Credit Where Credit Is Due
With the Super Bowl now over, football season is now ‘officially’ over. There are no more kickers or punters to study on television each week, just the review of another season gone by.
Kicking specialists have always known that success in any game, any one kick really, depends on more than their skill alone.
As kickers and punters, I think we’ve all had games when a ‘leak’ in the line resulted in a blocked kick or punt, a poor snap sailed out of reach or a fumbled hold changed an otherwise ‘normal’ kicking or punting attempt into an instant adventure.
No matter the scenario, those challenges can be a specialist’s nightmare weeks and months, even years after the fact. Face it, a blocked kick is a blocked kick on paper. It doesn’t matter if you otherwise had a good run of late with your field goal attempts, that block hurts the season’s percentage regardless.
Two or three blocks in a season can destroy your season’s stats when there are only 10 or so total field goal attempts for many, especially in high school! A sloppy snap or two in one game can pull a punter’s thoughts away from focus on his performance when he’s just worried about where the snap will be next game.
Your Line, Snapper & Holder Are Critical
So, even though we still have to make the kicks when the snap and block operation is flawless, it sure makes it easier. In fact it’s critical. I’ve watched guys in college go from All-America status to ‘major struggle’ in just one season, all because of the confidence that comes with his FG team….the line, the snap, the hold.
Don’t take my word for it though, just look at some of the great comments top college kickers have made this season about their success! It’s great to see kickers in the spotlight giving some love to the people who have helped shape their success.
Junior kicker Jared Roberts from Colorado State was quick to acknowledge his team, “It’s an individual award but it’s a credit to the success the team has had this year. I’m fortunate to have a great holder, snapper and line that blocks for me.”
Even better, I love this year’s Groza Semi-Finalists who called out their snappers and holders by name. You can’t give enough credit to these guys…they are truly critical to kicking success.
Kicker Shawn Moffitt of Central Florida said simply, “I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for the big boys blocking up front and a great snap and hold operation with Ciabatti and Burdetsky.”
Jake Elliott (Memphis) also called his guys out by name. “Matt Wall (long Snapper) and Vince Penza (Holder) are a credit to every kick I make. They truly are the best at what they do and they work just as hard as I do and deserve just as much credit!”
Of course, these guys weren’t the only ones to give credit to the guys around them during each kick, but just a few examples should open any young kicker’s eyes to the importance of his holder, snapper and line.
The lesson for upcoming kickers all the way back to the 7th grade today is, make sure you get as many repetitions with YOUR team…beg the coach, whatever it takes. Kicking with a plastic holder is necessary of course, but get to know your ‘right hand guys’ and always, give credit where credit is due.
If you are a kicker or a punter, let us know how important your snapper/holder is and we’ll keep the comments open on this page as a ‘thank you’.
