Panthers sign K Adi Kunalic

[Thanatos 2,847]

I'm very curious why we signed a guy who was backup to Henery and attempted one kick in his collegiate career. I thought Henery came out of Nebraska, so when I read this guy came from there... it was odd. Either he showed something really good in tryouts and earlier in the season, (but then why cut him earlier), or they're just trying to pressure Mare.

 

Source

 

CHARLOTTE - In the wake of kicker Olindo Mare's recent struggles in the clutch, the Panthers added a second kicker Tuesday in Adi Kunalic, an undrafted rookie free agent who attended training camp with the team.

 

Kunalic took the roster spot previously occupied by linebacker Jason Phillips, who was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. Phillips, who missed the last five games, is the team-record 15th Carolina player placed on IR, one more than the previous high of 14 set in 2004 and 2010.

 

"We had Adi in training camp, and we thought he had a lot of potential," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "We just think it's a good time to bring him in and let him compete."

 

Mare missed a 36-yard field goal in the final five minutes of Sunday's 31-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, a kick that would have given the Panthers the lead. The field goal missed wide left toward the west end of Bank of America Stadium, very similar to the 31-yarder he missed that could have forced overtime against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8.

 

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera suggested Monday that the Panthers might look to shake things up at the position.

 

"We've got to think this through and go through the process and make sure we make good decisions when it comes down to our players," Rivera said. "At some point, you'd like to believe that it's going to work out, that he's going to kick ‘em and make ‘em. That's what he was brought in here to do, so hopefully we'll get that done."

 

Mare, a 15-year NFL veteran in his first season with the Panthers is 19-for-25 on field goals (two of the misses were blocked) and 32-for-33 on PATS (the one miss was blocked) this year.

 

Kunalic attempted more kicks in the preseason with the Panthers than he did throughout his four-year career at the University of Nebraska, making both of his field goal attempts and all three of his PATs with Carolina. Kunalic also kicked off six times in the preseason and reached the end zone every time with one touchback.

 

At Nebraska, Kunalic backed up Alex Henery, the only kicker selected in the 2010 NFL draft and now the kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kunalic attempted one field goal in college, hitting a 46-yarder as a freshman, but mostly served as a kickoff specialist. As a senior, he ranked third in the country with 39 touchbacks and produced 125 touchbacks in his career.

Edited December 15, 2011 by Thanatos19

[RazorStar 4,025]

So he's like the Matt Cassel of kickers...

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

Kickers are weird when it comes to trying to judge their talent. Rob Bironas went to college at Auburn, was an All-SEC Freshman, was benched the next year(for no reason, really), transferred to Georgia Southern, then bounced around NFL practice squads and AFL teams til finally landing with the Titans, where he's become the best kicker in the league over the past 5 seasons.

Edited December 14, 2011 by .AirMcNair.

[Thanatos 2,847]

Kickers are weird when it comes to trying to judge their talent. Rob Bironas went to college at Auburn, was an All-SEC Freshman, was benched the next year(for no reason, really), transferred to Georgia Southern, then bounced around NFL practice squads and AFL teams til finally landing with the Titans, where he's become the best kicker in the league over the past 5 seasons.

 

You talking statistics, or is that just an opinion? There are multiple kickers I'd put ahead of Bironas.

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

You talking statistics, or is that just an opinion? There are multiple kickers I'd put ahead of Bironas.

Well there's not anyone I'm taking ahead of him..he can hit from 60, is good for nearly 90% on kicks every single year, etc. I mean yeah there are other kickers I guess you could claim as being the best, but I wouldn't trade Bironas for anyone else..He's 136/154(88%) since 2007. The only kicker I think who has a higher % in that same time frame is Kaeding(I'm not 100% on this...)...but he sucks dick when it counts, so I don't even bother mentioning him in the best in the league anymore.

[Thanatos 2,847]

Well there's not anyone I'm taking ahead of him..he can hit from 60, is good for nearly 90% on kicks every single year, etc. I mean yeah there are other kickers I guess you could claim as being the best, but I wouldn't trade Bironas for anyone else..He's 136/154(88%) since 2007. The only kicker I think who has a higher % in that same time frame is Kaeding(I'm not 100% on this...)...but he sucks dick when it counts, so I don't even bother mentioning him in the best in the league anymore.

 

I was thinking more of guys like Sebastian Janikowski, or Adam Vinatieri. I mean, Bironas is good, but I wouldn't say he's the best.

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

I was thinking more of guys like Sebastian Janikowski, or Adam Vinatieri. I mean, Bironas is good, but I wouldn't say he's the best.

 

Janikowski is having a great year, but he's way too inconsistent. His career accuracy is 79% for a reason. Vinatieri is about the same, but with several clutch kicks in the playoffs, lol.

 

It's hard to find a guy whose name isn't Rob Bironas that has 84%+ in every season since 07. I haven't found one yet(though, I've only looked at about 10 kickers, so that's not saying much). Not even Kaeding has..he was 82% last year.

 

Edit: Yeah, Bironas is the only one. Consistency is his middle name.

Edited December 15, 2011 by .AirMcNair.

[Thanatos 2,847]

I don't know that merely looking at total accuracy is a good way to measure FG kickers. Yes it means something, but how much of that 21% of kicks Seabass missed are 50+'ers that the Raiders had him kick just because they know he's good on 2 out of 3 50+'ers?

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

I don't know that merely looking at total accuracy is a good way to measure FG kickers. Yes it means something, but how much of that 21% of kicks Seabass missed are 50+'ers that the Raiders had him kick just because they know he's good on 2 out of 3 50+'ers?

 

Breaking it down by yardage, Janikowski is only 71.3%(82-115) from 40-49. He's 54.8%(34/62) from 50+.

 

Bironas, is in comparison, 80.8%(59/73) and 69.2(18/26) from those ranges.

 

Bironas averages 10.4 kicks from 40+ every season, and 3.7 from 50. Janikowski, in comparison, averages 9.5 and 5.1 respectively.

 

So no, it's really not unfair to Janikowski. They average close to the same. Bironas is more accurate from 40 and onward by far. 77/99(77%) for Bironas, 116/177(65%) for Janikowski.

 

Yeah, all that range is nice from Seabass, but when you're averaging 12% lower than what Bironas can give you from long distance, it's no where near worth it, given Bironas can hit one from 60 himself. Those 4-5 extra yards from Seabass aren't worth a 12% drop, wouldn't you agree?

[AL_Royalty 489]

Dude, do you hear that? It sounds like my phone is ringing... Oh, it's Canton calling. They're asking for an appointment with Rob Bironas and CJ2YPC 5 years from the day they retire.

 

They also want a pair of Ledale White's shoes. He scored all those TDs that one year.

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

Dude, do you hear that? It sounds like my phone is ringing... Oh, it's Canton calling. They're asking for an appointment with Rob Bironas and CJ2YPC 5 years from the day they retire.

 

They also want a pair of Ledale White's shoes. He scored all those TDs that one year.

...

 

The fuck is wrong with you?

 

Why are you forgetting about Justin Gage? He was obviously the greatest receiver of all time during his tenure here. Though Damian Williams may surpass him.

[AL_Royalty 489]

...

 

The fuck is wrong with you?

 

Why are you forgetting about Justin Gage? He was obviously the greatest receiver of all time during his tenure here. Though Damian Williams may surpass him.

Haha. That's good stuff. I did forget about Gage. He was a Monster. Thanks for being a good sport. :beerchug: