Dec 22, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) attempts a field goal out of the hold of Marquette King (7) against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Marquette King burst out onto the NFL scene as a rookie last season as the most athletic punter in the league, a player who can make booming punts as well as special teams tackles. Amongst the league leaders in long distance punts, King may not have been the coffin punt king that Shane Lechler was during his Raiders career, but at the very least he made Raiders fans forget the player who bolted for free agency by becoming a fan favorite in embracing what it means to be a Raider.
So it was no surprise that King was one of the first players to check in at training camp in Napa on Wednesday, taking time to talk to the media on hand. Telling everyone within earshot that the Raiders will not only be better, but his holding for Sebastian Janikowski will also be better after the veteran kicker publicly made it known that he wasn’t happy with King’s holds on field goals compared to Lechler’s.
Marquette King arrives, fired up. "This is our year. I know fans say we always say that, but this year we really mean it." #Raiders
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) July 23, 2014
King was asked about kicker Sebastian Janikowski's struggles last year and King's holding: "I don't remember. This is a new year." #Raiders
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) July 23, 2014
Marquette King says him and Sebastian Janikowski are on the same page.. Says he "knows" they'll both have a good year. #Raiders
— Fallon Marie Christopher (@FallonSmithTV) July 23, 2014
King and Janikowski worked on their relationship this offseason, putting in extra work to ensure that the kicking game is running more smoothly that last year. King became an easy scapegoat in 2013 for Janikowski’s 21 for 30 season after becoming the highest paid kicker in the league, but fans will be equally as quick to buy Janikowski’s struggles as being due to something other than the beloved SeaBass’ regressing if there are struggles once again. That means that King is also relying on Janikowski’s accuracy improving in addition to the familiarity with King’s holds getting better. Only time will tell if that happens, but King’s confidence should ease the minds of Raider Nation until fans get to see the field goal play in action once the preseason starts rolling in August.