CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Rhys Lloyd has one of the cushiest jobs in the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers’ stocky kicker with the booming leg and English accent spends about a minute on the field per game, sending kickoffs usually into the end zone and watching an opponent take a knee. He then trots off and lets John Kasay do the high pressure place-kicking.
At first glance, using one of the coveted 53 roster spots for a guy who only kicks off seems foolish. Certainly, it would make more sense to carry an extra lineman in case of injuries, or maybe another linebacker who can play special teams, too.
But Lloyd’s dominance at his craft has proved to be a valuable commodity for the playoff-bound Panthers.
Lloyd had 30 touchbacks during the regular season, eight more than any other kicker and the most since the NFL started using special kicking balls in 1999 that are harder to send deep. It helped the Panthers (12-4) rank third in the league with the opponents’ average drive starting at the 24.7 yard line.
only record I could have broken this year,” Lloyd said with a smile Wednesday. “It’s the only thing on my mind as far as a goal for the season, other than making the Super Bowl, of course.”
It’s a big difference for the Panthers, who watched Kasay struggle to kick the ball deep last season. The Panthers had only one touchback in the first 15 games before Lloyd was signed for the final week and had three in season finale.
The average drive start for Panthers’ opponents last year was the 29-yard line.
“I was aware of last year’s situation and I’m just glad I helped out this year and hopefully we continue it throughout the rest of the playoffs,” said Lloyd, who has been waived seven times and played in NFL Europe.
While Kasay remains one of the league’s top kickers – he’s made 28 of 31 field goals, including the winning 42-yarder Sunday that clinched a first-round bye – he turned 39 in October. The 26-year-old Lloyd, who was born in Dover, England, before coming to the United States and kicking at the University of Minnesota, has allowed Kasay to only worry about field goals and extra points.
help to our team. I welcome the job he’s done. He’s done a fine job.”
Actually, it’s the best any kicker has done in some time.
According to statistics provided by the Panthers, Mitch Berger’s 40 touchbacks with Minnesota in 1998 are the most in the NFL since the kickoff spot was moved from the 35-yard line to the 30 in 1994. In 1999, the NFL switched to the so-called K-ball and Berger had only 13 touchbacks.
In the K-ball era, Olindo Mare had previously held the mark for most touchbacks when he had 24 in 2003 and ’06 with Miami.
“The balls now are pretty much straight out of the wrapper and aren’t always pumped up how they should be,” Lloyd said of the kicking balls, designed to create more crowd-pleasing returns. “And when cold weather starts affecting it, it’s like cold weather on a tire, it starts affecting it pretty quick. The sweet spot goes and it’s one thing after another.”
Lloyd’s impressive season has likely anchored his position as a kickoff specialist for Carolina. But Lloyd acknowledged he’d like to kick field goals someday. Lloyd, who has never attempted a field goal in a regular-season NFL game, made a wind-aided 65-yard attempt in practice Wednesday.
“Obviously, John is doing a great job,” Lloyd said. “There is no bad blood there. He’s doing his job and I’m doing mine and I think we make a good team. …
“Absolutely I want to be a full-time guy whether it’s here or somewhere else. But right now, at the minute, the job is to get to the Super Bowl, so that is the last thought to me.”
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