Exactly. 50/50 wasn't considered a disaster. Maybe by 1984 it was bad but nothing compared to how it would be viewed today. There is no question placekicking accuracy has changed more than any other aspect of the game, since I began following as a young kid. It used to truly feel like a 50/50 proposition. Now any miss is a surprise.
There were several contributing variables like multipurpose fields with dirt infields and swirling winds. But the greatest factor is superior mechanics and specialized coaching. I used to see one guy after another stand up to the ball wrong, like an amateur golfer who has no idea what he is doing. Early NFL soccer style kickers were mostly winging it on their own because the teams didn't have special teams coaches who knew a darn thing about that style. Even with Olindo Mare I'd see occasional variance where he'd stand several inches away from his typical approach angle. That flaw got noticeably worse midway through his career, leading to predictable side toward the error. I used to mention it all the time on the alt.miamidolphins message board and likewise when I first joined this site, to quite a bit of skepticism. I was wagering man to man on dozens of field goals per weekend in that era so it was simple to identify.
Nowadays that type of thing is still somewhat prevalent in college football but all but gone in the NFL. Jason Sanders is like a golfer with the same perfect setup and swing plane every time.
BTW, I've mentioned it many times but Garo never receives 2% the credit he deserved toward that unbeaten season. It never happens without the 51 yard field goal outdoors at Metropolitan Stadium in the middle of the fourth quarter of week 3, trailing 14-6 and with no 2-point conversion in that era. Given that stadium and field goal percentages of that era, Garo was a considerable underdog. I remember my dad and I had basically no hope at all once Garo lined up for that kick. We expected a forced line drive that would barely get off the ground. Then we were astonished when he actually made it, keeping hope alive at 14-9. Griese hit Mandich with the game winner very late. I was always extremely disappointed in other Dolphin players and coaches that they didn't have enough situational clarity to heap praise on Garo for that kick, given everything that unfolded later in 1972. There are only a handful of plays that stand out toward saving 17-0. That is certainly one of them, along with Morrall's deep bass to Warfield in the middle of the 4th quarter while trailing Cleveland in the first round playoff game, and the Larry Seiple fake punt at Pittsburgh. Plus Griese being asserted in that game at halftime and almost immediately hitting Warfield with a quick slant rumbling deep into Steeler territory.
