The Arizona Cardinals have two aging veterans as their punter and kicker. Andy Lee, their punter, will turn 39 next month. Matt Prater, the veteran kicker they signed this offseason, turns 37 next month.
They have plenty of experience and success. However, it seemingly creates a hole in one role.
Prater has not done kickoffs full-time since 2013.
Zane Gonzalez, the Cardinals’ kicker the last two seasons, kicked off 83 and 65 times, respectively.
Prater has kicked off 66 times combined since 2013.
Lions Wire managing editor Jeff Risdon told me when we recorded a podcast episode that will be released this month Prater is bad at kickoffs and the Lions had their punter handle them.
In his 66 kickoffs over the last seven seasons, he has averaged 58.8 yards on them and only has 25 touchbacks, a meager 37.9% touchback rate.
Gonzalez had 81 touchbacks the last two seasons, a rate of 54.7%, averaging 63.2 yards per kickoff.
Lee, the Cardinals’ punter, wouldn’t be a better option. With 12 career kickoffs, they likely have all been safety punts.
Either the Cardinals will have to trust their kick coverage to pin returners deep in their own territory, or they might need to keep a kickoff specialist.
Punter Tyler Newsome could do that job.
The Cardinals basically have two options — burn a roster spot for a kickoff specialist or ask Prater to do something he isn’t particularly great at.
Either scenario is less than ideal.
If Prater ends up being a significant upgrade over Gonzalez, especially on clutch kicks, it might be worth it, but it is something to watch in the preseason.
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