2005 Place kicker situation

[BamafanX10]

With the loss of Bostick, what capable backup do we have waiting in the wings to take his place?

Andrew Friedman out of Mobile (UMS Wright Prep) has Alabama as his favorite, but no offers from Bama yet. I guess that is typical of kicker recruiting, but don't we need to try to lock down on a bonafide candidate with the need we have in this area? Friedman's stats look very impressive, and personally I like getting the in-state recruits who have an idea about the Tide tradition.

 

[BamerMan]

I agree. Kickers can make the difference in at least 2 games a season.

 

[bjteller]

place kicker 2005

There are at least a couple of kickers who plan to walk on in 2005. One of them, David Romain, Jr., was an outstanding kicker in high school and recently won the Golden Flake competition and received a free semester of tuition. He attended Junior College for a couple of years and is currently enrolled in UA. I understand he kicked a couple of fifty yarders for the Special Teams Coach after the competition and will walk on by invitation. David has a great leg and has been a Crimson Tide fan all his life and his lifelong dream has been to kick for the Tide. He is exactly the kind of player we need right now. :biga2:

 

[BamafanX10]

I've noticed that we have a couple of kickers on the roster but I've never heard of them. And do we have punters who kick as well?

 

[Alanbama27]

It has become customary for most D1 schools to NOT

offer scholarships to high school kids, but rather to give them scholarships once they're proven. Therefore, don't look for Bama to offer anybody 1 of our 25 this year.

 

[JessN]

Nothing against Friedman, but McLaughlin was a high-school all-American with great stats, and picked Alabama over Notre Dame and other schools. He didn't pan out. It's basically a crapshoot.

C.J. Rhody, a walk-on true freshman this past year, figures to have the inside track. He's got more range than Bostick and about equal accuracy. I've heard he's looked very good in practice so far.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

JessN what about Jamie Christensen is he in the mix to replace Bostick? I know he has the leg strength to compete. If he is not being considered it must be a control or accuracy problem without the kicking tee.

 

[ddsmit]

JessN what about Jamie Christensen is he in the mix to replace Bostick? I know he has the leg strength to compete. If he is not being considered it must be a control or accuracy problem without the kicking tee.

I may be mistaken but I thought I read someplace that Christensen would be considered. I know I wouldn't hesitate to let him try one from 50 yds. out.

 

[TideTiger2005]

Christensen is second string this year behind Bostick. I'm guessing that means he'll get first shot come spring.

Then again, he did have trouble hitting the football field on a couple of kickoffs, didn't he? :biggrin2:

 

[Queasy1]

Then again, he did have trouble hitting the football field on a couple of kickoffs, didn't he? :biggrin2:

Hey, at least he was consistent at the beginning of the season. Every third kickoff would go out of bounds.

He got better as the year went on. You could tell that the coaches had him work more on getting the ball up high in the air near the goalline so our coverage team could tackle the returner inside the 20 instead of trying to pound the ball through the endzone and giving the opponent the 20 yard line.

 

[BDDBAMA]

I'm wondering why kickers and punters so often don't work out. I'm thinking of Mclaughlin, Sanders (punter we gave a scholly to) and Yost of Auburn who was from my neck of the woods and all-everything in this area. Seems like kickers and punters would be the most likely to successfully translate their skills to the college game. I know there's the issue of the tee for placekicking, but still.........

 

[JessN]

From what I saw of Christensen in practice, he's a much different kicker when there's not a tee involved.

In fall practice, Bostick was clearly number one. McLaughlin was slightly better than Christensen. Rhody was hurt all the times I was down there, but once he got straightened out health-wise, he supposedly moved up the charts.

Christensen, without a tee, has only slightly-better-than-average range and not nearly enough accuracy. I expect he'll get better as he continues to practice, but if he had to be our kicker for the bowl game, I'd be very uncomfortable with it.