To say the battle between Jay Feely and Dan Carpenter intrigues me isn't really accurate. Rather, it worries me! It worries me because of the fact that it's even a battle at all.
As laughable as it is now, I actually had to defend replacing Olindo Mare with Jay Feely to Dolphins fans last offseason. As we all know, Feely was outstanding last season, setting the Dolphins' single-season field goal percentage record at 91.3. Meanwhile, Mare was horrible beyond words (though not beyond numbers, like 58.8 percent)!
Despite Feely's fantastic performance last season, it seems that Parcells doesn't take his outspoken nature in the media kindly. I, for one, could not care less. If my kicker performs like Feely did last year, he can go on profanity-laden tirades daily. But Parcells does not agree, and he's exerting his authority over arguably the Dolphins' 2007 season MVP.
Admittedly, Feely is not that strong on kickoffs and that is another reason for this competition. In 2007, he ranked 31st in the NFL in kickoff average and 15th in touchbacks. (Note: numbers exclude players with fewer than 10 kickoffs.) That being said, 90+ percent field goal kickers are hard to find, and it's a trade-off I'm willing to make.
With Dave Rayner having been released, the lone challenger is an undrafted free agent Dan Carpenter. Carpenter has a hell of a leg with career-long field goals of 54-yards at University of Montana. He progressed each of his four years in terms of field goal percentage, from 62.1 as a freshman, to 66.7 as a sophomore, to 80.0 a a junior, and to 82.6 as a senior. He also handled full-time punting duties his junior year.
The position(s): Placekicker
Number of spots: One
Contenders: Jay Feely, Dan Carpenter
Predicted winner(s): Feely
Reason: Kickoff struggles or no, Feely was just too good last season to be cut loose. Carpenter would have to blow him away in camp to earn the job, and that just does not seem likely. Carpenter would be a strong kickoff specialist, but I've never been a big fan of using two roster spots on kickers. If it's all that important, why not just have punter Brandon Fields, who also has a great leg, work at it?
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2 months ago
Nice to see someone covering a less popular team. This club could surprise a lot of people considering that they lost 6 games last year by only 3 points.
2 months ago
As bad as the Fins were on offense last year, I think the kicker is just a little further down on the pecking order. If they don't get reliable QB and WR play the kicker won't matter, especially with the fact that they will be playing from behind a lot this year.
from 2 months ago
Maybe not, but getting rid of one of the most accurate kickers in the league is not a good idea. ESPECIALLY if your team isn't good at putting it in the end zone.
from 2 months ago
playing from behind this year will be an understatement
2 months ago
As a Dolphin season ticket holder...i think Feeley is the safe bet here...a proven veteran (something that the 'Tuna loves)..i think it's his job to lose...however,like David said, we need a damn QB who can put us in the Endzone before settling for field goals...that being said...i think Feely is the man for the job still...GO FIN'S
2 months ago
For the record, the Parcells situation here has nothing to do with Feely in the media. It's the kickoff distance. Parcells cannot stand holding multiple spots on the rosters for a kicker, so he will take someone who can both kickoff and kick FGs.
from 2 months ago
Got any proof? There are plenty of reports that disagree with you and it's pretty well known that Parcells has told Feely he needs to shut up. (http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/563736.html)
I'm inclined to believe that Feely's mouth is a bigger problem than his kickoffs based on what I've read.
2 months ago
a battle you say. o yes it is a battle. but intriguing. o i think not
2 months ago
I am a huge Phins fan and have been since i was three years old. I'm lucky to live in Montana and have been to almost all of the games Dan Carpenter has played in here. The guy is clutch, he has made some huge kicks in very bad weather, and he has a great leg for kickoffs. I know he is a longshot but don't count him out. If Feely does beat him out I wouldn't be surprised to see him kicking somewhere else in the NFL in the next few years.
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