Dickson Draft Appears. . .

[SoulfishHawk]

Even Ray Guy had bad punts, not many, but..... It happens.

 

[JGreen79]

I think he's pretty fortunate that gamble paid off because we would be talking about launching him into the sun if that move had backfired. It's not like he made the 1st down by 10 yards, first contact was right at the first down marker so it was not like it was a sure thing. It was nice to be able to hold the ball & basically run out the clock but it probably wasn't the right time for that particular move.

I think he's been a good pick-up but he's had a couple games where he's hit line drive punts that have screwed up the coverage & we got a little lucky that penalties negated some good returns against us but he's also pinned teams deep with some real nice directional punts. He'll continue to improve & I'm happy to have him.

I think some of his line drive punts are intentional, he does some incredible things with the ball off his foot.

Really??????

Was the shank against the Bears also intentional?

Some - being an unknown, undetermined, or unspecified unit or thing.

Obviously a shank is unintentional, a line drive punt certainly can be.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

We could have used a third rounder and people would still be arguing it was worth it. They might even be right.

 

[sutz]

We could have used a third rounder and people would still be arguing it was worth it. They might even be right.

I know what you're saying, but I think most of us consider Green as a better pick there than a punter, even Dickson.

 

[TwistedHusky]

I understand the scarcity issue but I will never understand why kickers are so undervalued.

The goal of playing the game is to win.

I cannot tell you how many games I have seen where teams were tremendously and evenly matched so the outcome literally came down to the kicker. Both in FGs and punts.

Go talk to Buffalo about how screwed one bad kick can leave you.

Kicks make HUGE differences in the playoffs and they make massive differences in deciding closely fought games.

In our case though, a great punter is just as potent as a great punt returner. The flipping the field thing cannot be overstated but also, kicking from the EZ can often result in giving the opposing team the ball in scoring position. At worst, they often get a FG from it.

We are one of the few teams were a mistake near our EZ does not assure the opposing team a score if they force us to a 3 and out. Keeping us inside our 20 still makes you have to drive a reasonably long field because you are most likely going to get the ball at your 30 if he kicks it from our 20.

That is easily worth a 5th, if not a 3rd. (as already pointed out).

He doesn't need to make the HOF to make him worth the pick. He has already shown he is worth it. Additionally, most of the problem has been our god awful punt coverage, not him outkicking it.

 

[DomeHawk]

I understand the scarcity issue but I will never understand why kickers are so undervalued.

Go talk to Buffalo about how screwed one bad kick can leave you.

Yeah, but now they have "House Money" Steven Hauschka. He's made almost everything he's tried this year, (12 of 13). Would've been nice to have House Money last year, after we chose to "undervalue" him.

Let's face it, Dickson's not going to be perfect, kicking an odd-shaped ball w/paid gladiators charging at you isn't necessarily an exact science. The dude is entertaining AND productive though and I feel he's definitely worth the pick.

 

[KiwiHawk]

After he picked up the first down and we ran off some more time, his next put was 60 yards with enough hang time for our guys to stop the returner for no gain. That was a hell of a punt.

Overall he had 4 punts for 198 yards (avg 49.5) against only 8 return yards. That's a good day on special teams even without the Aussie sweep.

 

[evergreen]

He’s special just like quite a few other gems on the team. 2012 anyone?

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Go talk to Buffalo about how screwed one bad kick can leave you.

I don't need to leave Seattle to hear about that.

 

[sutz]

Go talk to Buffalo about how screwed one bad kick can leave you.

I don't need to leave Seattle to hear about that.

Ain't that the truth. And it ain't ancient history either. That's why the only part of the kicking game from last year that is still here is the long snapper.

 

[Ad Hawk]

Go talk to Buffalo about how screwed one bad kick can leave you.

I don't need to leave Seattle to hear about that.

Ain't that the truth. And it ain't ancient history either. That's why the only part of the kicking game from last year that is still here is the long snapper.

I wonder how our kickers like Ott spinning them the ball. If Dickson has no problems handling his snaps, then I'm happy.

 

[LudwigsDrummer]

He is a weapon that will produce for many years. Extreme value for the trade up.
Kudos.

 

[sutz]

Go talk to Buffalo about how screwed one bad kick can leave you.

I don't need to leave Seattle to hear about that.

Ain't that the truth. And it ain't ancient history either. That's why the only part of the kicking game from last year that is still here is the long snapper.

I wonder how our kickers like Ott spinning them the ball. If Dickson has no problems handling his snaps, then I'm happy.

I assume they discuss this on a regular basis. :mrgreen:

The only trouble we had were with Dickson handling snaps for SeaBass. Was a little sketchy the first couple of games. Has looked fine lately. That's a new thing to the Aussie, I assume.

 

[Mad Dog]

I don't need to leave Seattle to hear about that.

Ain't that the truth. And it ain't ancient history either. That's why the only part of the kicking game from last year that is still here is the long snapper.

I wonder how our kickers like Ott spinning them the ball. If Dickson has no problems handling his snaps, then I'm happy.

I assume they discuss this on a regular basis. :mrgreen:

[vine]The only trouble we had were with Dickson handling snaps for SeaBass. [/vine] Was a little sketchy the first couple of games. Has looked fine lately. That's a new thing to the Aussie, I assume.

He held for kicks in college but SeaBass is a lefty and that can be an issue for a holder used to righties.

 

[AgentDib]

Good kickers are valuable but it's really hard to identify them. The mental aspect makes it hard to trust what you see in practice, and so you're left with really tiny sample sizes. It's like trying to judge a batter after only 40 at bats in which they struck out ten times. Are they on a hot streak, in a slump, or performing at their average level?

The best kicker in the 2017 draft was Zane Gonzalez who doesn't currently have a job after missing a couple key kicks for the Browns this season. The best kicker in the 2018 draft was Daniel Carlson, who was cut after just two games this season.

There's less variance in punting because there are more outcomes besides simply all or nothing and so punters are less risky. A fifth round pick is a reasonable gamble on a punter with good upside but I'd be hesitant to take a place kicker that early simply because of how large the uncertainties are around rookie kickers.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

When you get a guy who flips the field on a regular basis, that is a draft pick well spent. Period.

 

[ivotuk]

I've liked the pick from the beginning, but being honest he's had less impact than I had envisioned. I'm not real keen on the Aussie sweep either, it was too close and too risky and to be honest that choice should be above his pay grade IMO. The guy really doesn't even understand the game all that well for one.

That said, he made it and we won and ringmaster Pete seemed happy LOL.
I'm just not seeing HOF type talent yet and I figured that level of talent would show up right away. Still like the pick...

.waiting to love the lick right now. :2thumbs:

I'd wait all day for a good lick.