David Akers not kicking himself

NEW ORLEANS -- On the same field where Adam Vinatieri made his bones, David Akers is hoping not to break his heart.

Eleven years ago on the floor of the Superdome, Vinatieri delivered arguably the most dramatic field goal in Super Bowl history, a 48-yard kick as the Patriots beat the unbeatable St. Louis Rams in the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. It is a dream all kickers share but one each knows can become a nightmare.

Few kickers ever felt the weight of that impending confluence of agony and ecstasy more than Akers, the 49ers' wayward placekicker. A year ago, the 14-year veteran set an NFL record with 44 field goals. Now he enters the biggest game of his life -- Super Bowl XLVII against the Ravens -- on the stubbed toe of a league-high 13 regular-season misses.

For a game that figures to be close, that's an anxiety-producing number even for someone who once made the most consecutive field goals in playoff history.

"It's been a tough personal season for myself, injuries in the beginning of the year, having surgery, and then rehabbing,'' Akers said during yesterday's media day. "Having a great preseason, great opening game then kind of some inconsistencies. The frustration gets to a point where (you think), 'Lean not on your own understanding.' I don't know why a lot of stuff's going on. You reflect on it, the answers aren't there. At one time in the future, I think those will become clearer."

A kicker quoting Scripture to explain a 69 percent field goal percentage is not encouraging even for the most spiritual of 49ers. And in the NFC Championship Game against Atlanta, Akers' problems persisted when he drilled a 38-yarder into the left upright late in the third quarter with his team down three. It was not a moment inspiring Vinatieri-like confidence.

So Niners coach Jim Harbaugh, a guy who pulled his starting quarterback midway through this season, brought in kicker Billy Cundiff, who hovered over Akers' shoulder until last week. Cundiff is gone now but the shadow of a season gone awry remains.

"You've just got to let your body mechanics take over,'' Akers said.

The odd thing is that between 2004-2009, Akers nailed 19 straight field goals in the playoffs. He was Mr. Automatic. Since then he's made 6-of-9 in the postseason with the Eagles and 49ers. Now he's not even Mr. Semi-Automatic.

"It's been a crazy, crazy situation,'' he said both of his career and this season. "This year has been rocky, to say the least. Hopefully, we can end up strong. I've felt good all year." ___