I like Dave Rayner!!!!

[oregonpackfan]

I couldn't agree more. Nice kickoffs as well.

MJZiggy,

I think your point about the great kickoffs is excellent. Rayner had at least 2 touchbacks yesterday along with deep kickoffs. That alone made the transition from Longwell a plus.

Needless to say, he looked great on his field goal attempts.

OPF

[BobDobbs]

I'm definitely happy with the new kicker, but that is mainly because he was such an unknown commodity as opposed to Longwell. I thought letting Longwell go was a curious decision because kickers don't break the bank and we have huge money under the cap. He may have gone to the dome no matter what, but TT did not make him a competitive offer.
I'm loving the depth on kickoffs, but I miss Longwell's dependability. If it was under 45 yards no matter what situation in the game I had great confidence that he was going to split the uprights. The downside is that Longwell wouldn't have even been called in for the 55 yarder. So, I have been converted. For a team building for the future TT made the right choice.

For a team with playoff aspirations......

[Willard]

Did you catch the shot of him on the sidelines laughing it up when Mare missed the 52-yarder for the phins? Hopefully that doesn't piss-off the kicking karma gods!

[packinpatland]

Aha! We have a weapon! It'll be interesting to see how he does when the wind and the snow start blowing.

[vince]

Did you catch the shot of him on the sidelines laughing it up when Mare missed the 52-yarder for the phins? Hopefully that doesn't piss-off the kicking karma gods!

I'd say he was more joyous about the team becoming closer to a much-needed win than he was laughing at the failure of a comrade... but that's how I took it...

[GBRulz]

You guys bring up a valid point about the weather, but that is something that always irritated me about Longwell. The way he went on and on about kicking in GB, you'd think it was 5 below and snowing every game. Again, a valid point, but I think people sometimes look too much into it....(thanks to Longwell's whining).

Our winters have been VERY mild over the past few years. The temps normally are still in the 50's until December. (Although I'm not sure what's going on this past week, brrr) On average we have 2 games in December. Anyhow, Rayner's kickoff's probably will shorten up a bit, but his average, along with the average starting of opponents may decrease a yard, at the most.

Ya know what was a refreshing change, though? Did you see M3 turn to his kicker and ask if it was in his range?? It's awesome that the coach has confidence in his kicker for that long. You wouldn't see that from Sherm with Longwell.

[Charles Woodson]

That must have been some wind though. Both kickers were putting kickoffs out of the end zone. That doesn't take anything away from Rayners kicks. He was awesome!!

I was at the game, and there was barely any wind..It was all him. also helped that it was warm

[FavreChild]

In all fairness to Longwell, the kicking game was more highly scrutinized in recent years because there were not as many things to pick on. He was asked about his missed kicks, especially last year with the shock of 4-12 and that we *were* losing games by margins of three points or less.

Even if Rayner wasn't doing such a good job, we probably wouldn't be complaining about the FG unit TOO much, given that there are bigger problems to be solved.

Longwell is one of the most accurate kickers in the history of the NFL, and the Packers all-time leading scorer! I wouldn't like being scapegoated if I were him, either.

Just sayin'...

[GBRulz]

In all fairness to Longwell, the kicking game was more highly scrutinized in recent years because there were not as many things to pick on. He was asked about his missed kicks, especially last year with the shock of 4-12 and that we *were* losing games by margins of three points or less.

Even if Rayner wasn't doing such a good job, we probably wouldn't be complaining about the FG unit TOO much, given that there are bigger problems to be solved.

Longwell is one of the most accurate kickers in the history of the NFL, and the Packers all-time leading scorer! I wouldn't like being scapegoated if I were him, either.

Just sayin'...

Longwell was an accurate kicker for us, I don't think anyone here is taking that away from him. But for kickoff's, Rayner wins hands down.

Scapegoated? Personally, the only one I see in that situation would be the holders...

[Joemailman]

It certainly is true that Rayner is under less scrutiny than Longwell would be. Rayner missed a 45 yarder in a 3-point loss to St. Louis, and it seemed it hardly got mentioned. That would not have been the case with Longwell because we just expected him to make those.

Having said that, I really like Rayner. He is at least as good as Longwell was as a rookie, with that 45 yard miss being his only miss under 50 yards. He should only get better.

[Rastak]

It certainly is true that Rayner is under less scrutiny than Longwell would be. Rayner missed a 45 yarder in a 3-point loss to St. Louis, and it seemed it hardly got mentioned. That would not have been the case with Longwell because we just expected him to make those.

Having said that, I really like Rayner. He is at least as good as Longwell was as a rookie, with that 45 yard miss being his only miss under 50 yards. He should only get better.

Very good point...but I also think Rayner has been pretty good. If he pans out, you guys are lucky as hell, finding good kickers ain;t that easy.

[Patler]

Ya know what was a refreshing change, though? Did you see M3 turn to his kicker and ask if it was in his range?? It's awesome that the coach has confidence in his kicker for that long. You wouldn't see that from Sherm with Longwell.

Now, now, lets be fair! Longwell was 4 for 5 from beyond 50 yards just last season and was 6 for 8 in the last two seasons with GB. He didn't back away from long fieldgoals in decent conditions, but he determined his range at each end of the field, just as Rayner did Sunday, and didn't stray from it. Rayner's FG range may be a bit longer than Longwell's, but Longwell had two 53 yarders last year and was 4 for 4 with FGs from 53, 51, 46 and 23 in one game against Atlanta. With the Packers, he was 13 of 22 from beyond 50. Interestingly, I see he is 0 for 2 this year.

[MJZiggy]

M3 said in today's press conference that he had planned to let him try up to 60 yards. I'd say he's got faith in that leg.

[Rastak]

M3 said in today's press conference that he had planned to let him try up to 60 yards. I'd say he's got faith in that leg.

Ah, but how many TD passes does he have?

[vince]

M3 said in today's press conference that he had planned to let him try up to 60 yards. I'd say he's got faith in that leg.

Ah, but how many TD passes does he have?

LOL. He'll probably NEVER catch Longwell in that department.