Kicking

[CascadeClone]

3 bad results on kicks:
missed PAT - inexcusable really
blocked FG - totally on the O-line, not his fault
missed 40ish yarder into the wind - eh, it happens

I don't think you bench him at all, risk of messing up his head. Coach him up. If he misses another PAT, or starts to struggle hitting the ball, then yeah, you do something else.

 

[Dandy]

Anything over 45 yards needs to be punted or go for it. Play the field position game, let the defense get a 3 and Out, have a good punt return and start around the 50 with 1st and 10.

 

[CyCloned]

The kick he was short on was also going into the wind. Not that is the total excuse for being well short, but could be a combination of not fully connecting and going into the wind. Was the same direction as WVU's shanked punts.

Okay, fine it was into the wind. So if you are the position coach and you watch the kid every day, you know what he can and can not do into the wind. Maybe he just miss-hit the ball, but it sure looked to me like he didn't have enough leg to make that kick. Not saying that they need to bench him. He has been great from closer in at every other game this year. I am just saying that from that range going into the wind you have to give the guy with the stronger leg a shot or just go for it on 4th. It wouldn't be the first time that someone used a different kicker for short and long FGs.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Anything over 45 yards needs to be punted or go for it. Play the field position game, let the defense get a 3 and Out, have a good punt return and start around the 50 with 1st and 10.

If we punt from the 28, I will riot.

 

[knowlesjam]

It was noted that the block this week (and the near block last week) was due to the guard turning the wrong way, which allowed the defender a clear alley to the kick. The PAT was a shank and the FG miss was probably a wind factor along with some apprehension on getting blocked again. Fix the blocking scheme and we are back to a kicker that has missed 1 PAT and 1 FG in 6 games. Keep him kicking...

 

[Remo Gaggi]

Meanwhile, the guys kicking for the free Chick Fil A for a year have been spot on.

 

[GetAwesome]

I'm with most commentors here, Assalley was perfect on the season up until the WV game. His longest of the season was a 37-yarder against Akron, into the SEZ, and it cleared by a good 10+ yards.

Bad night, somewhat tough winds, and rumor has it he was weakened last week by the mono he caught from Talen. Keep rolling with him (twitter and instagram require his name mentions).

 

[Cyforce]

It was noted that the block this week (and the near block last week) was due to the guard turning the wrong way, which allowed the defender a clear alley to the kick.

How does a guard turn the wrong way? Everyone has their inside gap.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Yep, I would bench him since he mis-hit one kick. Zero tolerance.

****. Purdy has two INTs. Guess this is Moore's team now.

 

[VeloClone]

The field was the worst I have ever seen it when it was not actively raining. I wonder if the turf that was coming up anytime anyone made a cut had anything to do with the shanked PAT. It doesn't take much of a slip on the plant foot for a kick to go way off line.

 

[flycy]

Think having a long and short kicker could work. If the freshman has a longer leg but is generally less accurate, give him a shot at 40+. The missed PAT is concerning, it was with the wind, although wind should never really effect a kick that short. Kicking is so mental.

 

[clonedude]

FWIW, that kick was directly into the wind. All kicks going that way (including kickoffs) were much shorter than the other direction.

It was a 47 yard attempt into the wind. I commented to the guy next to me that we had better either go for it or punt it and try to pin them inside the 10 yd line because a 47 yarder into the wind wasn't very good odds. He agreed.

And then out came the kicker. The ball landed on about the goal line. That was a very poor decision.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Some of you would have cut Mason Crosby last week.

 

[JWIL4CY]

No need to change kickers but would like to see us play 4 down territory between the 50 and 30 yard lines

 

[DhaCheann]

Think having a long and short kicker could work. If the freshman has a longer leg but is generally less accurate, give him a shot at 40+. The missed PAT is concerning, it was with the wind, although wind should never really effect a kick that short. Kicking is so mental.

Every kick should be hit the same whether it’s a 60 yarder or a PAT. Before the game typically kickers will kick from both ends of the field, and know where they’re good from going each direction, whether that’s with the wind or into the wind. His kick that came up short was rotating very quickly meaning he did not hit it well, he got too under the ball, which would be the reason it came up short. He’ll be fine, he’s been stellar all year

 

[Aclone]

Point is the kid has been money all year and you are ready to bench him.

Is this a common issue with reading comprehension? I said no such thing. Try reading my post again. I made it pretty clear I was bringing up a talking point during a slow bye week.

I was also curious if anyone had heard whether Narveson might have been kicking lights out lately, because CMC does give the best players a chance—and I know they really like Narveson.
If I thought he should be benched, I would have said so. I don’t do “oblique” terribly well.

Some of you would have cut Mason Crosby last week.

Some of who? I asked a question. The responses universally indicate that everyone is quite content with Assalley.

 

[bozclone]

Given Assalleys struggles this past week (not counting the block) and apparent lack of range, does anyone think that CMC might shake up the kicking game against Tech? Maybe trot yet another true freshman out there?

You are right, it appears you were supporting Assalley.

 

[ComCY]

Every kick should be hit the same whether it’s a 60 yarder or a PAT. Before the game typically kickers will kick from both ends of the field, and know where they’re good from going each direction, whether that’s with the wind or into the wind. His kick that came up short was rotating very quickly meaning he did not hit it well, he got too under the ball, which would be the reason it came up short. He’ll be fine, he’s been stellar all year

Unorthodox idea, but wind can also affect rotation and speed. He may not have hit it perfect, but the wind could have also exaggerated the spin.

 

[FerShizzle]

I think the issue is much more with protection on FGs. Need to coach that unit up a bit.

 

[Urbandale2013]

He is fine. The block was by no means his fault. The xp was bad. The missed field goal was just a baffling decision to kick it. Other than that he’s been been perfect. I’m not against changes because I don’t know about other options but he really didn’t play that bad regarding things under his control.