Cards kicker Rackers must adjust to new holder

One part of the Cardinals' kicking game is darned-near flawless.

The other was flawed. So a change was made.

Now, the Cardinals are hoping the move doesn't replace one problem with another.

Neil Rackers, a year after suffering his worst season with the team, is back to Pro Bowl form.

He's nailed 21 of 24 field goals and hit all 33 of his extra points.

He hit 15 straight, the second-longest streak in franchise history (behind only his 31 straight in 2005), before he was short on a 68-yard try on a free kick against the New York Giants.

This is quite a turnaround from a 2007 season in which he was a modest 21-for-30 on field goals. One of those misses cost the Cardinals a game: a 32-yarder in overtime against San Francisco.

Rackers has since revealed that he was playing with a sports hernia. Not wanting to make excuses, he didn't say anything at the time.

Also, he previously admitted that the revolving door at the holder spot - as the Cardinals continued their season-long search for a punter - affected him and that he didn't handle the situation well.

This season, he seemed to fall head over heels for punter Dirk Johnson's ability to hold.

But Johnson's punting was wobbly - his 35.2-yard net average was among the league's worst - so coach Ken Whisenhunt this week made the decision to replace Johnson with ex-New York Jets punter Ben Graham.

So now, Rackers must adjust once again.

"Dirk is a tremendous guy," Rackers said. "I was lucky to get to work with him.

"He gave me the ability to have a good season."

Rackers, asked if he was disappointed with the switch, said, "I can say I liked it the way it was. But this is a business, and you've got to do your job. ...

"I'm disappointed because I had an opportunity to spend a lot of time with Dirk and his family. But as far as football goes, I have to be a professional and overcome things."

Rackers has been so on target that Whisenhunt seemed to be willing to cut some slack in the punting game so "we didn't disrupt our kicker," the coach said.

But now, with the playoffs in mind, Whisenhunt started thinking about an East Coast game with poor weather, where field position can be especially huge.

"That could be something that really changes the complexion of the game. ... I thought we needed to make a change at this point and work it out the last four games of the season. Eventually, if we make the playoffs, that could be something that would be important."

The last four games will allow Rackers and Graham some time together, said Whisenhunt, who acknowledged that the changes at holder last season didn't work too well.

"We still have some games left ... when we can get some experience and work together. Hopefully, it will be a good fit for us."

In adjusting to new holders, Rackers said, "You just have to get used to their tendencies. Some guys will have a foot kind of close to the ball. Some guys will be a little further back. It might sound weird, but it is different."

So far, Rackers likes what he's seen from Graham.

"He does a good job. He gets the ball down smooth."

Graham said he and Rackers have "done a lot of work the last few days. We've worked well together so far."

If that keeps up, the Cardinals' kicking game should be whole.