Kickoffs

[Captain Awesome]

I've not heard this mentioned anywhere, but did the kickoff distance not bother anyone else? They never went any further than the five and a lot of them were even shorter than that. Shouldn't an SEC kicker be at least getting them into the end zone? Did weather play a factor in this? Thoughts?

 

[Vol in]

Someone posted something about this and said it was part of the game plan to kick them short? I don't know if that is true, but AJ was able to cause a fumble by doing this, and we didn't give up any bad field position by doing so as well.

 

[JettVol]

Yea I think that coaches might feel our special teams speed is much improved and by kicking short we can get down there and pin them inside their own 15. I could be wrong though, but pretty sure our kicker has a strong enough leg to get to on the back wall of the stadium if he wanted too.

 

[Captain Awesome]

I can't really see that being part of the game plan, especially because it was consistently right at the five. But since touch-backs are at the 25 now, maybe we have a better chance to give them worse field position? Still seems like we'd want to take away the threat of a return. This definitely doesn't need to be the game plan against Georgia. Gurley will have a field day.

 

[West Coast Vol]

I've not heard this mentioned anywhere, but did the kickoff distance not bother anyone else? They never went any further than the five and a lot of them were even shorter than that. Shouldn't an SEC kicker be at least getting them into the end zone? Did weather play a factor in this? Thoughts?

Our kickoff after the first touchdown went 2-yards deep in the end zone and resulted in the fumble on the return. I agree, though, that the rest were falling too far short of the goal line. More problematic, however, was the placement near the center of the field versus closer to the sideline. I expect we will see big improvements in this tomorrow. The coaches have been quoted on fixing this quickly.

 

[Doyle Hargraves]

I'm afraid Gurley will probably have a field day even if every kickoff goes through the endzone.

 

[Other_Guy]

I was more concerned with the return team not even reaching the 20.

 

[eman17]

We have a Freshman kicker. His distance will improve as he gets older.

 

[toddyj]

The ball is also getting a lot if air time so we can close in on the returner before they get a good breakaway.

 

[OrangeByBirth]

Touchback = 25
Runback < 25

It seems reasonable to me to make them run it back. I trust that things will change/adapt to the opposition, too. The coaches are not stupid in spite of what some of the armchair quarterbacks may think.

 

[rickyb712]

We have a Freshman kicker. His distance will improve as he gets older.

4 posts. is that you medley?

 

[Tennman]

I believe its coaches strategy. I read earlier where the wall behind the end zone was called Medleys Wall because he was constantly hitting the wall with his kicks.

 

[Biopsyman]

You really want it long and deep

 

[azVolFan]

You really want it long and deep

That's what she said.

 

[Volsfan2013]

First kickoff by the Vols. I'm sure I can find more, but they definitely weren't at the five all day.

 

[UTFanForLife]

There were 7 kickoffs.

1st - Endzone, returned 12 yards then fumbled

2nd - 2 yard line, 23 yard return to 25

3rd - 21 yard line, 13 yard return to 34

4th - Endzone, returned 36 yards

5th - 14 yard line, 6 yards to 20

6th - 6 yard line, 19 yards to 25

7th - 5 yard line, 25 yards to 30

That's where kick landed, how many yards returned and where ball was spotted. If kick went into Endzone then the yards returned is where it was spotted.

1 turnover, 1 better result, 2 washes and 3 worse (against if all were just touchbacks instead).

 

[VOODOOVOL]

I've not heard this mentioned anywhere, but did the kickoff distance not bother anyone else? They never went any further than the five and a lot of them were even shorter than that. Shouldn't an SEC kicker be at least getting them into the end zone? Did weather play a factor in this? Thoughts?

It might have bothered me, if it were true.

 

[Boca Vol]

I would be happy if they found a kicker that kicked it out of the endzone every time. I would take that guarantee over the threat of a returner taking it to the house any day.

 

[vol-un-tear]

First kickoff by the Vols. I'm sure I can find more, but they definitely weren't at the five all day.

Yep a few from the goal line and inside the 5

 

[VOODOOVOL]

I would be happy if they found a kicker that kicked it out of the endzone every time. I would take that guarantee over the threat of a returner taking it to the house any day.

Me too. Doesn't matter if you're Willie Gault if it goes over your head.