To paraphrase Charles Dickens, it’s been a tale of two seasons for San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers.
In 2011, his first year with the Niners, Akers set an NFL record for field goals made (44). Fantasy football owners everywhere rejoiced.
But this year, Akers missed an NFL-worst 13 field goals during the regular season. Things had gotten so bad that the 49ers auditioned Billy Cundiff (yes, this Billy Cundiff) as a potential replacement as the postseason got underway. When Akers’s critical 38-yarder clanged off the left upright in last weekend’s NFC Championship Game versus Atlanta, many wondered if San Francisco chose the right kicker.
When asked Tuesday by a pool of reporters about how his recent struggles have placed him under intense scrutiny, Akers’s half-joking response was, “How many times have you seen this many media members surrounding a kicker?”
It’s been a remarkably strange season for Akers, a 15-year veteran who ranks 14th on the NFL’s all-time scoring list. He underwent double-hernia surgery in the offseason, but started 2012 by nailing all three of his attempts in San Francisco’s 30-22 season-opening win in Green Bay. Akers’s third field goal in that game was true from 63 yards, tying the NFL record.
Thirteen misses in 39 attempts later, Akers says he’s still looking for answers.
“I keep saying that it’s a game of inches. Six inches one way, three inches last week and things would be different,” he explained. “It’s just been one of those seasons. If I had an answer for you and I knew how to change the outcome of it, I would’ve done it a long time ago.”
Even punter Andy Lee, who serves as the holder on field goal tries, is deciphering how to approach one of the most reliable kickers to ever play the game in his time of need.
“It’s a learning process (for me),” Lee said Tuesday. “How do you interact with him during those times? Do you just leave him alone? Do you help him out? These have been some tough times for him, but you stay there, support him and let him know that you have all the confidence in the world in him.”
San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh echoed Lee’s thoughts, saying that he liked what he saw in Akers prior to the Falcons game and that his lone attempt, albeit a miss, was struck well.
With four of the last 11 Super Bowls having been decided by three points or less, odds are that Akers will trot out from the sidelines Sunday for the most meaningful attempt of his career. Asked Tuesday if he’d like to see a close game set him up for a season-redeeming swing of the leg, once again, Akers was his cool, light-hearted self.
“Heck, no, I want to see a blowout. I’m fine if I’m over on the sideline having the time of my life while our offense scores every time. That’s exciting, too. To me, it’s more important to get that ring.”
