BOL Round Table

Nothing you said makes any sense. If he can kick it past the ten yard line then he can kick it in the endzone. And hey guess what, If he kicks it in the endzone there is a decent chance that the return team doesn't even attempt a return.

Also, if the purpose is to kick it high and short then that creates more of an opportunity for the kickoff team to run PAST the returner. Kickoff coverage is all about angles and you definitely don't want to be BEHIND a guy like Demps trying to get an angle on him. That is why he almost broke two last night. And no if you ask Saban he will not say the same thing as you.

Of course it makes sense... if you've ever played or coached a down of football.

He's not just kicking it to the 10 yard line. He's kicking it high in the air and to the 10 yard line. That gives the kickoff team the ability to get down field and disrupt the return team's blocking before the return man ever catches the ball.

If he kicks it to the goal line, he has to kick it lower and harder, which means the return man catches the ball quicker and the return team is able to set up their blocks earlier.

As I stated in a previous post, Foster has a leg strong enough to get it to the goal line and MAYBE a yard or so deep. Kicking the ball a yard deep in the endzone isn't going to stop anyone from returning it... especially when talking about guys that have 4.2-4.3 speed.

Starting to make sense?

As a matter of fact...

I just think it's easy to see this is a coaching strategy and not a case of a kicker with a terrible leg. I know for a fact that Nick Saban is the best coach in America, and I believe whole heartedly that something as consistent as what we've seen on kickoffs this year (high kick, angled left or right, around 10 yard line) must be a coaching strategy.

There is simply no other logical explanation.

I don't know why we just don't do squib kicks and take our chance with the bounce. We might even get a turnover. We better get all cleaned up for November 5th though. That will be a war.