With so much attention leveled on the Edmonton Eskimos QB situation, another rather important phase of the offence has been neglected for the most part -the kicking game. In a league where your P/K can score so many valuable points, it will be critical for the Esks to sort out this one particular area of special teams sooner rather than later.

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Edmonton - Jun. 7, 2012 - With so much attention leveled on the Edmonton Eskimos QB situation, another rather important phase of the offence has been neglected for the most part -the kicking game. Forever the answer to the trivia question as to who came back in return for Ricky Ray (besides Steven Jyles that is), kicker Grant Shaw could figure to be a rather prominent part of that trade. In a league where your P/K can score so many valuable points, it will be critical for the Eskimos to sort out this one particular area of special teams sooner rather than later.

While Ray was the main stay under center, the Esks have had a revolving door of sorts with their place kickers and punters since Sean Fleming’s retirement following the 2007 season. Fleming’s accolades speak for themselves:

- Four-time CFL West Division All Star
- Two-time CFL All Star
- Three-time Grey Cup winner, while being named MVP in the ’93 title game and booting the championship-winning FG in overtime back in ’05.

How quickly we forget!

Since then the Esks did rely on a fairly consistent Noel Prefontaine. But then again enter into the scene Damon Duval, Derek Schiavone, and Justin Medlock just to name a couple.

Certainly there is talent in there to be sure. But in a position exclusively demanding non-import status so as to offer teams roster flexibility, it is imperative that a certain degree of stability be present. In Burke Dales, the Eskimos have certainly acquired a dependable punter who can get the offence out of jams that are surely to arise as the quarterback situation sorts itself out. But what of Shaw? A 66.7 FG percentage from 2010 certainly doesn’t jump out as stellar and neither does 93 points. But then again the Argos were not necessarily an offensive juggernaut at the time. On the other hand Schiavone eclipsed the 84% mark on 19 attempts last year. How would that translate over the course of an entire season? One can only speculate.

As the Eskimos try to sort out the wrinkles offensively, it will be critical that they be able to rely on their kicking game. The bigger nightmare for fans isn’t necessarily if Jyles doesn’t pan out. The bigger nightmare could be that the second half of that trade could work out to be equally as disastrous.

2012 is the year of uncertainty for the Green and Gold to be sure as their fortunes rest with yet another unproven commodity. Let’s just hope that the gimmie FGs are just that. Better yet, let’s hope for more points after touchdowns. Field goals make be hard to come by.