Kicker

Red_Payne

Red_Payne

Four-Star Recruit
Haven't seen this topic mentioned as of yet.

There is a pretty gaping hole left behind by one of the best kickers to play at NU. We've always seemed to have a great kicking game; but we've been particularly spoiled with great kickers this past decade and a half. Hopefully we'll be able to find another great kicker to take over the kicking reigns.

Anyone have any knowledge as to who are the players expected to compete for the job; and who is expected to have the "lead" in the competition (if there even is one)?

 
Red_Payne said:
Haven't seen this topic mentioned as of yet.

There is a pretty gaping hole left behind by one of the best kickers to play at NU. We've always seemed to have a great kicking game; but we've been particularly spoiled with great kickers this past decade and a half. Hopefully we'll be able to find another great kicker to take over the kicking reigns.

Anyone have any knowledge as to who are the players expected to compete for the job; and who is expected to have the "lead" in the competition (if there even is one)?
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Well, we have a guy on scholarship so hopefully that's worth it.  --->>>Barret Pickering

If not, Cole Frahm is a Rs Fr. walk-on.

 
I wonder if Nebraska takes an additional kicker if a Pat Smith type situation comes up again.  

 
There is many reasons we get good kickers here,  tradition, history of professional play,  play in championship teams and so on.  One that doesn't get talked about enough is that this is actually a difficult place to practice and learn kicking.  The weather kickers get to practice in here rivals any NFL team.   The wind is awful, the temperature can change from 100 to 30, and every single kick is under intense pressure inside our stadium of 90000.   The conditions of kicking here are brutal and good kickers want to come kick here.  That tradition will continue and the nations best kickers will continue to come because of the preparation for the NFL. 

 
Red_Payne said:
Haven't seen this topic mentioned as of yet.

There is a pretty gaping hole left behind by one of the best kickers to play at NU. We've always seemed to have a great kicking game; but we've been particularly spoiled with great kickers this past decade and a half. Hopefully we'll be able to find another great kicker to take over the kicking reigns.

Anyone have any knowledge as to who are the players expected to compete for the job; and who is expected to have the "lead" in the competition (if there even is one)?
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decade and a half? it seems we've been spoiled with good to great kickers since the 80's.

 
KingBlank said:
We aren’t spoiled, there is an explanation which I have just gone through above.
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Yeah, I don't think a lot of high school players choose a college because the weather helps them better prepare for the NFL.

If a kicker at a warm weather school hits 45 of 50 field goals, but never kicks in inclement weather, he still looks like a good kicker to NFL teams.

If a kicker at Nebraska hits 30 of 50 field goals, but he's kicked in rain and wind, he's still not that impressive to NFL teams.

Tradition, coaching, fans, atmosphere... those I agree with.  We don't get kickers because we have wind and winter.

 
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HS_Coach_C said:
Yeah, I don't think a lot of high school players choose a college because the weather helps them better prepare for the NFL.

If a kicker at a warm weather school hits 45 of 50 field goals, but never kicks in inclement weather, he still looks like a good kicker to NFL teams.

If a kicker at Nebraska hits 30 of 50 field goals, but he's kicked in rain and wind, he's still not that impressive to NFL teams.

Tradition, coaching, fans, atmosphere... those I agree with.  We don't get kickers because we have wind and winter.
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So what you're telling me is I should NOT have just spent thousands of dollars on TShirts that say 'Kicker U' plus a social media hype video that has Drew Brown kicking against Kris Brown doing trick shot kicks with explosions coming out of the goalposts when each one makes a kick?

For the record, @KingBlank makes a really interesting argument that I hadn't considered.

 
Xmas32 said:
So what you're telling me is I should NOT have just spent thousands of dollars on TShirts that say 'Kicker U' plus a social media hype video that has Drew Brown kicking against Kris Brown doing trick shot kicks with explosions coming out of the goalposts when each one makes a kick?

For the record, @KingBlank makes a really interesting argument that I hadn't considered.
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This definitely needs to become part of the game atmosphere.  Maybe the XFL could try this out first.

 
HS_Coach_C said:
Yeah, I don't think a lot of high school players choose a college because the weather helps them better prepare for the NFL.

If a kicker at a warm weather school hits 45 of 50 field goals, but never kicks in inclement weather, he still looks like a good kicker to NFL teams.

If a kicker at Nebraska hits 30 of 50 field goals, but he's kicked in rain and wind, he's still not that impressive to NFL teams.

Tradition, coaching, fans, atmosphere... those I agree with.  We don't get kickers because we have wind and winter.
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How about you go ask a few, I play in a fantasy football league with one these ex Husker kickers.  He has told me that is one of the reasons top flight recruits come to kick here.  Yes we absolutely get kickers because of the range weather.  Your example doesn’t even say it correctly.  

45/50 at a warm weather school, predictable wind conditions, and no harsh weather.

45/50 at Nebraska, will all the afore mentioned conditions.

Scouts would look at Nebraska kicker harder.  

Pickering or whatever, didn’t travel from Alabama to play at Nebraska because he thinks it is cool.  He came here to learn how to kick in this environment, he had plenty of offers to choose from in the warm weather.

 
KingBlank said:
How about you go ask a few, I play in a fantasy football league with one these ex Husker kickers.  He has told me that is one of the reasons top flight recruits come to kick here.  Yes we absolutely get kickers because of the range weather.  Your example doesn’t even say it correctly.  

45/50 at a warm weather school, predictable wind conditions, and no harsh weather.

45/50 at Nebraska, will all the afore mentioned conditions.

Scouts would look at Nebraska kicker harder.  

Pickering or whatever, didn’t travel from Alabama to play at Nebraska because he thinks it is cool.  He came here to learn how to kick in this environment, he had plenty of offers to choose from in the warm weather.
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If that's what he said, that's great.

Also:

My example was exactly what I meant.  Of course if they make the same number of kicks, the harsher conditions or pressure situations will make it look better.

But the likelihood of making just as many kicks in tough conditions as in perfect conditions is really low, so the FG made % will most likely be lower if you are just looking at it like that.

The NFL is looking for guys that can make FG's.  If you've done it at a warm weather school you'll get a chance.  If you are very average but kicked in tough conditions you might still get a chance, but it's a long shot.  Bottom line - make your FG's, you'll get a chance at the NFL.

In reality, I'd say 75% of Nebraska's games are played in pretty favorable conditions.  You get some cold games, and some with swirling winds, but most aren't terrible kicking conditions.

 
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NU has been blessed with many fine kickers over the years.  We've had good punters as well.   I would suggest one of the main reasons is because NU awards scholarships to kickers where many (I dare say most) do not.   I read comments on this board from quite a few suggesting kickers are not worth a scholarship and many discount the significance of 'special teams' aka the kicking game in general.   Even Frost in a recent press comment made the statement of kicking and special teams are 'a third of the game' and require the best players (starters) to be on those units.  

We should actively recruit the best players from everywhere for each and every position (including long snappers, short snappers, holders, punters (both traditional and rugby and even "chip and roll' andshort punt specialists, etc.   Not all would deserve scholarships of course for these secondary but important roles but one or two great punts in the right games and times can make a season into a championship one instead of another disappointment.   Nothing wrong with being the best in everything we do at Nebraska!

 
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