For the Kicker Bashers

Seems like every week there is multiple posts criticizing the ability of one or more of our kickers. Criticism usually derives from a lack of understanding, so let me share some information.

Think about this...most colleges identify certain important skill positions and those positions have specific coaches dedicated to training players in that position on how to improve their skill set. At LSU we have a Running Backs coach, a Wide Receivers coach, a Tight Ends coach, DB coach, usually a QB coach ( although Cam pulls double duty on this, and so forth.

There is no kicking coach. Kickers just fall under special teams and usually the Special Teams Coach has no experience in the mechanical aspects of kicking. Kickers are on their on. Unless the entire special teams unit is practicing, kickers are expected to just go find time to kick. They will get charted 2 or 3 times during camp. That is the limit of interest coaches have in them. They just expect them to get better on their own.

Take Cameron Gamble for an example. Cameron was recruited because all throughout HS he did one thing....he blasted balls out of the back of the end-zone. He did this on pure leg strength, because as much I like Cameron, he still has some mechanical flaws in his swing. Nevertheless, he comes to LSU and is told to "drop the ball between the sideline and the left hash, no more than 3 yards deep" and yet, never provided any serious training on how to do this. This is NOT an easy thing to do. If it were, NFL kickers would do it every week. With Millions of dollars on the line, every Sunday, NFL kickers boom through the end-zone.

Kickers spend their own money and dedicate extra time to obtain skilled coaching from specialized private camps, such as Kohl's, Sailer or Guy.

Colby is LSU's all-time accuracy leader with 84% and has the 3rd best single season in LSU history with 92.9%. Pevito has nothing to do with that. Colby was the #26 ranked HS player in nation. He was hitting 55-60 yds as a senior. Pevito had nothing to with that.

The same can be said for our next kicker, Connor Culp. Connor has worked his way through the camp circuit and developed a skill set that got him recruited....but what is LSU going to do to help the kid improve his skill-set? Nada.

My point is.....schools take every other position and work hard to develop the skill set the kid showed up with....except kickers. Kickers are on their on. By and large, these guys do a great job. They take their roles serious. LSU is not the only school guilty of expecting kickers to somehow just magically be better than they were in HS...few coaches really understand the position, the mechanics and the physics involved.

Just food for thought....