksonville can take its toll on a player, but Scobee rebounded from a couple of mediocre years to post monster numbers in 2011. He hit 92.0 percent of his field goal attempts last season, finishing the year 23-of-25. Scobee also went 5-of-6 from 50 yards or deeper. It was the second time in his career he has topped 90 percent in terms of accuracy and the fourth straight year he has connected on a field goal from beyond 50 yards. The Jaguars miserable often leaves Scobee with long field goals and hurts his overall accuracy, but he has the leg to hold his own.
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