The waste for Cincinnati Bengals Kicker Evan McPherson was suddenly, and in some cases, crucial to the Bengals' season.
Affectionately known as Money Mac and other names by fans, McPherson was anything but that this year. In 11 games, he hit 15 of 21 and missed four of seven attempts from beyond 40 yards.
With an overall average of 71.4 percent, McPherson ranks 36th in the league entering Week 12.
The issues are starting to spill over into other areas of the Bengals, with Zac Taylor opting to be more aggressive in some spots because he clearly can't trust the kicking game.
And while the Bengals have many, many problems, there are also alarming details like these:
Bengals kicker Evan McPherson has missed kicks in four different one-score losses this season:
– 1/2 XPs at KC (Bengals lost 26-25)
– 2/3 FGs vs. WAS (Bengals lost 38-33)
– 0/1 FG vs. BAL (Bengals lost 41-38 in overtime)
– 2/4 FGs at LAC (Bengals lost 34-27)Cincinnati is now 4-7
— Steven Cheah (@StevenCheah)
Earlier this year, special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons admitted that the mechanics of the kick was part of the problem. McPherson is his fourth defending champion in as many seasons.
“I think that partly contributed to it. There's no question that the snap in the Baltimore game wasn't a particularly good snap, nor was it saved well. I think that was pretty obvious to everyone,” Simmons said from Bengals.com. “Honestly, I think the operation in the Cleveland game wasn’t perfect. I still expect Evan to make this kick, although it will be more difficult if the snap and grip aren't exactly right.
However, that was the end of October and the problems remained. If everyone involved hasn't figured it out by now, the only way out for the Bengals may be to wait and see if their big-money 25-year-old kicker can figure it out over the rest of the season.
The Bengals gave one to McPherson last August, and getting out of it next offseason wouldn't be ideal. But as if this season wasn't strange enough for the Bengals, the rest of the year almost feels like an audition for him.
