The People (And Neil Rackers) vs. Kris Brown Started Today
Per Scurfield:
The Texans’ kicking competition between Kris Brown and Neil Rackers began today in front of the team. Brown: 5-of-6. Rackers: 6-of-6. Brown’s miss was close, hooked just left and maybe a bit short from 43 yards. Texans coach Gary Kubiak was impressed w/ both kickers today.
I figured this deserved its own discussion area until a new open thread is created as it is a topic of much concern.
UPDATE: Here is some more from Scurfield:
Kickers Kris Brown and Neil Rackers began competing in front of the entire team for the first time in training camp. They took turns kicking two field goals from 27 yards, 37 yards and 43 yards. Brown was 5-of-6, while Rackers went 6-of-6. Brown’s lone miss came on his second 43-yard attempt, which he hooked just left, but both kickers hit the ball solidly on each kick. I'll have plenty more to write about about this soon.
almost 2 years ago
Mike Kerns
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Look at the pics on page 1 of the Chronicles sports page
The same pics are probably on Chron.com, too. Compare Rackers’ form to Brown’s form. See Brown? I have previously described his kicking form as having a slice. For you golfers out there, this will have significant meaning. See hiow Brown opens up? That’s a slice! That is the Acilles Heel of Kris Brown. He slices. When he slices badly, he is opening up even more. I could help him and I would do it for free…..
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
by Rip Jersey on Aug 3, 2010 10:41 AM CDT via mobile reply actions 5 recs
I don't know jack shit about golf...
But it sounds like you do. And it sounds like a legit concern. Rec’d.
There are a lot of similarities between golfing and placekicking (open up = slice & too closed = hook)
and Kris Brown is a good golfer. I don’t disagree with your analysis of the pics, but didn’t Brown have multiple misses on both sides last year, slices and hooks I mean? Towards the end of the season, he looked like his confidence was gone. He kicked like he didn’t know where the ball was going once it left his foot. I routinely get to my seat early because I like to watch the warmups, especially the kickers. Brown’s kicks are atypical in that frequently the ball will make a double move, as in start to hook but then slice back to split the uprights (sometimes vice-versa). His ball looks like it’s knuckling even without any wind; very strange. Even Brown’s pregame warmups were not as solid last year vs previous years with him making many more misses than he would like. Predictably this translated into poor game performance. He will be hard pressed to keep his job unless Rackers implodes.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Aug 3, 2010 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, I saw the same thing over the past years
Last year, I think we saw him overcompensate when things went wrong, causing his kicks to go even more wrong…erratic… left and right….and as you call it, he lost his confidence. Yes, he didn’t know where it was going.
I don’t know what his regimen was this summer, but I would have recommended videoing his kicking workouts and studying them, charting his kicks, and basically get his form to where he is being consistent. He definitely has the foot. He hasn’t lost that. You hit it right on the head with what went wrong last year.
The test of who gets the job will come probably come down to if Rackers proves he is consistent. If Brown and Rackers are both consistent, I would lean towards Rackers, because I don’t trust Brown for a whole season. We’ll see what the coaches think.
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
by Rip Jersey on Aug 3, 2010 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
RJ you covered one point that I failed to in that KB has not lost any leg
Last year he still had plenty of distance on his KO’s, not the best in the league, but certainly adequate and he still had plenty of juice to make a 56 yarder. Strength is certainly not his problem. If I am Kubiak, and I see that KB has a much better chance of making a 55+ yarder than Rackers, but that Rackers is money from 45-50, while KB is only 75% money, then I would hope that Kubiak goes with Rackers. After all the big kicks KB has made over the years for the Texans, I really like KB, but after all the misses last year (and more than a few were ugly), several in HUGE situations I have to wonder that what we saw last year is what Cowher saw in Pittsburgh. If extreme game pressure brings out the worst in KB, ten we must move on. Have no idea how this is going to play out, but I can’t see us having a successful season if our kicker misses as many big kicks this season as KB missed last year. Kubiak faces a very tough decision.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Aug 4, 2010 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I disagree with what I see going on now.
I think Kubes should make the decision now. He has seen enough. He really needs position players. Release a kicker and bring in that Buffalo DE who is jockeying to be here. I’m sure he wants a signing bonus and I hate to give it to him if there is a chance he gets cut, but that’s business, I guess. At least with that guy, if you release him, he just retires and goes on with life.
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
Nah - I'd rather go the other way
I think both of these guys are legit upper tier NFL place kickers. I agree with you that Kubiak has seen enough kicks to date to know who he is leaning toward, but kicking in game conditions is much more telling that any number of practice kicks. Schoebel is OK, maybe even still good, but am not convinced that taking snaps away from Barwin is the way to go. Connor looked great at the end of last year and is getting RAVE early reviews. Do we really need 2 situational pass rushing LDE’s more than we need the chance to give a more thorough examination of who is the better PK? I think that the PK position is extremely important and the Texans are in the very rare position of having 2 excellent vets from which to choose. If he wants to bring in Scoebel at the expense of someone else, then unless he costs too much, i am on board with that. I want to see the PK’s battle it out until the last preseason game.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Aug 4, 2010 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions
The only reason that Schobel would benefit the Texans is if Mario continues to have a bad hip
or his shoulder returns to bad form. Then Schobel could benefit the Texans. Otherwise, don’t need him.
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
i'm kinda on the fence with him
If he will not need big bonus, IMO he would be worth a look and we could shed whoever we think is running last at DE, i.e. Nading, Jamison or Unrein. Hopefully they are just being overly cautious with Mario, but if he truly is a concern than I would think signing Schoebel would become more of a priority.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Aug 6, 2010 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions
ive been saying this since last years training camp
RIP is 100% right. and like a golfer, you can make up for it by aiming a little left. but this wont work EVERYTIME, only maybe 8-10 if your lucky, just like a golfer
60% of the time it works every time!!!!
More from Scurfield
* Kickers Kris Brown and Neil Rackers began competing in front of the entire team for the first time in training camp. They took turns kicking two field goals from 27 yards, 37 yards and 43 yards. Brown was 5-of-6, while Rackers went 6-of-6. Brown’s lone miss came on his second 43-yard attempt, which he hooked just left, but both kickers hit the ball solidly on each kick. I’ll have plenty more to write about about this soon.
* The Texans were down about 10 players in the morning, including defensive end Mario Williams (hip) and linebackers Zac Diles (groin) and Xavier Adibi (groin). Texans coach Gary Kubiak said that defensive end Pannel Egboh went down in practice as well. “We’ve got a lot of nicks on our football team that happened in the last 24 hours,” Kubiak said. "We’re right in the middle of the hardest week of training camp and going through the things you normally go through. We’ve got to keep pushing and giving other guys an opportunity, and we’ve got to get some guys healthy."
* It was the team’s first morning practice of training camp that was not open to fans, although about 300 children from TORO’s Kids Club attended practice with their parents. Rice football coach David Bailiff, who coached second-year Texans tight end James Casey, also was at practice. The Texans’ next open practice is this Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
As much as I dog on Brown
Part of me will be sad to see him go. He’s been a solid contributor for years, and I have no doubt he’ll catch on elsewhere.
The loser is practically guaranteed a job with another team
Shows what a great position we are in to be able to choose from 2 kickers both of whom are NFL caliber starters.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Aug 3, 2010 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Who has the strongest leg?
Which one of these guys has the stronger leg? I believe it is Brown. What do you guys think?
Rivers had noticed that Rackers hasn't kicked as many deep FGs....
Brown may have the stronger leg, but Rackers (career-wise) has the accurate leg.
"Lord, beer me strength."
im pulling for brown
mainly because after last year the guy is due for a wonderful season. and he is a nice guy, even though his first name is spelled like a girls name
Why the hell is there a Cowgirls Hyatt Add
Covering my damb screen. I just makes me want to burn down a Hyatt hotel!
You can't fix Dumb or being a VYFB
by Texans-Brocos on Aug 3, 2010 12:17 PM CDT reply actions 9 recs
You guys need iPhones
The mobile version doesn’t show adds
by AllenOU on Aug 3, 2010 12:54 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
In order to post the same thing twice?
If the Treasury Secretary doesn't have to pay taxes, then why do I?
by Shake on Aug 3, 2010 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
Goo'd (Read: Lit.)
We don’t need no water, let the muthaf***er burn. Burn. Muthaf***er. Burn.
hCG levels within acceptable range.
You get one more rec
For having the best. Profile pic. Evar.
I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.
by tehGrindCrusher on Aug 3, 2010 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
and you get a rec for bringing that profile pic to my attention
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
thanks I kinda like it.
You can't fix Dumb or being a VYFB
by Texans-Brocos on Aug 4, 2010 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
lets be honest
no one here wants to see Brown win this thing. I think his confidence is just shot and Rackers is basically an all-pro at K.
I loved K. Brown when he was nailing so many meaningless field goals for us for 7 years..but it crippled him. When the pressure of meaningful games and playoff implications finally came..he shriveled up.
In a related story
It seems that Brad Lidge has once again pulled a Brad Lidge.
Once Brown was ‘broken’ for the Steelers, it could be fixed until he moved. Now it’s broken again.
If the Treasury Secretary doesn't have to pay taxes, then why do I?
could = couldn't
for those who don’t know common internet typos terminology
If the Treasury Secretary doesn't have to pay taxes, then why do I?
Just throwing this out there...
Will Kubiak hurry up and cut one of the kickers ASAP, so they can fill the roster spot with a position player!!! I suppose the LB DE from Buffalo is a prime candidate, even though I think he is old and retired…..
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
Probably not based on his quotes today
(on the competition) It looked pretty good today. I don’t think that either one of them missed. If I was the referee I thought both of them were really good. I think that’s the way it’s going to be. I think it’s going to be nip and tuck the whole way. They will both handle themselves well and kick well and make it tough on us to make a decision."
(on if there will be enough situations in the preseason to determine who will be the starting place kicker this season) “I wish I could tell you yes, but you could normally assume no. It’s just the way it works. It’s not like you could go out and create field goal (situations during a game). We’ll probably rotate them every kick. If one of them has a game-winner, we will make sure the next guy will get the other one. We are just going to be as fair as we can. They will kick enough during the course of the month. The competition will be more than fair.”
"Lord, beer me strength."
Just me
Put the pressure on them both. Sudden death tomorrow. The loser goes home. Why coddle them? They need to kick under pressure. Surprise them!
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
by Rip Jersey on Aug 3, 2010 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd for sudden death!
Earl Campbell is the perfect combination of assmass and weightspeed. - Papabear
I think the longer the competition last the more pressure they are under
…of course I’m sticking by my idea to tell them the loser gets covered in syrup and butter and is locked in a closet with McClain
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
Brown Vs. Rackers
Saw an interview of both…I am paraphrasing but
- Brown said something like; its out of my control, whatever happens happens and rambled on for another minute.
- Rackers said something like; I made all my kicks and if I keep doing that its all good
Why in the hell would Brown say it is out of his control? Rackers seems much more focused and Brown seems to have already started bowing out
The decision-makers need to relized that and make the cut, so they can have another position playrt in camp
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
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