Cashing In On Kicking
15 comments so far
May 28, 2008 by
Last year, Husker fans went into the season with a lot of enthusiasm. Seeing the team come off of its first Big 12 Championship game appearance since the 1990’s, hopes were high that Nebraska was on the verge of another major step forward. Through rose-colored glasses it seemed as if the pieces were coming together for something special. Among the things exciting Husker fans was the booming leg of Adi Kunalic.
With a rule change moving kickoffs backward, any team with a kicker that could put the ball in the endzone for touchbacks had a major advantage over most of the rest of the country. All a kick returner needed to do was just catch the ball, take a step or two and fall forward and their team might start at the 30 yard line. Even a modestly successful return could put a team at the 35 or 40 to begin their drive.
Last year, Nebraska enjoyed just that kind of advantage with Kunalic, but it went largely unnoticed because even when opponents got the ball in poor field position, they were usually able to drive the length of the field and score. Likewise, the perfect field goal kicking the Huskers enjoyed was easy to miss because opponents were often scoring six touchdowns a game.
But when your team is playing sound defense, all of a sudden these advantages become much more apparent. Go back to the Nevada game to open the season. The Huskers were leading 7-3 and were driving the ball well when Sam Keller telescoped a pass into the hands of a Wolfpack defender who returned it for a Nevada touchdown. The momentum appeared to be shifting in the ‘Pack’s favor when a short kick was taken at the 19 yard line by Cortney Grixby and returned 42 yards down to the Nevada 39. Nine straight rushes later, the Huskers had regained the lead at 14-10. Then Kunalic booms one for a touchback and all of a sudden the roar of the fans helps the Blackshirts push the Nevada offense backwards before a short punt sets up the Huskers at midfield for a drive that all but ices the game by halftime.
Trade kickers in that situation and all of a sudden you have a totally different ballgame. The kicking game may have been evident in the close win over Wake Forest as well. But once the defensive dam burst against USC (and most of the teams thereafter), something like a strong kicking game wasn’t going to get noticed.
But 2008 can be very different. The Huskers can make use of the field position a kicker like Kunalic provides by stuffing opponents when they’re backed up to their own end zone. The 2007 debacle may have obscured it, but the Huskers have a game-changing weapon at kicker and it appears they have a coach that can make it count.
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darren May 28 08
Great analysis of the "hidden third" part of the game, Steve. I love those specific examples.
I also think NU has an advantage at the kicker position because of Alex Henery's accuracy when it comes to extra points and field goals under 40 yards. You have got to get points in those situations.
It's nice to have an accurate place kicker to go along with the "boomer" that Kunalic provides.
Ty Hughes May 28 08
NU has had a strength in kicking for 10+ years. More on kickoffs than field goals, but even hat has been pretty solid. While I'm not running around boasting that my team has the best kickers, we should be thankful for these guys and this year we appear to be "loaded" between henery, kunalic and wesch. Question: is there a star system for kickers? :)
Jason May 28 08
You're right Ty. NU has had more than their fair share of strong kickers. Look no further than ten year NFL veteran Kris Brown and Josh Brown, whose $14 million contract just made him the second highest paid kicker in the league.
Alex May 28 08
It will be interesting to see if that huge leg on kickoffs can start to produce long field goals as well. In the season opener against Nevada, Kunalic hit a 46 yard FG--his only attempt of the season. Thereafter, Henery handled FG duties but NEVER attempted anything outside 39 yards.
Normally folks only keep the driver in the bag after first losing a few balls in the woods. That said, it is hard to understand why NU stopped attempting long FGs altogether considering that Kunalic drilled his lone attempt. Yet another Callahan-era mystery...
Hopefully Pelini will be less risk averse. As painful as it is to miss from deep and turn the ball over at or outside the 30, it sure beats an automatic pooch punt with a big-legged kicker on the sideline (especially when said pooch punt lands in the endzone for a touchback).
OU7times May 28 08
I understand Alex's theory on using your big legged kicker and that would be true in most seasons, but... Not going for the kicks outside of 40 yards might have been one of the only things Callahan did right. My point is that NU was not in alot of positions where a POSSIBLE 3 points would help much. The defense was giving up real estate in huge chunks and 6 touchdowns a game not to mention Callahan probably figured "touchdown or bust". Things have just got to be a 180 this year. There just seems to be optimism now where it has been missing for 3 years, anyway.
Alex May 28 08
More often than not I agree with OU7times, however, in this instance I think he's wrong...
First, the proclivity of the NU defense to "give up real estate in huge chunks" argues against pooch punting and playing for field position. Second, to say that we were in "touchdown or bust" mode supports going for it on fourth down, NOT pooch punting.
When NU was behind behind last year I feel that the only situation in which it was appropriate to pooch punt in lieu of attempting a 40+ yard FG or going for it on 4th down was when we were down by SO MUCH that we were conceding the game (and indirectly asking for mercy).
OU7times May 28 08
Alex, I'm sure you know a lot more about NU than I do but I was just going on what I remembered from last season. I do think that there were lots of ocassions that it just didn't make sense (even to Callahan)to go for it on 4th down and he did punt it away as opposed to going for a FG. Anyway, I'm glad for NU and the Big 12 that Pelini is the man now and hope for your teams speedy recovery...except when they play OU!!
James Moore May 28 08
I am comfortable with the kicking game going into this year, BUT. . .
This has nothing at all to do with kicking (not being purposely comtemptuous about the article at hand) but I found this and man did it put a smile on my face. One of my favorite Husker teams. Man look at the blocking and execution. . .
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FrHIhHfazak&feature=related
Guys at Big Red Network, work with me on this post. Not trying to be disrespectful but I just couldn't help but post this with the link!!!
GO BIG RED!!!
James Moore May 29 08
OU7,
How yall lookin down there? Comfortable with what you saw this spring or any potential concerns moving forward? What was up with all the picks in the spring game?
I had an interesting discussion today with a Sooner fan and as we got to talking (I called Pelini our Stoops) about Husker/Sooner football. Well it seems that you guys got your Callahan (Blake, ironic how we got him too for a little bit) and subsequent dark period that followed. BUT he did leave with you a good bit of talent that Stoops enhanced and eventually won with (I think that Coach Pelini can do much the same with the Callahan recruits) all the way to a National Championship. . .
The measuring stick as to whether Sooner football was back was when you beat us in October 2000. Ironic how things have reversed and that the true measuring stick for us as to whether we have "Restored The Order" will be when we beat Oklahoma. This is only out of the deepest respect, and an acknowledgement of a consistently elite level success. After all does a Husker or Sooner fan care if he beats a once-in-a-lifetime or the occasional very good Colorado, Kansas State, Missouri or Kansas team?
Guys really, not trying to casually handle the chat concerning the kicking game but it's in good order and can be safely checked in the strength column for this upcoming year. . .
ze bop May 29 08
Yeah, we're solid in the kicking dpt.
BTW, how many 99+ yd drives did our 'D' give up last year? It must have been a record...
ze bop May 29 08
"Josh Brown, whose $14 million contract just made him the second highest paid kicker in the league."
14 mil for kicking a football...I think I made the wrong career choice....:(
ze bop May 29 08
.....but I mostly blame my h.s. career counselor for that: the psychological/career aptitude test thing concluded that I should be a brain surgeon...not a football kicker.....
...woulda been cheaper .......
Dwayne May 29 08
James,
I'm almost certian I was at that game in 92. It looks better today than back then. For various reasons.
OU7times May 29 08
Hey James, I think the problems that Bradford experienced (int's) had to do with getting used to the "no huddle" offense that Coach Stoops has installed. It proved to be confusing to him, i'm hearing I'd also like to think that it was partly due to the dfefense he was facing. The "D" is supposed to be lots better this year and ranked as high as 3rd going into the season. It is a luxury to be able to practice our first team offense against what some believe to be one of the top defenses in the country. Time will tell, I guess.
James Moore May 29 08
Dawyne,
It was 1992. One thing that Husker fans should've felt a little jilted about the 1989-1993 stretch was the casual indifference on a national level to WHOM it was we were losing to in bowl games: 1989 (Miami - National Champs), 1990 (Florida St - No. 2 in final AP), 1991 (Georgia Tech - National Champs), 1992 (Miami - National Champs), 1993 (Florida St - No. 2 in final AP). I loved the 1992 team and that stretch of the Kansas (49-7)/Colorado(52-7)games was awesome prompting in Coach Devaney to say that this may be one of the best Husker teams in recent memory, but then next week in Ames. . .
Also to note that some of the teams that we struggled with during this stretch (Washington and Miami) turned out to be guilty of flagrantly committing serious NCAA violations. I really liked the 1992 team and I still consider the "We-Backs" as productive a combo at I-Back as the Phillips/Green/Benning trioka of the much acclaimed dynasty teams. . .
Henry and Kunalic will be important. Points are essential once a drive enters the opponents end of the field. Not only from a scoreboard perspective but from maintaining and applying the psychological initiative as well. It forces the other team to counter with a score & probably comes at the end of a drive (involved players carrying out assignments over several plays, wearing down the other defense, setting pattern of execution, taking time off the clock, etc.). Also a missed FG almost always results in better field position for the opposition vis-a-vis a kickoff after a score. . .
When this kickoff DOES happen, what a better option that a more-or-less guaranteed touchback (prevents injuries on coverage teams & nagates a return)? These two will be very important. They will provide cushions for the defense (additional points) and also allow the defense to take the field on the opponents 20 instead of the 30, 35 where one first down puts you very close to the 50. . .
Guys I used to play DE in high school/college (along with basketball) and truthfully I cannot spend too much more time typing about the importance of a kicker. My prejudices regarding the position won't allow any more!!!