Kicking Game

I started this thread in week 1 and never realized how poorly our Kicking game and special teams would be this year.  First, I am excited for McCallum for kicking the game winner, but we should not overlook so many problems in this space.

1.  Our punting game is ok but not where we are accustomed to seeing Nebraska punters.  Armstrong can consistently kick it 40 yards but struggles to go much further.  We also are not pinning teams deep when we have a chance to.

2.  Our kick and punt return team is not good.  When we actually attempt to make a return, we are penalized nearly half the time which affects field position and the offense.  I have never seen a Nebraska team so consistently penalized when returning a kickoff or punt.

3.  Our kickoff and punt return coverage is also not great.  Other teams end up with better field position than they should have.

4.  Obviously our FG kicking has been an issue, and I think it still will be, but we can hope today's game winner will help McCallum for the rest of the season.

 
I just watched the game winning kick in slow motion. We got really lucky. It was right between a couple hands.

 
Moiraine said:
I just watched the game winning kick in slow motion. We got really lucky. It was right between a couple hands.
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Ya, that could have well been blocked. He needs to be putting more bend in his leg to give the ball more height. 

 
HuskerNation1 said:
I started this thread in week 1 and never realized how poorly our Kicking game and special teams would be this year.  First, I am excited for McCallum for kicking the game winner, but we should not overlook so many problems in this space.

1.  Our punting game is ok but not where we are accustomed to seeing Nebraska punters.  Armstrong can consistently kick it 40 yards but struggles to go much further.  We also are not pinning teams deep when we have a chance to.

2.  Our kick and punt return team is not good.  When we actually attempt to make a return, we are penalized nearly half the time which affects field position and the offense.  I have never seen a Nebraska team so consistently penalized when returning a kickoff or punt.

3.  Our kickoff and punt return coverage is also not great.  Other teams end up with better field position than they should have.

4.  Obviously our FG kicking has been an issue, and I think it still will be, but we can hope today's game winner will help McCallum for the rest of the season.
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Yes, even after you cut slack for Pickering and Jorgensen being out our ST's are not acceptable. 

 
So is Pickering gonna play this year or what? We are gonna need him down the strech if we want to win the most important ones.

 
The Murphinator said:
At this point might as well just redshirt him. 
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If he can play at all this year, he could be used in the final 4 games and still redshirt him.

I am not optimistic in his return, and the coaching staff will need to bring in another scholarship kicker to compete with him next fall.

 
ColoradoHusk said:
If he can play at all this year, he could be used in the final 4 games and still redshirt him.

I am not optimistic in his return, and the coaching staff will need to bring in another scholarship kicker to compete with him next fall.
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Are we looking at any? 

 
ColoradoHusk said:
If he can play at all this year, he could be used in the final 4 games and still redshirt him.

I am not optimistic in his return, and the coaching staff will need to bring in another scholarship kicker to compete with him next fall.
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I don't know if the answer is using another scholly for a kicker. We're thin enough at other positions - just kind of a freak thing where the backup kicker (Jorgenson) is also hurt. Not sure why Heins, the other walk-on kicker, isn't an option. But it's pretty bizarre to have to resort to punters and I don't think you can keep 2 scholarship kickers happy, let alone justify another specialist scholarship.

 
Husker in WI said:
I don't know if the answer is using another scholly for a kicker. We're thin enough at other positions - just kind of a freak thing where the backup kicker (Jorgenson) is also hurt. Not sure why Heins, the other walk-on kicker, isn't an option. But it's pretty bizarre to have to resort to punters and I don't think you can keep 2 scholarship kickers happy, let alone justify another specialist scholarship.
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This year's issues are totally bizarre with the injuries to not only the scholarship kicker, but also his walk-on backup.  Typically, I think having 1 scholarship kicker with a backup or 2 being walk-ons is the way to go.  But, with Pickering's issues, I don't know if he will ever be healthy enough to kick again.  If I were coach, I would try to bring in another scholarship kicker for next year.  I know scholarships shouldn't be thrown around and needed for depth, but that's the approach I would take for next year.

 
This makes me miss the days when we had Alex Henry and Adi Kunalic.... 

This kicking game is already costing us big and I think its safe to assume it wont be fixed any time soon.

Just gotta keep plugging away but at this point I would see if the girls soccer team can lend us a goalie a few times a week. 

 
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