Who replaces Eberle?

BigBlueDart · Post by **BigBlueDart** » December 31st, 2019, 3:15 pm

Apologies if this has been covered somewhere else, but I just don't recall this specifically discussed before. Who takes over place-kicking duties from Dom? I'm seeing no offers or commits, except for the Aussie punter, Kotsanlee. We only have one other place-kicker listed on the roster right now in Freshman Connor Coles. Will Connor be our only option for kickoffs and field goals next year? Is Kotsanlee an either/or recruit for punting/kicking? Are we going to try to bolster the depth with walk-ons? I'd just really hate to go back to the dark days of poor kicking (or at least when it counts).

GameFAQSAggie · Post by **GameFAQSAggie** » December 31st, 2019, 3:37 pm

BigBlueDart wrote: ↑
December 31st, 2019, 3:15 pm
I'd just really hate to go back to the dark days of poor kicking (or at least when it counts).

A few thoughts
1. One thing that can't be overlooked is besides Eberle making the kick when it mattered the most, finally ending a long curse of ALWAYS missing kicks in that situation, there's the protection that was good on the part of the other 10 guys, and protection is harder in that situation when a team is going on all-out block as opposed to the second quarter.
2. I'm far more worried about our defense keeping us in the games and being in a situation where a few kicks matter, and not having BYU/Boise/AF typed game. For a start, I'm more worried about the defense against the Washington State passing attack than ONE potential kick.
3. I'll first worry about the next kicker being able to make kicks period, before I worry about kicks in pressure situations.
4. I am also worried more about improved redzone execution to make up for a kicker that really isn't quite money the way Eberle was.

Aggie84025 · Post by **Aggie84025** » December 31st, 2019, 3:48 pm

I am guessing it will be Coles. I don't know much about him, but I have a feeling he will be decent. Great points above about needing to score in the red zone situations. I hope he has things right between the ears. I just want to see him be automatic from within 45 yards. If he is the added bonus of hitting a 50 yarder on top of that is great. Here is to continuing on solid kicking like we had the last few years.

BigBlueDart · Post by **BigBlueDart** » December 31st, 2019, 3:57 pm

Yeah, I get that we have bigger concerns. But every team needs a kicker. And really, that kicker is going to need a backup. If Coles is the only PK we have on the roster, what happens if he gets injured?

ThunderAggie · Post by **ThunderAggie** » December 31st, 2019, 4:14 pm

Skylar Southam is transferring from BYU and was #3 kicker in country out of high school in 2016. Was 1-3 on FGA this year but hit 3-3 XPA. He was BYU starting kicker last year and went 11-16 FGA and hit all field goals from within 40 yards. Was also 42-44 on XPA. Went to Wasatch. Perhaps we could snatch him.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/p ... er-southam

Post by **aggies22** » December 31st, 2019, 4:31 pm

The problem we are facing is we do not have a scholarship to give a kicker. Connor Coles is a pretty good kicker but there needs to be competition for the spot.

Our top kicker target is RJ Lopez from Mission Viejo HS. But he really wants a scholarship. The feather in our cap is that RJ is a disciple of Aggie great Brad Bohn. I've spoken with Brad on a few occasions and he believes RJ is one of the top 3 or 4 kickers in the country.

Imakeitrain · Post by **Imakeitrain** » January 1st, 2020, 1:50 pm

It's really frustrating that people give Nick Diaz so much disrespect. From his bio:

HONORS: Second-Team All-Mountain West (2014); College Sports Madness Third-Team All-Mountain West (2014); Phil Steele Third-Team All-Mountain West (2014); Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week (10/25/14); Honorable Mention All-Mountain West (2013); Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week (9/27/13); College Football Performance Awards National Specialist of the Week (9/27/13); WAC Special Teams Player of the Week (10/20/12); College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention National Placekicker of the Week (11/2/13; 10/20/12).

CAREER RECORDS: Ranks first all-time in school history with 136 career extra points made and 140 career extra point attempts... Also ranks second all-time at USU in career field percentage (.736), tied for second all-time with 39 made field goals and tied for fifth all-time with 53 field goal attempts... Also ranks third all-time in school history with 253 points scored and tied for fifth all-time in extra point percentage (.971).

Granted this was prior to Eberle, and yes Eberle is much better than Nick.

But Nick was a perfectly fine kicker. Most of his misses were blocked kicks- if someone is in the backfield, it doesn't matter what the kick angle is- they're going to have a good chance at blocking it. Was Diaz a step slow? Maybe. Was the line off, was the snap bad, did the holder turn laces out fast enough? Who knows. I do know that Eberle and Nick were recruited from the same place and same kicking school- and we at some point this season were recruiting a kicker from the same school. Do you think if we didn't have faith in Nick to begin with we'd continue have gone back to that well?

As for punters, Bentrude and Caldwell were very good. Some of the best we've ever had. Much better than current.

dyedblue · Post by **dyedblue** » January 1st, 2020, 2:29 pm

We have been blessed with a lot of good kickers over the years. Diaz was very good. We’ve missed some big kicks, but we shouldn’t have relied on field goals in some of those games.

I have never understood not giving scholarships to kickers. They make such a difference and if they suck it is only a one year deal.

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GameFAQSAggie · Post by **GameFAQSAggie** » January 1st, 2020, 2:43 pm

Imakeitrain wrote: ↑
January 1st, 2020, 1:50 pm
As for punters, Bentrude and Caldwell were very good. Some of the best we've ever had. Much better than current.

gomretat · Post by **gomretat** » January 1st, 2020, 5:13 pm

If you can find a good kicker it is worth a scholarship.

Aggie84025 · Post by **Aggie84025** » January 1st, 2020, 6:27 pm

Imakeitrain wrote: ↑
January 1st, 2020, 1:50 pm
It's really frustrating that people give Nick Diaz so much disrespect. From his bio:

HONORS: Second-Team All-Mountain West (2014); College Sports Madness Third-Team All-Mountain West (2014); Phil Steele Third-Team All-Mountain West (2014); Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week (10/25/14); Honorable Mention All-Mountain West (2013); Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week (9/27/13); College Football Performance Awards National Specialist of the Week (9/27/13); WAC Special Teams Player of the Week (10/20/12); College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention National Placekicker of the Week (11/2/13; 10/20/12).

CAREER RECORDS: Ranks first all-time in school history with 136 career extra points made and 140 career extra point attempts... Also ranks second all-time at USU in career field percentage (.736), tied for second all-time with 39 made field goals and tied for fifth all-time with 53 field goal attempts... Also ranks third all-time in school history with 253 points scored and tied for fifth all-time in extra point percentage (.971).

Granted this was prior to Eberle, and yes Eberle is much better than Nick.

But Nick was a perfectly fine kicker. Most of his misses were blocked kicks- if someone is in the backfield, it doesn't matter what the kick angle is- they're going to have a good chance at blocking it. Was Diaz a step slow? Maybe. Was the line off, was the snap bad, did the holder turn laces out fast enough? Who knows. I do know that Eberle and Nick were recruited from the same place and same kicking school- and we at some point this season were recruiting a kicker from the same school. Do you think if we didn't have faith in Nick to begin with we'd continue have gone back to that well?

As for punters, Bentrude and Caldwell were very good. Some of the best we've ever had. Much better than current.

Very good points. Diaz was a super solid kicker. If our kicker can perform similar I would be super pleased. One thing that frustrated me in the bowl game was the short kicks on the kick offs. We gave up a lot of field position because of it. If the kicker can kick out of the end zone they should be allowed to every time.

Post by **aggies22** » January 1st, 2020, 10:10 pm

gomretat wrote: ↑
January 1st, 2020, 5:13 pm
If you can find a good kicker it is worth a scholarship.

They might be able to give a "push forward" scholarship to RJ.

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