Raymond Luxury Yacht, on 18 October 2009 - 10:38 PM, said:
Thelomen Toblerone, on 18 October 2009 - 08:44 PM, said:
Wathc a rugby match. They will stick it between the posts from 40 yards, in howling gale, from the touchline. And yet kickers in the NFL manage to miss XP attempts and FG attempts of less than that distance, from straight down the middle, and get paid about 5 times more than a quality rugby fly half or whoever, whilst doing half the work. Madness. NFL scouts should just come and pick up someone like Johnny Wilkinson, he'd love it - pure kicking and no need to tackle and dislocate his brittle shoulders again.
Isn't that drop kicking though? Different animal than place kicking. Still, I don't know why more guys don't cross over. Maybe the two kicking styles don't translate as much as you might expect?
I'm also surprised that more rugby players aren't scouted for kicking in the NFL. They are however very different in practical terms. Punting should be quite straightforward for them, as they get the ball in their hands and time to aim it. Equally, kick-offs shouldn't be a problem since it's a static kick.
The extra-point conversion is an interesting one though, since they must rely on a holder, and so can't get into the rhythm they'd be used to in rugby for place kicks. The methodical nature of most modern rugby place kickers is probably what limits their ability to cross over. Players like Jonny Wilkinson have a very long build up to taking a kick, which is why he's so accurate, but you simply wouldn't get that time in an NFL game. If i were to try and find a rugby kicker to cross over, I'd head to South Africa where they currently have two players (Francois and Morne Steyn) who are capable of kicking penalties from their own half, and drop goals from the halfway line!!! They seem to breed distance kickers over there?
The other thing to consider is that the NFL ball is smaller, weighs less and is shaped differently to a rugby ball, and that will affect it's flight. I don't think an NFL ball will travel as far from a kick, so straight comparison of kicking distances is skewed.
A more interesting experiment might be to try and convert some Aussie Rules players to be kickers. While place kicking isn't really their thing, their kicking out of the hand is quite impressive, and even the few amateur AFL players i know seem to be able to direct that oval ball pretty well (and make it do funny things in the air, and when it bounces). I think they'd be amazing punters.
anyway, that's my 2cents of the NFL/rugby kicker debate.