Kasay in midst of remarkable hot streak
By Darin Gantt - The Herald
http://www.heraldonline.com/sports/story/897365.html
CHARLOTTE — Because he’s so consistent, and so quiet, it’s been easy to overlook Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay.
But the soon-to-be 39-year-old is in the midst of one of the hottest stretches of his career, having nailed 19 straight field goals going back to last year and all 14 this season. Kasay hit from 39, 48 and 28 yards in Sunday’s 30-7 win over New Orleans, making him 7-of-7 from beyond 40 this year. His career best is 21 straight, when he made his last attempt in 2002 and the first 20 of 2003.
For his 18 seasons, Kasay’s 337-of-389 (86.6 percent) inside 50 yards.
“He’s a remarkable guy,” coach John Fox said. “He’s been here for all 100 wins that this organization has had. For a kicker — most people look at a kicker and they don’t think of a leader, of (someone who is) a big part of that locker room, and in his case, it’s remarkable. He’s got as much respect in that locker room as probably anybody.
“It says a lot for him — not just on the field, but off the field. What he’s done is remarkable. There’s been a couple of kickers that have done that in that realm as far as length of career, but not many.”
It’s easy to suggest that Kasay’s reduced workload this year is keeping him fresher. They kept Rhys Lloyd to handle kickoffs, and he’s leading the league with 15 touchbacks (Denver’s Matt Prater was second with 12 entering Monday night).
That takes the stress of the big kicks off Kasay, allowing him to concentrate on what he does best. Fox said that Kasay’s prior injuries might be a factor. Kasay missed the end of the 1999 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left (kicking) knee, then broke the same kneecap the following year in training camp. More recently, Kasay missed the 2002 season with a sports hernia and two games in 2004 with a right calf injury sustained on a kickoff.
“I can’t really answer that,” Fox said when asked if taking away kickoffs helped. “He had a bad injury some time ago. Coming off of that for a kicker — being your plant leg in particular — and that does affect you, probably more on kickoffs than on long field-goal attempts. You’d have to ask him that. “I’m pleased with his leg; I’m pleased with (how) he’s hit some long field goals already this year.”
n INJURY UPDATE: Fox said there was nothing new on the injury front. Linebacker Thomas Davis left early with a neck strain but returned, and safety Chris Harris was kicked in the knee late and took the rest of the day off.
Fox didn’t speculate on the conditions of right tackle Jeff Otah and center Ryan Kalil, who missed Sunday’s game with ankle problems. He did allow they were “getting closer,” but asked whether the bye week after this week’s contest with Arizona would factor into his decision, he wasn’t sure that mattered.
“No, my feeling has always been that if they’re ready, they play; if they’re not, they don’t,” Fox said. “So if they’re ready next week (and) they’re cleared, they’ll play.”
n HE’LL TAKE IT: Fox liked the fact that both running backs were averaging 4.0 yards per carry, but that they could stand some improvement. Part of that has to do with the shuffling line. The starting five blockers have played just 39 of the 431 offensive snaps together this season.
“I’ve liked, for the most part, the offensive line we’ve had out there,” Fox said. “We’ve had guys like Frank Omiyale, Jeremy Bridges and Geoff Hangartner step in. That’s why you keep a 53-man roster. Having depth on that roster is critical — whether it’s been mid-stream of the game or at the start of a game. I was asked the question: ‘What about our running game?’ It’s been sufficient, and it’s been good. Part of the issues have been rotating the offensive line. It’s just the truth.
“But it’s not the ability; it’s the change. A lot was made of the changes in the offseason, and what that would be like. Well, we didn’t know until we started playing. That’s what happens when you have change. Sometimes it works out fine.”
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