The Chicago Bears had some kicking concerns early in the season. Veteran kicker Cairo Santos got off to a slow start, missing three field goals in his first six games and raising questions about his future with the team. These questions were further amplified when Jake Moody did an admirable job in his absence, going 8-of-9 in his two starts. Since returning from injury, however, Santos has hit his stride, and in recent weeks, he has been perfect.
Over the last three games, the Brazilian kicker is 4-of-4 in field goals and 8-of-8 in extra point attempts.
Yet, there is more to kicking than accuracy in field goals and extra points. One of the most common criticisms of Santos is his lack of a big leg. While the rest of the league has expanded their field goal range to 60 yards, Santos hasn't been able to be a threat from over 55 yards. He has yet to hit a field goal from over 55 yards in his career, and he is 3-of-5 in attempts over 50 this season.
Cairo Santos Raising More Questions for the Bears Before Final Stretch
Against the Packers, another problem has emerged. Santos failed to get the ball in the landing zone on the kickoff at the end of the first half, giving Green Bay excellent field position. Starting their drive at their 40 with less than two minutes left in the half, the Packers were able to score a touchdown and extend their lead before halftime.
Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower addressed this blunder on Thursday, per Bears insider Zack Pearson. Hightower said the weather didn't play a part in Santos' struggles in kickoffs, and he "just didn't hit a good ball."
This comes on the heels of Santos making a big impact with his "dirty kickoffs." The experienced kicker has been deploying a new knuckleball technique that has been making it hard for teams to return kicks. This response to the new NFL rules that mandate balls to land between the goal line and the 20-yard line.
The problem with these dirty kickoffs is that they can be less accurate. When kickers are trying to hit the ball in a way to make it harder to catch and return, it can cause mistakes as well.
This is another example of the up-and-down season Santos has been having. Once one of the most consistent specialists in the league, Santos has not been as reliable this season. The kickoff issue is the latest example of that for the Bears, leaving time to tell if the front office will revisit the veteran's future in the Windy City this offseason.