Kicking game could bite us due to field position

[4thGenBamaGrad]

Whether it is low kickoffs that are caught at the 18 (and returned to the 40) or 29-37 yard punts, I really worry about this facet of our game.But unless we can find a foreign-exchange student on the soccer fields of the Rec Center who can boot a ball 75 yards, I'm not sure how we can improve this during the year. Maybe start "rolling out" punting--a la Boise State--and hoping for some nice bounces, but I don't know.

 

[drsmithofga]

So far Corey Smith, former Bama kicker, is looking really good as a punter for WVU.

 

[Mayberry4Tide]

So far Corey Smith, former Bama kicker, is looking really good as a punter for WVU.

I can't remember what the reason was that this kid left. Was he homesick or was he threatened by other scholarship kickers coming in?

 

[Mayberry4Tide]

Whether it is low kickoffs that are caught at the 18 (and returned to the 40) or 29-37 yard punts, I really worry about this facet of our game.But unless we can find a foreign-exchange student on the soccer fields of the Rec Center who can boot a ball 75 yards, I'm not sure how we can improve this during the year. Maybe start "rolling out" punting--a la Boise State--and hoping for some nice bounces, but I don't know.

I doubt that there is much that can be done, but every game I have watched today I have seen kickers put it in the endzone on kickoffs and boom punts over 45 yards on a regular basis. It is strange to me that two of the three kickers really seem to be struggling after being so highly touted of recruits. Maybe the old way of thinking was right, why use a scholarship for a kicker?

 

[Bad Pony]

Was bad watching a punter from Hoover in a hog outfit making our punter look like a toy bowl kicker... Maybe we need to hire Lane Bearden to go find us a couple of rough and tumble kickers

 

[louise]

Adam Griffin is coming next year and we have watched him in Calhoun as we go to see our son and his family. He is a terrific place kicker and field goal kicker for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets.He could kick
for any college now.

 

[BamaDude06]

Corey Smith has a 12 and 27 yard punts so far. You really think that is better than what Bama has? Really?

 

[hoopjsn]

LSU's punter is a weapon. Geez.

 

[p'colabamaman]

Adam Griffin is coming next year and we have watched him in Calhoun as we go to see our son and his family. He is a terrific place kicker and field goal kicker for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets.He could kick
for any college now.

Yeah, that's what I thought about Cade Foster. Not flaming Cade, I'm sure he will come around, but his KOs really need to be deeper.

 

[Boo Radley]

LSU's punter is a weapon. Geez.

No kidding, there may be something to that Australian Rules kicking. Wonder if big Jesse has any friends down under who can punt?

 

[BEATtutorsee]

The kickers certainly have left a lot to be desired from a performance standpoint, but I don't think it's that big of a deal considering how good our coverage units appear to be. As long as those units stay healthy I think we'll be just fine.

 

[MVKTR2]

The KOs are high and a bit short by design. We the fans may not care for it, but it gives coverage time to get down the field and more often than not the other team isn't crossing the 25, sometimes 30. (yes I know Arky had one out to the 45 or some such and another decent return) It's a designed tradeoff of eliminating big return plays for 10 yards of field position. Against this D 10 yards doesn't do much good for much of anyone.

Punting... well that's a different animal, not to be confused with a different beast... more like a naked mole rat!

 

[bamaman65]

We will be hurting when we swap kicks with LSU. Their kicker had kicked three times for a 48. 3 avg when I noticed the stats.

 

[Bama Reb]

Whether it's worrying about the QB and/or O-line, kicking and/or Special teams, or whatever, we always have to have someone who's worried about one thing or another.
Relax, people. CNS and staff will have them ready. And even if they don't, there's not a whole lot your worrying is going to do to help matters.
Enjoy the season. IMO it's going to be another great one!
RTR

 

[GrayTide]

I thought Jay Williamson in this years recruiting class was a big time punter.

 

[bamanut_aj]

It's a valid concern, and worth talking about, IMO. Sure, we can't fix it....but we can discuss it.

 

[dewittfamily1]

We absolutely need a change in kicking, more so at kick-offs and punting. The poor kid can not even get the ball to the 10 yard line 80% of the time. And a 37 yard punting average is not going to cut it either. I agree we need to find a soccer player to at least take over the kick off duties.

 

[subherbanite]

Per ESPN's box score for the game, it looked like Arky's average starting field position was the 29.5yd line and Mandell had about a 37yd avg. with no punts downed inside the 20........this is getting old.

 

[tripler1]

Yes, I have been bothered by our kicking game too! CF has not impressed me with his strong leg. Hopefully he will do much better the rest of the way.

 

[crimsonbleeder]

The kickers certainly have left a lot to be desired from a performance standpoint, but I don't think it's that big of a deal considering how good our coverage units appear to be. As long as those units stay healthy I think we'll be just fine.

It's not. And there is some strategy to gambling so that the kick lands in the field of play to "make something happen" on the return as far as stopping them behind the 20 or perhaps even forcing a fumble. They'll gamble that they can pin 'em deep every few kicks, even though that might mean tackling them around the 30-35 occasionally and forcing a return that can lead to a fumble as well given the defense we have.