Armchair Quarterback: Anderson right man for the job
“What they going to do now without a kicker?” I heard one of the Raiders say almost jubilantly from the bench as Titans kicker Joe Nedney grabbed his knee in pain during last Sunday night’s game in Nashville.
I was positioned on the Raider sideline right in front of where Nedney injured his knee while making a tackle during a kickoff return last Sunday evening. I could tell immediately it was bad as Nedney threw off his helmet and said some expletives while holding his knee. The comment from the bench only served to irritate this Titan fan in light of what had just transpired.
However, the revenge was quick and sweet as punter Craig Hentrich came in to hit three field goals, driving a dagger through the evil empire’s hopes. The former Notre Dame kicker, who was re-signed this year as Titan’s punter, stunned everyone, including that smart guy on the Oakland bench, by nailing everything. This was especially surprising when you consider Hentrich is the holder for Nedney and that wideout Drew Bennett was forced into the holder duties. Ironically, Bennett and Hentrich had practiced place kicking together that very week, just on a lark. That practice came in handy Sunday night as field goals made the difference.
As you’ve heard, the news isn’t good for Nedney, who suffered season-ending injuries to his knee. While some suggested just making Hentrich the field goal kicker and punter, the Titans decided to go with a full-time kicker in 22-year veteran Gary Anderson, last seen on the Viking roster.
The move is a good one, I believe, given Anderson’s history. His experience is a great attribute when you consider he is being thrust onto the team out of the blue. A less experienced kicker might not be able to adjust as quickly as Anderson will.
As for his background, Anderson has a lifetime 79 percent kicking average, hitting on 494 of 614 attempts in his career, scoring a total of 2,223 points. His range may be the only question. However, something not too many people know is that Hentrich has long been the Titans’ long field goal specialist, even though he hadn’t attempted a field goal since 2000 before Sunday night. And, his 48-yard attempt would have been good from 60 yards, so perhaps we might see him again on one of the longer attempts this season.
Along with kicking questions coming out of the Sunday night game, there was an officiating controversy which has continued into this week.
Specifically, the league has chosen to fine Titan Robaire Smith $15,000 for touching an official Sunday. Smith was ejected from the game and the resulting penalty set up Charlie Garner’s long touchdown catch.
I was looking right at the incident when it happened and the call was a bunch of bull. The official grabbed Smith from behind after one of the Raiders had bumped him while he was celebrating a big third down stop. Smith reacted by throwing up his hand, knocking off the official’s hat. Re-plays of the incident confirm there was no ill will and it was a case of mistaken identity. Smith immediately apologized but was ejected anyway.
First of all, the official should not have grabbed Smith from behind. Second, the league shouldn’t support the official’s mistake by levying a fine for something that was obviously unintentional. It’s one thing to support an official, and it’s another to add to an already questionable call by fining the guy.
I hope Smith will appeal the fine on general principal since the replay shows what really happened.