The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

There! I said it. Nothing against Carpenter and it isn't an opinion made over the last couple of games. It is a decision based on a trend that Dan peaked in 2009 and has been inconsistent since.

The Fins fans and other team players deserve better. Seriously, how much longer should they wait?? For those that may argue it is a money issue and they could not possibly cut Dan if they owe him $$. Remember this, EVERY MOVE THE FO MAKES SHOULD BE ABOUT IMPROVING THE TEAM AND $$ A SECONDARY, BUT NES. CONSIDERATION. Personally, I cut him. 

Agree or no?

Wont happen this week. I disagreed with the decision to try that long FG today. We had the game in hand and why risk giving them the ball at midfield. Just punt. The way our defense was playing that would have been the smart play.

He did miss it though. And its 3 games in a row with misses now. This can't go on forever. I know they would eat a lot of salary if they cut him, but this can't go on forever. I say give him one more week. See how he does vs St.Louis but that's it. 1 more week to prove he deserves to stay.

10 of his last 25 from over 45 yards that is not cutting it for an NFL kicker.

Yeah, I'm okay with bringing in a kicker to compete, but let's not just get rid of Carpenter. Whomever comes in has to PROVE that he's BETTER than Carpenter, meaning he has to be pretty darn GOOD. None of this just changing for the sake of change. Still think Carpenter is just in a slump and needs to work his way out of it and I think he will. Doesn't look like he has confidence in his kicks right now, but he's not missing by that much. He needs a couple of chip shots to get his confidence going again.

Or go for it? Why not take a chance there? If you miss the FG you give them 7 yards, if you go for it on 4th down and don't get it it's not really all that great of field position, a punt only nets you what 20 yards maybe? At that point on the field I'd like to see us go for it on 4th down more often especially the way the defense is playing.

I wouldn't go for it. Why give them the ball near midfield if you don't get it. The defense was playing lights out at that point. Cincy's offense was awful. I would have just pinned em back and dared them to drive 80 yards

Fair enough and all good points. If they do cut him, I think it is about 2 mil. Not a lot in the scheme of things for the cap. How much $$ is a win worth? Didn't Ross say that the 1 win the Fins had against Billick and the Ravens cost him 40 mil when buying the team?  

The ball was at the 35 and it was 4th and 8. Lets say you run it and get 5 yards. They get the ball at 30. I'm okay with that. Even if you pass and it's incomplete they only get it at the 35 which still is not great field position. By trying a FG and you miss they get the ball at the 42 and great field position. Punting the ball you hope to down it inside the 20, but that's no guarantee. If you get a bad bounce and it goes into the endzone, you only gain 15 yards field postion. I go for it right there and I call a bootleg or something and let Tannehill try to run for it or something. If it's not there just run out of bounds. I don't have him drop back because you might take a sack, get him out of the pocket and if something is there take a shot, otherwise just try to run for it or get out bounds. Just don't lose 7 yards by trying a FG with a shaky kicker.

I hear ya. We just disagree on this. For me, the feel of the game at that point was Cincy's offense was doing nothing at all. If its only 15 yards we gain by punting, I would take it honestly at that point. Wouldn't help them out one bit. Make em earn it.

Going for it on 4th and 8 is just too risky and the odds are against ya. Realistic options are..

1. Trying the FG, which they did and it was a makeable shot.

2. Try drawing them off sides (rarely works) and hope for 4th and 3.

3. Pretend to go for it and pooch kick.

4. Just kick the punt.

I agree with kicking the FG in that situation. I would have basically sealed the game. Trouble is we have a sporadic kicker. Personally, I think he needs to go.

Exactly. Most of us have been calling for his head because of the last 2 weeks, but that doesn't mean our stance is unjustified. Almost any NFL kicker can have a high rate from 40 yards in. It's the good ones who can have a high rate from 40 on out and those are the guys you keep. Dan is no longer that guy, so it's time to say goodbye.

I know the "fallacy of the predetermined outcome", but I can't help feel we would be 4-1 right now if not for Carpenter. At the very least we are 3-2. Not bad for a team with a rookie QB and a set of Wideouts who wouldn't be recognized at their own family gatherings.

I have no doubt in my mind that we would be 4-1 if we had an above avg kicker.  You've got to make those kicks, period.  That 10-25 no is atrocious in my opinion.

They should've gotten rid of him after the Jets game and here he is nearly costing the Dolphins another game

53 yards is not unmakeable but also not a gimme.

I'd be in favor of competition. I have seen Carpenter blasting it out of the back of the end zone on kickoffs. I wonder if he worked on power this offseason, and it has affected his accuracy.

Could be worse....we could have Cundiff!

Imagine if Carpenter was on? We'd be alone in first!

What worries me about Carpenter isn't that he missed two in the Jets game, but rather the trend he's had of missing too many 45+ kicks.

HOWEVER, that doesn't translate to "Carpenter needs to go". Anyone who honestly thinks Carpenter should get the boot RIGHT NOW is a moron. Sorry, but that's the simple truth. (I'm not saying anyone here is saying he needs to go right now, but it sometimes sounds like it).

By all means, bring in some competition. Look to replace him. But, for the love of God, please get a BETTER kicker in place before letting Carpenter go.

I said last week that he needs to start making some 45+ kicks in order to prove himself. He made one today, but also missed a 50+ kick. To me, that leaves him about the same... i.e. he still needs to prove himself and make some of those long kicks.

Yeah, I said he needs to go but that was right after he missed and was a statement made based on emotion. lol

Seriously, they need to explore their options. There must be plenty of great, unemployed kickers out there. Most never get drafted. Look at what KC did with a 7th. Sucoup is awesome.

Succop hasn't attempted anything longer than 45 yards this year and his career stats look similar to Carpenters -- slightly worse than him last year. This year he's missed a 40-yarder.

Anyway, Carpenter has plenty of leg as demonstrated by his touchbacks and his 3 for 3 stat on 50+ field goals this preseason.

Since they moved the KO to the 35, it is pretty common for a kicker to get a touchback. If "I HAD" to pick a kicker based on his strength of kicking FG's or getting TB's, I take the FG's.

I am no kicker, but it seems that Carps problems "could be" easily fixed. He has been consistently wide left and his ball goes almost totally straight. Why not make a small adjustment?

One thing is certain. He should be the 1st to get to practice and the last to leave. 

That last part I can agree with. No way should he feel satisfied with his performance this season. Hopefully, it's just a fluke and he'll be back to his old self again. The problem with kickers is that the mental component is huge and it seems like they sometimes just fall apart.

Like I said, I'm absolutely not averse to bringing in some competition. Not sure how much sense it makes now, in the middle of the season, but maybe bring in someone for a look-see?

I'm thinking once Kaeding is healthy maybe take a look at Nick Novak. Seems like a good option.

Ireland/Philbin held on to Naanee for a while before finally cutting bait. They didn't bail when the world saw he was worthless. Not sure they are in a rush to get rid of Carpenter. I think Carpenter might have 2 strikes against him but I don't know if a switch is coming soon. I think he is one more major screw up away from being gone.

Not saying get rid of him, but just bring in Novak, if nothing else to let Carpenter know that he's not immune and he needs to shape up, or he will be replaced.

What you don't want Billy Cundiff? lol

Novak is no icon of success either.  He's missed his fair share of kicks, which is why he's only on a team if they've got an injury.

That said, I have no problem bringing in competition.

I'm sure he already realizes he needs to make those kicks.  Adding pressure isn't going to make things better.

Why not?  I'm sure he knows but maybe it gets a little more real if he sees another guy lining up in front of his goal posts on the practice field.  Doesn't have to be Novak, just thought he was the best of the (soon-to-be) jobless.