URFA Kicker Signed Joe Rheem

[Romes]

http://www.wildcatdaily.com/view/article.asp?sectionid=Home/News&id=707-2005-04-26-41820-63

You need to register to see the link but trust me its there.


Five sign free agent deals

Five Kansas State football players spent Monday signing free agent contracts with teams in the National Football League.

Center Mike Johnson signed with the Kansas City Chiefs; Cedrick Williams with the Houston Texans; Tony Madison with the Miami Dolphins; Joe Rheem with the Buffalo Bills; and, Jon Doty with the Carolina Panthers.

Anyone know anything about him? Can he challenge Lindell?

[Dozerdog]

Are you telling me the Bills got Rheemed?

[Romes]

Joe Rheem
PK | (6'0", 217, 5.05) | KANSAS STATE

Scouts Grade: 30

Career Totals Kicking
SEASON XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LNG PTS
2004 37 37 100.0 13 15 86.7 1/1 3/3 4/4 3/5 2/2 52 76
2003 67 67 100.0 12 17 70.6 0/0 2/3 3/4 7/9 0/1 44 103
2002 49 54 90.7 9 12 75.0 0/0 2/2 7/8 0/2 0/0 39 76
2001 20 22 90.9 4 6 66.7 0/0 1/1 3/4 0/1 0/0 38 32

Overall: Rheem saw time as a place kicker in his true freshman season in 2001 as was the team's fulltime place kicker from 2002-'04. He split duties on kickoffs but is not a kickoff specialist prospect for the NFL level. Rheem connected on 9-of-12 field goal attempts in 2002, 12-of-17 in 2003 and 13-of-15 in 2004.
Rheem isn't pretty, doesn't have great trajectory and doesn't have nearly the leg strength of Nugent or Rayner, but he has very good accuracy, consistency and mechanics. Rheem will never be able to kickoff in the NFL and his range on FGA's is limited, but he could be worth bringing in to training camp as an undrafted rookie free agent because of his efficiency as a place kicker.

[Dozerdog]

<div class=SLTables2>
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="100%" border=0>
<tr class=bg1>
<td colspan=2><b>Joseph "Joe" Rheem</b></td>
</tr>
<tr class=bg2> <td width="70%"><b>Position:</b> Placekicker</td> <td align=right width="30%" rowspan=5>

<img src="http://images.nfl.com/images/draft/2005/mugs/rheem_joe.jpg" alt="" width="60" height="80"> </td>
</tr> <tr class=bg2><td ><b>College:</b> Kansas State</td></tr>
<tr class=bg2><td ><b>Height:</b> 6-0</td></tr>
<tr class=bg2><td ><b>Weight:</b> 217</td></tr>
<tr class=bg2><td ><b>Hometown:</b> Wichita, Kan.</td></tr>
</table>
</div>


<p>
<a href="#analysis">Analysis</a> | <a href="#injury">Injury Report</a> | <a href="#agility">Agility</a> | <a href="#high_school">High School</a> | <a href="#personal">Personal</a>
<p><h3>OVERVIEW</h3>

<p>One of the most prolific scorers in Kansas State history, Rheem carried on the family tradition of kicking for the Wildcats. The team's primary placekicker for four seasons, his brother, Jamie, was a two-time All-American kicker at KSU.


<p>At Wichita Collegiate High School, Joe earned All-America honors from <i>Parade</i>. He was a member of <i>Prep Star</i>'s "Dream Team" and selected to <i>Wichita Eagle</i>'s Top 33 squad. Rheem was a three-time first-team Class 3A All-State kicker and a unanimous selection as the All-MCAA kicker for three seasons.


<p>A three-time all-league punter, Rheem also played quarterback and led the Spartans to the Class 3A state championship as a senior, earning all-league and honorable mention 3A all-state accolades as a quarterback. He made 11-of-13 field goals, including a season-long 55-yarder and converted 76 of 78 extra-point kicks. Rheem threw for more than 1,700 yards and had a 48-yard average as a punter his junior year. He also lettered twice for the state-champion golf team.


<p>Rheem joined tailback Darren Sproles as the only true freshmen to contribute at Kansas State in 2001. Rheem scored 32 points on 4-of-6 field goals and 20-of-22 extra points. He added 80 points in 2002, as he was successful on 9-of-12 field goal attempts. Rheem picked up All-Big 12 Conference third-team honors in 2003, when he totaled a career-high 103 points on 67-of-68 extra point conversions and 12-of-17 field goal attempts.

<p>Rheem was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (nation's top kicker) in 2004, as he converted 13-of-15 field goals and 37-of-38 PATs for 76 points. He finished his career with 291 points, the third-best overall total in school history behind Darren Sproles (294, 2001-04) and Martin Gramatica (349, 1994-95, 97-98). He connected on 38-of-50 field goals, ranking behind Gramatica (54) and his brother, Jamie (39, 1996-97, 99-2000) on the KSU career-record list. He also made 177-of-187 extra points, 10 short of Gramatica's Wildcat record.

<p><h3><a name="analysis"></a>ANALYSIS</h3>

<p><b><i>Positives:</i></b> Very accurate field goal specialist inside the 45-yard line &#133 Has an average snap-to-toe time of 1.34 seconds &#133 Gets a good rise out of his kicks, hitting the ball quickly (2½-step kicker) &#133 Shows good leg control in placing his kickoffs &#133 Capable of making pressure kicks and handling the ball in poor weather conditions &#133 Has good balance on his plant foot, showing proper leg extension.

<p><b><i>Negatives:</i></b> Lacks the leg strength to kick long, especially on kickoffs (averaged 55.8 yards per attempt with seven of his 61 kicks sailing out of bounds in 2004) &#133 Gets little height behind his kickoff attempts and his average hang-time of 3.85 seconds prevents the coverage unit from getting downfield quick enough to prevent the long return &#133 Very inconsistent on long-range field goal attempts and rarely do his kickoffs sail into the end zone &#133 Takes a half step -- "cheater's step" -- on his delivery towards the ball, covering more than three yards before connecting with the pigskin.

<p><h3><a name="injury"></a>INJURY REPORT</h3>

<p>No injuries reported.

<p><h3><a name="agility"></a>AGILITY</h3>

<p>CAMPUS: 5.04 in the 40-yard dash &#133 30 5/8-inch arm length &#133 8 3/8-inch hands.

<p><h3><a name="high_school"></a>HIGH SCHOOL</h3>

<p>Attended Wichita (Kan.) Collegiate High School, playing football for coach Mike Gehrer &#133 Named to <i>Parade</i> magazine's All-American team &#133 Was only kicker named to 57-player squad &#133 Listed as the top kicking prospect in the nation by Rivals.com &#133 Member of <i>Prep Star</i> magazine's "Dream Team" &#133 Selected to <i>Wichita Eagle</i>'s Top 33 squad &#133 Three-time first-team Class 3A All-State kicker &#133 Unanimous selection as All-MCAA kicker for three seasons &#133 Three-time all-league punter &#133 Also played quarterback and led the Spartans to the Class 3A state championship as senior, earning all-league and honorable mention 3A all-state accolades as QB &#133 Made 11-of-13 field goals, including a season-long 55-yarder &#133 Converted 76-of-78 extra-point kicks &#133 Threw for more than 1,700 yards &#133 Had 48-yard average as punter his junior year &#133 Also lettered twice for state-champion golf team.

<p><h3><a name="personal"></a>PERSONAL</h3>

<p>Business major &#133 Son of Jim and Liza Rheem &#133 Brother, Jamie, was a two-time All-America kicker at Kansas State &#133 Born July 1, 1982 in Wichita, Kan.

[Armpalm Ali Musch]

Get this ***** in the weight room and make that puny leg stronger!

[Romes]

Are you telling me the Bills got Rheemed?

Thats exactly what I'm saying. :up:

[Novacane]

Anyone know anything about him? Can he challenge Lindell?


Not if he can't improve that 56 yard average on kickoffs. Thats terrible

[BuffaloRanger]

Maybe the Bills are going to carry kickers like I carry wedges in my golf bag. Pitching Wedge, Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge.

Lindell (SW) less than 28 yards, Rheem (GW) 28-40 yards, Pochman (PW) 40-50 yards and kickoffs (tee-offs).


I have to stop with this analogy crap.

[Romes]

Not if he can't improve that 56 yard average on kickoffs. Thats terrible

If Morman can do kickoffs I'd take Rheem if he is clutch within 45.

Having a kicker that is consistent at 50+ is a luxury that unfortunatley we don't have.

[Bulldog]

This guy sucks. What happened to some of the other FA kickers that people were talking about?

[ShadowHawk7]

Could Moorman do kickoffs?

[The_Philster]

Could Moorman do kickoffs?

Yes...he has at times in the past

[OpIv37]

this guy's probably not the answer, but at least they're finally showing some concern about Lindell.

[buffalofan19]

this guy's probably not the answer, but at least they're finally showing some concern about Lindell.
This doesn't necessarily mean that. Every team usually brings in another kicker in order to fill a roster spot in training camp.

[Bills 4 life]

Get this ***** in the weight room and make that puny leg stronger!
EXACTLY?


HE WILL NEVER KICK ON KICKOFFS IS WHAT THEY SAY? THEN WHY HAVE HIS ASS?

[Bills 4 life]

Could Moorman do kickoffs?
HE DOES EVERYTHING ELSE IT SEEMS DONT IT?

[Slim]

HE DOES EVERYTHING ELSE IT SEEMS DONT IT?


no he just punts...

[jpdex12]

sounds like Lindell's twin brother except he's a little lighter in the trunk!

[jpdex12]

sounds like Lindell's twin brother except he's a little lighter in the trunk!Oh, but this dude made two from past the fifty! Sign him LOL.

[jamze132]

Sounds to me like this guy is the spitting image of Lindel. Money from the twenty, ****ty from the fifty!

[ShadowHawk7]

EXACTLY?


HE WILL NEVER KICK ON KICKOFFS IS WHAT THEY SAY? THEN WHY HAVE HIS ASS?


HE DOES EVERYTHING ELSE IT SEEMS DONT IT?

Are you pissed or something? Kill the caps, it's no big deal, he's a training camp cut.

[TigerJ]

http://www.nflfans.com/draft/2005/showplayer.php?key=Joe%20Rheem

[LifetimeBillsFan]

I think this is a decent signing, although I would have much prefered that the Bills sign Tyler Jones out of Boise St.

Some draft services really liked him, some really didn't. Same with Jones and virtually everyone else not named Nugent.

Rheem has been a very accurate kicker and really improved a lot over his college career. I wouldn't have given two cents for him a couple of years ago, but he improved on his distance and trajectory over the last two seasons. He still needs to work on those areas, IMHO, but the fact that he has continued to improve may indicate that he does have a chance to continue to do so. I didn't get to see him as much this past season as the one previous--I saw a lot more of Jones--but, if he continues to improve as he has each year so far, he does have an outside chance at unseating Lindell at some point.

In comparison to Jones, who I would have prefered: 1.) both improved a lot over the course of their college careers; 2.) Rheem is younger than Jones who is 26 and served a Mormon mission; 3.) Rheem has been more accurate over his career than Jones; 4.) Jones has a stronger leg and is physically more mature than Rheem and improved his accuracy rate a lot as a senior, while Rheem has been more accurate while adding distance and probably has more room to grow and get stronger; 5.) both kicked outdoors on turf in weather conditions that could be difficult: Boise had more snow and cold, but Manhattan, Kansas can have some brutal wind conditions.

J.Nichols from Mississippi, who was highly rated by many services, signed very quickly after the draft and I wasn't quite as high on him as some because he kicked in warm conditions his whole career. R.Lloyd, from Minnesota, was another who was highly touted, but he kicked primarily in a dome and I am not sure how well he would do kicking in the Buffalo weather.

With Nugent and D.Rayner of Mich. St. having been drafted, Rheem was one of the three best UFA PKs in my opinion along with Nichols and Jones.

[Jayhawk]

folks, Phil is a better kicker than Lindell. so anything is an upgrade. Maybe Peters can kick.

[mysticsoto]

This is what nfldraftcountdown.com says about Rheem:

<table align="center" border="0" height="150" width="70%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"><td colspan="3">Strengths: Prolific and highly decorated kicker in the Big XII...Is almost automatic inside 40 yards...Improved on his accuracy as a senior...Leg strength is adequate...Solid.</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"> <td colspan="3">Weaknesses: Has had some kicks blocked but that can at least be partically attributed to blocking breakdowns...Needs to continue to work on his accuracy...Doesn't have a super strong leg.</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top"> <td colspan="3">Notes: Brother, Jamie, was a two-time All-America kicker at Kansas State...Was a Semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award...Has a shot to be drafted late or be brought in as an undrafted free agent.</td></tr></tbody> </table>

Personally, I don't like him. In Buffalo, we need someone with a strong leg to deal with the winds we typically get in the winter. This guy sounds like he might get blown away himself by those same winds.

It could be that they just want to give Lindell a scare into working out and putting more effort into his kicks...

[Bulldog]

Considering that the Jets drafted Nugent, it's a given that Brien will be cut. What's the deal with him? Is he worth taking a look at?

[BuffaloRanger]

Not if he can't make kicks.

[Jayhawk]

no,

[Bulldog]

Not if he can't make kicks.

Thanks for pointing out that kickers are supposed to make their kicks. Suddenly, this whole football thing is starting to make sense. I was asking if he was any good. I don't seem to remember him being all that bad last year.

[Dicknoze69]

Doug Brien was pretty decent last year, but everyone remembers him blowing those kicks against the Steelers. I think he'd be an upgrade over Lindell, but he won't be brought in. Lindell is our kicker folks.

[BuffaloRanger]

Thanks for pointing out that kickers are supposed to make their kicks. Suddenly, this whole football thing is starting to make sense. I was asking if he was any good. I don't seem to remember him being all that bad last year.


OK, I didn't feel like writing out "Not if he can't make kicks to win playoff games."

I thought you would have known that his missed kicks prevented the Jets from playing in the AFC title game. That's why they took a chance in drafting Nugent (Future Bill Killer).

There is accountability in that organization. Not excuses. Not "he really improved over 2003" (when he really, really blew) Bullshhhh.

Lindell will be the Bills kicker. Pochman and Rheem are there if for TC and in case of injury.

[Jan Reimers]

As I remember, Brien was a Bills Killer last year.

[yle]

AGILITY






CAMPUS: 5.04 in the 40-yard dash &#133 30 5/8-inch arm length &#133 8 3/8-inch hands.


Why exactly do they care how big a place kickers' hands are anyway?

[Albany,n.y.]

Doug Brien was pretty decent last year, but everyone remembers him blowing those kicks against the Steelers. I think he'd be an upgrade over Lindell, but he won't be brought in. Lindell is our kicker folks.
I guarantee Lindell is not our kicker on opening day next season. Thanks to Clumpy's salary cap page, one really has to look at his salary to understand the situation. I wrote this before the draft & edited out some speculation to update it, but most of the conclusion is financial:

Kicker
If you look at stats, like some of the national writers do, the team looks set with Rian Lindell. If you watch the Bills at all, you know Rian Lindell is a liability who must be replaced. If the team’s opening day kicker is Lindell, the team is in big trouble. Don’t kid yourself, team management is fully aware of the situation. Coach Mularkey has shown how little confidence he has in Lindell past 40 yards. Lindell will not be back. He’s also too expensive with a salary of $825,000 and a cap number over $1.3 million. For less than $300,000 cap hit, he can be cut after June 1st. The most likely scenario is this: bring in a rookie K either drafting one in the 7th round or getting an undrafted free agent into camp. Pochman, Lindell and the rookie battle it out in camp. If Pochman is bombing in Europe by the draft, he’s a goner before camp and Lindell battles the rookie. The season’s kicker might not even be in camp, but could be a veteran who gets cut by someone else. Believe it, one way or another Lindell will not be back, they can’t afford him.

[Dozerdog]

2002- Chris Watson
2003- 2004-Drew Bledsoe

2005- Meet the new whipping boy- Rian Lindell.

1) Other than a preseason meltdown, I'll bet that Lindell is the kicker in 2005

2) If Poochman or Rheem ever make this or any team in 2005, I'll bet they will miss more than the 4 kicks Lindel missed last season.

Just a hunch.

[Albany,n.y.]

If Pochman makes the team, it will be because Rheem made it as our kicker & we need Pochman to kick off.

Can Pochman play or is his injury enough to injury settle & waive him?

2 young kickers still cost about $500 k less in cap $ than Lindell. Keeping him is both on field & cap suicide.

Chances are our kicker is on Indy right now, either Vanderjagt or Gramatica.

[chubluv]

Could Moorman do kickoffs?


wow thats a bad memory! Remember when GW had Arians & morman out there for kick offs :chuckle: Boy we sure did fool the other teams with 2 kickers out there man they never saw who it was coming from!!!! :down:

[Romes]

Pochman right now is the 2nd string kicker on his NFL Europe team.

[LifetimeBillsFan]

While it isn't unheard of for a kicker to improve with experience and work on his technique after coming out of college, I don't think that Pochman is the answer.

If it wasn't to the Bills advantage financially and M.Mularkey hadn't shown last season that he has almost no confidence in Lindell, I would have dismissed any thoughts of TD getting rid of him because of what he had invested in him.

However, because M.Mularkey doesn't seem to trust Lindell, I wouldn't be surprised if the Bills give Rheem a legitimate chance to battle Lindell or look to bring in a veteran PK in TC if they don't like what they see from Rheem in the mini-camps.

Brien doesn't have a big leg and his range is about the same as Lindell's, but he has been more accurate at the outside of his range than Lindell. I don't think you can count on either to hit a 48 yarder with the game on the line, but Brien might have a chance. The problem is that Brien might miss the 36 yarder with no pressure on him a bit more often than Lindell. I don't like either guy.