Kicker Caleb Sturgis Is Boring
Aug 9, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis (9) kicks a field goal during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Miami Dolphins defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
I hate to say it, but I think Dolphins Placekicker Caleb Sturgis, picked in the 5th round of this years NFL Draft by Jeff Ireland, is proving early in his career to be the most boring kicker I’ve ever seen in Miami. Let’s start with kickoffs, exactly two-thirds of his 15 kickoffs through three weeks have been booted deep into or through the end zone with no return. That’s two-thirds of the time where between TV timeouts, there is minimal action on the field. How boring. Looking at his efforts in the preaseason? He sent nearly seventy-five percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks. How blase.
When it comes to field goals, gone are the days of Dolphins kickers making it interesting or missing in both critical and non-critical situations. Seeming to kick a knuckle-curve ball that may or may not hook through the uprights from easily makeable distances. Near or far, every kick from Sturgis’ strong leg seems to not only go through the uprights, but appears to easily travel in a straight line to the same small spot within the exact center of the uprights. Fifty-four yards out in a critical situation in a close game at the end of a half, where numerous veterans can show signs of nerves? Sturgis is ice cold and dead on. On extra points thus far, he’s 8-for-8 with no sign of slowing there, either.
Yes, Caleb Sturgis is the most boring kicker in the NFL right now, and fans are loving every minute of it. He is automatic, and money in the bank no matter the criticality of the situation. For the first time in my memory, a kicker is working his way onto my man-crush list. Seemingly every kick that leaves his foot, as back in the day whenever Reggie Jackson connected on a home run, you know exactly where the ball is headed.
Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin saw so much from this young kicker early in the preseason that they released Dan Carpenter early. Make no mistake, salary considerations factored in, but through three weeks Sturgis is proving more reliable and accurate than we could’ve ever seen from Dan Carpenter at a fraction of the price.
Fins up, Dolfans… and welcome to the first, and possibly last, Placekicker ever on this writers man-crush list.