Minnesota kicker critical of David Buehler, Cowboys' view of kickers

[Cr122]

Posted at 3:46 PM on Fri., Aug. 13, 2010
Gerry Fraley / Reporter

David Buehler, in his first season as the Dallas Cowboys' placekicker, has made 6-of-7 field-goal tries in exhibition play . Ryan Longwell, Minnesota's veteran kicker, took Buehler to task for his lone miss: a 49-yard try that went well to the left in the Hall of Fame game against Cincinnati.

``He's got a huge kickoff leg, but he missed that field goal ... by 20 yards,'' Longwell told the Minneapolis-Star Tribune. ``I'm not sure if you can be there if you're hitting balls like that.''

Longwell has made 82.9 percent of his 388 career field-goal tries. He made 26 of 28 attempts with Minnesota last season.

``In building a team, I think kicker would rank pretty high," Longwell told the newspaper. ``It's one of the few positions in the world that's either an A or an F. There are no C's in kicking. Your successful teams always seem to have the consistent kickers. And the teams that are always a near miss are always teams that think they can sneak one by with a kicker who doesn't have the experience.''

The Cowboys play at Minnesota on Oct. 17.

 

[sbk92]

I think it has to do with great leg strength. Something Longwell doesn't have. When he hooks a ball, it doesn't have near the force to travel those 20 yards off center. When Buehler misses one, it does.

I'm not trying to make excuses for him. He has to be better and he was the very next game.

 

[Cr122]

I think it has to do with great leg strength. Something Longwell doesn't have. When he hooks a ball, it doesn't have near the force to travel those 20 yards off center. When Buehler misses one, it does.

I'm not trying to make excuses for him. He has to be better and he was the very next game.

Right,there is no question Buehler can hit from distance, he just needs to work on accuracy.

 

[SixisBetter]

I'm shocked a kicker would say something like this:``In building a team, I think kicker would rank pretty high,"

Yeah,I bet you do think that,Mr Longwell.

On Buehler,isn't Chris Boniol his personal swing coach?Seems to be having some effect.

 

[Sheik]

I am really pulling for this guy. I only hope that if things don't work out with the whole fg stuff, I hope he stays on as a kickoff specialist. We'll never be able to attempt an onside kick, but I'll take that when he's booming 80% of his kickoffs into the endzone.