Kicking is an issue.

[tjpappy]

Watauga Democrat article about performance of Crutcher and Rubino with comments from Satterfield
http://m.wataugademocrat.com/sports/cri ... l?mode=jqm

[AppState89]

The Miss State kicker missed a close one against USA (week 1) at the end of the game. Someone missed an easy one yesterday (can't remember the team) and got beat.

HE IS A FRESHMAN!!! HE IS LEARNING. HE WILL BE AWESOME, JUST GIVE HIM A CHANCE. If anyone on this board can kick better, if any of the students at App can kick better, if any of the fans in the stands can kick better, GET OUT THERE AND "TRY" IT. You won't do better, I promise.

[JohnnyBurrito]

The Miss State kicker missed a close one against USA (week 1) at the end of the game. Someone missed an easy one yesterday (can't remember the team) and got beat.

HE IS A FRESHMAN!!! HE IS LEARNING. HE WILL BE AWESOME, JUST GIVE HIM A CHANCE. If anyone on this board can kick better, if any of the students at App can kick better, if any of the fans in the stands can kick better, GET OUT THERE AND "TRY" IT. You won't do better, I promise.

Nobody is saying they could do better. The point is we have missed a lot of FG's this year and that is a real problem. It presumably cost us the game against UT. It's not his fault he's a freshman, but why don't we have an upperclassman kicking? It's more of a recruiting issue, I guess...Not that any team has much depth at this position.

[RollNeers]

In other news water is wet.

[asufan87]

That 52 yarder just got off before the play clock expired because the FG unit was rushed on the field rather late. The snap was high as well and Rubino didn't hit it solid. The execution of the whole play was very poor.

Kicking FGs isn't as easy as it looks folks. It's a lot like golf except the ball isn't sitting pretty on a tee. In fact, there is no tee for FGs and PATs. The holder designates an exact spot on the ground where the kicker is relying on him to place the ball. When the ball is snapped, the holder catches the ball with both hands and you better hope he puts the ball down exactly where he indicated. Too far forward can cause a ball to be hooked and too far back can cause a ball to be pushed by the kicker.

Rubino's got the tools. He'll be fine (but never perfect) with time and experience.

[Rekdiver]

I am being serious and not snarky. What does "at this level" mean in the kicking game. Are the goal posts a different height or width? The kicker is not physically involved in other words size and speed are not involved. He is kicking at the same target he has been kicking at for as long as he has been kicking is he not?

Uh.....college level? Entirely a mental change and challenge....just like it took Matics 4 years to be a good kicker WHO COULD have missed his 3rd kick against OHIO. We got bigger issues than the kicking game. You don't see kickers leaving college early for the pros because there is still a strength and mental element and Reps to kicking just like golfers with a swing. So I'm not being snarky whenI say At This Level and on this stage is a big challenge for kickers coming out of high school.

[proasu89]

I don't think anyone is doubting that he will get better and is the kicker of the future. However, in the short term, with the game on the line....I might be inclined to send out Bentley.

[Rekdiver]

Nope I'm not sending that signal to a healthy Freshman kicker. You want to mess with his head just do that.

[Goapps15]

You don't have to mess with his head. The simple solution is 40 yards and under Rubino kicks. Over 40 it's Bentlee. Several teams do this and the kids are fine.

You can't worry about a players mental side. You just have to play to win. Kicking is a major part of winning and losing in conference games.

[proasu89]

You don't have to mess with his head. The simple solution is 40 yards and under Rubino kicks. Over 40 it's Bentlee. Several teams do this and the kids are fine.

You can't worry about a players mental side. You just have to play to win. Kicking is a major part of winning and losing in conference games.

Thank you!

[bigdaddyg]

That 52 yarder just got off before the play clock expired because the FG unit was rushed on the field rather late. The snap was high as well and Rubino didn't hit it solid. The execution of the whole play was very poor.

Kicking FGs isn't as easy as it looks folks. It's a lot like golf except the ball isn't sitting pretty on a tee. In fact, there is no tee for FGs and PATs. The holder designates an exact spot on the ground where the kicker is relying on him to place the ball. When the ball is snapped, the holder catches the ball with both hands and you better hope he puts the ball down exactly where he indicated. Too far forward can cause a ball to be hooked and too far back can cause a ball to be pushed by the kicker.

Rubino's got the tools. He'll be fine (but never perfect) with time and experience.

That's a very good point about snap, hold and placement. Have all of those aspects been done properly on his misses? I have a son playing Middle School football. He said last year he wanted to be the kicker. He had never played any football and had no idea. I told him that it was extremely doubtful that kicker would be a possibility because in order for it to work there would have to be a snap, catch of the ball, placement of the ball and kick. And the line would have to block. Not happening with 7th & 8th graders. Obviously apples and oranges but the point is that execution of the entire process is critical especially for a long FG. I for one have not watched our entire process. I would think that if our holder isn't getting the ball down where it needs to be and at the right tilt the kick can easily be pushed right.

There must be stats available for college FG % on kicks over 40 yards this year. It would be interesting to see.

[bcoach]

I am being serious and not snarky. What does "at this level" mean in the kicking game. Are the goal posts a different height or width? The kicker is not physically involved in other words size and speed are not involved. He is kicking at the same target he has been kicking at for as long as he has been kicking is he not?

Uh.....college level? Entirely a mental change and challenge....just like it took Matics 4 years to be a good kicker WHO COULD have missed his 3rd kick against OHIO. We got bigger issues than the kicking game. You don't see kickers leaving college early for the pros because there is still a strength and mental element and Reps to kicking just like golfers with a swing. So I'm not being snarky whenI say At This Level and on this stage is a big challenge for kickers coming out of high school.

I don't know what bigger issues we have. We won our bowl game on a kick and lost at Tennessee on a kick. I really don't think waiting four years is a viable answer.

[bigdaddyg]

You guys should really look at the kicking stats. I just did and now I officially retract negative statements regarding our kicker. Nationally kickers in the FBS level are 17/48 over 50 yards. There are I believe 44 teams who are a combined 0-35 for FG's from 40-49 yards (and there are some impressive names in that list). Teams at 50% overall (to include App) are BC, Duke, UVA and Miami. A few teams below 50% include UGA, Michigan, Mich St. XP% can be skewed- 37 teams have fewer made than Rubino. I could be off slightly with the counts but it's close. Granted the UT XP Miss was huge but overall Rubino (nationally) isn't that far off.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

He's improving and will continue to get better. I'm not concerned in the slightest. If we'd been able to move the ball a little better against one of the worst defenses in the nation, he wouldn't have had to try those kicks.

[firemoose]

You don't have to mess with his head. The simple solution is 40 yards and under Rubino kicks. Over 40 it's Bentlee. Several teams do this and the kids are fine.

You can't worry about a players mental side. You just have to play to win. Kicking is a major part of winning and losing in conference games.

Thank you!

This is for everyone who is suggesting this. If any of you had been at a practice you would know why this is not an option right now. Most of you are smart enough to figure it out. All I'm going to say on the subject.

[bigdaddyg]

You don't have to mess with his head. The simple solution is 40 yards and under Rubino kicks. Over 40 it's Bentlee. Several teams do this and the kids are fine.

You can't worry about a players mental side. You just have to play to win. Kicking is a major part of winning and losing in conference games.

Thank you!

This is for everyone who is suggesting this. If any of you had been at a single practice you would know why this is not an option right now. Most of you are smart enough to figure it out. All I'm going to say on the subject.

And those in that camp please reference the kicking stats I spoke of. I would hope that after all of the Spring and Fall camps, many practices and drills, etc that our highly paid coach and very experienced staff has it figured out. I seriously doubt that there are many programs out there with short kick guy and long kick guy- and both are successful. I mean dang the UNC (I know don't utter the name) had a crucial PAT blocked then won the game. And once again, 17/48 is the national total for 50+.

[Appstate88]

Perhaps our coaches should consider using a backup quarterback or good hands receiver as the holder rather than Critcher. It might help Rubino feel like he is in charge when he takes the field to PK. Would also give us more options if we want to try a fake field goal.

[hapapp]

Critcher was the holder last year and they managed to pull off a great fake. Critcher takes no FG attempts during pregame and the #2 kicker is freshman walk on. Asking Critcher to do all three risks adversely affecting his contributions that he currently provides.

[Appstate88]

Certainly don't want Critcher doing all three. It is too much to ask (think back two years ago, when Matics had trouble). Rubino needs to kick the whole season. Critcher holding for Matics may not be the same as Critcher holding for Rubino. Just think it might be a good time to get a new holder in there now so Rubino and the holder can develop together for the next four years. Bentlee is a senior and Rubino will get a new holder anyway next year.

[SpeedkingATL]

Kickoffs and punting certainly aren't an issue. Critcher was a master on Saturday in both areas. He completely shut down GaSt's return game which is one of their strong points and kept the Panthers bottled up all day. And give Rubino a little credit....after two poor kicks he nailed the third one. He just needs a little confidence and that one should help.