Kicking is Bob Stoops' No. 1 concern (is this a good thing?)

[oudavid1]

OU football notebook: Kicking is Bob Stoops' No. 1 concern
The Sooners will hold tryouts for walk-ons Thursday.

By Jake Trotter, Staff Writer, [email protected] Oklahoman Comment on this article 1
Published: August 24, 2010

Suffice to say, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was not fired up Tuesday about the Sooners' situation at place-kicker, where Patrick O'Hara, Jimmy Stevens, Bryce Easley and Michael Hunnicutt are all vying for the starting job.
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How did your kickers handle Tuesday's wind?

"Not good enough," Stoops said.

Is that your No. 1 concern?

"Sure."

What's the story with the kickers?

"There isn't anybody that's nailed it down. They'll be fine at times, then they won't be."

Thursday, the Sooners are holding walk-on tryouts. Stoops admitted his eyes will be on those who show up to kick.

"We're going to evaluate some guys."

Sooners name Jones, Lewis, Beal captains

The OU players have selected sophomore quarterback Landry Jones, junior linebacker Travis Lewis and senior defensive end Jeremy Beal to be their captains for this season.

"By far and away the vote getters," Stoops said.

Jones followed in the footsteps of Sam Bradford, who also was named captain as a sophomore.

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said he wasn't surprised by the players' vote for Lewis or Beal.

"Travis is more vocal, but when Jeremy speaks, everyone listens," Venables said. "Those guys are great ambassadors for our program."

Mossis Madu suspended for opener

Stoops confirmed Tuesday senior running back Mossis Madu will be suspended for OU's season opener against Utah State on Sept. 4.

Madu was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after being arrested in Norman on July 24. He was fined $430 and placed on one-year probation. His sentence was deferred until Aug. 2, 2011.

Madu, however, has worked his way out of the doghouse with a great camp. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson noted Monday that Madu has "separated" himself in the competition for No. 2 running back behind starter DeMarco Murray.

Madu will be back for OU's Sept. 11 game against Florida State.


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[goingoneight]

I'm concerned about Cam Kenney starting, but what do I know? :D

[BoulderSooner79]

It would be great if kicking is the #1 concern, but I'm not taking that at face value.

[Collier11]

Word is that Walk On Michael Hunnicut has been easily the most impressive in camp and has the lead to be the starter

[yermom]

kicking should be the #1 concern. i think a good kicker would have kept us from losing at least 3 out of the 4 games we lost last year

[yankee]

which whiskey to consume is MY number 1 concern.

[yermom]

mine is how i'm going to get to Cincy and back

[BoulderSooner79]

kicking should be the #1 concern. i think a good kicker would have kept us from losing at least 3 out of the 4 games we lost last year

I disagree (but I wish OU had a great kicking game). If Stoops said his #1 concern was say, QB play or O-line play or (gulp) defense, then I'd be skeert. We'll be okay if we are solid in all those areas and have a kicker that can hit from 35 in (i.e. Stevens). I think we'll find someone a bit better than that.

[yermom]

i think that's our biggest deficiency from last year. and it doesn't seem to have gotten much better :(

[Soonermagik]

Did you see that kicking game last year? Basically, if they don't correct it they will be forced to go for it on 4th down. A true national title team has to have the ability to get field goals.

We've lost several games due to field goals. I say bring back Hartley. ;)

[BoulderSooner79]

We all saw the kicking game last year and it was frustrating. But it was nothing compared to the O-line problems in the grand scheme of things. If the O-line plays well, there would have been more TDs, closer range for FGs, running game to control the clock/field position, etc. The writer was the one that labeled kicking game #1 concern and Stoops just said "sure". That was what was on his mind at the time - and he is trying to fix it.

[rawlingsHOH]

Just give me consistency inside of 40 yards. Beyond 40, I couldn't care less. Just make the gimmies.

[goingoneight]

Yeah, cuz in reality... it's usually something to celebrate when a kicker hits one beyond 40 anyways. Well... unless you're up 20 or more. Then nobody seems to care.

[BoulderSooner79]

Just give me consistency inside of 40 yards. Beyond 40, I couldn't care less. Just make the gimmies.

^This. With Stevens, it's more like 35, but hopefully we can get it to 40. The punting game is so good, it's actually a weapon and an average starting position of the 26 on KO coverage is decent (and I trust we can replace Moreland as he wasn't a world beater). So that's why I say that if the kicking game really is #1 on Stoops mind, we're in good shape - but i don't buy it. The O-line is still unproven as are the new receivers. And the new corners, and the DT position w/o McCoy. And finally, assuming the O-line is good, we don't know how LJ will consistently perform. There seems to be good reason to be optimistic, but none of this has been proven in a real game.

[fwsooner22]

Kicking problems happen to everyone. I remember catching a Mike Winchester punt (in the stands) one year.

[bri]

Why did we ever have to run out of Lashars? :(

[Collier11]

Just give me consistency inside of 40 yards. Beyond 40, I couldn't care less. Just make the gimmies.

Jimmy Stevens didnt miss one inside 40 and he got pulled

[bri]

To this day, I have no idea what happened to get Little Jimmy benched.

[NormanPride]

He started missing extra points and getting things blocked because his kicks have no lift to them.

[Collier11]

made no sense, and guys on this board bitched about him even though he didnt miss a single FG inside of 40 yards

[Collier11]

He started missing extra points and getting things blocked because his kicks have no lift to them.

He was 11-11 inside of 40 and missed 2 EPs. I dont give a sh*t if every one of his kicks was low if they are going in. Hell, we might have gone 9-3 to 11-1 if we make FGs

[BoulderSooner79]

I can see why folks wonder why we can't improve FG kicking after 2 years of below average results. It would be nice to have a decent shot at getting 3 from 45 yards out. But to believe it is the #1 concern seems ludicrous to me. A team could go 14-0 with a Stevens-like kicker if they dominate on defense and offense with solid punting. But a repeat of last year's O-line play would give us a repeat of last year's results. And the O-line is still unproven.

[Harry Beanbag]

We haven't had a decent kicker since Hartley left.

[rawlingsHOH]

We haven't had a decent kicker since Hartley left.

that was 2 years ago

[rawlingsHOH]

To this day, I have no idea what happened to get Little Jimmy benched.

Many of us don't. Had to be something in practice. Either poor performance by him or great kicking by Way.

[Collier11]

Since Way missed the kick against BYU and missed 4 or 5 against Neb, one has to wonder...had to be a attitude issue you would think

[Harry Beanbag]

that was 2 years ago


Yep. How long should it take to find only a decent field goal/extra point kicker?

[Collier11]

Again, Jimmy was 11-13 FG and missed 2 EPs before he was benched...obviously he wasnt Hartley as he couldnt hit outside of 40 but he got the job done

[Harry Beanbag]

Again, Jimmy was 11-13 FG and missed 2 EPs before he was benched...obviously he wasnt Hartley as he couldnt hit outside of 40 but he got the job done


He missed 7 extra points in a year and half. That just isn't acceptable.

[Collier11]

we are talking about 09, yea?

[BoulderSooner79]

He missed 7 extra points in a year and half. That just isn't acceptable.

Really? I thought he missed 3 in '08.. out of 99? And it was not a factor on that championship level squad.

The last 2 years have been below average and nobody is denying that. The coaches have brought in several players and are striving for improvement. Not sure why it hasn't panned out. Maybe we don't give it enough recruiting priority or perhaps our position coach is not a good instructor. Since we have had good kickers before, I suspect it's just one of those things that happen - multiple players at the same position don't pan out.

[CatfishSooner]

LITTLE BABY JIMMMMMY!!!!

[rawlingsHOH]

He missed 7 extra points in a year and half. That just isn't acceptable.
Your boy, Hartley, missed 5 his senior season.

Stevens doesn't look pretty, but the net results were good enough to get by. IMO

[Scott D]

mine is how i'm going to get to Cincy and back

mine is how I can get the Ohio State Police to stop you and your sidekick. I've decided I'm going to place an expired Michigan plate on your car.

[Harry Beanbag]

Your boy, Hartley, missed 5 his senior season.

Stevens doesn't look pretty, but the net results were good enough to get by. IMO


My boy? Dude's in the NFL. I'll take your word for the 5, not gonna bother looking it up.

Jimmy is not good enough to get by, neither is Way or O'Hara for that matter. That's my point.

[Collier11]

Well, if Jimmy was kicking we probably beat Nebraska and possibly 2 other games

[Harry Beanbag]

Well, if Jimmy was kicking we probably beat Nebraska and possibly 2 other games


Way missed 5 field goals last year, 4 of which were way out of Jimmy's range. The other one was in a game OU won by 55 points. O'Hara missed two field goals, one of them out of Jimmy's range, the other in a game the other team scored 0 points. Oh, and neither of them missed any extra points.

[Collier11]

Way missed 4 FGs against Neb, 5 all year, 3 were inside of 40 and 1 inside of 30, Stevens missed two all year and none inside of 40

Patty missed 2 inside of 40


Stevens should have never been benched unless there were some issues that we never heard about

[Harry Beanbag]

Way missed 4 FGs against Neb, Stevens missed two all year

He missed 3, and they were all over 40 yards which is apparently Jimmy's kryptonite. The two that he missed were 40+.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Way missed 4 FGs against Neb, 5 all year, 3 were inside of 40 and 1 inside of 30, Stevens missed two all year and none inside of 40

Patty missed 2 inside of 40


Stevens should have never been benched unless there were some issues that we never heard about

That's how I remember it too.

[Harry Beanbag]

Way missed 4 FGs against Neb, 5 all year, 3 were inside of 40 and 1 inside of 30, Stevens missed two all year and none inside of 40

Patty missed 2 inside of 40


Stevens should have never been benched unless there were some issues that we never heard about


Apparently, ESPN is wrong.

http://espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=377859

http://espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=487861

[Collier11]

I read it wrong, you were right about Way, Ohara did miss his inside of 40

http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/teamcume.html

[Collier11]

Regardless you are right, we need better kickers overall, I just think that barring something going on behind the scenes that we never heard about, benching a guy who is 11-13 was a bad idea

[oudavid1]

http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy10/oudavid1/IMG00086.jpg


Jimmy looks to be ok, lets give em another shot

[12]

NEVER underestimate the importance of a good kick.

Sincerely, Uwe.

[rawlingsHOH]

My boy? Dude's in the NFL. I'll take your word for the 5, not gonna bother looking it up.


Exactly my point. Even an NFL kicker missed 5 EPs his senior season.

[gaylordfan1]

Obviously Jimmy was the starter last season. It was made clear at the beginning of the year that Way would step in on FG's longer than 40 yards or something close to that yardage. Stoops seems to be harping on consistency in practice. Which non have apparently proven. I agree with Colly that lil Jimmy might had some other issue not known to the public. But still, something is wrong with this position to host an open tryout to the student body.

[Harry Beanbag]

Exactly my point. Even an NFL kicker missed 5 EPs his senior season.


And he was 12-18 over 40 yards in his career. Your boy Jimmy doesn't have that going for him.

[jaux]

I saw a civilian hit a 25 yarder at halftime during that Carl's kicking contest. Get him.......mighta been a girl

[oudavid1]

im pretty consistent from 20 (extra Points)