KICKER

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

More telling than the kicks he did take are the kicks the coaches didn’t want him to take.

[AppSt94]

More telling than the kicks he did take are the kicks the coaches didn’t want him to take.

How so?

[ASUFan4863]

More telling than the kicks he did take are the kicks the coaches didn’t want him to take.

This makes no sense. Maybe I’m out of the loop but doesn’t the coach tell the kicker when to kick?

[AppinVA]

It would be fine with me if all he has to do is kick extra points. And boot kickoffs through the end zone.

[AppSt94]

It would be fine with me if all he has to do is kick extra points. And boot kickoffs through the end zone.

I don’t think kicking it through the endzone is the plan. Statistically speaking, kicking it a couple yards into the endzone will often illicit a return. The average staring position for a return is less than the 25 yard line.

[Saint3333]

There were times many teams would have kicked a FG I.e. inside the 35 when 3 points gets us within one score.

Let’s not pretend all of those 4th and shorts would have been called if we had more confidence in our kicker.

Averaging one attempt per game is pretty low.

[AppinVA]

It would be fine with me if all he has to do is kick extra points. And boot kickoffs through the end zone.

I don’t think kicking it through the endzone is the plan. Statistically speaking, kicking it a couple yards into the endzone will often illicit a return. The average staring position for a return is less than the 25 yard line.

The second part was more in jest. Still, a boot through the end zone is a sure thing.

[T-Dog]

We kicked a short field goal versus Troy and Clark publicly regretted that decision. Then we attempted only one field goal, a make at Texas State, in the next seven games. It wasn't Hughes, it was Clark wanting touchdowns over field goals.

The UNC miss was a bad miss, even from 51. The A&M miss was a doink from 42. The Statesboro miss was inexcusable and even tho it was allegedly Hughes preferred spot, the ball should have been centered. But Hughes did make kicks from both hashes in that game, including in overtime.

Hughes also went 50 for 50 from PATs in 2022.

[AppStateNews]

We kicked a short field goal versus Troy and Clark publicly regretted that decision. Then we attempted only one field goal, a make at Texas State, in the next seven games. It wasn't Hughes, it was Clark wanting touchdowns over field goals.

The UNC miss was a bad miss, even from 51. The A&M miss was a doink from 42. The Statesboro miss was inexcusable and even tho it was allegedly Hughes preferred spot, the ball should have been centered. But Hughes did make kicks from both hashes in that game, including in overtime.

Hughes also went 50 for 50 from PATs in 2022.

So, as a fan, you think the coach should go against what the kicker prefers? That's crazy... As a coach, you go with what has the best chance of working. A kicker saying he has a better chance of making it from the hash than centering it, that is something 100% of coaches will do.

Most kickers prefer the hash over center actually -- especially close distance.

[T-Dog]

Hughes made all 50 PATs last season from the center of the field. I don't know if he makes all 50 of them from the left hash.

[AppStateNews]

Hughes made all 50 PATs last season from the center of the field. I don't know if he makes all 50 of them from the left hash.

Oh, so you were at the multiple practices where every kicker kicks over 100 from left, center, right? And Hughes had a near 100% accuracy from both hashes and only about 85 from center? You saw that and STILL think center is better?

A 19 yard try on an xp from the center is way easier than a 31 yard fg attempt from the center...

And you obviously don't know the difference in scheming for an xp vs fg. Teams don't rush as hard on XPs because they usually play it safe. Which means the attempt is more controlled. The snap is different. The hold is different. Only way it's not is if it's a game winning situation (GaSo) or film shows otherwise... so a hash attempt where the kicker is more comfortable against high pressure (from players and nerves) is the right call...

[AppWyo]

It is unfair to blame the win or a loss on one play, because every play contributes to the final score of the game.

[311neers]

There were times many teams would have kicked a FG I.e. inside the 35 when 3 points gets us within one score.

Let’s not pretend all of those 4th and shorts would have been called if we had more confidence in our kicker.

Averaging one attempt per game is pretty low.

Or some better coaching decisions. Would be different if those 3rd and 2’s and 4th and 1’s weren’t all run stuffs up the middle.

[311neers]

Hughes made all 50 PATs last season from the center of the field. I don't know if he makes all 50 of them from the left hash.

Don’t bring that common sense in here. You don’t let a freshman kicker decide where they want to kick from in that situation when they are perfect from the middle of the field. That’s releasing you of all blame and putting it on the kid. 2 time outs, a 2nd down and 25 seconds left. Hughes should have hit the kick, Clark is still learning. Hughes is a good kicker, the moment got to him as we didn’t use him enough throughout the year. I trust he will keep the job and thrive.

[AppDub]

Maybe its a good sign of what the team is going to look like when we are down to arguing over the kicker. Once we get to cussing each other over the kickoff tee retriever we will be cooking with gas because we know every other position on the team is rock solid. I love it!

[AppSt94]

Maybe its a good sign of what the team is going to look like when we are down to arguing over the kicker. Once we get to cussing each other over the kickoff tee retriever we will be cooking with gas because we know every other position on the team is rock solid. I love it!

If we are going there, then I hope the kid they had last year took advantage of the S&C program. He was stiff coming in and out of his break. The fact that I haven’t heard of any portal moves is encouraging.

[Saint3333]

We kicked a short field goal versus Troy and Clark publicly regretted that decision. Then we attempted only one field goal, a make at Texas State, in the next seven games. It wasn't Hughes, it was Clark wanting touchdowns over field goals.

The UNC miss was a bad miss, even from 51. The A&M miss was a doink from 42. The Statesboro miss was inexcusable and even tho it was allegedly Hughes preferred spot, the ball should have been centered. But Hughes did make kicks from both hashes in that game, including in overtime.

Hughes also went 50 for 50 from PATs in 2022.

Everyone WANTS TDs vs FG, however game situations are important.

[311neers]

3 More Saturdays!!! It’s so close! Kick Apps.

[goapps]

First time i remember four kickers on roster. What is the status of Hughes? Is job
his or is there serious
competition?

After his performance last season, his job should be up for grabs.

9 of 12 with two of the misses being from 50+ is good...

True, but he missed a 30 yard FG that would have won the GSU and made us bowl eligible.

So one bad kick means he was bad all season and deserves to be benched... Got it!

I did not mean that he deserves to be benched, rather that he should have to compete for his job.

[BambooRdApp]

Every player should have to compete for their job every season, every practice, etc.
Hughes had a very good season last year and should be the leader going into fall practice...