All PK projections • Current PK rankings • MIA team report
PK Dave Rayner, Miami Dolphins
HT: 6-2, WT: 209, Born: 10-26-1982, College: Michigan State, Drafted: Round 6
2008 Projections
Best Case
The Colts drafted Rayner (Michigan State, sixth round) to handle kickoffs in 2005, and to possibly replace Mike Vanderjagt this year. Rayner excelled on kickoffs in college, with 82% reaching the endzone. He also showed the range to make the long field goals in college. Things did not work out as planned in Indianapolis. His kickoffs were merely average (61.5 yards, 1 touchback), so they replaced him with Jose Cortez after week 14. He also came up short on his only field goal attempt, albeit a 59 yarder. He resurfaced the next offseason in Green Bay, and beat out Billy Cundiff for the job. He did okay. The one area where he faired the best was kickoffs, averaging 65.1 yards with 11 touchbacks.
Worst Case
Two areas that needed improvement coming out of college were consistency and clutch kicking in pressure game situations. He was 22 of 29 (75.9%) in his junior year, and 22 of 31 (71.0%) in his senior year. It should be noted in Rayner's defense however, that many of those misses were from long distance. During his full season of kicking for the Packers last year, consistency was once again a concern as he missed nine FGs and one PAT. Again in his defense, two of those missed FGs were blocked.
Outlook
Green Bay wasn't planning to draft competition for Dave Rayner for the kicking job. When the sixth round rolled around, and Mason Crosby was still available and the Packers had several picks, that changed. Rayner now has some experience under his belt, while Crosby is a rookie with raw physical attributes. Both need to improve their consistency, while Crosby also has to adapt to the dreaded K-ball. Despite the fact that Packers had an all new coaching staff, a new offensive line scheme, several new starters along the line, and a new kicker last year, they managed to improve their kicker scoring ranking from 29th up to 14th. Whoever wins the kicking job will have fewer team changes to deal with this year, although there will be newly promoted offensive coordinator and offensive line coaches. CAMP UPDATE: Kicker Dave Rayner started off training camp on fire, but rookie Mason Crosby hung in there just behind him. Rayner has since cooled off, and Crosby has pulled ahead in the numbers. Rayners has hit around 80% of his field goal attempts in practices and pre-season games, while Crosby has hit around 85%. Both have done very well on kickoffs. Rayner was released in the final round of cuts after the team was unable to trade him.
