Question: Is anyone else concerned with our kicking game?

[P0vv3R]

I've been very pleased with just about everything I've seen on both sides of the ball the last couple of weeks, but the kicking game has me VERY concerned.

The punts were much better tonight than last week, but I just can't understand the kickoffs... When I saw this video after we got Cade Foster, I thought we were going to kick it through the end zone every time, but I'm starting to think this film was created by Michael Bay... (or they have smaller fields in TX...)

What's the deal?

Roll Tide!

 

[bigjue24]

I agree totally. It is really putting our defense in some tough field position situations. It could cost us in the future.

 

[deliveryman35]

I am hugely disappointed in our kick- off's. I too thought Foster was capable of getting it in the endzone when we signed him, but so far it appears the best he can do is get it to the 10-15 yd line. Not sure what the reason is, maybe someone on here with some knowledge of the situation can comment on it.

 

[CrimsonSEC]

Apparently they put helium in the ball down there. I agree, Foster's leg isn't nearly as impressive as his you tube vids. But our coverage is good....so far.

 

[ChesapeakeTide]

I believe the difference is that in High School he was line driving the ball deep into the end zone, but since he's gotten to Bama he's been asked to hang the kicks up high in an attempt to pin the opposing team inside the 20. He's just not as consistent with the later as we'd like.

 

[TideMom2Boys]

Wasn't it Foster who knocked out Demps for a good amount of series? Well, at least he did something good

 

[P0vv3R]

Just to give credit where credit is due... Foster did make a big time tackle on Demps during the return (...and I think it stole much of his explosiveness during this game)

 

[jthomas666]

Punting and Kicking are definitely a weakness. Fortunately, our coverage teams have thus far kept it from hurting us too much.

 

[RTR91]

A reminder... High school kicks off at a different spot. Some kickers use higher tee's too.

 

[lincoln_osiris]

He kicked from the 40 in high school, so only the ones that made it out the back of the endzone in that video would even make it past the goalline in college. almost all of the kicks from the video, if you back him up 10 yards would land just inside the ten. Not to mention the hang time issue.

 

[P0vv3R]

Excellent Info! (Makes me feel better about the video!) I guess I forgot, ( or never paid attention ), to the placement between leagues and levels...

"The line where the ball is placed for kickoff varies among the rule books. It is placed on the kicking team's 30-yard line in the NCAA and UFL, 35-yard line in the NFL and CFL, 40-yard line in American high school football, and 45-yard line in amateur Canadian football."

 

[califbamafan]

Actually his kickoff's haven't really hurt us and the boy sure can hit people

 

[Vegas4Bama]

Believe me I thought Bama looked fantastic; but I too truly believe that kicking maybe our achilles heel....If we continue to have such short kick-offs, giving great teams short(er) fields will be our down-fall and make the defense work harder. Loved Foster's tackling; but if he could just make it to the end zone! I know he's strong; but dang, what's with the short kick offs??? RTR!!!

 

[Florida Tom]

Just to give credit where credit is due... Foster did make a big time tackle on Demps during the return (...and I think it stole much of his explosiveness during this game)

We all would like to see touchbacks but I like Cade. Maybe he is doing what he is told, or he has some kind of injury we don't know about whatever he hits like a linebacker on returns.

The kid has Heart!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I've already spoken to this before, but watch where his weight is going at impact. On every KO except one, his weight is traveling sideways, sometime almost to the point of falling over to his right. The one kick where he kept his balance, the ball traveled to the goal line. If you'll look at other better kickers, you won't see their weight traveling sideways, it'll be moving in the direction of the kick. It's not a matter of strength. If you hit a golf shot with your weight traveling in the wrong direction, the result will be the same - high and short. So far, we've been able to deal with the good field position we give our opponents, but that doesn't make it desirable. The same lack of balance is what makes his field goals so erratic...

 

[Chukker Veteran]

That makes sense.

That explains how you can see a little kicker with a big leg.

 

[b2v4ua]

The one kick he got back to the goal line, they ran it just as far out. I agree with you Earle, he almost fell down on several kickoffs at point of impact with the ball.

 

[Florida Tom]

Is that something they can coach up?

 

[CrimSonami]

Is that something they can coach up?

Unfortunately no. As Earle explained it's all in the technique. Much like open filed tackling. If you dont put yourself in the correct position with the proper stance you'll either miss or make glancing contact. Cade is fortunately strong enough that his technical mistakes aren't as pronounced. Continueing with Earles golf analogy, sometimes to drive the ball farther you need to slow down your swing. Make sure your hands aren't ahead of the ball at contact or you're not looking for the ball before it leaves the tee. Coaching up, no. Somebody just tell the kid to relax a little and let it go. I like his commitment to getting down the field and taking somebody's mouthpiece but we got 10 other headhunters in front of him.

RTR!!!

 

[Florida Tom]

Ok thanks I get it, explains my golf game