EbonyBird.com’s 2010 Special Teams MVP
By Joe Barnes
Sometimes the new kid on the block turns into the most popular kid at school instantly. In a Ravens sense, the new kid of the block was Billy Cundiff, and he is EbonyBird.com’s Special Teams MVP for the season. Cundiff was 12-17 on the season after signing with the Ravens, and two of those 5 misses were unrealistic 50+ yarders. Cundiff had several big games, including his 5-6 performance in his first game donning the purple and hitting the game-
winning field goal in overtime against the Squealers in Week 12.
The impact of Cundiff can not be seen in his numbers only. After the team showed confidence in young Steve Hauschka by dumping Matt Stover and letting the 2nd-year kicker win the starting job, Cundiff was picked up to clean up Hauschka’s mess. A shanked kick causing a loss at Minnesota and a pedestrian 69% success rate (9-13) caused his release. Cundiff, a veteran presence kicking the ball, dealt with bad snaps, lots of fan pressure and a new unfamiliar city and was a key factor in getting the Ravens into the playoffs.
Cundiff stepped up the week he was signed, got familiar with his snapper and holder, and became the consistent force at kicker that us Ravens fans are used to.
Tomorrow the Defensive MVP will be announced. Here are the winners so far:
Top Rookie- Lardarius Webb, CB
Top Newcomer- Matt Birk, C
Most Improved Player- Ray Rice, RB
Best Individual Performance- Joe Flacco, QB vs Bears-Week 15
Play of the Year- Derrick Mason, WR vs Browns-Week 3
Special Teams MVP-Billy Cundiff, K