Anyone know anything on this punter? His punts were the best in warmups the other day but wasn’t sure if he froze up in game situations or what
| FTBL Punter?
- Thread starter doemasters
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94 Grad
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bama alum
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Exactly!
Rolltide24
Member
You mean DeShort?
From the article. "Heading into Saturday, the Crimson Tide ranked No. 127 of 130 Division I teams, averaging 35.45 yards per punt. Skyler DeLong has particularly struggled, averaging 33.8 yards on his eight attempts, with two punts traveling fewer than 25 yards. Those numbers are trending in the wrong direction as the sophomore has averaged 29.6 yards on his five punts over the past three games."
My son and I were paying close attention to him during warmups and he was getting AT LEAST 10-15 yards more on his kicks than DeLong and more height as well. At this point, I say to hell with it and run him out there!!!! DeLong is SO DEEP in his own head that I don't know if there is any coming out of it! He is footballs version of Mark Wohlers after the Jim Leyrentz HR in '96.
No inside information or no connections, but I would think that CNS is simply trying to give DeLong all of the confidence he can by running him out there. He doesn't want the kid to think he has given up on him, but I do believe that when push comes to shove and we get in a tight game, DeLong is debenched!!
I used to always tell my guys when I was coaching that the minute I stop coaching you, you had best be worried. That means that I have given up on you and I am moving on to others. DeLong is very likely pushing Saban that direction.
colbyjacks
Member
Gleaning from the article, maybe it is a consistency issue with Perine? Don't really know
50+yeartidefan
Member
And more limited on travel squad.....
But then again....AnM shouldnt get us-in punting situations often....
Delong just needs to get out there and bang a few....
BamaFan334
Member
I still don't see how a punter can get in his own head. I can understand a place kicker having issues having to work with a goal post, but good lord, just kick the damn ball. I punted in high school, so I am well aware of the mechanics yadda yadda, but even as a half ass punter, I was booting it 45 yards, in high school! As a college athlete, this guy outta have big leg muscles and if anything, muscle one out there 45-50 yards. If there are directional punts being sent in, the coaching staff needs to shut that crap down and just have him kick the damn ball as far as he can wherever and let the athletes we have make a play.
Think of a golfer. Once he hooks or slices a few, he starts to correct things himself and then OVER corrects, making it worse. I punted in school as well and I even handled punters during special teams periods when I was coaching. During that 10-15 minute period, the punters had my complete and full attention. The problem is, the other 2 1/2 hours of practice that I was locked in on my QBs or LBs. Same situation with Coach Banks and his TEs.
Do you recall the punter from instate that Saban signed early in his tenure from Thomasville, Jay Williams in the 2010 class. Kid was supposed to be pretty good, but he never materialized and Cody Mandell became the punter. Some of these guys have to have their hand held I guess.
JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Member
Skyler Delong can't handle punting when it comes to GameDay. He is scared shitless to say the least when they run him out on 4th down. 45 yards from toe to receiver is what I punted in high school and that is what Delong is doing today. He must be one hell of a practice player in order for him to be on scholly at this point.
BamaFan334
Member
Let's be honest here, hitting a golf ball is completely different than punting a football, and golf is WAY more mental than football. Muscles negatively affect you in golf, whereas football they are strengths. Our kids can get a punt off while playing in the yard and my son is six. I have seen three kids this year in our youth league that can kick it 30 yards, and one is seven and the other two were nine. I'd bet my life on the fact that I could be sent out there on the biggest stage, field a snap and punt a ball 35-40 yards without warming up, and in pads. I'm no kicker either. His leg strength alone outta hit it 45 yards as I stated above, and anything else would come from his form. He just isn't the guy. Is it easy to shank one here or there? Of course, happens to the best of them, but the guy is averaging 34 yards per punt, and 35 yards last year. Yeah, coaching could be hurting the situation, because honestly it doesn't seem we're getting enough out of the tight ends OR the kicker, so who does that fall on?
Justneedme81
Member
I think Delong get one more chance and Ty get a chance in the game. I wouldn't be shocked to see us using two different punters in the game.
I can only think Saban sees that DeLong has the physical skills and has shown it in practice. If he was not seeing the ability in practice I would not expect him to even be out there. Seems like he is trying to get him to take if from practice to the game. As we all know it is not happening.
With the inexperience on Defense we can't afford to give up field position so I think Saban will have to show his hand soon.
With the inexperience on Defense we can't afford to give up field position so I think Saban will have to show his hand soon.
94 Grad
Member
Hang time and distance are not the only factors in punting. Snap to kick time is also a very important thing. Maybe he can kick the ball high and far, but it takes him too long to catch and kick it? I have no idea if that is the case, but it is something to consider. Hang time and distance don't mean squat if you don't get the kick off your foot without getting it blocked.
Trust the process...
