Archie Wilson - Are we concerned?

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307husker

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Archie was a great story through the early parts of the season, but his performance has been quite underwhelming. Very inconsistent so far with multiple outright shanks, and while he likely has great potential, I'm concerned that our punting is the weakest part of special teams and it is going to become a major problem.

As we get into the meat of our schedule, where punting will likely play a big part in the overall wins/losses, how concerned are you?
 
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Yeah, we're pretty lucky he hasn't cost us the last couple of games. Hopefully all the hype wasn't just hype.
 
Yet he had some punts early on that were perfect - backing teams deep into their own side of the field. Probably big game jitters that he has got to get use to.
 
I'm mildly concerned with it being his first go round with US football. But in the end I trust Ekeler's judgment so I guess I'll just wait n see.
 
Maybe he needs to try kicking to the right next game.

The wind got him against MSU. He needs to practice in the wind more. The MSU kicker got a decent one off into the wind.
 
One of the guys I used to coach with would always tell our punters "Just kick the freaking ball"

Sometimes there is just not a reason to reinvent the wheel but with that said, I am sure he will be fine.
 
Meh. Michigan State was against insane winds and last game bad punts will happen. If he punts poorly against Minnesota then we can start to complain I'd say
 
He is very green. Learning the nuances typically for high school- where failure and learning is expected. He jumped right into the fryer
 
I think the small sample size is hurting him. Getting used to the game and what he should be doing in certain situations. Would like to see him uncork a few, to get some confidence.
 
I'm not that concerned.

Yet.

Everybody expected punting to be rough against MSU because of the wind and he had only one punt against Maryland. But, I think he (and Ek) would admit that what he did in both of those games wasn't good enough. Ideally, you don't want to see your punter, but if you do, you can't have them shanking 20-yard punts or kicking high on windy days.

I think he'll be fine. I trust Ek. If the rest of the ST units keep playing as they are and improving, and Archie Wilson is a bit of wild card... well, I think that might still collectively be better than recent years. They've had years where it was bad punting, bad coverage units, bad return units, and bad kickers. Many of those have improved so far.
 
Enhance said:
I'm not that concerned.

Yet.

Everybody expected punting to be rough against MSU because of the wind and he had only one punt against Maryland. But, I think he (and Ek) would admit that what he did in both of those games wasn't good enough. Ideally, you don't want to see your punter, but if you do, you can't have them shanking 20-yard punts or kicking high on windy days.

I think he'll be fine. I trust Ek. If the rest of the ST units keep playing as they are and improving, and Archie Wilson is a bit of wild card... well, I think that might still collectively be better than recent years. They've had years where it was bad punting, bad coverage units, bad return units, and bad kickers. Many of those have improved so far.
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I thought it was interesting that a "rugby" punter wouldn't kick a rugby-style punt into the wind. As in, a low line drive that rolls.
 
Mavric said:
I thought it was interesting that a "rugby" punter wouldn't kick a rugby-style punt into the wind. As in, a low line drive that rolls.
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Same. That was such a curiosity to me against MSU.

To me, kicking rugby style on a windy day is as obvious as "don't let receivers get behind you on a Hail Mary." Like... it should just go without saying and yet it happens all the time.
 
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