Akers' job appears secure, even if he isn't

Oct 22, 2009 (The Philadelphia Inquirer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- NAHC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- David Akers admits to being perpetually insecure.

"Since day one," the Eagles' kicker said yesterday by phone after a team meeting at the NovaCare Complex. "Maybe it's because I've bounced around and it took so long to make it. I never have felt secure."

Akers' job isn't in danger this week, even though he had a sickening feeling after the Eagles' 13-9 loss Sunday to the Oakland Raiders. The defeat included two missed field goals by the placekicker, and you don't have to be a mathematician to realize six points would have turned a disturbing defeat into an ugly victory.

"I always say you never know if it's going to be the first extra point of a game or a last-second kick that makes the difference," Akers said. "Every time you're on the field, you have to come away with points. If you don't perform, they're going to find somebody new."

Akers missed a 43-yard field goal wide left in the first quarter and a 47-yarder wide right in the third quarter.

Review the replays and you can see problems unrelated to Akers' foot in each case. Jon Dorenbos' low snap contributed to poor timing on the first missed kick, and heavy pressure from Oakland's Chris Johnson and Hiram Eugene forced a hurried kick by Akers the second time.

"I was probably a little quick getting to the ball in both cases," Akers said. "The first one, the ball kind of slid left. Sometimes you hit the ball well, and it doesn't go where you expect it to go. I just missed, and there is nobody to blame but myself."

Andy Reid didn't seem overly concerned about Akers' missed attempts, and he certainly is in no hurry to replace his kicker.

"David is a good kicker," the coach said Monday on his radio show on WIP-AM (610). "Consistency is a big thing in this league, and you just have to keep cranking. He ended up making the last one, which was into the wind and a much more difficult kick [than the two he missed]. Nobody beats themselves up more than what David does. He understands the importance of making those."

Akers owns the Eagles' records for most career points, field goals, and extra points, and those are milestones you don't achieve unless you've been consistent throughout your career.

But he hasn't been quite as consistent in recent years. In his first eight seasons and 135 games, he missed two field goals in the same game just five times. He has missed two field goals in a game three times in his last 21 games.

"I think guys who kick inside can make the 45- to 50-yarders more consistently, but I've always tried to be consistent with 45 and under," Akers said. "I wanted to make sure I was high on those percentages."

And he has been for his entire career. He is in his 11th season with the Eagles.

Counting the postseason, he has connected on 255 of 282 attempts inside the 45-yard line, provided the kicks were not blocked. That's a 90-percent accuracy rate. In the last two seasons, he has made 48 of 50 kicks inside the 45.

Blocks, however, have been a problem the last two years. He had just one field goal attempt blocked in his first eight seasons, but has had four blocked in the last two years.

"We had a very good run not having any blocks," Akers said. "It's the toughest two seconds in football when the offensive line and defensive lines are going at it to protect field goals."

Akers, 34, has shown no indication that his leg strength is weakening. If anything, it seems to be getting stronger, as evidenced by his kickoffs. He had a career-high 17 kickoffs for touchbacks last season, and he has sent 18 of 25 kickoffs into the end zone this season, resulting in seven touchbacks through five games.

"I'm probably not as strong as ever, but I will say I'm striking the ball very consistently," he said. "And I'm moving it around well, too. I was very happy with my field goals until this game, and it's disappointing when you let your teammates, the organization, and fans down.

"But you can't sit back and overanalyze it. You make a mistake and you try to move on. I do feel strong and I feel I have some good years left kicking in the Northeast."

Note. Seattle Seahawks signed guard Mike Gibson to their active roster. Gibson, a sixth-round pick in 2008, was on the Eagles practice squad.

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Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.

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