Zach Hocker - Kicker

[DarthMonk Profile]

Zach Hocker - K - Redskins

Redskins selected Arkansas K Zach Hocker with the No. 228 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

Hocker was the Razorbacks' kicker for four seasons, making 61-of-79 field goals in his career. He missed just two extra points.

He'll more than likely end up being a camp leg for the Redskins. Kai Forbath would have to faceplant.

May 10 - 5:57 PM

I'm not buying this take. We didn't need to spend a draft pick on a camp leg. Kai is generally accurate but seems to lack strength. I'm saying we are going for true competition at the kicker spot and are hopeful this guy can take it down. I'm going with this take:

Hey guys. Arkansas fan here. I'm obviously biased, but I wouldn't have traded Hocker for any other college kicker the past few years. I'm not sure what the NFL.com review is talking about because he consistently kicked the ball well out of the enzone for us and has a very strong leg. He was 3-4 from 50+ yards last year and went 3-3 at the east-west shrine game including a 56 yarder.

Not sure how he'll do with the skins since kicker is so hard to project but we loved him while he was here (even if most arkansans are cowboys fans )

[KazooSkinsFan Profile]

I'm not buying this take. We didn't need to spend a draft pick on a camp leg. Kai is generally accurate but seems to lack strength. I'm saying we are going for true competition at the kicker spot and are hopeful this guy can take it down.

I agree. This is a clear statement that kickoffs and long field goals are endangering Forbaith's job. It's like getting a 5-10 yard penalty tacked on to every kickoff.

[skinsfan#33 Profile]

From what I understand he punted in college too. So maybe they thought he could be their punter and KO specialist.

[SkinsJock Profile]

Zach is going to compete for the kicking job - i.e. goals and kickoffs - good luck to him

like Kaz said a guy that can kick long range field goals and kickoffs is a big advantage

[DarthMonk Profile]

From what I understand he punted in college too. So maybe they thought he could be their punter and KO specialist.

Nice!

BTW - Gano was a decent punter too.

Code: Select all

Career Punting Stats
Year   Team   G   Punts   Yds   Avg
2013   Ark    12        7   320   45.7

HIGH SCHOOL: Hocker earned all-state honors in 2009 at Russellville High School under head coach Jeff Holt. As a senior, he was also named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He was ranked as the best kicker in the state of Arkansas by Scout.com. Hocker was selected to play in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association East-West Shrine game. As a senior, he helped Russellville to an 8-3-1 record and kicked a school-record 15 field goals. All but three of his 61 kickoffs reached the end zone for a touchback, resulting in opponents starting from their 20-yard line more than 95 percent of the time. He finished the season with a 45-yard average on 35 punt attempts. He averaged more than 45 yards in seven games and 14 of his punts were downed inside the 20. He kicked four field goals in a 26-26 tie at Fayetteville, including a school-record 52 yarder.

[Countertrey Profile]

From what I understand he punted in college too. So maybe they thought he could be their punter and KO specialist.

Nice!

BTW - Gano was a good punter too.

Code: Select all

Career Punting Stats
Year   Team   G   Punts   Yds   Avg
2013   Ark    12        7   320   45.7

HIGH SCHOOL: Hocker earned all-state honors in 2009 at Russellville High School under head coach Jeff Holt. As a senior, he was also named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He was ranked as the best kicker in the state of Arkansas by Scout.com. Hocker was selected to play in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association East-West Shrine game. As a senior, he helped Russellville to an 8-3-1 record and kicked a school-record 15 field goals. All but three of his 61 kickoffs reached the end zone for a touchback, resulting in opponents starting from their 20-yard line more than 95 percent of the time. He finished the season with a 45-yard average on 35 punt attempts. He averaged more than 45 yards in seven games and 14 of his punts were downed inside the 20. He kicked four field goals in a 26-26 tie at Fayetteville, including a school-record 52 yarder.

Perhaps he isn't merely a camp leg...

[cowboykillerzRGiii Profile]

Its posted in the draft day thread about him punting his Sr year... averaging high 40s w a long of 70!!!
If he can punt and boot it through the endzone we can keep him and the Cobra w out sacrificing a roster spot... maybe even bring him out for a fg if its out of Kais range

[Deadskins Profile]

From what I understand he punted in college too. So maybe they thought he could be their punter and KO specialist.

Nice!

BTW - Gano was a good punter too.

Code: Select all

Career Punting Stats
Year   Team   G   Punts   Yds   Avg
2013   Ark    12        7   320   45.7

HIGH SCHOOL: Hocker earned all-state honors in 2009 at Russellville High School under head coach Jeff Holt. As a senior, he was also named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He was ranked as the best kicker in the state of Arkansas by Scout.com. Hocker was selected to play in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association East-West Shrine game. As a senior, he helped Russellville to an 8-3-1 record and kicked a school-record 15 field goals. All but three of his 61 kickoffs reached the end zone for a touchback, resulting in opponents starting from their 20-yard line more than 95 percent of the time. He finished the season with a 45-yard average on 35 punt attempts. He averaged more than 45 yards in seven games and 14 of his punts were downed inside the 20. He kicked four field goals in a 26-26 tie at Fayetteville, including a school-record 52 yarder.

Perhaps he isn't merely a camp leg...

You don't waste a draft pick on a camp leg. Those guys are UDFAs.

[brad7686 Profile]

granted we have had some awful fg blocking, but I don't know that Kai always gets enough altitude on his kicks. He's obviously way better than what WE have had as of late, but that doesn't make him a good kicker.

[emoses14 Profile]

I think you spend a pick on a kicker when you don't want the leverage in the situation to switch. If you draft him in the 7th, he's coming to your camp or sitting for a year. If he is an UDFA, he has his choice of 31 other teams to try and sign with. Of course, if the point is that Zach isn't just a camp leg, I take your point.

[riggofan Profile]

granted we have had some awful fg blocking, but I don't know that Kai always gets enough altitude on his kicks. He's obviously way better than what WE have had as of late, but that doesn't make him a good kicker.

I didn't think we really had the blocked kicked issue with Kai, did we?

He was really good in 2012, only missed one kick. Considering our terrible recent history with kickers that was amazing. It might have covered up the fact that he wasn't as good last year missing four kicks. That puts him in the bottom half of kickers in the league. There are like eighteen other kickers in the league who attempted way more kicks and only missed two or three.

Point being when people say "wtf? We're set at kicker." maybe that's not entirely true?

[brad7686 Profile]

granted we have had some awful fg blocking, but I don't know that Kai always gets enough altitude on his kicks. He's obviously way better than what WE have had as of late, but that doesn't make him a good kicker.

I didn't think we really had the blocked kicked issue with Kai, did we?

He was really good in 2012, only missed one kick. Considering our terrible recent history with kickers that was amazing. It might have covered up the fact that he wasn't as good last year missing four kicks. That puts him in the bottom half of kickers in the league. There are like eighteen other kickers in the league who attempted way more kicks and only missed two or three.

Point being when people say "wtf? We're set at kicker." maybe that's not entirely true?

He had a lot get blocked last year and I mean its one thing if its a 60 yarder, but to have 30 yard field goals getting blocked.... I don't care if Lebron james is on the opposing team, that shouldn't happen. Whether or not its his fault I don't know. You also have to consider that more velocity equals more backspin, which equals more carry on kickoffs. His lack of kickoff prowess also suggests that he doesn't get enough altitude on his kicks.

[Deadskins Profile]

I think you spend a pick on a kicker when you don't want the leverage in the situation to switch. If you draft him in the 7th, he's coming to your camp or sitting for a year. If he is an UDFA, he has his choice of 31 other teams to try and sign with. Of course, if the point is that Zach isn't just a camp leg, I take your point.

Yes, that's the point. If you just want a camp leg, you don't care if he has 31 other teams to choose from. You've got about 300 camp legs to choose from. I expect all draft picks to be on the 53 man roster for at least a season.

[yupchagee Profile]

I think you spend a pick on a kicker when you don't want the leverage in the situation to switch. If you draft him in the 7th, he's coming to your camp or sitting for a year. If he is an UDFA, he has his choice of 31 other teams to try and sign with. Of course, if the point is that Zach isn't just a camp leg, I take your point.

Yes, that's the point. If you just want a camp leg, you don't care if he has 31 other teams to choose from. You've got about 300 camp legs to choose from. I expect all draft picks to be on the 53 man roster for at least a season.

That rarely happens. It's normal for some to start on PS & not unusual for some late round picks to be cut.

[SouthLondonRedskin Profile Website]

Well if he can do a decent job of punting then he could be Steve Cox mark II.

Didn't Cox smash in a couple of 60 yarders for us back in the day...???