USF Coach Stands By Kicker

[BullGarmuck]

"This game is as big as they come," Leavitt said. "There isn't any doubt about it. It is a huge game."

BTW: Was it just me or did it take the defense about 1 1/2 quarters to recover (mentally) from DA 2 misses in the 1Q at UConn. I said it during the AU game and post game talk, CJL gambles with more than 3 points when he trots that guy out. The team knows DA sucks and CJL loses their confidence when he does so.

I couldn't agree more with this statement. The offense and defense must really be hating life when they see him take the field. It's got to really "take the wind out of your sails" to march all the way down the field only to not put points on the board and give the other team good field position.

"Come on Jim.... just go for it. You're either going to hurt the entire team's confidence or the confidence of ONE guy who already makes around 50% of his field goals."

[Triple B]

I couldn't agree more with this statement. The offense and defense must really be hating life when they see him take the field.

And Delbert must be hating life when he sees that the offense can't punch it in in 4 tries from the 5 and the defense gives up 150+ yards two weeks in a row to a running back .... It's a team game.

It's got to really "take the wind out of your sails" to march all the way down the field only to not put points on the board and give the other team good field position.

Since when is the 20 yd line good field position?

[Mooby]

I'm losing more confidence in CJL as the weeks go by.  If we know that Delbert can't make a field goal (and we know he can't) you have to go for it on 4th down!  Delbert is 50% for the year - that can't be any worse that if we go for it on 4th down.  Delbert has made 11 more field goals than my python Clyde, and Clyde doesn't have any feet!  Maybe it would be best if he put the rap career aside for a minute and concentrated on kicking.

[dabull80]

might as well put a Florida State uniform on him.

Ahh man  tooo cruel  FSU is down and kick them ?  LOL

[___ Eats It]

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/adamsandler/thelonesomekicker.html

LISTEN

"The Lonesome Kicker"

Me, I'm the Lonesome Kicker

Extra points, field goals at your service

One might think it comes with glory

You might think different after you listen to my story

My helmet is equipped with a tiny face mask

What it possibly could protect, I do not know

The other guys on the team like to make fun of my little shoulder pads

And also like to hide the special shoe I need to kick in the snow

People think it's so easy to kick a field goal from the 30 yard line

They forget to add seven yards for the snap and 10 more 'cause the goal posts are pushed way back

In 1974, the uprights were right on the goal line but some of the players were running into them and getting hurt

So screw the kicker... Who cares about the kicker?

But I kick that ball and I pray it goes straight

If it does the coach says "Good job, number 8"

He doesn't even know my name is Andre Kristacovitchlalinski, Jr.

But that's the life I live... The Lonesome Kicker

Kickoffs can be so very scary

Especially, if the returner breaks on through

And I'm the only guy on the playing field left to tackle him

I don't want to get hurt so I pretend to tie my shoe

Once again, I'm ignored by my teammates and all my coaches

"Go back where you came from!" scream 70,000 fans

Well, I know I could win their love back by catching a winning touch-down

But, unfortunately, I was born with these very small hands

And I hope that the cameras don't come in too close

'Cause they might see the tears in my eyes

As I sit on this bench made of cold-hearted wood

And the splinters go deep in my thighs

And the towel boy snickers as he walks by... The Lonesome Kicker

Another blocked kick!

And everybody blames me!

But it was the Left Guard... Who didn't pick up his man

Oh, why can't they see?

In my home country I could have been a minor league soccer player

But I came to America seeking fortune and seeking fame

I didn't realize that if I shanked one and blew the point spread

Some drunk guys would push me into their hibachi after the game

So I go home at night 'Cause I never get invited

To go drinking with the other guys

And I sit in my chair, and I soak my foot

As I eat a plate of cold French fries

And my wife's out with her quote-unquote friend

And my son can't look me in the eyes

But that's the life I live... The Lonesome Kicker

Kicking for you!

They took my snow shoe!

They're going for two!

[Ruger7mmmag]

It's pretty bad when your 4th down conversion % is higher than your FG %.  When that is the case you GO FOR IT ON FOURTH DOWN!!!!  Especially when it's less than 5.  IF we can't put out 5 WRs with the option to throw the short route or for Grothe to run, and make it more than 50% of the time, then we deserve to lose.

[Henry Jones Jr.]

Tripple B how do you still defend DA? He should stick to the rap game, and stay off the football field.

[-los]

We used to have good kickers a whike ago..

[Triple B]

Tripple B how do you still defend DA? He should stick to the rap game, and stay off the football field.

I'm thickheaded. I'm noit saying he's an All-American but we didn't lose these last two games because of Alvarado. He's not kicking lights out but he is making more than he's missing, albeit just barely ......... and, still sounding like a broken record, I've got respect for him because he kicked THE most clutch field goal in our short history.

[Sunil]

It's been brought up before that many times when we're inside the 30 and get backed up on third down, it looks like we're playing for the field goal  based on some of the playcalls. There is a reason I bring that up.

If we know in our mind on third down that we're going to play it safe for a field goal on 4th...then we NEED TO RUN A PLAY WHICH PUTS THE BALL IN THE CENTER OF THE FIELD. (sorry just trying to emphazsize). The kid is a much better kicker if you can get him a straight shot down the middle. Too often, the ones he misses are off to the extreme hash. Is he going to hit it everytime? No...but most of his misses are an issue of angles and not of distance. I'm not saying we just call a run sideways for no yardage....but you can have hot reads on passes to the center of the field  that help you on 1st and second down, as well as calling run plays that set you up well if you know the FG attempt is inevitable. That's just smart football.