Zac Boyer will be entering his third season covering the Washington Redskins for The Free Lance-Star this fall. Make sure to follow Zac on Twitter (@ZacBoyer) for the latest updates or e-mail him with any questions at zboyer@freelancestar.com.
Debut Not At All Overwhelming For New Kicker Kai Forbath
By ZAC BOYER
LANDOVER, Md. – Kai Forbath didn’t want to overthink it. He didn’t want to get caught up in the moment.
The Washington Redskins’ new kicker made his only field goal attempt – a 50-yarder in the second quarter – and all five of his extra points in a 38-26 victory over Minnesota at FedEx Field.
Forbath
“I don’t try to kick it harder than I normally do,” Forbath said. “I just try to stay smooth and make good contact.”
Forbath, 25, was signed Tuesday by the Redskins to replace Billy Cundiff, who struggled in the first five games.
Regarded highly for a strong leg – he made attempts from 55 and 60 yards during pregame warmups – head coach Mike Shanahan didn’t hesitate on bringing him in early to see exactly what he could do
“I’m a nice guy, aren’t I? Breaking in a kicker, and his first attempt is a 50-yarder?” Shanahan said. “I started thinking about that and I said, ‘That’s not going to be very popular if he misses.’ I was really pleased with the way he handled himself throughout the game. To handle the situation like that, your first kick in the NFL … says a lot about him. Hopefully, he can keep it going.”
Forbath’s concern entering the game was regarding his kickoffs, given he was never tasked to do so while in college. Of his seven kickoffs, five went in the end zone, and four were touchbacks.
Cundiff did not make either of his two attempts from greater than 50 yards for Washington, and when Forbath was able to do so, the crowd gave him a rousing ovation.
“That’s all kicking is – it’s going out there with confidence,” Forbath said. “You know you’re going to make it. You kick it good, that’s what’s going to happen. That was huge.”
