How Good is Dustin Hopkins?

gpngc · 04-12-2013, 06:38 PM

I could see Pete Carroll taking a K in the fourth or fifth because they have none. Is he one of the best K prospects of the past 5-10 years?

If not, who's the best K prospect this year?

descendency · 04-12-2013, 06:48 PM

Pete Carroll would have to take him in the late second to impress me.

Jacksonville already ~~wasted~~ used a pick on a punter in the 3rd.

MassNole · 04-12-2013, 06:53 PM

He's going to be a disgustingly good kicker in the NFL.

gpngc · 04-12-2013, 06:56 PM

Hm. I have a feeling this thread might be bumped after the fourth round...

phlysac · 04-12-2013, 07:08 PM

Here are the kickers drafted in the last 10 years.

Josh Brown (7)
Nate Kaeding (3)
Josh Scobee (5)
David Kimball (7)
Mike Nugent (2)
Dave Rayner (6)
Paul Ernster (7)
Stephen Gostkowski (4)
Kurt Smith (6)
Justin Medlock (5)
Nick Folk (6)
Mason Crosby (6)
Taylor Melhaff (6)
Brandon Coutu (6)
David Buehler (5)
Ryan Succop (7)
Alex Henery (4)
Randy Bullock (5)
Greg Zuerlein (6)
Blair Walsh (6)
Josh Potter (7)

I'd put Hopkins somewhere in relation to Justin Medlock, Nick Folk, David Buehler, etc.

gpngc · 04-12-2013, 07:10 PM

Interesting that Greg the Leg was all the rage in the beginning of the year, Blair Walsh had one of the greatest reg. seasons of all time and Tucker won the SB...

1983 QBs < 2012 Ks

And BB used a 4th on Gost? Wow. Did not remember that.

descendency · 04-12-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpngc

And BB used a 4th on Gost? Wow. Did not remember that.

And sadly, Gostkowski was the Patriots best pick that year... by far.

BallerT1215 · 04-12-2013, 09:13 PM

He can boot the ball. I mean he has one of those legs like Sebastian where once you cross the 50, you think you are in FG range no matter what.

Frustrating part is he sometimes misses FG's he has no business missing. He did that alot last 2 years.

BuddyCHRIST · 04-13-2013, 10:48 AM

He should be a good kicker, very big leg.

But I have concluded that evaluating Kicker's is random and impossible.

Gano was an awesome and consistent kicker in college, and in the pro's has been all over the place.

Mike Nugent was an awesome college kicker, been ok in the pros.

David Akers was awesome for like 15 years, and then all of a sudden last year was horrible. And its not like his physical skills diminished as he could still boot the ball.

Attyla the Hawk · 04-15-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpngc

I could see Pete Carroll taking a K in the fourth or fifth because they have none. Is he one of the best K prospects of the past 5-10 years?

If not, who's the best K prospect this year?

I've seen him linked to us. I wouldn't read too much into the vacant kicker position. It's one that can pretty much be filled at any time.

Hauschka our kicker last year is still out there if memory serves. There just usually isn't a big rush to get that spot filled.

Pete has also gone this route before in 2012. We let Mare hit the market and just let the position twist in the wind a bit. Mare signed elsewhere and we just kind of took the next guy up.

marks01234 · 04-15-2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyCHRIST

He should be a good kicker, very big leg.

But I have concluded that evaluating Kicker's is random and impossible.

Gano was an awesome and consistent kicker in college, and in the pro's has been all over the place.

Mike Nugent was an awesome college kicker, been ok in the pros.

David Akers was awesome for like 15 years, and then all of a sudden last year was horrible. And its not like his physical skills diminished as he could still boot the ball.

+1

Throw in Kaeding's health issues and drafting a kicker has been pretty risky lately.

gpngc · 04-15-2013, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Attyla the Hawk

I've seen him linked to us. I wouldn't read too much into the vacant kicker position. It's one that can pretty much be filled at any time.

Hauschka our kicker last year is still out there if memory serves. There just usually isn't a big rush to get that spot filled.

Pete has also gone this route before in 2012. We let Mare hit the market and just let the position twist in the wind a bit. Mare signed elsewhere and we just kind of took the next guy up.

I'd be willing to wager that we draft a kicker.

Hauschka is coming back from an injury and remains unsigned. I don't think they bring him back.

J-Mike88 · 04-15-2013, 09:23 PM

Because of the success of Zeurlein, Walsh, and Tucker last year, I expect Hopkins and the other highly rated ones to be drafted a round earlier than they otherwise would have, at least.

JeffSamardzijaIRISH · 04-16-2013, 05:15 PM

His leg is overrated. He's definitely no Janikowski. He has range to 55 yards, but I don't think he can hit any further. I think he'll be a good kicker in the league, but not a great one.

MassNole · 04-16-2013, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffSamardzijaIRISH

His leg is overrated. He's definitely no Janikowski. He has range to 55 yards, but I don't think he can hit any further. I think he'll be a good kicker in the league, but not a great one.

He has hit a 55 yarder that would have been good from 70.

BallerT1215 · 04-16-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffSamardzijaIRISH

His leg is overrated. He's definitely no Janikowski. He has range to 55 yards, but I don't think he can hit any further. I think he'll be a good kicker in the league, but not a great one.

55 is the highest huh?? - This would have been good from 65+ with ease

JeffSamardzijaIRISH · 04-16-2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BallerT1215

55 is the highest huh?? - This would have been good from 65+ with ease

I've seen that kick, I'm a huge FSU fan. I think he got lucky on that kick and it was probably his best kick ever, but he can't consistently have that kind of range. I feel like he'll be similar to Graham Gano in the pro's but a bit better with a bit stronger leg.

BigJohn98 · 04-16-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffSamardzijaIRISH

His leg is overrated. He's definitely no Janikowski. He has range to 55 yards, but I don't think he can hit any further. I think he'll be a good kicker in the league, but not a great one.

What Dustin Hopkins have you watched? He hit a 60 yarder in the spring game last year.

Thecollegedropout · 04-16-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuddyCHRIST

He should be a good kicker, very big leg.

But I have concluded that evaluating Kicker's is random and impossible.

Gano was an awesome and consistent kicker in college, and in the pro's has been all over the place.

Mike Nugent was an awesome college kicker, been ok in the pros.

David Akers was awesome for like 15 years, and then all of a sudden last year was horrible. And its not like his physical skills diminished as he could still boot the ball.

Your giving Nugent too much credit...dude was ass as a Jet. Garbage on kickoffs and a mediocre place kicker. I was surprised he was still in the league with Cincy. I expect Josh Brown to surpass his sorry ass.

God can't believe we took him in round 2. Screw you Doug Brien! :@

ChiFan24 · 04-16-2013, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thecollegedropout

Your giving Nugent too much credit...dude was ass as a Jet. Garbage on kickoffs and a mediocre place kicker. I was surprised he was still in the league with Cincy. I expect Josh Brown to surpass his sorry ass.

God can't believe we took him in round 2. Screw you Doug Brien! :@

From New York?

MassNole · 04-17-2013, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffSamardzijaIRISH

I've seen that kick, I'm a huge FSU fan. I think he got lucky on that kick and it was probably his best kick ever, but he can't consistently have that kind of range. I feel like he'll be similar to Graham Gano in the pro's but a bit better with a bit stronger leg.

Practice reports say he was able to routinely make kicks from 65+. He doesn't have Janikowski's leg (no one does), but he is definitely a rare kicking talent. On kickoffs, he is also an ace at kicking it long and high and forcing returns from inside the 5.

gpngc · 04-17-2013, 03:58 PM

I was pretty upset with how no one on here even mentioned Bryan Anger's name, let alone predicted he'd be picked high-ish (5th). Then he went in the 3rd.

I'm trying to catch the "4th round Kicker WTF" moment before it happens.

jrdrylie · 04-17-2013, 04:37 PM

He'll be selected somewhere in the 80s.

BuddyCHRIST · 04-18-2013, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thecollegedropout

Your giving Nugent too much credit...dude was ass as a Jet. Garbage on kickoffs and a mediocre place kicker. I was surprised he was still in the league with Cincy. I expect Josh Brown to surpass his sorry ass.

God can't believe we took him in round 2. Screw you Doug Brien! :@

This is true, I just noticed he was still in the league so I gave him an ok. But remember how awesome he was in college? Huge leg, accurate and clutch. There was literally nothing to pick at. And now he sucks.