Interesting competition here. In my mind, Josh Brown is a serviceable kicker and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses or terrible games that make me want him gone ala Jay Feely after Seattle. But the leg on this McManus kid is so damn intriguing.
To date through camp I think McManus has one more miss (a shank) than Brown. But McManus also has a tremendous leg. He has looked calm and confident kicking in the two preseason games. As others have discussed the potential of having a leg to make a kick that's beyond 35 yards is attractive.
Coughlin always goes with the veteran. So just on that Brown probably wins out. I don't normally get worked up over place kickers but I feel like if we let McManus go he ends up on another team and becomes one of the best in the league.
Thoughts?
Either way, I think the Giants make a good choice. With Brown they get a guy with experience. With McManus they get youth and a guy who could be a fixture at the position for many years.
Flip a coin.
I personally would like to keep the young guy if he continues to prove himself. Brown is fine but what is he, like 35? Would suck to have to look for a new kicker next year or the year after while McManus is shining with another team.
With this offense (ability to score a lot of points questionable) and this seemingly sturdy defense, those extra long 3 pointers at a good percentage are big value add.
Big leg or not.
As of now, Brown wins comfortably.
I don't like Brown at all, but he's shown the ability to make the big time kicks if need be. McManus? Who knows.
But I'd rather go with Brown than McManus with a chance to win the Super Bowl...
You play kickers for the immediate season. Brown offers us a better shot.
I'd be all in for stashing McManus on the PS (if eligible), but showing that he's as accurate as Brown and just as adequate on KO's doesn't trump veritable game experience...
May not be like a December game when your team is down 2 points with 1 minute to play but its something...
Look at Nate Kaeding. Able to handle regular season pressure, but wilted in the playoffs.
And secondly, the goal is to make FG's, consistently, from 45 and in.
Brown has shown an ability to do this in actual games. McManus has not. McManus also has the remains of awful technique, meaning that he will miss a couple of makeable kicks.
It's why teams will hold onto vet kickers, even as their distance declines, when their are always strong-legged competitors out there.
We need more weapons...
A. The guy with bad form because when he is coached to do it properly he will run it even faster than the first guy.
McManus isn't helped by any of that.
Plus, he's in a system where the long FG's aren't prized as much as 45 and in consistency.
His mechanics, right now, don't scream consistency. Another year of practice, and most likely they will.
He could win the job, but that's not where my money would lie.
Very feasible he plateaus and his technique can't be corrected further.
Would you want a 75% kicker then?
Brown is middle of the road. If its close and coaches want to play it safe, then fine. If they give McManus a shot, fine too.
I'm pulling for the kid.
I'm pointing out the case for why Brown is likely to win, even though I've always said I don't like him as a kicker.
Nothing about rooting for either or about if he can handle it.
Brown is middle of the road. If its close and coaches want to play it safe, then fine. If they give McManus a shot, fine too.
I'm pulling for the kid.
No, but the adage about running technique is absurd for a kicker.
It's not god given talents that make you a kicker. It's all about technique, which isn't acquired easily.
Many kickers can't assimilate the changes.
Link - ( New Window )
Blasting KO's through the end zone also negates a lot of things.