Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

It might almost be a bit ironic, but in the worst game we've played by far this year, our special teams had their best outing. We didn't give up a kickoff or punt return for a TD for the first time in four games. That was a major achievement in itself. On top of that, we made a field goal, we had a couple touchbacks on kickoffs (aided some by the wind, but still), we didn't have a blocked punt, we had a nice punt return, and we did better on the kick coverage. The called rugby punt before the half was just stupid IMO and just backfired in our face. Did anyone see Rojas punting the ball at halftime? He was booming the ball. And Ellis, I think he's already a better kicker for us right now than we were at any point last season. Keep it up guys, my hat goes off to both of you today. We didn't have much to cheer about, but the special teams looked much better.

I was trying to find the time to mention the same thing about special teams. A pair of touchbacks for Big Bird was good to see, too.

Away from that, Terrel White had another big day on defense. 10 tackles, I believe.

TG1996 wrote:Away from that, Terrel White had another big day on defense. 10 tackles, I believe.

Could have fooled me. White had such an impact I would have guessed he wasn't even dressed today.

Warthog wrote:

TG1996 wrote:Away from that, Terrel White had another big day on defense. 10 tackles, I believe.

Could have fooled me. White had such an impact I would have guessed he wasn't even dressed today.

It was just something I noticed in the box score.... the MAC video feed was giving me fits today and I missed most of the third driving to work.

Big Bird is a very good kicker and will only get better.

And if the coaches would just get out of Rojas' way, he is a very good young punter. The kickers are the least of this team's problems right now.

BGSU33 wrote:The called rugby punt before the half was just stupid IMO and just backfired in our face. Did anyone see Rojas punting the ball at halftime? He was booming the ball.

I about blew a gasket when that happened. There is less then two minutes left with a strong wind at your back. What in God's name were they thinking? If they just let Rojas boot it, Kent starts no better than their own 30 I would have guessed. But as I am sure hammb will attest, Rojas has not had one successful attempt with that stupid rugby kick. That kick is fine when going into the wind. Kick it short and low, get a good roll with no return. When the wind is at your back, just kick the f'n ball. It was over when we gave up that TD before half.

I really didn't think Rojas was trying to rugby kick it...it looked to me like he double clutched on his drop and had to take an extra step to get the ball off. That threw his stride completely off and he duffed the kick...I recorded the game...so maybe I'll take a second look at it. Or maybe i'll gouge my eyes out with a fork instead...

You may be right Flipper, but I seemed to notice that the 'wall' in front of him was also moving right which a the telltale sign that we are doing the rugby kick. Check out the tape and let us know.

It was a rugby kick. He double clutched because it was fourth and short and he thought about running it.

Even with that bad punt play before the half (whether it was called or not), the special teams today were our highlight if there was ever such a thing to take from this game. It was like watching a clinic on how to execute compared to past weeks.

Just watched the replay on TWC channel 6. It was a rugby kick all the way. Rojas did double clutch, but I think that was because he can't do the whole run and then kick thing.

One other comment from this timeframe of the game. On second down of our series before the punt, Barnes scrambled for like 15 yards to take the ball out close to midfield, but it was called back on a holding penalty against Lanning. Well either the refs announced the wrong number or that was SIMPLY THE WORST CALL EVER. I know, I know, you can call holding on every play, but that is the point. Lanning had textbook blocking on the play. It looked like the ref started looking at Barnes running and decided 'Hey, this one has to come back' as he simply dropped his flag on the field. When a ref sees holding, they whip that flag out and toss it right at the guy who commited the foul. This ref was watching Barnes run when he looked like he was fishing for something in his pocket and let the flag just fall on the field. Awful, absolutely awful call.

Noticed when the kickers came out to warm up during halftime the place kickers were kicking from sideline to sideline. I thought maybe there was a new rule the goalposts would be moved to the sidelines for the second half. Would it not make sense to practice toward the goalposts to figure out the wind? Anybody have an answer for this?

My thought was that the net wasn't up so they didn't want to be kicking he balls into the contruction area.

Forbes1013 wrote:Noticed when the kickers came out to warm up during halftime the place kickers were kicking from sideline to sideline. I thought maybe there was a new rule the goalposts would be moved to the sidelines for the second half. Would it not make sense to practice toward the goalposts to figure out the wind? Anybody have an answer for this?

Australian rules...