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  • Bleedscrimson said...

    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've got a logical explanation: Cade Foster is not performing to the level he was recruited to. Remember, this guy was supposed to be our FG kicker also.

    Bottom line: Cade Foster is killing us with these kickoffs to the 15 yard line. On the 2 scores by Florida, the Gators started the drive at the UF 41 and 46. If that's a strategy, it sucks.

    Seabreeze2

  • Capstone92 said...

    OP's point is spot on. What matters is not where the kickoff lands, but where the ball is returned. I looked it up, coming into yesterday, our opponents average starting position after we kick off was the 24 yard line. Not too shabby. FYI, our starting position after we returned kicks was the 29.

    This is a "BOOM", IMO.

    Strategy... and it's working.

    Bleedscrimson

  • Bama Illinois said...

    Seriously??? So what you are saying is our strategy is not to get a touchback. That has to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard.

    If he had the leg to kick it out of the endzone, that's what we'd be doing. He doesn't, so we aren't.

    How difficult is that to understand?

    Bleedscrimson

  • Bleedscrimson said...

    This is a "BOOM", IMO.

    Strategy... and it's working.

    no

    Seabreeze2

  • Seabreeze2 said...

    no

    Roll your eyes all you want. Stats don't lie. Becoming very clear that it's strategic, and just because it doesn't work as successfully once or twice against two of the fastest people in America doesn't mean a thing.

    I'd bet most FBS teams have better average starting field position than the 24 yard line... which is where our opponents have averaged.

    Something that awesome is clearly strategic, even if it isn't pretty.

    Bleedscrimson

  • Bleedscrimson said...

    Roll your eyes all you want. Stats don't lie. Becoming very clear that it's strategic, and just because it doesn't work as successfully once or twice against two of the fastest people in America doesn't mean a thing.

    I'd bet most FBS teams have better average starting field position than the 24 yard line... which is where our opponents have averaged.

    Something that awesome is clearly strategic, even if it isn't pretty.

    I would chalk that stat up to superior athletes running down on kick coverage.

    dc12

  • dc12 said...

    I would chalk that stat up to superior athletes running down on kick coverage.

    Absolutely correct! Which is why that strategy makes perfect sense. It multiplies our athletic advantage.

    Bleedscrimson

  • Its our strategy only by necessity. CF can't kick the ball into the EZ unless he kicks it low and fast. Doing so would give the return man an extra 10-15 yards to set up his return by leveraging his lanes. CF can kick the ball higher and shorter with a great deal of consistency. That gives our coverage unit the ability to set up an umbrella coverage around the returner. Last night UF just blocked our coverage better and Demps has the speed to take a 2-3 yard cushion and gash it.

    helenatider

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    MoreNCsThanU

  • helenatider said...

    Its our strategy only by necessity. CF can't kick the ball into the EZ unless he kicks it low and fast. Doing so would give the return man an extra 10-15 yards to set up his return by leveraging his lanes. CF can kick the ball higher and shorter with a great deal of consistency. That gives our coverage unit the ability to set up an umbrella coverage around the returner. Last night UF just blocked our coverage better and Demps has the speed to take a 2-3 yard cushion and gash it.

    Bingo!

    Still not sure why this thread is receiving downvotes.

    It is what it is... and it's not a bad thing. Just because it doesn't look as good doesn't mean a thing. You've gotta do what's going to give your team the advantage. Since Foster's leg is limited, you have to strategize to fix it.

    In this case, that means kicking it high and short.

    Bleedscrimson

  • MoreNCsThanU said...

    How many times is the OP going to make the same point? We get it.

    Probably 3 or 4 more times. Maybe 5.

    Bleedscrimson

  • I gave you a +1 because I think you may be on to something. I noticed that the shorter kickoffs did not allow the returner to hit 6th gear before being faced with tacklers. I mean he caught the ball and within 5 or so yards he was meeting resistance. Worked well a couple of times and it didn't one other.

    Fact is I try not to question what we do so much anymore because of what some old chesterfield smoking all time great coach once told a female reporter. "Don't question what I do. Everything I do I'm trying to win the game."

    Play

    Interview with Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, A...

    Sideline reporter questions QB personnel change by Coach Bryant. Bryant sets her straight, 1982 game.

    http://www.youtube.com/v/Vp6N__pA8Jc
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    Bama2212

  • Has anyone thought that maybe we kick it short to give our superior athletes a chance for a big hit and to cause a turnover. Example wasn't Demps hurt and there was a fumble on one that Florida recovered?

    Mastodon

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    Tdown01

  • Bleedscrimson said...

    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?

    This. Some of our fans are ridiculous. Goodpost.

    cwaters2

  • Seabreeze2 said...

    I've got a logical explanation: Cade Foster is not performing to the level he was recruited to. Remember, this guy was supposed to be our FG kicker also.

    Bottom line: Cade Foster is killing us with these kickoffs to the 15 yard line. On the 2 scores by Florida, the Gators started the drive at the UF 41 and 46. If that's a strategy, it sucks.

    The Gators are one of the best return teams in the nation. Everyone knows that.

    I actually thought we did farely well against their kick return team last night.

    cwaters2

  • it's ironic that the University of Washington offers Cade to play LB but he turns that down for a scholly to be a kicker at UA (his future). The current UW kicker puts the ball in the back f the endzone almost every time.

    signature image

    PacificNWTider

  • Bleedscrimson said...

    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?

    Read the last part of my post. If you kick it short then you are hurting your angles. You do not want to run past the kick returner. Oh and just because you played some football in high school does not make you a football guru and does not give you specific insight into coach saban's brain. Trying to say that everyone who disagrees with you does not know anything about football or hasn't played football is just stupid. It is amazing at how much better people get at football AFTER they stop playing. Like I said in the first post, Demps almost took two to the house because the kickoff coverage team RAN PAST HIM and did not have time to collapse the wedge.

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    I guess Shane thinks Yeldon will flip to Bama after he enrolls at Auburn. Brilliant. Sell those subscriptions, BOL.” - TIGER

    roll_tide_55

  • Bleedscrimson said...

    Thanks for adding something to the thread.

    To those of you choosing to downvote this thread, I can guarantee you that Coach Saban would tell you the exact same thing I just did.

    Some of you screaming "WHY CAN'T WE JUST KICK THE DAYUM BAWL DEEP?!?" need to relax and realize it's being done for a reason.

    Foster's kicks are low and short. I'm not sure why u think they're high because he consistently gets less than 4 secs hang time on his kickoffs. Our kickoff coverage masks this well but it's obvious they're short if u know what to look for.

    His problems are all mechanics related. Ever noticed how he rolls over his left ankle(plant foot) and is totally off balance on each kick? He almost falls over in his follow through. His momentum and hip speed when he turns through the kick is almost totally lost because of his poor form. His plant foot is way too close to the ball as well causing a bunch of other problems I won't go into.

    buckrog35

  • Seabreeze2 said...

    Oh, you've played football and coached? Well, then that settles it... why didn't you say something earlier. clap

    HAHA I laughedlol

    OP is desperate to convince everyone he is right..........and it isn't working

    This post was edited by roll_tide_55 on 10/2/2011 at 12:13 PM

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    I guess Shane thinks Yeldon will flip to Bama after he enrolls at Auburn. Brilliant. Sell those subscriptions, BOL.” - TIGER

    roll_tide_55

  • roll_tide_55 said...

    Read the last part of my post. If you kick it short then you are hurting your angles. You do not want to run past the kick returner. Oh and just because you played some football in high school does not make you a football guru and does not give you specific insight into coach saban's brain. Trying to say that everyone who disagrees with you does not know anything about football or hasn't played football is just stupid. It is amazing at how much better people get at football AFTER they stop playing. Like I said in the first post, Demps almost took two to the house because the kickoff coverage team RAN PAST HIM and did not have time to collapse the wedge.

    Demps almost runs one back every week. And sometimes does.

    We are going against the best return team (or close to it) in the nation. They ended up with 2 good returns out of many.

    cwaters2

  • You know your team kicks ass when people are complaining about the kicker.

    rolltideroll

    SweetHomeNYC

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    BamaFreak1978

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    I guess Shane thinks Yeldon will flip to Bama after he enrolls at Auburn. Brilliant. Sell those subscriptions, BOL.” - TIGER

    roll_tide_55

  • roll_tide_55 said...

    Read the last part of my post. If you kick it short then you are hurting your angles. You do not want to run past the kick returner. Oh and just because you played some football in high school does not make you a football guru and does not give you specific insight into coach saban's brain. Trying to say that everyone who disagrees with you does not know anything about football or hasn't played football is just stupid. It is amazing at how much better people get at football AFTER they stop playing. Like I said in the first post, Demps almost took two to the house because the kickoff coverage team RAN PAST HIM and did not have time to collapse the wedge.

    This post is simply inaccurate on a bunch of different levels. The angles are different, but not 'hurt"... we're not talking about a punt here... I've never seen anyone on our coverage team run past the returner before he catches the ball. Kickoff coverage is about maintaining lanes down the field... not angles to the ball.

    Secondly, and this is not to boast but to simply show that I'm not just some random fan with a random thought throwing something against the wall and hoping it sticks... I played at the collegiate level - not D1, because I was small for my position, but I have been around the game, I know the game, and spend upwards of 80 hours a week as a coach of the game currently.

    Take that however you like.

    Bleedscrimson

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