Michael Pallas | Aug 28th, 2019
US Women’s National Team star Carli Lloyd was spotted at Eagles practice kicking one field goal, and it got the whole NFL world buzzing. Now there are rumors about NFL teams contacting her to kick for them, and she said she’s aiming for next season. Right now, it’s a good talking point, but as far as actually signing her for a camp invite in 2020, it’s neither a good idea or a bad one.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KW_QjfbiqA&w=560&h=315]
Let’s first break down the fundamentals. From a technical standpoint, her starting point was way too long, and it will typically be three yards. So, she won’t get as much of a start to generate the power she did in the kick in the video.
Secondly, this is not a gender issue at all. If she can train herself to play the position in a year, and do it with sound fundamentals, every NFL team should be willing to give her a shot in training camp. However, it’s unlikely that she can pull it off in one year. There are kickers that are free agents that have been doing in their whole lives and can’t get a camp invite. That doesn’t mean she can’t though.
When it comes to making a tackle, it would be very rare for her to have to do so. Less than one percent (.9%) of field goals were blocked in the NFL last season. As far as kickoffs go, the punters in the NFL averaged 45 yards per punt — league-wide — and that’s without much of a running start and dropping a ball as opposed to a stationary ball. So, if she’s were to make an NFL roster, the punter can handle kickoffs, and there would be no additional roster spot to take up for a kickoff specialist.
Let’s face it, the NFL teams that reportedly offered her a contract for this year are out of their minds. If she puts in the work, a team gives her a tryout, and she earns her way into a camp invite, then so be it. Right now, people on both sides need to calm down. It’s not a good or bad idea. It’s just the beginning stages of a longshot.
Instead of the instant reaction, let’s let her try. If she succeeds then she does, if she fails, then so be it. It’s not a good idea or a bad one. It’s just another person trying to make it in the NFL.
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