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What has happened to Rian Lindell?


billsfreak

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Up until a few weeks ago, I have always thought of Rian Lindell as one of the top 6-8 kickers in the NFL, but he has since missed a few normally makeable kicks, costing us a game in OT and missing a short one sunday. Not to mention he missed the first PAT of his career. Hopefully, it is just a funk he is in, but if it keeps up, he may be costing himself a spot on the roster next season. Also, although still an excellent punter, it sometimes seems like Moorman has lost a little bit too, and is no longer one of the top 2-3 punters in the league.

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Up until a few weeks ago, I have always thought of Rian Lindell as one of the top 6-8 kickers in the NFL, but he has since missed a few normally makeable kicks, costing us a game in OT and missing a short one sunday. Not to mention he missed the first PAT of his career. Hopefully, it is just a funk he is in, but if it keeps up, he may be costing himself a spot on the roster next season. Also, although still an excellent punter, it sometimes seems like Moorman has lost a little bit too, and is no longer one of the top 2-3 punters in the league.

 

I actually thought he's been on the decline for the past couple years, not being nearly as reliable as he used to be. It's a shame to see him slumping like this though, it used to be great having a kicker who you knew was pretty much automatic.

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Since you braught it up, I don't think Lindell was ever very good...it has just never been an issue, because during most of his time in Buffalo, the Bills haven't been so good, and rarely in tight games. But, he has missed more "clutch" kicks, in my estimation, than he has made during his time in Buffalo. He is a good kicker, but not the money guy that some seem to believe. Great inside the 40....anything else is a crap shoot. A better team, with fewer needs, and more wins, would have let him go some time ago....

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Everyone needs to relax over Lindell. The guy is in a slump, that's all. It happens. Let him work it out. Cripes if this team hasn't taught us anything its not to reach for the hook too soon. Besides who are you going to find right now to take his place?

 

PTR

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Let's not forget he also kicked the ball waaaaaay out of bounds on a kick off on top of his missed field goal against the Bungles. I can see the organization looking for his replacement next year if he doesn't correct his mistakes over the remainder of the year.

Edited by Stan da Man
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Everyone needs to relax over Lindell. The guy is in a slump, that's all. It happens. Let him work it out. Cripes if this team hasn't taught us anything its not to reach for the hook too soon. Besides who are you going to find right now to take his place?

 

PTR

What?? but is Lindell really a franchise kicker?? Do franchise kickers slump in the clutch situations? Lindell may win a few games, but he'll mire us in mediocrisy and prevent us from getting a true franchise kicker! We need that #1 pick to get our franchise kicker!

:devil:

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Up until a few weeks ago, I have always thought of Rian Lindell as one of the top 6-8 kickers in the NFL, but he has since missed a few normally makeable kicks, costing us a game in OT and missing a short one sunday. Not to mention he missed the first PAT of his career. Hopefully, it is just a funk he is in, but if it keeps up, he may be costing himself a spot on the roster next season. Also, although still an excellent punter, it sometimes seems like Moorman has lost a little bit too, and is no longer one of the top 2-3 punters in the league.

 

Kicker are like any other player and all go through down times in their carrer

 

A) It was his first miss in like 30 attempts insinde of 40 yds. Pretty solid if you ask me

 

B) Outside of 45 yds is 50/50 with any kicker not just Lindell. He made 1 missed the second, due to that dumb timeout rule the NFL has.

 

C) The PAT you are referring to was blocked and not his fault whatsoever.

 

He is not a problem. I would have no issue calling on him in a clutch situation at all.

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Even worse than the miss inside 40 yds was the out of bounds kick right after that. I will say this, if he keeps this string going Gailey will certainly try out new Ks in the off season. There's plenty of kids coming up every year with stronger legs than Lindell has. No way is Gailey going to do all of this work with the offense to let some "idiot kicker" (as Peyton Manning would say) repeatedly blow chances for the team single-handedly. I really thought the Bils were going to end up losing the game by three after Cincy got that last second FG before half time thanks to a combination of Lindell kicking it out of bounds and the refs trying to help the Bengals win by adding a second to the clock.

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Since you braught it up, I don't think Lindell was ever very good...it has just never been an issue, because during most of his time in Buffalo, the Bills haven't been so good, and rarely in tight games. But, he has missed more "clutch" kicks, in my estimation, than he has made during his time in Buffalo. He is a good kicker, but not the money guy that some seem to believe. Great inside the 40....anything else is a crap shoot. A better team, with fewer needs, and more wins, would have let him go some time ago....

 

Its amazing how people don't let the facts get in the way !

 

Rian Lindell ranks 26th ALL-TIME in FG percent at 80.132%, in his 8 years in Buafflo he has hit 82.1%, which would rank 10th all-time ... fairlt crappy numbers for sure ... seems like they are LUCKY he decided to stay actually !

 

His 8 years in Buffalo

330 of 331 extra points ... one miss .. sure looks like he is losing it !

 

00-19 yards, 2 of 2

20-29 yards, 81 of 87

30-39 yards, 63 of 70 90%

40-49 yards, 51 of 80 63%

50 plus 17 of 30 56%

 

As a point of reference, Adam Vinatieri numbers, his 10 years in NE

 

00-19 yards, 8 of 8

20-29 yards, 129 of 134

30-39 yards, 113 of 135 83%

40-49 yards, 88 of 124 70%

50 plus 10 of 21 47%

 

Looks like Rian's numbers are darn good ... can't speak to "pressure kicks" not sure for a kicker there is every a non-pressure kick ... but since you were so off on his abilities, will assume that is off also.

 

Both the kicker and punter are not the problem that some lineman and better D would not fix.

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Rian Lindell has always been an above average kicker for field goals.

 

Where we can improve in the kicking game and are below average to the rest of the NFL is on kick-offs (Lindell rarely reaches the endzone for a touchback) and a kick-off specialist might be beneficial to add to the roster and Brian Moorman's inability to pin the ball within the 10 yard line on punts. The latter case on Moorman is a fact that is vastly overlooked amongst Buffalo Bills fans.

Edited by BuffaloBillsForever
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Up until a few weeks ago, I have always thought of Rian Lindell as one of the top 6-8 kickers in the NFL, but he has since missed a few normally makeable kicks, costing us a game in OT and missing a short one sunday. Not to mention he missed the first PAT of his career. Hopefully, it is just a funk he is in, but if it keeps up, he may be costing himself a spot on the roster next season. Also, although still an excellent punter, it sometimes seems like Moorman has lost a little bit too, and is no longer one of the top 2-3 punters in the league.

He ain't no spring chicken.

Some Kickers Kick until their 40s.

Lindell will be 34 after the season.

Its possible that you're seeing a natural drop off in skills due to father time's clock.

 

Everyone Likes Lindell but NFL stands for Not For Long, and as much I'll miss good ole' Rian its likely this will be his last season in Red White and Buffalo Blue so enjoy it while it lasts.

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Its amazing how people don't let the facts get in the way !

 

Rian Lindell ranks 26th ALL-TIME in FG percent at 80.132%, in his 8 years in Buafflo he has hit 82.1%, which would rank 10th all-time ... fairlt crappy numbers for sure ... seems like they are LUCKY he decided to stay actually !

 

His 8 years in Buffalo

330 of 331 extra points ... one miss .. sure looks like he is losing it !

 

00-19 yards, 2 of 2

20-29 yards, 81 of 87

30-39 yards, 63 of 70 90%

40-49 yards, 51 of 80 63%

50 plus 17 of 30 56%

 

As a point of reference, Adam Vinatieri numbers, his 10 years in NE

 

00-19 yards, 8 of 8

20-29 yards, 129 of 134

30-39 yards, 113 of 135 83%

40-49 yards, 88 of 124 70%

50 plus 10 of 21 47%

 

Looks like Rian's numbers are darn good ... can't speak to "pressure kicks" not sure for a kicker there is every a non-pressure kick ... but since you were so off on his abilities, will assume that is off also.

Both the kicker and punter are not the problem that some lineman and better D would not fix.

 

Like I said, he is a good kicker, but is rarely in any clutch situations. And when he has been, he has come up short a number of times. There were times, during the Jauron era, where it seemed Jauron would have rather punted, or gone for it, when it seemed kicking was the thing to do...particualarly after that awful Monday night game against the Browns. And, his kick-offs are nothing special.

Edited by Buftex
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Like I said, he is a good kicker, but is rarely in any clutch situations. And when he has been, he has come up short a number of times. There were times, during the Jauron era, where it seemed Jauron would have rather punted, or gone for it, when it seemed kicking was the thing to do...particualarly after that awful Monday night game against the Browns. And, his kick-offs are nothing special.

Do you have a brain injury where you can't remember anything longer than a few weeks ago? Remember the clutch kick versus the Redskins? Obviously not. Selective memory at work.

 

PTR

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