Year in review: David Akers
Time to kick off our Year in Review series. We'll take a look at every player on the Eagles' roster and evaluate how each performed in 2009. We'll go (mostly) in alphabetical order, but I need more time checking my in-season notes on Victor Abiamiri, so we start with David Akers.
Year in review: David Akers
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
David Akers had an excellent year in 2009. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)
We'll take a look at every player on the Eagles' roster and evaluate how each performed in 2009.
We'll go (mostly) in alphabetical order, but I need more time checking my in-season notes on Victor Abiamiri, so we start with David Akers.
The veteran kicker hit 86.5 percent of his field-goal attempts last season, the third-best mark of his career and the best since 2002. It was the ninth-best overall percentage among kickers with at least 15 attempts.
Akers led all kickers with 32 makes, but also had the most tries (37).
He was money from 39 yards and under, hitting 20 of 21 attempts.
From 40-49, Akers made 11 of 13 kicks (84.6 percent). The two misses? Both against the Raiders, in a game where he attempted five field goals. In his previous 10 seasons, Akers hit 69.2 percent from that range.
From 40 or longer, he was 12-for-16 (75 percent). Only four kickers (who attempted at least 10 from that distance) had a better percentage. In his previous 10 seasons, Akers hit 64.9 percent from 40 or longer.
In terms of "game on the line" kicks, Akers hit winners against the Redskins and Broncos in the second half of the season.
The numbers don't lie. Even by his own standards, Akers was well above average in 2009. And keep in mind, this is a guy who was named to the league's All-Decade team.
At 35, he showed no signs of slowing down and will return to a field-goal unit that was ranked best in the league by Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News.
Akers is under contract for 2010, but then would be eligible for free agency.
David Akers: Stats
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Comments (28)
And David is a P90X guy too.— Ohmy
Almost Automatic!— cesegal
A couple more years like this and Akers can be considered a SERIOUS Hall of Fame candidate. He's the real deal and has done it over the years. The "Team of the Decade" honor is a sign of just how much respect there is for Akers all around the NFL.— wylies99- What a great kicker over the years. I hope the Bird's find it in their heart to let him retire as an Eagle. Also, can you believe the Redskins cut him? Automatic Akers is one of the All-time Eagles greats!— Flying P
- Fun Fact: Number of kickers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: 0
- Not the best from long range but I'll keep him. And we all know that he had the most attempts due to our miserable percentage of TD's in the red zone! Keep that leg strong David, just sayin'...— DJ
- He's a kicker...who cares— JKJSMCD
Akers has 1182 total points with his foot. McNabb has 1512.— Richard Saunders
JKJSMCD- you do when his 3 points wins a game that the Offense can't. He is a good person on and off the field. Not to mention a HUGE NASCAR fan. If you get to meet him, ask about racing and he will talk all day about it.- "Richard Saunders Akers has 1182 total points with his foot. McNabb has 1512." Nice Stat! I checked and its true! LMAO!!!!
- Anybody notice thast he probably has more tackles than any other kicker in the league? He doesn't just sit back and watch his kickoffs. He's in the game.— dlscholt
- I've always liked this guy. Had a chance to meet him last year, looks smaller in real life than on TV. Total class act and a good guy in Philly sports. Tom Crymes: are you counting players from other positions who also kicked? It wasn't always a specialty.— dragoon6
- What is the point of 1182 against 1512? Clueless comments check the league that is the norm for kickers to lead team in scoring.— ec420de
- gfunkerror....epic fail with the Nascar reference....Nascar, LOL!— marley66
- Any consideration to touchbacks and ave. starting field position on kickoffs?— PhillyPhantastico
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Sheil Kapadia is in his fifth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest
memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with
his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to
discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or
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