Quote:
Originally Posted by SmootSmack
Who would have known Akers would turn out to be the player he's become. He was pretty awful with us
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Akers wasn't given a proper chance with us. Norv cut Scott Blanton after two games in '98 and Casserly signed Akers to kick against Seatle in week 3. Akers was 0-2 in FGs, both over 40 yards, but surely he had more leg strength than the guy who replaced him, an aging Cary Blanchard, who was gone the next year. One of my huge problems with our kickers since then hasn't only been inconsistency on FGs, but the short kickoffs that all but assure returns to the 25 or 30 yard line. Akers was one of the best deep kickoff guys for the last decade, only declining last season after a groin injury.
Hopefully the kid competing against Suisham is given a fair shot, because it appears that he would be huge upgrade on kickoffs.