Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers kicker competition.
Q: How does a slumping kicker like David Akers affect the quarterback’s mindset during a game?
YOUNG: When a kicker’s in a funk, it’s a problem. I’ve got to wonder why they brought in another guy to compete with him. David’s been around a long time. He’s a veteran guy. If he’s hurt he’s hurt. If he’s missing he’s missing, but I don’t think having someone come in and compete with him is going to get him extra focused. I just don’t imagine it. Maybe that’s what they think.
To me, it’s the last thing you want to do. A young player, you bring in a guy and force him to face the music and face the challenge and get him focused. But David Akers? He’s either going to hit them or not hit them. He’s not going to beat you out during the week and impress you. Either you like him or you don’t like him.
In kicking, you have to bet on a guy: This is my guy, and he’s struggling, but I still believe in him. Almost by doing that, you help him out. If I was the coach this week I would say, “David, I know you’re struggling but I believe in you,” and half of the battle is won because the coach said I got your back, go hit the field goal.
But bringing in another guy, and telling (Akers): “Look, I don’t know if you’re my guy or not. I’ll tell you on Friday.” That’s a tougher way to go.
It’s already a psychological in-your-head mess being a kicker. Two of them are now competing for the next five days, staring at each other. I don’t know, we’ll see if it brings out the best in them.
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I think it is pretty simple. Harbaugh wants to go with cundiff but if he doesn’t look consistant in practice. Then Akers is the fallback. It s pretty clear-
Harbaugh can never do right with the analysts. If he bends over backward to be nice ala smith fiasco- then everyone calls him a liar and wish he was honest. When he makes moves acknowledging Akers sucks and lost the niners 2 games missing fgs that an average kicker could make- then harbaugh is being mean.
Harbaugh wants to move on from Akers but he doesn’t feel great about cundiff either- there you go Steve, hope that clears it up for you
I don’t read Young’s statement as a comment on the fairness of what Harbaugh is doing. I read it as a comment on the likely effectiveness of what Harbaugh is doing.
Seems to me like young is suggesting that harbaugh is trying to light a fire under Akers by bringing cundiff in. To get Akers to play better.
I don’t think harbaugh is trying to get Akers to do anything. I think they are just trying to move on hoping cundiff is better. And they don’t want to be harsh with Akers by cutting him off the team when he has been there All season. And who knows cundiff may be worse than a bad Akers.
I think Harbaugh wants in his heart of hearts to have this work and actually help Akers but if it doesn’t all they got is another sh-ty kicker to cut this offseason.
The problem is I’m guessing Harbaugh’s already done what Steve suggested. I’m pretty certain he has told Akers every week that he still believes in him and he is his guy. Unfortunately it hasn’t made things any better and Akers has gotten progressively worse. Whether it’s in his head or an injury, they had to do something because status quo wasn’t working.
I absolutely agree with you Rocket. Harbs has made it clear. Akers is not physically hurt. And his wanky foot has cost us several games, the Rams game, comes to mind. We came one dropped return from the SuperBowl last year, we cant afford for Special Teams to let us down this year. Harbs has done all he can. We have to be ready with plan B.
“Rams games”
LF
Im not so sure that JH made it clear akers is healthy. What about his hip flexor or whatever that he was “working through” a couple of weeks ago? Im not a kicker (obviously) but if his hip was hurt wouldn’t it affect his distance more so than the left/right aspect? Unless he is overcompensating and pushing it wide. His kickoffs look a bit shorter too towards the end of the season. so it could be an injury but DA doesn’t want to use it as an excuse
All I know is that we are again the second seed in the playoff with a first round b ye. Everybody who keeps second guessing JH should just stop. He has proved that he knows what he is doing and has turned this team into winners.
I see a whole lot of Bill Belicheck in JH. He just wins with whatever he is given.
Go Niners
I have enough respect for Harbaugh to believe that there can be only one answer: Akers must have a minor injury that could easily be aggravated, thus making him somewhat doubtful. Harbaugh wants to make sure that there is a backup available.
I’ve been a Niner fan since ’78, and one thing about kickers: a kicker in a tailspin will burn you every time. Take a mediocre guy off the street over a Jan Stenarud or Morten Andersen in a funk any day of the week. Of course those guys never went into slumps, that’s why they are HOF. But when i hear fans and writers holding some weird faith that Akers will suddenly “get it together”, I know they will be let down.
This
x10000
2 words……Mike Cofer. Never got his head right again
good reference
I’m going to be very unpopular for saying this but so what. Fans with the “smither” mentality are the ones pulling for Akers. Tough for them to make the right professional move because they think emotionally.
All you had to do was be at the last game to see that Akers is LOST. When you barely reach on two shorter 40 yard kicks you are no longer kicking the ball. You are playing with your mechanics trying to “guide” the ball. Remember folks, this is a guy who kicks mid 50′s warming up. This is a guy with a 63 yard kick. He’s lost. Right now Cundiff is the better option if he is winning the in house competition.
Bay, a whole paragraph and you got one thing right…”I’m going to be very unpopular”!! Nothing new right!?! LMAO. Go 9ers.
Funny that the response that I get is from the king of the Smithers.
Recycle your record amount of Alexcuses for Kaep this year Hof. It’s the only way you climb out of that hole of bias.
Good article especially regarding VD.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/matt-maiocco/49ers-mailbag-getting-vernon-davis-involved
It’s not about Smither’s, it’s about what is best for this team. It’s not an easy decision to make, Akers has been a big part of this team for the last two seasons. Cundiff is the reason the Ravens didn’t go the the Super Bowl last year. Sometimes you just have to pump your brakes and realize that there simply isn’t a great option on the table and deal with it.
Bay, we all aspire to be a REAL fan like you! LOL
So BigP,
who would you go with at Kicker? Did you listen to MM’s description of the kicking contest so far?
Sounds like it’s going to be Cundiff.
Bay, there are only two options. BigP seems to suggest that sticking with DA is the best option and I agree. As I stated before, there is a reason BC was available.
Sorry Bay, I don’t make the connection. I’m not a “Smither” in any sense of the word, but I what does a QB have to do with a Place Kicker?
As fans we want all of our key players to deliver and be successful. When it becomes apparant that they could no longer perform in a productive capacity then it’s time to say goodbye.
But that is what the coach is expected and get’s paid to do.
Hey Bay, in all honesty, did you cheer for Alex Smith last year? Did at some point during that time did you think that it was worth the wait now that AS was having success?
Again, I am not a Smither, but I certainly cheered him on last season because he helped the team to 14-4.
Akers had a phenomenal 2011 season which I believe has granted him a bit of grace in Harbaugh’ thinking. But I trust that Harbaugh will make the right decision on Akers when the time comes.
Bay, I gues if you had to decribe me, I would be more of a “HarbaughLER” (lol)
Bay,
What I am saying is that there isn’t a great option. It isn’t clear cut. Cundiff is the reason the Ravens missed the Super Bowl last season and was unemployed until this week. Akers has been a huge catalyst of this teams success during the last two years. If he is injured, go with Cundiff. If he isn’t, Akers deserves the opportunity to keep his job.
AES, good points. No one here has ever been able to define “Smither” collectively. Everyone has a different definition of what it means to them. If it is a fan of AS, there are many of us. Why not, he was leading the team until 8 games ago. Now time to focus on a 9er win next weekend.
Maybe you are not Smithers ( except for Hofer ), but you are making emotional decisions instead of a business decision.
Did you watch Maiocco’s video and listen to his description of the kicker competition? Did you listen to the direction he thought Harbaugh was going in with the kickers?
Sounds like it’s Cundiff. Which makes me wonder, if it sounds like Cundiff is the guy and Harbaugh is making that decision based on performances in practice, why do certain fans have a problem with that?
I know I don’t.
@Bay
But have you forgotten some of your friends were emotionally riled up about Staley weeks ago, all due to a freeze frame capture, LOL.
They wanted Staley, one of the better tackles in the league, out of town. Think about it.
What you wrote have no solid backing, but what your friends wrote about Staley fits your Tough for them to make the right professional move because they think emotionally. LOL.
*I don’t recall your opinion on Staley’s smile/grimace, so I didn’t include you.
Real Fan???? Or Real AS Fan? You make up your mind…
Hoferfan67 says:
March 22, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Raiq, agreed! Clearly JH is putting the pressure on CK and ST. Maybe JJ is AS’s backup this year. Hmm. Maybe CK isn’t “all that” after all!
Bay, it is JH’s decision and we’ll all have to roll with it. Regarding the competition between DA and BC, how do we know that just because of the change that BC will be lights out?? As BigP pointed out, BC missed the FG that kept the Rav’s out of the SB. If there is another big kick needed for the 9ers in the playoffs, will BC think about that miss? There are no absolutes.
CK fan? Not so much. 49er fan or Smith fan you decide.
Hoferfan67 says:
March 22, 2012 at 8:28 pm
This is a move to get CK off the dime. AS isn’t going anywhere and CK doesn’t look like much competition this year. But what happens to poor ST??
Bay,
While we’re cutting and pasting, please note my response/comment below as a 9er fan regarding the PM signing in Denver. You were upset and it seems I was correct right?
Hoferfan67 says:
March 17, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Bay, who Pi**ed in your cereal this morning? if you think that PM can throw his helmet in the field and it equates to a SB, why should the other teams even play this year?
After reading MPoole of the Merc, he made me think about a few things. This PM move lets the 9ers FO off the hook. They need to FIND their QB for the next 10 years now. Start CK if they don’t want AS as their guy but make a longer term decision. JH can win with CK correct? Or how about JJ?
Oh how everyone wants their instant gratification SB!
@ Hofer, BigP, AES, AlbertS:
Let me make this easy for everyone. If you don’t agree with bay, then you are thinking emotionally or you are otherwise not being objective. Or you are not a “Real fan” of the team. The only objective, logical, and unemotional opinion that a “Real 49ers fan” can have on any issue is the one that bay has.
Smh.
Claude,
It seems Bay wasn’t agreeing with Bay back on 3/17 (see my comment above). He wanted PM and now he suggests he is the only one other than JH that could see CK’s talent as the starter in 2012. If this were true, why was he so upset when PM signed with Denver??
@ Hofer:
Because he’s obsessed with Alex Smith?
Claude,
I just call it like I see it. I don’t see the point of trying to squeeze black and white out of gray, you know?
BigP,
Many of us call it as we see it but it gets ignored by some stating we are only “Smithers”. See my comment below…
Hoferfan67 says:
March 18, 2012 at 6:11 pm
PM isn’t going to a team for a 1 year plan. PM will go where he can play for 3-4 years which will stifle CK’s growth. That’s why I wouldn’t be thrilled with a signing of PM, but I’m all in as a 9er fan.
@ BigP:
That’s a good way of wording it. Apparently, some people can’t handle grey.
Same old Steve Young gobble gobble jive. This guy is not a friggin champion. He’s lucky he got 1 Superbowl. What a joke! Steve is a head case so he’s the last person to handle the tough calls.
Smh.
Don’t let him get started on Brees….
Rocket
Whadduya mean “SMH”? Gotta give Young the blind faith because he wore RednGold? He was the first superefficient game manager, the first great checkdown king … and a statistical wunderkind, but a born and bred winner like Montana was, like (IMO) Kaepernick is …? Nope. Young was soft-minded by nature, a player who, through nurture, achieved excellence. He was excellent by the end, I admit it, but he never had the champion gene.
Angus
You know what gets me about Brees? He’s a great QB, but for him to go so deep in with the dirty Saints, while at the same time trying to be the face of the NFL and a player rep was astonishingly phony.
Mr E… Not again?
SY is the most thoughful, right on point, tell it like it is, analyst out there, and he was a tough SOB from his HS days on, he just wasn’t pretty while he got the job done.
Sorry Steve but Harbaugh has been giving Akers the ” I believe in you speech” the whole 2nd half and it hasn’t done any good. Cundiff may not be better but at least he’s different.
I think it’s ok in the regards that for Akers, specifically, I think he does better when he realizes that there’s nothing to lose. His career is on the line every practice kick now. Kick the ball and don’t stop to take names Akers.
Mr. Everything…. you’re puerile.
The biggest issue with the kicker competition is that neither one of them has performed well this year – and Cundiff is a proven choker in big situations. I have slightly less faith in Cundiff than I have in Akers – both of them make me nervous going into the playoffs.
Everything SY states here is what I said when they started looking for kickers. There is a reason the kickers they were looking at are unemployed. I like SY’s take on it based on the numbers. He isn’t missing kicks all over the field, just some of the longer ones (4 missed over 50 yds).
Looking at the numbers on DA:
0-39 yds = 20/23 (87%)
40-50+ = 9/19 (47%) breakdown: 40-49 = 7/13 and 50+ = 2/6
Plus a record 63 yd FG
Hofer
7/13 from 40-50 is terrible for an nfl kicker. In field position that translates to between the 23 and 33 yard lines. Does that mean we go for it on 4th if its in that teritory? At the very least it should force JH and Gro to be more agressive in their playcalls. IMO in the past (2011) JH’s thinking went like this “why chance a risky throw/playcall on 3rd when akers will just get 3 automaticaly if its within 55 yrds” Now that option is off the table and JH is forced to be agressive (i hope)
Haven’t you noticed, Hofer thinks with his heart when it comes to players. This is a cold blooded sport where the only thing that matters is winning.
You don’t stick by a player and wish for them to continue to get playing time because he is a good guy. You put the best out there….
If Hofer owned a pickle company, the labels on the jars of his pickles would read “Flaccid”
Why aren’t the bringing in Giorgio Tavecchio from the preseason? He looked pretty good.
KC,
My thinking is that he is a rookie (don’t know if he’s available) and that coming in at this point of the season is asking too much of him.
In the last 10 superbowls, 5 of the games were won by 4 points or less. Field goals are going to be incredibly important…..
Hoferfan67 says:
January 5, 2013 at 11:54 am
“AES, good points. No one here has ever been able to define “Smither” collectively. Everyone has a different definition of what it means to them. If it is a fan of AS, there are many of us. Why not, he was leading the team until 8 games ago. Now time to focus on a 9er win next weekend.”
@Hofe
Just for the heck of it; If you had too, what would be your definition of a “Smither?’
On second thought, perhaps it’s best not to reply because it may open up a can of worms (lol).
Smither – someone who, despite years upon years of evidence that Alex Smith was not worthy of the #1 draft pick, inexplicably supports the man as though he is anything more than a serviceable stand-in, a stopgap until the next worthy 49ers QB arrives; a Smither can be recognized by his ever-changing measure of what makes a QB good, his refusal to place importance on sacks or passing yardage or TDs or NFL passing rating or deep passing; a Smither will always blame other players when Smith plays badly and will never credit other Niner QBs when they play well …
Mr E,
I’ll just copy that verbatim and submit it to Wikepedia…
Then take a picture of yourself and put douche beside and enter it also!
AES,
Thanks for the response. I’d prefer to focus on the fact that despite some incessant rants about who is and who isn’t a “Smither”, there are facts to validate that those that support AS, also support the WHOLE team.
Hoferfan67 says:
March 18, 2012 at 6:11 pm
PM isn’t going to a team for a 1 year plan. PM will go where he can play for 3-4 years which will stifle CK’s growth. That’s why I wouldn’t be thrilled with a signing of PM, but I’m all in as a 9er fan.
All good Hofe.
Catching the Texans vs Bengals game and although I picked Houston to win, they still look very “shaky.”
The Bengals are losing because of mistakes by Dalton.
Schaub has no ‘zip’ on his throws and it cost him a pick-six in the first half.
If the Texans go on to win this game they will likely be one-n-done. They remind me of a shiny sports car that ran out of gas right before reaching the gas station having to pushed to the pump.
AES
Foster looks like he’s got plenty of petrol left. If they keep running the ball and pressuring the QB, they’ll be alright.
Good point. I had the Texans winning out today.
But I actually thought that the Texans would shake off there 4 game slumber and win in a blow-out.
They will need to have a great running game against the Patriots next week to have a chance, because I would not trust in Schaub’ arm.
Leading up to the playoffs, I really thought that the Texans would be the AFC SB contender.
I’m quickly losing faith in the Texans and starting to lean towards the Broncos now.
Here’s a starter for discussion:
On MM’s site, there is a mailbox item on Vernon Davis. It basically says that Vernon has been unable to get open in games and that in practices, he has been unable to handle Kaep’s heat, that his hands are not all that good.
We know that the Niners like to get value, that Vernon makes $8M per year to do little more than block, and that he plays more snaps than any non-essential offensive player. So, given these factors, what do the Niners do this offseason at the TE position?
Delanie has been more productive as a pass-catcher and has better chemistry with Kaep, and is more multiple and cheaper than Vernon. Celek is bigger than Vernon and has also provided a more reliable target for Kaep. Vernon has tremendous value on the market, and would free up a lot of cap room if the Niners dealt him.
Regardless, the Niners will need to add at least 1 TE this offseason, as Delanie is to be a free agent. What to do?
1) Sign Delanie and keep the other two?
2) Sign Delanie, trade Vernon, and acquire a cheaper TE?
3) Let Delanie walk and acquire a different TE?
Interesting presentation M.E.
But for the purpose of getting through a boring playoff game at the moment I’ll chime in.
You can’t get rid of a pro-bowl type TE like VD. VD will just have to make the proper adjustments and begin to gel with CK. CK will also learn to use better touch on his throws as he gains more experience.
I have a problem with VD taking a jump to catch especially when it’s not necessary. That has become a bad habit IMO, because it nullifies his momentum and strength. Having said that, VD is to valuable a player (besides being a receiver) to give up on him.
Just one man’s opinion.
Vervon isn’t even a factor in this offense anymore beside his blocking. He’s not even making a solid effort to make plays right now. He has to be able to hang on to the football if its on target and to make a play on the ball if its not on target. Kap made a throw to Vernon last week and it was low and to the sideline. Vernon didn’t even try and make a play on the ball. He plays like he just figures that we’ll get them next time. That’s the Alex Smith philosophy. Vernon has more interest outside of the game than he does inside the game right now. He figures he’s done enough in his career I guess. He’s certainly not playing with fire. Vernon, I believe certainly wishes Smith was the QB. Smiths ball was mow catchable for Vernon but I just don’t see his desire being what it needs to be right now.
I look at guys like Jason Whiten and Tony Gonzalez. Davis is twice as fast as these guys. How the hell can you be a tight end with 4.4 speed and not be able to get open. Kap has barely overthrown Vernon a couple of times but if we don’t find another receiver or Vernon to contribute, we can’t win a Super Bowl. Our o line is overrated in the run game. Arizona shut us Down, Seattle shut us down. Atlanta will shut our run game down as well. Vernon needs to wake the hell up!
Jordo
Nice vitriolic rant!!! So what should the team do? Has Delanie become more instrumental than Vernon for all that he can do from the backfield, OL, slot, and split wide? Should they dump Vernon or try to restructure? Seems like you think he should just get more hungry… is that it?
Personally, I trade Vernon and I may resign Delany. Not too big a deal for Delaney. He’s got issues with drops so he’s never gonna be a star. I’d try to get # 2 pick for Vernon. A high 2. He simply may never show up in this offense again. A lot will depend on how he looks in the playoffs. Vernon balled last year. There is no reason he can’t do the same thing this year. Especially with the emergence of Crabtree.
Jordo
If Maiocco is to be believed about Vernon not handling Kaep’s passes in practice, then the scary prospect of including Vernon in the gameplan in the playoffs is not that he will drop passes, but that he will deflect them so that opponents can pick them. Crab and Moss have both made defensive plays in recent weeks to break up potential interceptions, and it is highly dubious whether Vernon would either give the same effort or, if he did, be able to change directions quickly enough to disrupt opposing DBs.
Vernon has big muscles and elite top-speed, but he lacks quick-twitch dynamism, which is why he has trouble getting in and out of breaks, separating from defenders, and gaining YAC.