Montana's Kicking Woes - Fact or Fiction?

[AZGrizFan]

There is a longing in Griz-land for another Dan Carpenter-like kicker, what with the perceived struggles of Purdue transfer Brodie McKnight the past couple years. This year McKnight is just 10-17 in field goals, after struggling even worse last year.

A look deeper inside the numbers, however, reveals something interesting:

McKnight's makes: 31, 23, 54, 21, 27, 38, 42, 27, 33, 20
McKnight's misses: 52, 52, 53, 54, 46, 41, 31

McKnight is 5-5 inside 30, and 8-9 inside 40 (including the game winner as time expired against Idaho State). He's made 1-3 from 40-49, and 1-5 outside 50, and 5 of his 7 misses are from beyond 45 yards. He's had just one blocked all year. Last year McKnight was just 7-12 inside 40 (and 9-16 overall) but didn't attempt a kick longer than 46 yards.

Basically, McKnight is money inside 40, which is about all you can ask from a kicker. All season I've cringed every time BH goes for a field goal, but I'm gonna have to change my tune depending on the field position from now on!

[polsongrizz]

W/O looking at the stats the previous kickers going back to when I moved home, 1994. I have said over and over that both of our kickers are the worst since I came back. Luckily last weekends game was indoors.

[Grizalltheway]

He's 1-3 from 40-49 yards, whereas the kick-for-cash kid is 2-2. Sign him up.

[AZGrizFan]

He's 1-3 from 40-49 yards, whereas the kick-for-cash kid is 2-2 with the ball on a tee and no 260 pound linemen running at him. Sign him up.

FIFY.

[AZGrizFan]

W/O looking at the stats the previous kickers going back to when I moved home, 1994. I have said over and over that both of our kickers are the worst since I came back. Luckily last weekends game was indoors.

That's my point. I thought the same thing, but in looking at the stats (at least inside the 40) it's not necessarily the case. Sure, McKnight won't be playing on Sundays, but he ain't NEARLY as bad as last year, and is actually dependable inside 40.

[Appaholic]

Vitaris sucks.....

[kemajic]

W/O looking at the stats the previous kickers going back to when I moved home, 1994. I have said over and over that both of our kickers are the worst since I came back. Luckily last weekends game was indoors.

Don't know where you were, but last weekend's game was outdoors in Wash/Griz.

Wren averaged a whopping 29.5 on his two punts. His season average is a mediocre 39.7. He has a good leg, but is inconsistent with some real clankers. If he can get rid of the bad ones, he will be a good punter.

McKnight is yet nowhere near the league of previous UM kickers, but is steadily improving.

[Willie]

McKnight is doing ok. Not great, but not bad either. Wren on the other hand, is shaky at best. The guy booms 'em one game, then blows dick the next. Granted I'm only a washed up has been D-III punter, but at least I can stay fucking consistent. It is his first year at the D-I level so I'll give him so leeway for now. But dammit, next season he better be a whole lot more consistent, or I'm gonna push for a 5th year of eligibility.

[dbackjon]

Without his good long kick at the end of the half against NAU, the Griz would not be undefeated.

[AZGrizFan]

Without his good long kick at the end of the half against NAU, the Griz would not be undefeated.

...and that's the longest one he's made all year (including last year too).

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Without his good long kick at the end of the half against NAU, the Griz would not be undefeated.

I suppose that is true because the complexion of the game would not have changed at all and the exact same decisions would have been made and the game would have went exactly as it did minus that one play.

It is however a reality that he did make it and we don't have to speculate on the "what if" of it all.

[SouthDakotaGrizzly]

Despite McKnight's accuracy inside the 40, you've gotta wonder how much confidence Hauck has in him. For example, against EWU with just over a minute left and facing 4th and goal from the 1 with the game tied at 34, Hauck went for the TD instead of the game winning FG. It worked out that time. Against ISU in the 1st half, he made the same decision and the Griz ended up leaving points on the field after the handoff was fumbled away. At the end of that game, with the ball again on the 1 with 9 seconds left, Hauck again went for the TD. A penalty nullified the completed pass and only then, with 4 seconds left, did he bring McKnight on for the game winner.

The question is: Is this a consequence of Hauck's faith (or lack of) in McKnight or of Hauck's apparently abundant faith in his team's ability to convert in 4th and 1 situations?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Despite McKnight's accuracy inside the 40, you've gotta wonder how much confidence Hauck has in him. For example, against EWU with just over a minute left and facing 4th and goal from the 1 with the game tied at 34, Hauck went for the TD instead of the game winning FG. It worked out that time. Against ISU in the 1st half, he made the same decision and the Griz ended up leaving points on the field after the handoff was fumbled away. At the end of that game, with the ball again on the 1 with 9 seconds left, Hauck again went for the TD. A penalty nullified the completed pass and only then, with 4 seconds left, did he bring McKnight on for the game winner.

The question is: Is this a consequence of Hauck's faith (or lack of) in McKnight or of Hauck's apparently abundant faith in his team's ability to convert in 4th and 1 situations?

I think it's the latter and the fact that he is confident that Chase will get it in when he only has a short distance to go. He is rarely stopped in that situation. I also think that the fact that Hauck has no problem with him kicking it from 40, 30, 20 yds. out and the number of attempts over 50 also show that he has some faith in the kid.

[AZGrizFan]

Despite McKnight's accuracy inside the 40, you've gotta wonder how much confidence Hauck has in him. For example, against EWU with just over a minute left and facing 4th and goal from the 1 with the game tied at 34, Hauck went for the TD instead of the game winning FG. It worked out that time. Against ISU in the 1st half, he made the same decision and the Griz ended up leaving points on the field after the handoff was fumbled away. At the end of that game, with the ball again on the 1 with 9 seconds left, Hauck again went for the TD. A penalty nullified the completed pass and only then, with 4 seconds left, did he bring McKnight on for the game winner.

The question is: Is this a consequence of Hauck's faith (or lack of) in McKnight or of Hauck's apparently abundant faith in his team's ability to convert in 4th and 1 situations?

I think it's the latter and the fact that he is confident that Chase will get it in when he only has a short distance to go. He is rarely stopped in that situation. I also think that the fact that Hauck has no problem with him kicking it from 40, 30, 20 yds. out and the number of attempts over 50 also show that he has some faith in the kid.

Agreed. Sure would like to see him nail a couple outside of 45 yards to get his OWN confidence up...

[VictorG]

McKnight is a Sophmore. If he improves as much next year as he did over the past year he will be another in the line of great Montana kickers. It seems no one remembers Carpenters Freshman year. He didn't even kickoff for home games!

As for the punter...to tall maybe? That ball has a long way to go from his hands to his feet. If Polz is talking while we're punting the wind from him alone will move that ball 2 inches to the side! Really though, I believe the punter had a serious knee injure last year and most likely is not yet fully recovered. He will be much improved next year.

[AZGrizFan]

McKnight is a Sophmore. If he improves as much next year as he did over the past year he will be another in the line of great Montana kickers. It seems no one remembers Carpenters Freshman year. He didn't even kickoff for home games!

As for the punter...to tall maybe? That ball has a long way to go from his hands to his feet. If Polz is talking while we're punting the wind from him alone will move that ball 2 inches to the side! Really though, I believe the punter had a serious knee injure last year and most likely is not yet fully recovered. He will be much improved next year.

Ah....Carpenter's freshman season....one for the ages....

[Grizo406]

Wanna' say WTF about kicking woes? Watch the 2001 National Championship game again!

[pigskin1]

Agrizfan
A very good post. When "comparing" Carps and McKnight people also neglect to look at what Carp's stats were as a Sophomore. Some posters may not remember Carp's stats as a freshman or sophomore because they were too young

K/O Sloan handled most of the K/O. Sloan's K/O average in 2005 was 59.4 with 4 TB
Carp's was 57.5 with 1 TB (these K/O were from the 35)
McKnight so far this year 62.2 with six 6 TB (K/O from the 30)

F/G Carps was

20-29 yds 4/5
30-39 yds 8/8
40-40 yds 1/7
50+ yds 1/1 50 yds

*Missed the last three kicks of the season from 42,25 and 49

Season misses from: 42,44,45,43,42,25,49

PATS 34/36

As for Wren. I think he potentially has a great leg. Certainly not too tall as someone mentioned. Punters are taller these days. His drop needs to be corrected IMO. I still think he is getting used to the scope of playing Div 1 football. In warm up he booms them and in a game is inconsistant. He will come on with experience.

[SpiderFan5]

Yall think your kicker is bad
Try Andrew Howard
Misses a 34 yarder to beat Nova
Missed 2 Xpoints this year
Has missed 15 field goals the last 2 seasons
and is 63% for his career

Now thats bad

[YoUDeeMan]

W/O looking at the stats the previous kickers going back to when I moved home, 1994. I have said over and over that both of our kickers are the worst since I came back. Luckily last weekends game was indoors.

Montana's Kicking Woes - Fact or Fiction?

Fact...since their last attempt in 1993.

[ASUG8]

Vitaris sucks.....

Yeah, he was pretty happy at Elon kicking .500. 15/22 on the year.