Portal Opened again Yesterday

[tetoncat]

I mean do you really think that teams finding 3 million for a player in NIL are letting a silly thing like grades and APR get in the way?

Not even close. The NCAA is minor leagues now and grades mean absolutely nothing. They say it does and they report like it does, but let’s not kid ourselves. These kids move like we change jobs, no worry about credits transferring over now. It was damn near impossible to get all of your credits to transfer over from a liberal arts school to an engineering school.

Michigan has denied admission the last 2 years to some high profile Grad transfers.

[GoCats18]

I worry more about a QB2 that can help us win and carry us all the way if Tommy goes down. Kickers will be fine. They do have work to do, but Hall is a freak at kickoffs and punting. You watch the blocked field goal against NDSU, and I’m sorry but o-line got pushed back about 3 yards, hard to blame that one on the kicker. It takes everyone. I do have more faith in our kickers then I do our back up QB’s.

[AFCAT]

I worry more about a QB2 that can help us win and carry us all the way if Tommy goes down. Kickers will be fine. They do have work to do, but Hall is a freak at kickoffs and punting. You watch the blocked field goal against NDSU, and I’m sorry but o-line got pushed back about 3 yards, hard to blame that one on the kicker. It takes everyone. I do have more faith in our kickers then I do our back up QB’s.

Back up QB is definitely a concern for me this season. Hall is the best at punting and kickoffs.
It was an extra point, not a field goal, and I definitely thought it was kicked too low. I watched the replay many times and there was no push like that at all. I believe the guy who blocked it is 6’8.

[mslacatfan]

Yer high if you don’t think the FG kicker was an issue last season….

I’m absolutely shocked they have not already brought someone in. I thought that would be priority 1, 2 and 3…

[AFCAT]

The Cats have two known offers, a kicker and a receiver, currently on the board for 2024. I'm not going to count the guys offered last summer or prior to that since those guys are obviously not coming to the Cats. Anyway, the kicker has offers from FBS programs but the receiver has all FCS offers, right now. Not sure why the Cats are hot for another receiver, even with Anaya leaving, but I'm just an outside observer. Maybe, there are more receivers going into the portal or the Cats aren't happy with what they have on the roster.

[kennethnoisewater]

Yer high if you don’t think the FG kicker was an issue last season….

I’m absolutely shocked they have not already brought someone in. I thought that would be priority 1, 2 and 3…

I mean how easy do you think it is to find a kicker who you know is going to be good? Maybe it has been their highest priority. Maybe everybody out there looks pretty good, but they had a bad game one time. I mean if a guy made all his kicks at any level, he's going to a bigger program. Basically they have to take a flyer on a kicker, and how do we know that guy is better than Brendan Hall? Hall was 4/4 on FGs and 15/16 on PATs going into the Weber game. He knows how to kick, but obviously something got into his head. They could bring in 50 recruits who know how to kick and look just like Hall in practice. I don't know what the solution is...keep looking, for starters. But maybe there's a kicking coach or camp MSU can send Brendan and Casey to. Or maybe there's a sports psychologist who can help Brendan get over the yips. But Vigen has said it's a priority, and his job might actually depend on it. I don't buy that he's not doing anything about it.

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

The Cats have two known offers, a kicker and a receiver, currently on the board for 2024. I'm not going to count the guys offered last summer or prior to that since those guys are obviously not coming to the Cats. Anyway, the kicker has offers from FBS programs but the receiver has all FCS offers, right now. Not sure why the Cats are hot for another receiver, even with Anaya leaving, but I'm just an outside observer. Maybe, there are more receivers going into the portal or the Cats aren't happy with what they have on the roster.

Maybe it's more about the guy than the position. If you think he's Michael Jefferson, don't pass on him because of his position

[PapaG]

I worry more about a QB2 that can help us win and carry us all the way if Tommy goes down. Kickers will be fine. They do have work to do, but Hall is a freak at kickoffs and punting. You watch the blocked field goal against NDSU, and I’m sorry but o-line got pushed back about 3 yards, hard to blame that one on the kicker. It takes everyone. I do have more faith in our kickers then I do our back up QB’s.

The ball was kicked into the NDSU guy’s forearm and the line push wasn’t that great.

It was a bad kick by Kautzman but he can learn from it. That wasn’t the line’s fault.

[mslacatfan]

I worry more about a QB2 that can help us win and carry us all the way if Tommy goes down. Kickers will be fine. They do have work to do, but Hall is a freak at kickoffs and punting. You watch the blocked field goal against NDSU, and I’m sorry but o-line got pushed back about 3 yards, hard to blame that one on the kicker. It takes everyone. I do have more faith in our kickers then I do our back up QB’s.

The ball was kicked into the NDSU guy’s forearm and the line push wasn’t that great.

It was a bad kick by Kautzman but he can learn from it. That wasn’t the line’s fault.

“It was the OL’s fault, they got pushed back too far”…. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

[catatac]

Thanks for posting that. I think I'll go for a long drive now, think about life, and try to find happiness again. lol

[GoCats18]

Well, most of you have never attempted a p.a.t or field goal in your life. I did make a typo, it was a p.a.t not a field goal. There is a video that is taken from the side and shows our o-line get pushed back about 3 yards. If you have ever kicked, the ball doesn’t come off your foot and go directly straight up in the air. Blame who you want, but if our o-line does there job and doesn’t allow NDSU to push them off that kick isn’t blocked.

[mslacatfan]

Well, most of you have never attempted a p.a.t or field goal in your life. I did make a typo, it was a p.a.t not a field goal. There is a video that is taken from the side and shows our o-line get pushed back about 3 yards. If you have ever kicked, the ball doesn’t come off your foot and go directly straight up in the air. Blame who you want, but if our o-line does there job and doesn’t allow NDSU to push them off that kick isn’t blocked.

Dude….. last year (the entire season) was the worst kicking display I have ever seen (extra points and FG’s)…. Like at any level of football, ever. I can’t even remember how many FG attempts were shanked about 30 yards to the right…. Was that also the OL fault?

Not trying to rip into these kids…. But it was absolutely the worst I have ever seen, which cost us several games and ultimately the season. To argue otherwise is just silly.

Also- we had like a top 2 or 3 OL in the country last year….. but yeah, it was totally their fault.

[Mtcatfan]

Do they bring in different linemen for the PAT’s ie special teams?

[mslacatfan]

Yer high if you don’t think the FG kicker was an issue last season….

I’m absolutely shocked they have not already brought someone in. I thought that would be priority 1, 2 and 3…

I mean how easy do you think it is to find a kicker who you know is going to be good? Maybe it has been their highest priority. Maybe everybody out there looks pretty good, but they had a bad game one time. I mean if a guy made all his kicks at any level, he's going to a bigger program. Basically they have to take a flyer on a kicker, and how do we know that guy is better than Brendan Hall? Hall was 4/4 on FGs and 15/16 on PATs going into the Weber game. He knows how to kick, but obviously something got into his head. They could bring in 50 recruits who know how to kick and look just like Hall in practice. I don't know what the solution is...keep looking, for starters. But maybe there's a kicking coach or camp MSU can send Brendan and Casey to. Or maybe there's a sports psychologist who can help Brendan get over the yips. But Vigen has said it's a priority, and his job might actually depend on it. I don't buy that he's not doing anything about it.

I don’t know, I’m sure there are hundreds of kickers out there looking for a new school. Make a list of yer top 10 targets, start at the top with an offer and make yer way down the list…

One thing Choate did which I thought was great- he made a point of recruiting top level kickers/punters out of high school, always a top priority…. Which seemed to work.

All I know is that we CANT have the kickers costing us games again this next year…. Way too much talent on this team (like last year) to see it wasted.

[GoCats18]

Well, most of you have never attempted a p.a.t or field goal in your life. I did make a typo, it was a p.a.t not a field goal. There is a video that is taken from the side and shows our o-line get pushed back about 3 yards. If you have ever kicked, the ball doesn’t come off your foot and go directly straight up in the air. Blame who you want, but if our o-line does there job and doesn’t allow NDSU to push them off that kick isn’t blocked.

Dude….. last year (the entire season) was the worst kicking display I have ever seen (extra points and FG’s)…. Like at any level of football, ever. I can’t even remember how many FG attempts were shanked about 30 yards to the right…. Was that also the OL fault?

Not trying to rip into these kids…. But it was absolutely the worst I have ever seen, which cost us several games and ultimately the season. To argue otherwise is just silly.

Also- we had like a top 2 or 3 OL in the country last year….. but yeah, it was totally their fault.

All I am talking about is the NDSU one. Yeah, I agree there were missed kicks, just like there were touchdown catches dropped, fumbles, interceptions….all part of the game, all contributed to losing. We can have the best kicker in the country, but without a legit backup QB, our season ends again just like last year.

[TomCat88]

I don't recall if the NDSU coach said it directly, but I seem to recall him alluding to noticing something (low kicks, line pushed back) about MSU's placekicking and therefore he grabbed a 6' 8" senior OL that hardly ever played throughout his career and had him practice with the ST placekicking defense(?) all week prior to the MSU game. That's the guy that blocked the PAT.

[Cataholic]

Well, most of you have never attempted a p.a.t or field goal in your life. I did make a typo, it was a p.a.t not a field goal. There is a video that is taken from the side and shows our o-line get pushed back about 3 yards. If you have ever kicked, the ball doesn’t come off your foot and go directly straight up in the air. Blame who you want, but if our o-line does there job and doesn’t allow NDSU to push them off that kick isn’t blocked.

Dude….. last year (the entire season) was the worst kicking display I have ever seen (extra points and FG’s)…. Like at any level of football, ever. I can’t even remember how many FG attempts were shanked about 30 yards to the right…. Was that also the OL fault?

Not trying to rip into these kids…. But it was absolutely the worst I have ever seen, which cost us several games and ultimately the season. To argue otherwise is just silly.

Also- we had like a top 2 or 3 OL in the country last year….. but yeah, it was totally their fault.

Multiple attempts 30 yards to the right? Exaggerate much?

[kennethnoisewater]

Yer high if you don’t think the FG kicker was an issue last season….

I’m absolutely shocked they have not already brought someone in. I thought that would be priority 1, 2 and 3…

I mean how easy do you think it is to find a kicker who you know is going to be good? Maybe it has been their highest priority. Maybe everybody out there looks pretty good, but they had a bad game one time. I mean if a guy made all his kicks at any level, he's going to a bigger program. Basically they have to take a flyer on a kicker, and how do we know that guy is better than Brendan Hall? Hall was 4/4 on FGs and 15/16 on PATs going into the Weber game. He knows how to kick, but obviously something got into his head. They could bring in 50 recruits who know how to kick and look just like Hall in practice. I don't know what the solution is...keep looking, for starters. But maybe there's a kicking coach or camp MSU can send Brendan and Casey to. Or maybe there's a sports psychologist who can help Brendan get over the yips. But Vigen has said it's a priority, and his job might actually depend on it. I don't buy that he's not doing anything about it.

I don’t know, I’m sure there are hundreds of kickers out there looking for a new school. Make a list of yer top 10 targets, start at the top with an offer and make yer way down the list…

One thing Choate did which I thought was great- he made a point of recruiting top level kickers/punters out of high school, always a top priority…. Which seemed to work.

All I know is that we CANT have the kickers costing us games again this next year…. Way too much talent on this team (like last year) to see it wasted.

Yeah that's not super advanced scouting, obviously. So it seems like you're saying Vigen and Co haven't done anything like that. Probably just waiting on the phone to ring? Hoping Hall or Kautzman will just magically figure it out? Vigen has a lot more riding on this than you or I do. Maybe he'll screw it up...but to say he hasn't made it a priority is unrealistic.

I don't disagree one bit that kicking has to improve. To say it's the worst you've ever seen at any level makes me think you haven't watched much. It wasn't good, but it wasn't even the worst in the Big Sky last year. Maybe I'm taking "worst kicking display I have ever seen.....like at any level of football, ever" too literally.

[GoCats18]

Watch the video, the guy that blocks the kick, his arm is at the 5 yard line when he blocks it. Last time I checked, the ball isn’t placed at the 5 yard line. Sorry, but the blocked kick isn’t 100% the kickers fault.

[gtapp]

Yer high if you don’t think the FG kicker was an issue last season….

I’m absolutely shocked they have not already brought someone in. I thought that would be priority 1, 2 and 3…

I mean how easy do you think it is to find a kicker who you know is going to be good? Maybe it has been their highest priority. Maybe everybody out there looks pretty good, but they had a bad game one time. I mean if a guy made all his kicks at any level, he's going to a bigger program. Basically they have to take a flyer on a kicker, and how do we know that guy is better than Brendan Hall? Hall was 4/4 on FGs and 15/16 on PATs going into the Weber game. He knows how to kick, but obviously something got into his head. They could bring in 50 recruits who know how to kick and look just like Hall in practice. I don't know what the solution is...keep looking, for starters. But maybe there's a kicking coach or camp MSU can send Brendan and Casey to. Or maybe there's a sports psychologist who can help Brendan get over the yips. But Vigen has said it's a priority, and his job might actually depend on it. I don't buy that he's not doing anything about it.

I don’t know, I’m sure there are hundreds of kickers out there looking for a new school. Make a list of yer top 10 targets, start at the top with an offer and make yer way down the list…

One thing Choate did which I thought was great- he made a point of recruiting top level kickers/punters out of high school, always a top priority…. Which seemed to work.

All I know is that we CANT have the kickers costing us games again this next year…. Way too much talent on this team (like last year) to see it wasted.

Yeah that's not super advanced scouting, obviously. So it seems like you're saying Vigen and Co haven't done anything like that. Probably just waiting on the phone to ring? Hoping Hall or Kautzman will just magically figure it out? Vigen has a lot more riding on this than you or I do. Maybe he'll screw it up...but to say he hasn't made it a priority is unrealistic.

I don't disagree one bit that kicking has to improve. To say it's the worst you've ever seen at any level makes me think you haven't watched much. It wasn't good, but it wasn't even the worst in the Big Sky last year. Maybe I'm taking "worst kicking display I have ever seen.....like at any level of football, ever" too literally.

Our FG percentage last year was 52.6%. Our PAT was 90%. I would be surprised if any Big Sky team was worse than that. I would be surprised if there were a lot of teams in the nation that bad.

In looking at FG% across the nation; the top 118 kickers in the ncaa were above MSU. You had to get to the 119th kicker to match MSU's success.