Kicking System Blog

Posted By Tim Valencia

If you have been following this blog or any news site lately I am sure you know how much analysis has been going on with the now infamous Missed field goal in the AFC Champoionship game by Billy Cundiff.

After John Maatich, (TKS Owner) has analyzed speicifically the kick the operation and everything leading up to the kick it is important to know one thing… a kicker should only be thinking about his next kick.  Below is a link from the Baltimore Sun who uses multiple writers giving their opinion on the miss.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/sc-spt-0125-4corners-20120124,0,7738966.story

While I am ecstatic that there is a plethora of kicking topics and people writing about it, the information on this topic should slowly start dying out.  While I am a huge fan of Billy Cundiff I feel the more this topic is discussed the more it does disservice to Cundiff and everything he has done in his career.  Much like an Offensive Lineman, a holder a snapper, the only time a kicker is the focal point is when they mess up.

I also have to give Cundiff his due he hasnt blamed anyone, he shoulders the blame and has taken his licks in stride.  In addition Ray Lewis has shown to be a consumate teamate and locker room leader, even if he did this Madden commercial back in 2004.

POSTED BY TIM VALENCIA

One of the most important aspects of kicking is confidence, and with the NFL playoffs being cut down to only eight teams, I have decided to rank the final 8 kickers in a new way that was shown on the radio show of Mike and Mike on ESPN.

Rather than an overall ranking, kickers will be ranked 1 through 8 in three distinct categories; Leg Strength, Accuracy, and Clutch/Experience.  The kicker with the lowest cumulative score is the kicker I have the most confidence in to help his team win their playoff games.

Leg Strength-  (Based on touchbacks, and long field goals during the 2011 season)

• Matt Prater Denver Broncos-1
• Mason Crosby Green Bay Packers-2
• David Akers San Francisco 49ers-3
• Billy Cundiff Baltimore Ravens-4
• Lawrence Tynes New York Giants-5
• Neil Rackers Houston Texans-6
• Stephen Gostkowski New England Patriots-7
• John Kasay New Orleans Saints-8

Prater has a supernatural leg when it comes to strength, as well as him having an advantage of playing in Denver, it makes sense for him to be ranked number 1st. Crosby made a 58 yard field goal this year along with 49 touchbacks this season so he comes a very, very close second. Akers has 47 touchbacks this year while having an amazing year in San Francisco, it also helps that he made a 55 yard field goal this year for a long.  Billy Cundiff, comes in fourth, with 44 touchbacks and a long of 51.  Lawrence Tynes comes in next with 34 touchbacks and a long of 50.  Rounding out the last three are Rakers Gostkowski and the Immortal John Kasay.

Accuracy

• Crosby-1
• Gostkowski-2
• Akers-3
• Rackers-4
• Kasay-5
• Tynes-6
• Prater-7
• Cundiff-8

The top four are a toss up as all completed around 85 percent of their kicks this year.   John Kasay comes in at five due to his limitation on his range so he will be presented with more reasonable field goal attempts.  Tynes and Prater follow up at 6 and 7 with their leg strength being the largest part of their game and accuracy playing a more secondary role.  Following up is Cundiff at 8,  Cundiff does have a very accurate leg, but he is coming back from an injury as well as he had a down year completing only 75% of  his kicks.

Clutch/ Experience:

• Akers-1
• Crosby-2
• Kasay-3
• Tynes-4
• Gostkowski-5
• Rackers-6
• Cundiff-7
• Prater-8

This one might be the most difficult, but in an effort to be objective I have ranked based on career clutch kicks and postseason experience. Akers ranks 1st with a high amount of playoff experience including multiple game winning kicks and superbowl experience.  Crosby ranks right behind him with clutch postseason experience in his very short career as well as a Superbowl ring from last year.  After Crosby, Kasay is slotted in as he is the most experienced kicker as well as having playoff and superbowl experience.  The next two; Tynes and Gostkowski both have Super bowl experience but Tynes gets the nod since he has a Superbowl ring. Finally, Cundiff and Prater, while both have plenty of game winning kicks but Cundiff gets the slight nod with more playoff experience.

After all the totals are added up the Kickers rank the following:

• Mason Crosby-5
• David Akers-7
• Lawrence Tynes-14
• Stephen Gostkowski-14
• John Kasay-16
• Matt Prater-16
• Neil Rakers-16
• Billy Cundiff-19

Not too much surprise here as Crosby is the Kicker that I have the most confidence in these playoffs, with David Akers with a close second.  Only time will tell if these picks hold true.

TKS is requesting your admission to the TKS Winter Football Kicking Showcase Camp on February 19th 2012 in San Diego, CA.

If you are looking to aquire the basic fundamentals of how to kick, punt of kickoff for football this is the camp for you. Also this will be a great opportunity to compete with some of the best specialists in Southern California. If you are still looking for a place to play college football, you can also demonstrate your skills to the TKS staff and help you chances to get on a college roster.

The cost $100 until January 1st, 2012 after that $150.The camp will be held at La Jolla Country Day School from 9-1pm in San Diego, CA.

Here is link to register: http://www.kickingsystem.com/tks-camps.html

It was a busy Sunday with the 10th Anniversary of September 11th and the start of the NFL season!  Not to mention the great performances of all the TKS Alumni in high school and college.

The San Diego Chargers kicking game took a huge blow when the Minnesota Vikings took back the first kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown. Nate Kaeding got injured on the play trying to make the tackle and all indications show a torn ACL on his left knee and as of this post Norv Turner said “Nate is out for the season.” After that, the punting warlord of the NFL, Mike Scifres, (fresh off a new contract extension) was the placekicker. Although he did not warm-up in pre-game with any field goals, hit a few during half time and Coach Turner decided to extend his field goal range to around 40 yards. Of course, Scrifres blasted a few touchbacks for kickoffs, which we knew he was capable of doing, but he kicked a 40-yard field goal in a pressure situation. It was Scifres first pro field goal, he did kick some long field goals in college.

Its not often in the NFL that we see the punters kicking field goals, in fact, we often see other position players take over for the kicker if they go out with an injury. It shows how valuable Mike Scifres is at the specialist position. His legendary status took on another level. Scifres is known as the “king of hang time” in the kicking industry and to be able and perform a field goal under pressure puts him in a whole another level. With all the specialization in the kicking industry these days it was nice to see the punter take on the kicking duties and excel. Scifres went on to say in the post game press conference, “the nerves crept in a little bit, but after the first extra point…it was smooth sailing…I knew I was capable of doing it.”

The interesting part from a kicking technique perspective is that you would think that all punters would be great kickers and all kickers would be great punters. As mentioned earlier, in the kicking industry, there has been speclization over the course of the last 10-15 years. Nowdays, the NFL has long snappers on teams that just snap, and sometimes you have a kickoff specialist (David Buehler, Dallas Cowboys). Although with the new kickoff rule this year, it changed the kickoff line to the 35 yard line. We might see less teams carrying two kickers. But we rarely see, a specialist kicking and punting. We don’t see that in the college game either all that much.  What the average fans does not undertand and Scrifres explains is a quote: “Kicking off and the field goal is a lot more across your body, whereas punting is more of a straight line,”   He is exactly right, kicking and punting are two completely different realms.  In the punting motion you have to stay more linear, whereas in kicking you have more torque and come across your body more. With all of these specialization these days, the punters and kickers are improving every year, the muscle memory is ingrained in the kicker and punter for years. It can be difficult for a punter to kick a 50 yard field goal consistently and it can be hard for a kicker to punt a 40 yard punt with decent hang time. And then ask them to perform under pressure is another ball of wax. Which is why Scifres being able to perform the way he did was impressive in my eyes. To be able to average over forty five yards a punt, your body and mind are ingrained with the technique and to change your swing under pressure can be a difficult kick.

As for possible candidates, this is no brainer. The Chargers had Nick Novak in last years preseason camp and is coming off a great preseason with the New York Jets. I personally watched Nick kick all summer long at SDSU working with a holder and snapper in order to prepare for the season. I was working with students on one side of the field and Nick was kicking and working on his technique on the other side, next thing you know he could be the next Charger kicker! As of this post he is expected to come in on Tuesday and workout!

Also want to recommend John Carney who lives in San Diego and is still kicking!

Going into my 9th season as kicking coach at Mesa College, I was ready for another challenge. At the community college level every year is quite different. Sometimes you get some great athletes who cant kick, or you get some kids who can kick but dont lack the college level strength. My first year I helped Brian Courtney (Saints HS)  earn a punting scholarship to TCU and kicker Louis Villagomez went on to (West Texas A&M). I like to think I have been very fortunate over the years, numerous students have come and move on to the college  ranks. One year we had over 7 kickers and punters. To many memories to recount, this years crop involves a returning kicker, McCall Penn (La Jolla HS)  and new comer Marcus Diaz (Poway HS).

McCall and Marcus did not disappoint in this years opening kickoff against Grossmont College in San Diego, CA.  McCall handled the punting duties and Marcus kicked a the game wining field goal from 44 yards in a 33-30 win for Mesa College last Saturday night. After 14 seasons of not beating Grossmont it was a pleasure to watch as the ball sailed thru the uprights, after working on the operation all summer long. McCall, our punter, is also the holder on field goals and with our snapper (Brandon) we got perfect laces and great get off time, so there was no chance of getting this kick blocked. We cant wait to play Southwestern!

Marucs Diaz, Mesa College & McCall Penn

If anyone has currently been watching any of the preseason games, I am sure you have heard the complaints of the new kickoff rule.  Through two weeks, touchbacks are up twenty from last year.  While it is a small sample size it is expected to increase even more as we progress into the regular season.

While this rule is not expected to be amended anytime this year, the initial backlash has been felt, each game the new rule has been a topic of discussion.

Kick return players have not been the only people to comment on the rule change.  Up until recently, no one has commented as thoroughly as New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick has.

Coach Belichick has proposed going even further with changing the rules for kickers.

“Philosophically, plays that are nonplays shouldn’t be in the game,” he told WEEI, a Boston radio station. “I don’t think it is good for the game. Extra points, when the odds are in the 99 percent range, it is not a play. Let’s move the ball back to the 15-, 20-yard line and not make it a tap-in. Let them kick it. Same thing with the kickoff return. If you’re going to put the ball on the 20, put the ball on the 20.” – from article by Dan Daly Washington Times  Wednesday August 24th 2011

As much as kickers are seen as non athletes, the recent rule change hasnt been just because of safety but also because kickers have gotten to good at what their duties.  This is evident in the suggested changes by Coach Belichick, kickers now convert PAT’s at a 99% rate where as they convert field goals from 30-39 yards at a rate of 87%.  So now the questions stands to you.

http:///www.kickingsystem.com — In this interview, Bret Caslavka and John Matich talks about what is Pilates, how it can help your kicking game and much more. This is a must listen for all levels of kickers and punters! A great workout!

You can find Bret at www.pilatesplussandiego.com!

http://www.kickingsystem.com — In this interview New York Jets Kicker, Nick Folk talks about life as a NFL Kicker, what he does in the off-season and of course Rex Ryan and his half time talks!

Want to listen to the full version click here:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kickingsystem

A great person retired this last week….. and no I dont mean Oprah I am speaking of the quietest record breaking career for a place kicker, Matt Stover.
Time and time again, most every guest we have had on the radio show has said,” emulate a professional and it will help you take your game to the next level.” In my opinion there is no better professional kicker to emulate than recently retired 19 year NFL veteran Kicker, Matt Stover.

Stover played college football at Louisiana Tech University where ended his career 64-88 in field goals including a 57 yard field goal against Texas A&M. In addition to Kicking, his senior year he also punted 36 times for a 34.1 yard average. While his college statistics were less than impressive in consistency, it was his pure leg strength that brought him to the NFL. It was known that he frequently kicked his kickoffs through the uprights.

Stover was selected 329th overall by the Giants in ’91 but couldn’t usurp the incumbent kicker, Matt Bahr. He was picked up by the Cleveland Browns and the rest was history,

From 1991-2008 Matt Stover was a mainstay for the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens. In his time with the Browns/Ravens, Stover appeared in 2 Probowls and was a SuperBowl Champion with the Ravens in 2001. Up until 2008 when he was released by the Ravens, Stover was the last remaining original Cleveland Brown since the team moved to Baltimore. As a testament to his skills, at age 40 Stover was picked up by the Indianapolis Colts to fill in for the injured Adam Vinatieri. With the Colts, Stover had two great accomplismnts, a game winning PAT against the Patriots with 13 seconds left, and in 2009 being the oldest player to appear in a Superbowl at 42.

While Stover came into the league and was known for his leg strength, 8 years into his career he made a change from distance to accuracy. It was best described by him in his golf analogy.

“I had to take away my 3- and 4-iron out of my golf bag, and I could only go out there with a 7-iron with it,” Stover said. “I mean, it really took some clubs out of the bag when I did it, but it was all about survival, and 48 yards and in was pretty good. After that, I was OK. I mean, I’m out there trying to hit a 190[-yard] shot with a 7-iron. And that’s not easy to do.”

Needless to say his adjustments yielded amazing results, from 1997 to the end of his career Stover didnt miss a PAT. That means that 14 year olds would be led to believe that Matt Stover cant miss PAT’s.    Stover’s consecutive PAT record is the longest in the NFL 422, along with that record he also hold the record  for most consecutive games with a field goal, 38. These two records also go along with him being ranked top 10 in every kicking statistic in NFL history including 4th all time for Field Goals.
Along with his kicking records, he is the 4th highest scorer all time and the Ravens all time leading scorer.

Stover finished up his illustrious career with a 99.5% PAT conversion rate and an astounding 83.7% field goal conversion rate, with his longest, 55 yards, coming in his first year. His career statistics, should net him the second spot for a kicker in the NFL hall of fame, in addition to his consistency raising the bar in what is expected of kickers.

Besides all of the statistics that proves Stover was a great kicker and person to emulate. Every action has made him worhty of high praise and admiration. From high school his accounts of kicking whether or not his high school teams had practice . In the pros him being humble enough to change his approach to kicking, to him representing the his franchise until he was forced out. In 2009 he helped give local kickers tips, while he wasn’t playing. Finally, even in his press conference where he retired he dressed in Raven colors and spoke nothing but kind words of the franchise that he spent most of his pro career. It should also be mentioned Stover has been a force in the community with his charity.

http://www.mattstoverfoundation.org/

Basically, any current kickers could do a lot worse than trying to be like potential future Hall of Famer, Matt Stover.

While his form might be mimicked his greatness might not ever be matched again.

http://blog.kickingsystem.com/  In this interview former, San Diego Charger, Kicker, Rolf Benirschke, talks about his life in the NFL, off-season kicking, Hall of Fame, Best kicker in the NFL and what he looks for in a kicker. Great insight from Rolf! Sorry for the poor audio! Want more check our our blog! This footage was from the Drew Brees Cox Celebrity Golf Championship.

Thanks to Hard Ninety http://hardninety.com/ for sponsoring this interview!