The field goal he missed in the third quarter was from about the same distance. One week later, the team traded for a rookie named Cody Parkey.
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The Dallas Cowboys let DeMarco Murray leave in free agency in part because they knew he was overworked last season, and they feared he would not be able to match his excellent production in the future. “I wouldn’t hit the panic button right now”.
Parkey, who had some rocky practices earlier in the week, insisted that his confidence isn’t rattled.
“He was a Pro Bowl kicker last year”, Kelly said.
The linebacker was among those with something to prove in the first game of the 2015 season. He hit three from 40, too.
A very serious Marcus Smith sat in the back corner of the Eagles’ locker room reflecting on Sunday’s preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts and on the different person he was out on the field as compared to previous year. But kicks within 40 yards should not sail wayward twice in a game.
“I think when it comes to pass rush, just getting off of the (tackle)”. “It’s all on me”. “I missed the kicks”. “Missed the kicks, but that just shows why we do preseason, to get some kicks under your belt, to get some plays under your belt and feel natural, feel good going into the first game”.
COACH KELLY: Yeah, we knew we were going to go out and try to work him out a little pregame and get ready to play the Ravens. “He’s a pretty good kicker”. It’s unlikely to see any major improvements until the regular season, but this could give an idea of what the birds will look like come week one. He missed two attempts in a Week 16 loss to Washington but was otherwise proficient.
Bouncing back from the misses, Parkey admitted, can consume the mind. “You miss a kick, you’re like, ‘What happened?’ You think about it until your next kick”. In all, he had 449 touches, which is something running backs usually find it hard to bounce back from, unless they’re managed properly and not run down into the ground, as Larry Johnson was in Kansas City after a couple of big seasons. It’s a change from last season, where disappointing play and positional uncertainly forced Smith down to the back of the roster. “That’s what these preseason games are for”. When the extra point was moved back on an experimental basis for two weeks last summer, kickers converted 94.3 percent of their attempts. I just answered that question.
“It’s very important; it just shows that you can do it all”.
COACH KELLY: Yeah, he’s fine.
Parkey missed an extra-point attempt from the new distance of 34 yards.
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“I think everyone’s human, everyone misses a kick here and there”, Parkey said.
