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So I think yesterday proved what I've been thinking all along. It's too much on Brian Wright to do kick-offs, punts, and place kicking. Yesterday, it wasn't until the fourth quarter until he really started kicking well on anything, and then he missed the one that mattered most. He had some great boots in the fourth quarter, and the last FG was a great boot, but it was just off. This isn't an insult toward Brian Wright. It's saying its too much on any kicker to do everything and have to be able to perform late in the game.

I really hope the coaching staff gives Jerry Phillips something. They've got a guy who can kick and punt and he's also got a monster leg. I'd say have Phillips punt and Wright do everything else. That little bit of rest on Wright's leg in that he's not punting several times a game may very well lead to being able to nail a clutch kick when needed.

let stein kick field goals!

C'mon. The guy is a 5th year senior. Not to mention the coaches see these guys every day. Trust me, they have the best guy out there. But as James Ingram sang, "I did my best, but I guess my best wasn't good enough"

I've said for the last few years we have a kicking problem. Not slamming the guys doing it. Just that it is one of the least commented on aspects of the game and one that probably costsus more games than any other single factor.

-MH

I don't think kicking was the issue...

Redwingtom wrote:C'mon. The guy is a 5th year senior. Not to mention the coaches see these guys every day. Trust me, they have the best guy out there. But as James Ingram sang, "I did my best, but I guess my best wasn't good enough"

And I'm sure they do have the best guy out there. If Brian Wright is doing everything, then he is probably the best at kickoffs, punts, and place-kicks. But doing all kicking duties in a game is a hell of a lot on one guy's leg. That's why I would like to see Jerry Phillips punting. Give Wright some relief so his leg is still 100% for the next game winning attempt.

Before we do put everything on the kicker, we need to make sure the line is giving sufficient protection. I know a lot of kickers miss because they feel rushed to get the ball off before it can be blocked. It's still inexcusable to miss a PAT. I do miss the days of Suisham.

Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing and expecting different results? Wright's shown all year he can't make kicks, kicks a 5th year senior should be able to make. What does it hurt to try someone else? The least they can do is keep missing kicks, and that's nothing but the status quo.

daspollak wrote: It's still inexcusable to miss a PAT.

Agree 100%

The concerns about Pankratz in the other thread are warrented, that missed PAT after the first TD proved to be a killer

MarkL wrote:So I think yesterday proved what I've been thinking all along. It's too much on Brian Wright to do kick-offs, punts, and place kicking. Yesterday, it wasn't until the fourth quarter until he really started kicking well on anything, and then he missed the one that mattered most. He had some great boots in the fourth quarter, and the last FG was a great boot, but it was just off. This isn't an insult toward Brian Wright. It's saying its too much on any kicker to do everything and have to be able to perform late in the game.

I really hope the coaching staff gives Jerry Phillips something. They've got a guy who can kick and punt and he's also got a monster leg. I'd say have Phillips punt and Wright do everything else. That little bit of rest on Wright's leg in that he's not punting several times a game may very well lead to being able to nail a clutch kick when needed.

Recognizing that game conditions are a little different, a five TD, four punt night would be 15 total kicks-how many do they try in practice? I would think many more than that. How hard can it be on a kicker's leg?

daspollak wrote:I do miss the days of Suisham.

Heck, what was the name of our kicker back in the 1980's that made well over 100 straight PAT's? Was that Gehad Youssef or someone else?

EDIT: Not sure what I was thinking about, but Youssef only made 93 PAT's for his whole career and John Spengler made 101 of 105.

Bryan Leaver was also pretty good in the early 90's making 115 of 118.

h2oville rocket wrote:

MarkL wrote:So I think yesterday proved what I've been thinking all along. It's too much on Brian Wright to do kick-offs, punts, and place kicking. Yesterday, it wasn't until the fourth quarter until he really started kicking well on anything, and then he missed the one that mattered most. He had some great boots in the fourth quarter, and the last FG was a great boot, but it was just off. This isn't an insult toward Brian Wright. It's saying its too much on any kicker to do everything and have to be able to perform late in the game.

I really hope the coaching staff gives Jerry Phillips something. They've got a guy who can kick and punt and he's also got a monster leg. I'd say have Phillips punt and Wright do everything else. That little bit of rest on Wright's leg in that he's not punting several times a game may very well lead to being able to nail a clutch kick when needed.

Recognizing that game conditions are a little different, a five TD, four punt night would be 15 total kicks-how many do they try in practice? I would think many more than that. How hard can it be on a kicker's leg?

Wright had 17 total kicks in the game. 8 Punts, 3 PAT's, 5 Kick-offs and 1 FG attempt. I am sure he kicks the ball hundreds of times during the week and dozens in practice before the game and at half-time. Again, being a 5th year senior, I seriously doubt you can blame anything on fatigue. The only valid argument is that doing the punting, kick-offs and PAT's doesn't allow him as much time to focus on any one area.

I like Wright punting and on kickoffs (when he doesn't kick out of bounds that is). But just like in past years, I find myself holding my breath when he's kicking a field goal or PAT. The PAT vs Buffalo was huge because we were left chasing it the rest of the game. And he's missed two huge 4th quarter field goals this year already, the game-winning 40-yarder vs Buffalo that was centered with the wind at his back, and in the opener at Troy he missed a 37-yarder in the 4th quarter when the game was tied at 27-27. Aside from missing the PAT against UB, he also hit the upright on on against Michigan but there was a penalty and made the extra try.

Wrigth is just 3-7 on FG's with the longest attempt from 44 yards and is 0-4 from 30 yards plus. That isn't cutting it. Did I expect more from a 5th year transfer from Michigan? Yes, especially since the kid he replaced (Phillips) was 8-13 for us last year including 7-11 from 30 yards plus! But, the coaching staff knows better, so I trust he's the better kicker of the two. But the stats do make me wonder.

Like the question posted previously...let Stein kick...#2 in the depth chart for FGs & PATs.

Here ya go...straight from the horses mouth:

KICKING CHANGE? Even though senior kicker Bryan Wright missed an extra point and a field goal Saturday, Clawson said he won't be making a change at that position.

"Bryan won the job in camp, and it wasn't really competitive," Clawson said. "You don't make a change just for the sake of making a change. You make a change because you believe the other guy can perform better and the other guy gives your team a better chance to win. Bryan is our best kicker.

"I was very comfortable, with three seconds left and the game on the line [against Buffalo], putting him in the game and having him kick that field goal.

"It was a good kick; he hit it pure. The extra point was not on him; it was blocked [by a player who got] through the 'A' gap. He did not mis-hit that kick; it was poor protection."