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Originally posted by pbmax
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These kinds of situations, when it doesn't involve injury, always remind me of Wisconsin Badger punter Kevin Stemke. He was money for the Badgers but wasn't drafted. Badger fans loved him. Local media liked him.
When he got to the Packers as a UDFA, he struggled. Didn't look at all like the same guy. Mike Lucas would get apoplectic discussing how the Packers must have ruined him.
The two radio guys (Lucas and LePay) are playing to the home audience when they discuss him. Stemke was a marginal prospect no matter what he did as a Badger. The ball is different, the rules are different and the pro teams might want you on a one or two step drop, rather than 2 or 3. Given this is Green Bay, its also possible the ST coach was an idiot*. They might want directional kicks, etc. Dozens of things have obviously changed, the radio guys can't stop just remembering the past success.
They never discussed this or talked to coaches. Just prattled on like two geezers over a pickle barrel playing oversize checkers at cracker barrel.
I think this covers Douglas now, who is now on his fourth team (PS guy on Cardinals to the Packers, Packers trade to Bills for 3rd round pick, Bills didn't resign and he signed with Miami for a one year deal). His high water mark was a $7 mil/year 3yr deal with the Packers and they grew not to like the deal for an older player. One Bills fan pointed out that last season (from Reddit so reader beware: "QBs had a QB rating of 122.0 when targeting Douglas in coverage which is absolutely terrible.")
This is happening with Alexander now, except he has Pro Bowl/All Pro tape and experience. He might not be able to do the job physically (or be able to do get past his limiting knee condition). He can't admit that to himself. He got one big money deal and seemed likely to get another but it fell apart and he didn't even get the full, first payday. That has ruined other players (Finley, Jennings for the Packers). He's also 5 years removed from his best year. Even if his knee got right, he might be closer to done than great.
But like former first round QB picks, he's going to keep getting signed. Terrell Buckley did too.
* Bob's scout source method of reporting hasn't aged well in several respects, but one point he used to make I think still might be worth exploring today. There are specialist kicking coaches for punters and kickers today. Teams usually don't hire them. Their hire a special teams guy who might or might not know how to train kickers how to kick. I'm stunned more teams haven't gone to 3 man staffs for ST (ST coordinator, kicking coach, assistand ST coach). Beware though, this is just the kind of thing a scout would say to trash a ST coach when the latest kicker aquired doesn't pan out.
When he got to the Packers as a UDFA, he struggled. Didn't look at all like the same guy. Mike Lucas would get apoplectic discussing how the Packers must have ruined him.
The two radio guys (Lucas and LePay) are playing to the home audience when they discuss him. Stemke was a marginal prospect no matter what he did as a Badger. The ball is different, the rules are different and the pro teams might want you on a one or two step drop, rather than 2 or 3. Given this is Green Bay, its also possible the ST coach was an idiot*. They might want directional kicks, etc. Dozens of things have obviously changed, the radio guys can't stop just remembering the past success.
They never discussed this or talked to coaches. Just prattled on like two geezers over a pickle barrel playing oversize checkers at cracker barrel.
I think this covers Douglas now, who is now on his fourth team (PS guy on Cardinals to the Packers, Packers trade to Bills for 3rd round pick, Bills didn't resign and he signed with Miami for a one year deal). His high water mark was a $7 mil/year 3yr deal with the Packers and they grew not to like the deal for an older player. One Bills fan pointed out that last season (from Reddit so reader beware: "QBs had a QB rating of 122.0 when targeting Douglas in coverage which is absolutely terrible.")
This is happening with Alexander now, except he has Pro Bowl/All Pro tape and experience. He might not be able to do the job physically (or be able to do get past his limiting knee condition). He can't admit that to himself. He got one big money deal and seemed likely to get another but it fell apart and he didn't even get the full, first payday. That has ruined other players (Finley, Jennings for the Packers). He's also 5 years removed from his best year. Even if his knee got right, he might be closer to done than great.
But like former first round QB picks, he's going to keep getting signed. Terrell Buckley did too.
* Bob's scout source method of reporting hasn't aged well in several respects, but one point he used to make I think still might be worth exploring today. There are specialist kicking coaches for punters and kickers today. Teams usually don't hire them. Their hire a special teams guy who might or might not know how to train kickers how to kick. I'm stunned more teams haven't gone to 3 man staffs for ST (ST coordinator, kicking coach, assistand ST coach). Beware though, this is just the kind of thing a scout would say to trash a ST coach when the latest kicker aquired doesn't pan out.
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