AP49ers kicker David Akers missed another field goal on Sunday night, dropping him to 25-of-35 on field goal attempts so far this season.
That’s the lowest percentage of makes for Akers in his career and it has become a problem for the 49ers. They looked at a few kickers last month and said that Akers had a pelvis injury that was hindering him, but coach Jim Harbaugh made no mention of injury when talking about Akers’ latest miss.
“Specialists sometimes only get four or five opportunities a game, and you’ve got to make the play,” Harbaugh said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “You’ve got to see him do it, got to see him make those plays.”
Harbaugh said Monday that the team isn’t making a change “at this time” and you have to wonder how much more rope Akers will get. There are just two games left in the regular season, which doesn’t leave you much time to find someone else in the event you decide to pull the plug on Akers.
With Mason Crosby also struggling right now, two of the top contenders in the NFC could enter the playoffs without much confidence in their kickers. Given how often playoff games can turn on a field goal, that’s a big risk to take if neither team decides to go in another direction for their biggest games of the season.
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Bill Gramatica would certainly bring un-bounded energy. For 1 play.
His career is probably over at the end of the season.
He’s done, he’s just not reliable anymore.
I’m expecting the Packers will draft or sign a free agent kicker after the season and then set up a competition in training camp next season.
One of the best kickers in the game… Everybodies time is up at some point.
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As a Niner fan it’s scary when Akers kicks. He cost them the game against the Rams….twice. Right now the 23 yard line is field goal range. I think it’s a mental issue because no kicks fall short.
He cost the 49ers six points in the game against the Patriots. He missed a 39 yarder, then they went for 4 and 1 another time because they didn’t want to make him kick a longer one.
Last timeout checked jeff reed was available. I know he’s a head case but the dude can kick
Niners are playing w fire… To go out of the playoffs because of another specials teams screw up would be devastating.
#FireAkers
It is the Andy Reid curse. If you’ve been coached by him, then this will be your worst season.
Let me get this straight…Harbaugh benches Alex Smith because he gets hurt, despite playing extremely well, but sticks with Akers, who’s been playing poorly all season long?
That’s a bunch of gobble gobble from a giant jive turkey gobbler.
Akers has some range, but at this point I’d take a guy who can consistently make every field gaol under 40 yards, and you just know he can’t make it 40+ and have to go for it or punt.