Jim Harbaugh says he’s sticking with David Akers

Posted by Darin Gantt on January 21, 2013, 5:27 PM EST
Getty Images

The Jive Turkey Gobbler is sticking with the Jive Turkey Wobbler.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that embattled kicker David Akers would keep that job for the Super Bowl.

Akers missed a 38-yarder yesterday, and hit his only attempt in the previous playoff game against the Packers. But he was 29-of-42 in the regular season, and was shaky enough they brought in Billy Cundiff as insurance/motivation.

Given that options aren’t many, pumping up Akers is probably the 49ers’ best play right now. He’s been a good kicker in the past, and there’s something to be said for sticking by your own (even though, technically speaking, they didn’t when they brought in Cundiff).

Permalink 26 Comments Feed for comments Back to top

26 responses to “Jim Harbaugh says he’s sticking with David Akers”

  1. I really hope there is a good kicker in the draft this year. Of course if there is I’m sure he will go in the first round to Jacksonville, so forget it.

  2. Right, I don’t think a coach should let go of any player during the playoffs unless it’s because of IR or disciplinary reasons. You live and die with your players that performed during the regular season. Everything else is disloyalty.

  3. The one positive, but a big positive, is the fact that it forces the offense to be aggressive in what would normally be “field goal territory”. We’ve all seen offenses slow down and get conservative knowing they can get a field goal instead of pushing all the way through for a TD. The 9ers won’t do that and will use the field goal in short range and as a last resort only. It’s in good hands with Kap, they score TDs now.

    Still though, you’d like to think Akers can hit something! He looked dejected after the kick, haunted by it.

  4. travel4football says:Jan 21, 2013 5:37 PM

    Right, I don’t think a coach should let go of any player during the playoffs unless it’s because of IR or disciplinary reasons. You live and die with your players that performed during the regular season. Everything else is disloyalty.

    __________________________________

    CORRECTION!!!! Bill Bielichick did it on the eve of last years super bowl his name was Tiquan Underwood a WR

  9. raidernation you might want to read that post again. Seems you missed the point. Unless your are implying BB is the least bit loyal. Which I don’t think is likely comong from a Raiders fan.

  10. It’s all mathematics. Harbaugh knows he will get 1.5 points for every field goal attempt and will work it into the game plan.

  12. It was actually the wind that pushed it left.

    Hopefully the wind will be less of an issue when he’s kicking in the Superbowl.

  13. Akers has been on the slide since 2008-09–in that NFCCG, he missed a FG inside 40 yards, missed an Xp, and shanked a KO out of bounds to give the Cards a short field. In 2010, he missed two FGs inside 40 yards in a WC game against the Packers. He had a good year last year, but it was only temporary.

  17. I like the call by Jim Harbaugh.
    just hope they will play every down and forget about the field goals. It didnt work out last thanksgiving and akers was 2 for 2.
    wear em down and tromple them this time. Gore Gore, James, Dixon.
    thanks for reading and never listen to peeps that only type junk

  18. He is as good or potentially better than anyone else in the NFL. Hear me out here: by the time they make the pro’s, they all have a great leg. Shoot, last year he was setting records. With kickers it’s all a head game and Harbough works great with head cases. Remember, the NFL gurus said Kaep was a “project quarterback”? I trust the coach to know what he’s doing.

  19. Manageable 30-40 yarder for superbowl victory as time expires. Ravens will be happy Akers is kicking.Jim Harbaugh? Not so much.

  20. Ackers choke at end will be on Harbaughs mind. No way he hasn’t thought it already. Imagine it happens?

  22. I anticipate a relatively low scoring game and it could come down to a field goal making the difference. Edge Balti. Akers is a basket case right now and can’t be trusted really at any distance beyond an extra point. So the Niners have to factor that in to their game plan. You would hope to have all your guns loaded for the SB but this is a huge problem for SF. Hope it’s not decided by a missed FG, these two teams are too good for that scenario

  24. You know, things could turn ok for Akers. He doesn’t miss everything. Let’s say it comes down to a try for a game winning field goal from a non-gimme distance and Akers nails it. He will be remembered as a good kicker who had a rough last year, but came good at the right moment to win the superbowl. The next game is a huge opportunity to erase everything that has happened up until now.

  25. Akers isn’t a head case. He had double hernia surgery in March. And he was doing just fine until he tweaked it in November…remember the 63 yarder at Lambeau in September?

    After an off season and some rest, he could be good as new and back to his regular self next season.

  26. Amazes me so many of you are clueless morons. You have no idea of what’s really going down. And some can’t even spell Akers correctly. And it’s Harbaugh for those other chuckleheads. Akers did have hernia and should have been healed completely awhile ago. Either the surgery has altered his motion or the misses have gotten into his head. Hell, perhaps both. In any event, he’d better get his act together in time for the SB. If he misses a clutch kick or two, Jimbo will have him on the next bus. Guaranted he’ll be scrutinized very closely next preseason and if he’s still shakey, he’ll get run before the opener.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.