Hero #2...Billy Cundiff

[S.T.real,lights,out]

He looked the part. Hopefully he can keep it up. Big reason why we won yesterday.

[SkinsCrushCowboys]

His 12 points made the difference. The first one scared the crap out of me, but the others elevated and dead center. His kickoffs were also a thing of beauty...deep, no return.

[The Slamming Butcher]

Yes. I brought this up in another thread. I think Gano misses at least one, if not two of those FGs. That would've made them game a whole lot more interesting. I'm glad Billy showed well for us this first week.

Reading this made me laugh. During the closing minutes of the game yesterday I remarked that we'd be preparing for disappointment had Gano stayed, because we'd likely only have been up by two due to his missing a couple of those field goals.

Good job, Billy. And good job FO for having the guts to sign him.

[Thinking Skins]

Gano could have made those kicks too.

[Bang]

How about his kickoffs as well! I know it's boring to talk about the kicking game, but come on, he eliminated one of the Saints most prolific weapons in Darren Sproles with his return game by kicking the ball thru the end zone or the very back of it!

I wouldn't say that. He did put 6 out for touchbacks.
But the 3 they brought out .. they had a 35 yard average, including a 48 yard return in the 4th quarter when we could least afford it.

Of course, it's not Cundiff's fault for the long returns. He had a fine day all around. Good solid field goals, and 6 out of 9 is a healthy average for touchbacks. Considering we kicked off NINE times, i'll take it every week.

Cundiff gets an A+

Guessing what Gano may have done is pointless.

~Bang

[Bigmuss1]

Gano could have made those kicks too.

I'm waiting for the sarcasm here......

[CTskins]

I, for one, am baffled by the hatorade for Cundiff. His miss in the playoffs was as much (if not more) on John Harbaugh clock management as it was Cundiff's execution. He went out there yesterday and nailed 4 FG's and 4 XP's. Not to mention kicking the ball through the endzone, fustrating Sproles to the point that he returned one from 9 1/2 yards deep (and still couldn't make the 20). Could Gano do that? maybe, but he is no longer on the team and I think we would have been on pins and needles everytime he stepped on the field. So far so good. And if Cundiff screws up, I'm realitively sure Gano will be available.

[MLSKINS]

I was mad when we cut Gano, but after seeing Cundiff yesterday, I now understand. Kickoffs, and FG were money. Shoot, he even made a nice tackle on one of the returns.

[pjfootballer]

I wouldn't say that. He did put 6 out for touchbacks.
But the 3 they brought out .. they had a 35 yard average, including a 48 yard return in the 4th quarter when we could least afford it.

Of course, it's not Cundiff's fault for the long returns. He had a fine day all around. Good solid field goals, and 6 out of 9 is a healthy average for touchbacks. Considering we kicked off NINE times, i'll take it every week.

Cundiff gets an A+

Guessing what Gano may have done is pointless.

~Bang

Sproles is an electifying guy. He scared me all game long. He's a tough matchup. Luckily we don't face players like him every week. I really have no idea who returns kicks or punts (Amendola) for the Rams.

---------- Post added September-10th-2012 at 11:03 AM ----------

His 12 points made the difference. The first one scared the crap out of me, but the others elevated and dead center. His kickoffs were also a thing of beauty...deep, no return.

I thought (and still do think) he missed the first one. I wish the camera angle was better. I'm guessing the refs said it went over the post, but I thought he missed it.

[rk3025]

gano NEVER missed a kick all year the 100% pro kicker for automatic 3's from 60 yards or less so you do not lose field position.Never got nervous last year. Ha! Ha!

[Skins4SB]

I agree that Cundiff had a good game. The first FG was indeed a scare, but after the second and third went through, I felt more comfortable.

I guess we will see what does in harsher conditions (wind/gusts, etc..)

[DogofWar1]

Cundiff did a great job. 2 kicks outside 40, his accuracy was crucial.

If he missed one of those, suddenly we're only up by 5, aka. that terrifying "one score and we lose" zone we all know so well. Miss 2, and Brees wins that game for them, by getting them within the 30 and getting another field goal. Being 8 points down instead of 5 or 2 forced him to play vastly differently.

I hate to say it, but I do have some doubts about whether Gano would have hit all 4 of those.

Anyways, I feel like we need to call in Oprah to hand out game balls. "And you get a game ball! And you get a game ball! And you get a game ball! Everyone look under your seats! Everyone gets a game ball!"

[AzSkinsFan63]

I was completely wrong about Cundiff..Congrats Cundiff..excellent game!

[TheLongshot]

Well, there are two things from that game. I think people should understand now why Cundiff is encouraged to kick it out of the end zone, while Gano was learing to directional kick: Cundiff can kick it out far more consistently than Gano. Second, the downside of not being able to hit it out is potentially big yards on returns, which is why you try to limit the field for a returner.

As for accuracy comparisons, it is a little early for that. Yes, Cundiff had a good game. Gano also had good games. The problem is, fans tend to remember the misses.

[artmonkforHOF]

I don't disagree with Cundiff being a hero, I just think Sundberg long snapping with a broken forearm (helmet hit it on blocked punt play) deserves some credit. I don't remeber hearing about the injury during the game, they showed Sundberg holding his arm on the sidelines after the play but that was it. the kid got in there and kept playing becasue he knew they had no one else.

Sundberg Hero #2a, Cundiff #2b, cause a kicker is suppose to make kicks, but no one expects a long snapper to keep playing with a broken forearm.

Anyone know what The Red Sanpper aka Ethan Albright is up to? might have to give him a call