I've read a couple of books concerning Coach Bryant and in many of them the subject of Quick Kicking, has come up. Quick kicking as i understand it is where you actually punt the ball prior to 4th down, and i was wondering have the rules changed or is this tactic just simple gone the way of the wish bone?
What do you think about the Quick Kick
- Thread starter alextupelo
- Start date
I don't believe the rules have changed regarding quick kicks. You can kick on first down if you want to. I would say that the '92 team could have punted on first down every offensive possession and still won every game with their defense.
It was quite a weapon, and, because Coach Bryant was known for his outstanding defenses, we didn't need any stinkin' third down. I remember in the late fifties and early sixties, numerous players, usually a running back, would take a direct snap and lob a sideways punt over the linebackers in a hole between the DBs. The point was to gain field position and let your defense make the plays and/ or run out the clock in some cases. I remember several of Cotton Clarks quick kicks distinctly. He'd start his kicking motion toward the sidelines, not straight ahead like a regular punt. His kicks would be about a 45 degree spiral that would go about 20 yards in the air and roll end over end for another 25 yards and pin the opponents inside their own 20 or less. Viola! great field position. I think that kind of move gets inside the opposing players heads. On a subtle level, I believe Coach just threw down the gauntlet and said we don't have to score any more to beat you. I'm sure that alone intimidated opposing offenses into mistakes they wouldn't have otherwise made.
If we get to the point where our defenses are that consistently good, I wouldn't mind seeing more of the old QK. It's a definite statement.
It was quite a weapon, and, because Coach Bryant was known for his outstanding defenses, we didn't need any stinkin' third down. I remember in the late fifties and early sixties, numerous players, usually a running back, would take a direct snap and lob a sideways punt over the linebackers in a hole between the DBs. The point was to gain field position and let your defense make the plays and/ or run out the clock in some cases. I remember several of Cotton Clarks quick kicks distinctly. He'd start his kicking motion toward the sidelines, not straight ahead like a regular punt. His kicks would be about a 45 degree spiral that would go about 20 yards in the air and roll end over end for another 25 yards and pin the opponents inside their own 20 or less. Viola! great field position. I think that kind of move gets inside the opposing players heads. On a subtle level, I believe Coach just threw down the gauntlet and said we don't have to score any more to beat you. I'm sure that alone intimidated opposing offenses into mistakes they wouldn't have otherwise made.
If we get to the point where our defenses are that consistently good, I wouldn't mind seeing more of the old QK. It's a definite statement.
The best case scenario for a quick kick is typically when you're pinned down on your own side of the field, little to no chance to pick up the first down. What this does is, if executed properly, allows for the opposing team to obviously not be prepared and not have the opportunity for a big return or worse, a blocked punt for points.
The best quick kick is done like you're seeing some college punters do these days. The roll out to the right (or left) and the end over end, hopefully for a big roll with no return.
The best quick kick is done like you're seeing some college punters do these days. The roll out to the right (or left) and the end over end, hopefully for a big roll with no return.
As far as I know you can kick whenever you want to. I guess in this age of offensive football where any play can go the distance the incentive just isnt there. The quick kick (the way we ran it) was if it was third and very unmanagable you would line the QB up in a shotgun formation and when he got the snap he would punt the ball. The object was to try to flip the field because the defense wouldnt have anyone back on 3rd down and usually you were able to net the full punt distance.
I have a funny story about that though. We only ran it once the whole time I played. It was the last game of the season. We were playing our most hated arch nemesis on our home field. They were 9-0 and ranked #1 in the state and we were 8-1 and ranked 8th. Sometime in the 2nd quarter, we were backed up and in a third and long and Coach calls the quick kick. Well, lets just say someone up front missed a block somewhere and a guy sprung free, blocked the kick, and they scored a TD from it. Trust me guys, halftime was very very very very unpleasant. Our coach wasnt a saint, but he said some things that I hadnt ever heard him say before. The filters wouldnt let me post the majority and what might make it through would cause Bayou to boot me in a heart beat.
Long story short, they come out and got another turn over and scored to make it 25-7 in the third. We made a valiant come back but the clock cut us short. Final 25-22. It could have been a better game only if we had pulled out the win, IMHO.*Wasnt me that missed the block. lol
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Major Ogilvie was one of the all-time great quick kickers, and one of the last ones we ever had.
Of course, my favorite story related involves Pat Trammel. Seems he punted once on 3rd down, much to everyone's surprise. Recall, back in this day, it was common for players to go both ways, with the exception of Pat, who was subbed when we went on defense. When Pat got back to the sideline, he was asked about the kick. His alleged response? "Well, they weren't blocking anyone, so I thought I'd see if they could tackle." Only Pat Trammel could've gotten away with that under Coach Byant. :biggrin2:
Of course, my favorite story related involves Pat Trammel. Seems he punted once on 3rd down, much to everyone's surprise. Recall, back in this day, it was common for players to go both ways, with the exception of Pat, who was subbed when we went on defense. When Pat got back to the sideline, he was asked about the kick. His alleged response? "Well, they weren't blocking anyone, so I thought I'd see if they could tackle." Only Pat Trammel could've gotten away with that under Coach Byant. :biggrin2:
When I was in high school at Vestavia Hills in the late 90's Coach Anderson would use the quick kick from time to time. He actually won a game against Pelham using the quick kick one year. Vestavia had not been doing so great on offense and late in the game they were down a field goal and facing third and long. The qb took the snap and punted the ball downfield. There was no one there to cover the punt so it was downed inside the Pelham 5 yard line. A couple of plays later Pelham fumbled and Vestavia jumped on it. Vestavia then scored and won the game. I wouldn't say it is something to be used often, but in the right situation it can be a great weapon.
My brother's high school team used it in the first round of the playoffs this past year. didn't work to well, but they still won the game. I think the punt only went like 15 yards.... The opposing team almost acted like they knew it was coming to. It was wierd. Like they immediatly tried to block it, and the DB's were back to catch it.
The quick kick and what Bryant used to call the "whoopie pass" were things of beauty when they were executed the right way.
In exactly the right situation, it still works. But today's offenses are so much more potent than those of the heyday of the quick kick, it's a lot riskier than before.
If you have a good D, and either a poor O or really crappy down-and-distance in a bad spot on the field, it can be great weapon, especially when the clock is a factor.
Just understand that there wasn't any such thing as a spread option, or Fun'n'Gun or WVU option when the QK was used more commonly. So you're trading the ball for field position in an era when field position isn't as valuable as it once was. Still valuable, but not like in 1962.
If you have a good D, and either a poor O or really crappy down-and-distance in a bad spot on the field, it can be great weapon, especially when the clock is a factor.
Just understand that there wasn't any such thing as a spread option, or Fun'n'Gun or WVU option when the QK was used more commonly. So you're trading the ball for field position in an era when field position isn't as valuable as it once was. Still valuable, but not like in 1962.
The QK was an option that was not on the table the past 4 years with a BC coached O-line. 
General Neyland was a huge proponent of the QK, it was said that he didn't even care much for offensive football, he loved defense and the kicking game. It sure worked for him. I think it still should be considered a viable option. It can flip field position and field position will ALWAYS be a big factor in football.
General Neyland was a huge proponent of the QK, it was said that he didn't even care much for offensive football, he loved defense and the kicking game. It sure worked for him. I think it still should be considered a viable option. It can flip field position and field position will ALWAYS be a big factor in football.
Elway used to quick kick sometimes for the Broncos. If you are looking at 3rd and 12 from your own 5 yard line there is no better play in football.
My memory is a little fuzzy on this, I can't recall exactly where I read it. It may have been in Coach Bryant's autobiography. His first year at Bama we were playing Georgia, one of our wins, and the biggest in his first year. After the game someone told him the story that there was a big booster in the press box just gushing over him before the game. The first time Bama got the ball they quick kicked on first down. The second time quick kick. The third time quick kick. By this time the man was irate and cussing Bryant for all he was worth. What he didn't realize is that Bama had completely flipped field position.
My memory is a little fuzzy on this, I can't recall exactly where I read it. It may have been in Coach Bryant's autobiography. His first year at Bama we were playing Georgia, one of our wins, and the biggest in his first year. After the game someone told him the story that there was a big booster in the press box just gushing over him before the game. The first time Bama got the ball they quick kicked on first down. The second time quick kick. The third time quick kick. By this time the man was irate and cussing Bryant for all he was worth. What he didn't realize is that Bama had completely flipped field position.
It seems like Stallings had Lance Tucker do it a time or two in either '95 or '96. My memory is fuzzy on that, though, b/c I think I almost fainted when it happened.
I'm all for it under certain conditions (dominating defense, anemic offense, strong wind at your back)...
I'm all for it under certain conditions (dominating defense, anemic offense, strong wind at your back)...
Exactly. It's only effective if the defense doesn't suspect it and has nobody deep to receive. And if the kicker is able to make it tumble forward and roll for another 15 or 20 it can really change the field position dramatically. It was very popular in the two-way days. I think the main reason that we don't see it in modern football is because everybody is a specialist, now. It is a rare Division I quarterback who can actually punt the football effectively. No one wants to risk a QB muffing the punt. And you can't just trot out the punter on 3rd down or the safeties will be wise.
Back when we used to run the play, two-ways, as you say, I can't remember the QB punting the ball. CPB's first year, '58, Gary O'Steen, halfback quick-kicked. In fact, we beat MSU 9-7 that year almost totally on his Q-K ability. Cotton Clark, a year or two later, mentioned above, was the halfback. The punter never quick-kicked. And, I don't think the QB ever did, but I could be wrong, since we're talking about almost 50 years ago...
I remember Gary doing the brunt of QKs for us, now that you mentioned it. Leon Fuller was the first name that came to mind. Half century passing of time does have a way of robbing the mind of detail. Not the case here, obviously, but I once heard the definition of senility as the mind's method of eliminating unnecessary information. :wink:
Memories about Coach Bryant's early years can scarcely be characterized as "unnecessary information." 
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