The Philadelphia Eagles are placing a big bet on two rookie kickers in 2011.  Alex Henery will handle place kicking duties and Chas Henry will handle punting duties.

As Reuben Frank reported in CSNPhilly.com, the Eagles currently plan to start the season with two rookie kickers for the first time since 1979 (or 1984, if you don’t count the preseason).

It’s no wonder the Eagles haven’t used two rookie kickers in the past 25 years.  Rookie kickers are a risk.

The kicking game is critical in the NFL—it dictates field position and often decides games.  Eagles fans need only to go back to January 2010 to remember how important field goals are to winning.  David Akers missed two field goals in the Eagles five-point loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Kicking mistakes can be game-changers, and rookies are more mistake-prone.  A rookie mistake by New York Giants punter Matt Dodge in 2010 made for one of the most memorable Eagles moments last season—the DeSean Jackson game-winning punt return.  Eagles fans hope Chas Henry won’t make a similar mistake this year.

As for place kicker, the Eagles spent a fourth-round draft choice on Alex Henery.  Is a place kicker worth such a high draft choice?

Yes.

Of the kickers that were drafted in the fourth round or higher since 1967 (according to my analysis):

  • Over 75 percent (19-of-38) lasted more than four years and four are still active.
  • Over 40 percent (16-of-38) lasted more than nine years.
  • About 25 percent of the kickers (10-of-38) were All-Pros.
  • Only 25 percent (9-of-38) lasted three or fewer years.

Place kickers don’t last four years if they miss kicks.  History suggests that Alex Henery will perform well for the Eagles.  Although he was a class guy and a great kicker, Akers won’t be missed.

Henery kicked for Nebraska and Henry punted for the University of Florida, so both kickers performed in major college programs.  They’re familiar with pressure, but they haven’t experienced the pressure of the NFL yet. 

Early results from training camp are positive; both kickers are performing well.  But we won’t really be able to assess them until the regular season, when the games are real.

Eagles fans can only hope that Henery and Henry can handle the pressure of the NFL.  The season could be riding on it.