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the most befuddling thing....

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FlabLoser

Redshirt
Aug 20, 2006
10,709
0
0
As much as there is to observe and be disappointed in from yesterday, we have one problem that has consistently been a MSU problem for 7-8 years at least.<div>
</div><div>Why can't we find a kicker that can kick touchbacks? Forget the Auburn kicker - he was amazing. I'm saying most C-USA teams we play will get more touchbacks in our game against them than our kicker will in a whole season. Seriously. Why can't MSU get a kicker that is C-USA level or better? It might have made the difference yesterday.</div><div>
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F

FlabLoser

Redshirt
Aug 20, 2006
10,709
0
0
As much as there is to observe and be disappointed in from yesterday, we have one problem that has consistently been a MSU problem for 7-8 years at least.<div>
</div><div>Why can't we find a kicker that can kick touchbacks? Forget the Auburn kicker - he was amazing. I'm saying most C-USA teams we play will get more touchbacks in our game against them than our kicker will in a whole season. Seriously. Why can't MSU get a kicker that is C-USA level or better? It might have made the difference yesterday.</div><div>
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S

ScaldedDawg

Redshirt
May 21, 2010
497
0
0
special teams. I think Hazelwood was probably our last decent kicker. I think there is less of an emphasis nowdaysto recruit kickers/punters. I mean, Swedenburg and Pasqualli..... you never heard of them prior to them actually kicking the ball forus. I think it has been "miss" for us, mostly.
 
C

cliffsofinsanity

Redshirt
Sep 9, 2011
16
0
0
Egan has almost no rotation or follow through once he makes contact. He seems more interested in running down field after the kick than getting full extenstion. If kicking is anything like golf he is missing 1/2 his swing.
 
T

TBonewannabe

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
1,262
0
0
Offense just didn't give him many opportunities to kick. Andrews was good also but Croom benched him for Carlson for whatever reason. We have had problems on kickoffs for forever it seems like.
 
DesotoCountyDawg

DesotoCountyDawg

Heisman
Nov 16, 2005
26,215
17,779
113
Yes it was Brent Smith. He had a very strong leg. He just really didn't have an opportunity to do many kickoffs or field goals because we were so bad on offense.
 
H

HammerOfTheDogs

All-Conference
Jun 20, 2001
10,671
1,438
113
I remember there was someone on the kick return team assigned to hit the kicker. It worked about 99.6% of the time. However, Walker was also a backup linebacker and he'd knock the everloving **** out of the guy trying to intimidate him.
 
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NapoleonDynamite

Redshirt
Feb 29, 2008
313
0
0
Okay, I love Mullen as much as anyone, but if he's the Special Teams coach, he needs to get some **** straightened out there. Yesterday, our KO and Punt Coverage teams REALLY hurt us and our Punt Return was mediocre with the exception of one return by Banks.

Particularly early in the game, our KO and Punt coverage was allowing some huge returns and I think that was one of those "little things" that don't show up in the stats. Auburn was starting most of their drives past the 35 yard line from what I remember. And Banks kept letting punts hit and roll deep inside our 15.

This is not the first year this has been an issue. Last year, I thought our KO coverage was terrible too. Maybe I'm just remembering the bad ones, but I don't think so. Mullen needs to get this resolved or it's going to continue to hurt us in the field position battle (especially if our defense isn't that great).
 
H

HammerOfTheDogs

All-Conference
Jun 20, 2001
10,671
1,438
113
When he was in High School, he would drill the ball through the goal posts on kickoff. When he got to MSU, he was poochkicking to the 30. Someone explain how kickers regress in college (Kickoff tees?).
 
H

hailstate.sixpack

Redshirt
Oct 16, 2011
7
0
0
Sometimes time erases some of the bad memories...
Hazelwood was 59% with a long of 53
Smith was 80% with a long of 53 (NEVER missed in 40)
Both were high % touchbacks.
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MSUDawg25

MSUDawg25

Redshirt
Jan 21, 2010
2,088
1
38
We've long been plagued with kicker problems. It baffles me. Kicker should be one of the easiest positions to evaluate recruits. If a guy can boot it 70yds in high school, he can kick it 70 anywhere. That said, it makes sense that there are a very limited number of people to go around that can actually do that, yet we keep getting outkicked by lesser schools. What gives?
 
H

hailstate.sixpack

Redshirt
Oct 16, 2011
7
0
0
First, there is not a position, in any sport, where recruits are "easy" to evaluate. These are kids and you cannot possibly know how a kid will progress and mature. Kickers fail at the next level like QB's, WR's, etc. Sometimes it just doesn't translate.

For a kicker:
1) no block on FG's - big deal. Lots of guys never make it past here. Think "tee ball and 5 year olds"
2) Lower tee height on kickoffs - Lower tee = less kick height = less carry, etc.
3) Balls are more scrutinized at the college level. Most kids in High School get to kick their favorite, broken in ball. College, most times, balls are new and must less forgiving.
4) Pressure of kicking in front of 60,000+ people every week. Some guys cannot handle it, some guys love it. I would suspect until you've been there, its hard to comprehend.

Appreciate the great ones for what they were.
 
GloryDawg

GloryDawg

Heisman
Mar 3, 2005
18,201
13,138
113
You can't tell me that there is not some long hair hippie pot smoking soccer player on campus who can kick thecrap out of a ball. Find the fatty smoker and sign hisbutt up or go down to the local construction site and sign up one of those little beaners. You know all those short brownies can kick thecrap out of the soccer ball. I am not one of those non soccer fans who bashes soccer. Those guys are athletes and they kick all the time. I know there is someone on campus who can kick the damn football 70 yards. Seems like every team we have played except for LSU had a guy who can kick the ball into the end zone. They are out there we just have to find them and make a good offer to one of them. Maybe a good piece of legg or garbage bag of pot.</p>
 
I

idog

Freshman
Aug 17, 2010
581
68
28
Big D said:
You can't tell me that there is not some long hair hippie pot smoking soccer player on campus who can kick thecrap out of a ball. Find the fatty smoker and sign hisbutt up or go down to the local construction site and sign up one of those little beaners. You know all those short brownies can kick thecrap out of the soccer ball. I am not one of those non soccer fans who bashes soccer. Those guys are athletes and they kick all the time. I know there is someone on campus who can kick the damn football 70 yards. Seems like every team we have played except for LSU had a guy who can kick the ball into the end zone. They are out there we just have to find them and make a good offer to one of them. Maybe a good piece of legg or garbage bag of pot.</p>
Click to expand...
all soccer players are hippies and smoke pot. brilliant observation!
 
S

Stuttgart

Redshirt
Apr 15, 2007
165
0
0
minutes ago, I turned on ESPN only to watch the Arkansas State kicker boot a kickoff thru the endzone.<div>
</div><div>I don't understand either...</div>
 
E

esplanade91

Redshirt
Dec 9, 2010
5,656
0
0
I did a little work for Hutchins' uncle a couple summers ago and he said that Mullen had him and Braucle doing regular team workouts, including squats and leg presses. I don't know much, but I do know that that is a huge no-no for kickers and punters. They're almost exclusively suppose to inclined running because it builds muscle but keeps your hamstring flexible enough to extend as much as a kicker/punter needs. But apparently Heath was so sore the whole season in '09, which explains why he went from #1 in the country in net yards in the first 2 or 3 games to averaging 30-something yards.

Mullen has no business doing special teams, in my opinion. There's a lot of talk about how Sherrill made it a point of recruiting special teams players, but he was just a great special teams coach. He knew what he was doing and he knew the positions.
 
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