Rd 6, Pick 188 (from Browns): K Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern

[BigBuff423]

In a Draft where the Bills addressed all of the areas needing to add depth (CB might be a little lacking b/c they used a 7th Rounder), taking a K in the 6th Round feels like the right decision. If - and that's a huge IF - the Bills really believed he was the best Kicker in the Draft, then I have no concerns with Beane making this pick. Many others have said it, but 6th Round picks don't often make an impact and / or need year(s) to grow into the position so if this makes the team better, no offense Hasuch-money, then Beane has done his job. Let's also remember, how many times does a really good Kicker earn ALLLLLLLL that swagger in ONE kick, time expires - down by 2, and you need a 52 yarder to win the game. Then, everyone is willing to give the Kicker whateeeeeever he wants to make it. All the more when it's post-season. I have NO clue about this guy or if he'll do well, but I trust Beane. Full stop.

[Rk_Bills86]

So I initially hated this pick - felt that we could have gotten more competition somewhere - filled more backup roles, more depth. I will be honest and say I did not watch the kid kick, because .... well he's a kicker. I just watched a few - my goodness does he have power. If he can improve his accuracy behind the 50 yd line it'll be worth the selection.  

[Mango]

I don't know what to think of this kid. He has had an inconsistent career in terms of %, has not made anything 50+ since 2018. I was hoping PFR would give an easy breakdown of attempts/converted by distance, but they don't... 

 

But then you see stuff like the below, and think, "OK he can do this". Granted he is only kicking against air. 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by Mango

[BBills88]

Hope he is the next Justin Tucker

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

3 hours ago, Back2Buff said:

Was anyone else surprised that Hauschka will be 35 years old this year?  Usually that isn't a huge deal for kicker, but he already had a really weak leg.

 

Hoping Bass can show accuracy this offseason.

 

I guess he has a strong leg but he doesn't like to really boom his FGs for whatever reason.  

[CapeBreton]

4 hours ago, Back2Buff said:

Was anyone else surprised that Hauschka will be 35 years old this year?  Usually that isn't a huge deal for kicker, but he already had a really weak leg.

 

Hoping Bass can show accuracy this offseason.

Yeah, hoping Bass has a really good offseason too, hopefully it will be an easy decision to keep him.
 

I’m worried it’s going to be a Jake Elliott situation when Cincy drafted him. He didn’t win the job from Randy Bullock after getting drafted in the fifth round and then Philly grabbed him from Cincy’s practice squad and he’s been a great kicker for them.

 

Same goes for Carolina losing Harrison Butker who didn’t beat out Graham Gano.

Edited April 27, 2020 by CapeBreton

[Ralonzo]

The only concern I have is, one of the reasons given why management favored Hauschka is his low trajectory cutting through the wind. People have commented on Bass' high trajectory rainmaker kicks, which may be more subject to wind effect. If he can control trajectory it's no problem since he's got power to spare, and let's face it, Hauschka's leg has not had NFL pop since the Hairy Aperson cheapshot.

[947]

17 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

The only concern I have is, one of the reasons given why management favored Hauschka is his low trajectory cutting through the wind. People have commented on Bass' high trajectory rainmaker kicks, which may be more subject to wind effect. If he can control trajectory it's no problem since he's got power to spare, and let's face it, Hauschka's leg has not had NFL pop since the Hairy Aperson cheapshot.

The 58 yarder from Sr Bowl practices that hit halway up the uprights had a really low trajectory, and that was vs a defense. I think he can adjust for the wind.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

2 hours ago, Mango said:

I don't know what to think of this kid. He has had an inconsistent career in terms of %, has not made anything 50+ since 2018. I was hoping PFR would give an easy breakdown of attempts/converted by distance, but they don't... 

 

But then you see stuff like the below, and think, "OK he can do this". Granted he is only kicking against air. 

 

 

 

 

College kicking is much more challenging with their significantly wider hash marks. I feel like there are more grass fields too. 

[JimS]

1 hour ago, dneveu said:

 

College kicking is much more challenging with their significantly wider hash marks. I feel like there are more grass fields too. 

 

Good points!

[Ennjay]

1 hour ago, 947 said:

The 58 yarder from Sr Bowl practices that hit halway up the uprights had a really low trajectory, and that was vs a defense. I think he can adjust for the wind.

I really hope you're right but I have no doubt he makes the team because nearly 80% of his KO's were touchbacks.

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, dneveu said:

 

College kicking is much more challenging with their significantly wider hash marks. I feel like there are more grass fields too. 

It only gets harder the closer to the uprights you get

 

And besides coaches aren't dumb they see their kickers everyday in practice, they try and get them on the hash they like

 

If a kicker struggles from the far left hash , they don't run off tackle left on 3rd down, they will try and get the kicker to his comfortable hash

[Back2Buff]

2 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

It only gets harder the closer to the uprights you get

 

And besides coaches aren't dumb they see their kickers everyday in practice, they try and get them on the hash they like

 

If a kicker struggles from the far left hash , they don't run off tackle left on 3rd down, they will try and get the kicker to his comfortable hash

 

I don't agree one bit with its only harder the closer you are to the uprights.  The angle at which you kick will matter at all distances.  Just think of the Pythagorean Theorem.  The longer the one side is, the longer the hypotenuse is.  The amount of yards the ball has to actual travel in the air will be more in college, which allows for more to go wrong.  Kicking in college is a pain.

[Buffalo716]

13 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

 

I don't agree one bit with its only harder the closer you are to the uprights.  The angle at which you kick will matter at all distances.  Just think of the Pythagorean Theorem.  The longer the one side is, the longer the hypotenuse is.  The amount of yards the ball has to actual travel in the air will be more in college, which allows for more to go wrong.  Kicking in college is a pain.

The uprights are also further apart. NFL kicking is tougher

 

college coaches don't put their kickers in situations they can't handle for the most part

Edited April 27, 2020 by Buffalo716

[JM57]

7 hours ago, Rk_Bills86 said:

So I initially hated this pick - felt that we could have gotten more competition somewhere - filled more backup roles, more depth. I will be honest and say I did not watch the kid kick, because .... well he's a kicker. I just watched a few - my goodness does he have power. If he can improve his accuracy behind the 50 yd line it'll be worth the selection.  

I posted a few pages back on Sunday where Jim Nagy, the guy who runs the Senior Bowl, said something to the effect of this: NFL coaches would rather have guys with the monster leg and work on the accuracy. 

 

In their opinion you can teach accuracy, but the booming leg is something a guy has or doesn't. His NFL.com scouting report also mentions he has a "repeatable process" to his kicks which is something working in his favor.

 

Should Bass not work out, I could see the Bills also circling back on Chase McLaughlin. Seems the Colts have a 3-way battle between Vinatieri, McLaughlin and Goggles McGee from Georgia 

[Blank Stare]

6 hours ago, Ralonzo said:

The only concern I have is, one of the reasons given why management favored Hauschka is his low trajectory cutting through the wind. People have commented on Bass' high trajectory rainmaker kicks, which may be more subject to wind effect. If he can control trajectory it's no problem since he's got power to spare, and let's face it, Hauschka's leg has not had NFL pop since the Hairy Aperson cheapshot.

Rather than driving it, I felt Hauschka lofted a bunch of them this year causing them to drift on him. I think if we had been awarded McLaughlin mid year he was in serious trouble. I think this kid has a shot. That’s all you can really ask for. 

[CommonCents]

7 hours ago, BBills88 said:

Hope he is the next Justin Tucker

Tucker still the only kicker with a position coach. You’d think that will soon change. 

[KGun12TD]

Impressive

 

50 yards...What a kick

[DFT]

High hopes!  We’ll see.

[1st Ammendment NoMas]

nice. Hope this kid is for real and sticks around. Haus ain't so money anymore.

[947]

That video is a year & a half old too, his leg may be even stronger now.

[papazoid]

Just now, 947 said:

That video is a year & a half old too, his leg may be even stronger now.

 

in his presser, heard him say he hit a 71 yarder the day before draft

[Kirby Jackson]

There’s another video where he hits a 60 yarder with 1 step

[Doc]

Watching that clip, it put in focus that working out at the Combine probably cost Epenesa, Moss and Fromm a round each. 

 

Edit: not Bass' clip but the one with the guys talking.

Edited April 28, 2020 by Doc

[TheyCallMeAndy]

The scouting reports made it seem like he didn't have a strong leg, perhaps in these videos the trajectory is low and they'd be blocked easy? 

[gobills404]

5 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

The scouting reports made it seem like he didn't have a strong leg, perhaps in these videos the trajectory is low and they'd be blocked easy? 

When we picked him Kiper said on the broadcast that he's got a "big leg" and "he can hit it from 55 or 60 [yards] with no problem"

Edited April 28, 2020 by gobills404

[Dirtyd415]

From what I’ve read/looked at he appears to have a monster leg, just needs coaching up on accuracy and using appropriate power rather than trying to destroy the ball every kick.  He sometimes seems to swing way too hard and pushes the ball left...similar to when I try to smash a drive off the tee and send it OB.  If my penalty shot/mulligan is nice and easy it usually goes for 250+, haha. 

[BringBackFergy]

Any relation to Ronnie Bass (Sunshine)?

[Cripple Creek]

8 hours ago, BringBackFergy said:

Any relation to Ronnie Bass (Sunshine)?

No. And, please stop calling me Sunshine. 

[BringBackFergy]

8 minutes ago, Cripple Creek said:

No. And, please stop calling me Sunshine. 

But how else can I describe your sunny disposition?

 

[Punching Bag]

On 4/25/2020 at 11:47 PM, first_and_ten said:

We've seen great college kickers get to the pros and totally flop. 

 

And QBs and OTs and DL ..... what position doesn't have flops?

[Mat68]

Having Hauska probably makes it difficult to sign the top kicker.  They are inna position they need to take one.  Ironcially, seems like the guys theu drafted over the years have landed full time jobs.

[2003Contenders]

15 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

The scouting reports made it seem like he didn't have a strong leg, perhaps in these videos the trajectory is low and they'd be blocked easy? 

 

I think there may have been an element of laziness on the part of some of the scouting here. That is, the common theme I kept hearing is that he made only a single 50+ yard kick in his college career. That has nothing to do with leg strength. Accuracy, maybe -- but just as likely this was a product of a conservative coaching staff being unwilling to attempt long field goals.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

16 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

There’s another video where he hits a 60 yarder with 1 step

My son (Redskins fan) saw that video and said ''who is this guy?"  Downer to hear he's a Bill.

[CapeBreton]

I've been looking at the college stats of some of the top kickers in the league and most them are not very good. I wouldn't worry about Bass' 2019 %, he can improve that accuracy. I don't think we can keep Haushka over this guy's leg.

[Einstein's Dog]

16 hours ago, Doc said:

Watching that clip, it put in focus that working out at the Combine probably cost Epenesa, Moss and Fromm a round each. 

 

Edit: not Bass' clip but the one with the guys talking.

I was thinking that too.  That Beane got some value from players that looked to have been severely downgraded due to one bad day.

[YoloinOhio]

 

[BuffaloRebound]

That no step 50 yarder is ridiculous.  Can’t imagine there’s many guys who can do that.  If nothing else, this guy should be an automatic touchback.  Brad Daluiso.  

[Big Turk]

On 4/27/2020 at 9:38 PM, 947 said:

That video is a year & a half old too, his leg may be even stronger now.

 

IMO leg strength is not the most useful characteristic for a kicker.  I have always had a booming leg going back to my youth soccer playing days.  I have literally knocked bolts out of goal posts from my shot hitting the goal frame and dislocated a few kids fingers playing goalie growing up from them attempting to make saves on my shots. In my first practice on the soccer team in 6th grade the coach literally stopped practice after she saw a shot to try and find out who kicked the ball because it was a laser from about 30 yards out into the top corner of the goal (she was working with some other people on the team about something and looked up and saw it going in the net). The player was me.  So my leg has always been exceptionally strong from a kicking perspective.

 

I started playing rec football on a few flag and touch leagues as a kicker and spent considerable time working on technique. Leg strength will only get you so far as a kicker.  I have hit 55 yard FG's and probably could hit from 60 based on leg strength.  But I no longer have the leg "whip" speed due to heavy weight training and squats, etc.  

 

And that is actually what is needed more as a kicker than pure leg strength.  How fast you can whip your leg will determine how far the ball goes far more than pure leg strength in most cases.  Now ideally you want both, but if I had to choose one it would be speed of the leg whipping forward as you strike the ball as most important in determining how far the ball will go and not what most people would consider leg strength.

Edited April 29, 2020 by matter2003

[YoloinOhio]