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PK Neil Rackers, Arizona Cardinals
HT: 6-1, WT: 206, Born: 8-16-1976, College: Illinois, Drafted: Round 6
2008 Projections
Best Case
... Rackers regains the magic from his magical year of 2005, when he just couldn't miss. That year he connected on 40 of 42 field goals (95.2%). Most of those were not chipshots: 13 of 14 from 40 to 49 yards and 6 of 7 from 50+ yards. He scored 140 points, despite missing one game due to injury. To have another big year, Rackers would also need the offense to digress in scoring proficiency, and attempt more field goals. Last year he had 48 PAT attempts, by far the most of his career. Previously he never had more than 32.
Worst Case
The biggest area of concern is Rackers' accuracy. The 95.2% in 2005 and 83.3% in 2002 appear to be the exceptions, as he has averaged under 80% on Field goals in his six other years in the league. In his defense, many of his misses the last two years were from long range. He was only 4 of 16 on 50+ yard field goals during that span. If the Cardinals continue to let him bomb away from long range, his numbers will likely remain down. Rackers had off-season surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Outlook
After years of kicking mediocrity (the Cardinals ranked anywhere from 15th to 32nd in kicker scoring during a fifteen year span) they vaulted to number one in 2005 and finished eighth in 2006 under the tenure of Dennis Green. Last year they slipped down to 17th, during Ken Whisenhunt's first year as head coach, as their scoring shifted from field goals to TDs. The coaching staff returns intact, and as long as Matt Leinart stays focused on football and doesn't take Kurt Warner out partying, then Rackers' scoring opportunities should be similar or slightly better than last year. When it comes to long range opportunities, Rackers is the runaway leader. He had 32 attempts from 50+ yards over the last four years. The next closest is Sebastian Janikowski with 23. Some other notable kickers are much farther behind: Josh Brown 19, Jason Elam 11, Shayne Graham 10, and Adam Vinatieri 5. On kickoffs, Rackers continues to be one of the best, logging 17, 17, 22, and 23 touchbacks the last four years. When opponents are able to bring his kickoffs out of the endzone, they do have some room to run since his strong leg will often out kick the coverage.
