Nugent: A Case of Detrimental Loyalty?

[Shake n Blake]

(11-21-2016, 03:06 AM)jowczarski Wrote: Just stating facts:
Zach Hocker was signed this offseason to compete for the job. Guy got hurt in camp when Nugent struggled. It could have been argued that Hocker could have won the job had he been healthy and able to kick. But he wasn't, so he didn't.

They brought in Forbath, Bullock and Hocker to kick again over the bye. Ever look at their career numbers? Just a factual question. So, Zimmer does what many think the Bengals should've done - cut the struggling kicker (Blair Walsh). They sign Forbath. Forbath plays his first game, has a PAT blocked.

Google all the free agent kickers. There is a reason why they're free agents. But, that said, it is totally fair to think can a guy off the street make more than 76 percent of his field goals and 86 percent of his PATs.

1. I never viewed Hocker as serious competition for Nuge. For one, he had pretty bad numbers in college, and secondly, the Bengals bring an extra kicker to almost every camp. 

2. I wanted Nugent replaced back when Robbie Gould was still available. While I realize that the available kickers have been thinned out, you have to believe we could do better than the percentages you listed.

I would sign someone now, then look for a serious upgrade in the offseason - when upgrades at kicker are easier to find. The issue with the Bengals is that they are VERY slow to drop certain players, and it's hard to predict when a good kicker will hit the market. It happens every year though. You often see guys like Josh Brown, Prater or Gould hit the market. You just have to pounce when they do.