The main reason Hauschka is kicking those 50+ yd. FGs

[Albany,n.y.]

Is because the coach is sending him out there instead of punting. In the past we've had chicken-s##t coaches who have been too afraid to try a kick with the ball inside the opponents 35 yard line. Even though they never hit 4 in a row as long as Hauschka has done, both Lindell & Carpenter had the legs to kick over 50 yards, yet I clearly remember Chan Gailey punting on 4th down from the 34 yard line, instead of a 51 yard FG attempt. While some of you continued your love for Gailey even though his win % was a paltry 33% he lost me forever that day (we lost that game). I'm pretty sure, tied or up 3, Rex wouldn't have had the guts to try either the 54 or 55 yarder knowing a miss would put Atlanta close to FG range to either go ahead or tie the game. Rex would have punted both times and probably lost the game.

Both long FG attempts were McDermott playing to win instead of playing not to lose. I think McDermott is going to prove to be something that the Bills have never had before-a great coach who we were the 1st team to hire as a head coach. Look it up-every successful head coach the Bills have had was recycled. Now it's worked great in NE with their recycled coach, but the best situations over the years have been teams that found the next great coach and gave him his 1st chance. Even better, with the Pegulas running things, we don't have to worry that he will leave when it's time for a new contract because the owner is too cheap to pay him.

[Cali512]

Is because the coach is sending him out there instead of punting. In the past we've had chicken-s##t coaches who have been too afraid to try a kick with the ball inside the opponents 35 yard line. Even though they never hit 4 in a row as long as Hauschka has done, both Lindell & Carpenter had the legs to kick over 50 yards, yet I clearly remember Chan Gailey punting on 4th down from the 34 yard line, instead of a 51 yard FG attempt. While some of you continued your love for Gailey even though his win % was a paltry 33% he lost me forever that day (we lost that game). I'm pretty sure, tied or up 3, Rex wouldn't have had the guts to try either the 54 or 55 yarder knowing a miss would put Atlanta close to FG range to either go ahead or tie the game. Rex would have punted both times and probably lost the game.

Both long FG attempts were McDermott playing to win instead of playing not to lose. I think McDermott is going to prove to be something that the Bills have never had before-a great coach who we were the 1st team to hire as a head coach. Look it up-every successful head coach the Bills have had was recycled. Now it's worked great in NE with their recycled coach, but the best situations over the years have been teams that found the next great coach and gave him his 1st chance. Even better, with the Pegulas running things, we don't have to worry that he will leave when it's time for a new contract because the owner is too cheap to pay him.


McDermott is the first coach we have had that im willing to give 4-5 years towards. He has passionate, he's exciting on the sideline, and very very obviously a beloved man. Jauron, Rex, Marrone, Gailey, Williams, even Phillips all were and are awkward humans. They either have huge egos that come across as a dick school teacher, or a personality that you would take advantage of (gailey and Rex). McDermott reminds me of a teacher you'd come into class every day to try and impress, spend extra time on assignments, and try your best to make proud. That's honestly what was missing, I think that is the key. Everyone has there own style, but deep down if you think of it as a teacher mindset, which coaches would you take advantage of in the past 40 yrs? Which coaches would piss you off and annoy you? Now which coaches would you try to fight for? That's what I'm seeing, a coach that has the personality to fight for. If I was in school and Levy and McDermott were my teachers, I'd be there every day studying my ass off. Meanwhile the other coaches would just be ordinary or ******* teachers, while rex would've been the fun but **** it idc teacher

[alohabillsfan]

Agree 100% with both of you! McDermott Seems to have to work ethic that coach that comes in at 4 AM and is prepared to coach before the players even get there ! I bet players may be bouncing in earlier too.

[Joe Fo Sho]

I loved the decision to kick that last field goal. If we're going to pay Hauschka top money (11th in the NFL in average money per year), then we need to trust him to make kicks like this. I admit that at the time, I didn't think that a 6 point lead was enough when you're giving Matt Ryan the ball back with 3 and a half minutes left. Turns out it was. There's no doubt in my mind that the game goes into overtime if we punted, no matter where the ball was downed. Who knows if we win if we punt.

More than trusting Hauschka, it's clear that McDermott trusts his defense and rightfully so. Missing that field goal, McDermott probably thinks it's guaranteed overtime, but not a guaranteed loss like us Bills fans have seen time and time again.

[jimmifli]

Hauschka earned the right to kick the first 50+ by hitting the shorter ones (and presumably hitting 50+ in practice). He earned the right to kick the second one by hitting the first opportunity. The top five kickers ranked by 50+ last year:


<thead style="box-sizing: border-box;">
Player
Team
PAT (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kickxpm)
FG (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kickfgm)
0-19 (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kick0019m)
20-29 (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kick2029m)
30-39 (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kick3039m)
40-49 (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kick4049m)
50+ (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kick50m)
Lg (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kicklg)
Pts (http://www.footballdb.com/stats/stats.html?lg=NFL&yr=2016&type=reg&mode=K&conf=&limit=25&sort=kickpts)

</thead><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
Justin Tucker (http://www.footballdb.com/players/justin-tucker-tuckeju01)
Bal (http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/baltimore-ravens/stats/2016)
27/27
38/39
0/0
4/4
10/11
14/14
10/10
57
141


Matt Prater (http://www.footballdb.com/players/matt-prater-pratema01)
Det (http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/detroit-lions/stats/2016)
31/33
31/36
0/0
10/10
4/5
10/14
7/7
58
124


Adam Vinatieri (http://www.footballdb.com/players/adam-vinatieri-vinatad01)
Ind (http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/indianapolis-colts/stats/2016)
44/44
27/31
0/0
3/3
7/7
10/12
7/9
54
125


Jason Myers (http://www.footballdb.com/players/jason-myers-myersja02)
Jax (http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/stats/2016)
29/32
27/34
0/0
7/7
3/4
10/11
7/12
56
110


Matt Bryant (http://www.footballdb.com/players/matt-bryant-bryanma01)
Atl (http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/atlanta-falcons/stats/2016)
56/57
34/37
0/0
12/12
7/8
9/9
6/8
59
158

</tbody>
I'd be fine with him having numbers like any of those even 7/12 is still worth the risk given our D, so as long as he stays over 50% he keeps getting the chance to kick.

I'm not sure I'd put the blame squarely on coaching, it's been a while since we've had a kicker that earned the right to kick.

[Joe Fo Sho]

I was looking at his last couple of years to figure out why Seattle let him walk because I didn't really followed it at the time. Over his last 2 seasons in Seattle, he missed more extra points than field goals.

XP - 69/79 (87.34%)
FG - 62/68 (91.18%)

This guy is probably only on the Bills because of the new extra point rules. I doubt Seattle lets him go otherwise.

[Wally The Barber]

Hauschka is bow legged and its amazing he can even walk

[Albany,n.y.]

I was looking at his last couple of years to figure out why Seattle let him walk because I didn't really followed it at the time. Over his last 2 seasons in Seattle, he missed more extra points than field goals.

XP - 69/79 (87.34%)
FG - 62/68 (91.18%)

This guy is probably only on the Bills because of the new extra point rules. I doubt Seattle lets him go otherwise.
A lot of those missed extra points were blocked. I don't know why, but maybe the Bills looked at the film & thought it wasn't his fault.

[swiper]

Hauschka is bow legged and its amazing he can even walk

You noticed that while staring at his crotch?

[GregclubSTH]

Think the roof being closed had anything to do with it? I would assume it’s easier with no wind at all, or maybe in that stadium it doesn’t matter if it’s gaping or not.

[jamze132]

Think the roof being closed had anything to do with it? I would assume it’s easier with no wind at all, or maybe in that stadium it doesn’t matter if it’s gaping or not.

What roof?

[GregclubSTH]

the Atlanta game

[Mahdi]

McDermott has some serious guts for going for that FG from 56 yards instead of punting and pinning. Credit.

That one call I have to say was the complete opposite of every other Bills HC we have ever had since Levy.