Best Kicking Tandem?
7 comments so far
June 12, 2009 by
Special teams maybe aren't the most exciting part of football, but they can be awfully important. Tom Osborne himself pointed out the importance of kick returns. He said if you can return the ball to the 30-yard line or beyond, your chances to score double over a return to the 20 or less. That's why having a kicker that can create touchbacks on kickoffs can be a real competitive advantage over one that continually has his ball returned.
The Huskers have that kicker in Adi Kunalic. Kunalic has led the NCAA over the past 2 years with 57 touchbacks. That skill was largely wasted in 2007 as the Husker defense did such a poor job that it didn't matter and last year it was the only saving grace of a kick coverage unit that finished 103rd in the country. In other words, there's an enormous opportunity to capitalize on Kunalic's talent in a way we haven't really seen yet.
Henery is a bit more well known among Husker fans after his heroics against Colorado. He hit 18 of 21 field goal attempts in 2008 with two of those misses being over 50 yards which is more a sign of confidence by his coaches than an indication of shortcomings as a kicker. NFL kickers struggle over 50 yards.
Put the two together and you might have the best kicking tandem in the country. Yes, there will likely be guys kicking as field goals as accurately and as long as Henery and there might be a kicker or two kicking more touchbacks than Kunalic. But there might not be another team in the country that can do both as well as Nebraska.
That alone won't make the Huskers great in 2009. But it's certainly something any team would want.
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darren Jun 12 09
Ball games often turn on special teams play. (And yes, I think kicks are exciting...)
This is a significant advantage to NU, its one I can't believe doesn't get discussed more.
If NU fans reall believe that the Huskers will take a step forward in 2009 (10 wins?, North title?) then these two young men will have to be as advertised and make the kicks that matter.
caveman99 Jun 12 09
I actually think this is a big reason why NU will get 10 wins this year and beat MU and KU for the North. Everyone is arguing whether or not NU's losses are less than MU's losses and whether or not NU's D will stop KU O again this year, especially in Lawrence. However NU has the decided edge over these two, and frankly the entire conference, in Special Teams. Considering that Special Teams is 1/3 of the game, I agree with Darren that it should be talked about more.
Brian Jun 12 09
Is there any chance that between now and September that Adi might transfer? I don't know or have read anywhere that this is a possibilty but I'm sure he really wants to be able to kick field goals and realizes that Alex isn't going anywhere. I hope not because he does serve a huge service to the team. But I bet he looks around college football and thinks there are a ton of kickers getting there shot that he is better than. If you think about it Henery may be a top 5 kicker in college right now with 2 years remaining.
JBLING22 Jun 13 09
I dont think Adi would transfer because theres no where else in the country were your going to hear your name from 80,000 plus for kicking the ball.. He has that here..
OU7times Jun 14 09
Adi would be more than welcome at OU. Our kickers have sucked the last few years. We would make sure he hears it from 85,000 plus.That would be awesome!
OmahaNE Jun 18 09
Adi would have no resean to leave. He can get a job in the nfl with his display of power if he does well in tryouts. Few kickers get drafted. I'm sure every team will invite him for work outs. OU wouldn't work since he would have to sit out a year.
OmahaNE Jun 18 09
Adi would have no resean to leave. He can get a job in the nfl with his display of power if he does well in tryouts. Few kickers get drafted. I'm sure every team will invite him for work outs. OU wouldn't work since he would have to sit out a year.