Buehler on kickoffs

[JBS]

Why are his touchbacks down this season? Is it because he is the kicker now too? Is it strategic? anybody know?

 

[ajk23az]

It seems like they are corner kicking a ton lately.

 

[DanManJ]

Looks to me that hes being coached not to touchback. Has nothing to do with him in my opinion.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Looks to me that hes being coached not to touchback. Has nothing to do with him in my opinion.

That's what it looks like to me. Buehler even mentioned in the offseason that he was trying to work on directional kicking.

I think it's because he has a tendency to kick the hell out of the ball every time he kicks it. So that by working on directional kicking all the time, kickoffs included, they hope it will carry to his field goal kicking as well. I think they're ingraining in him the need to kick with direction as opposed to just raw power.

 

[The Emperor]

Looks to me that hes being coached not to touchback. Has nothing to do with him in my opinion.

It's something, because he was nailing them in pre-season. So, it's not like he's lost the talent.

 

[LongSnapper]

Really he is just trying to get his tackle total up LOL that and it creates opportunities for turn overs thats my take

 

[Hoofbite]

Don't think I'll understand why the team wouldn't want him to kick the ball as far as he could into the endzone. Touchbacks are no good anymore?

 

[JBell]

That's what it looks like to me. Buehler even mentioned in the offseason that he was trying to work on directional kicking.

I think it's because he has a tendency to kick the hell out of the ball every time he kicks it. So that by working on directional kicking all the time, kickoffs included, they hope it will carry to his field goal kicking as well. I think they're ingraining in him the need to kick with direction as opposed to just raw power.

This makes sense but it's stupid.

Part of what made Buehler so valuable was his ability to make opponents have to drive 80 yards every time on us.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

If this is true, that he is being told to directional kick the ball instead of just driving it into the endzone..........then it may very well be the most stupid thing I have ever heard of. Unless you have the greatest kick coverage team that has ever been assembled in the history of the NFL ......this is sheer stupidity and a classic example of a coaching staff that is outsmarting itself by getting TOO CUTE. I REALLY hope this isnt true.

 

[dbair1967]

He has kicked a number of balls into the endzone, but the guys have chose to run them out every time so far.

That said, he was absolutely killing the ball in preseason.

 

[burmafrd]

if he is told to directional kick instead of booming it with the current state of our cover teams then Coach Joe is a fool. Unless that order came from higher up.

 

[proline]

He has kicked a number of balls into the endzone, but the guys have chose to run them out every time so far.

That said, he was absolutely killing the ball in preseason.

That's what I think, too. I think teams have decided to just go ahead and take the ball out, even when it is halfway through the endzone. Our coverage unit hasn't made them pay for that decision yet.

 

[TheCount]

Booming it seemed to work last year. This year, we've already given up a couple of big returns. Maybe they just want to work on coverage in general but I've also noticed that a few he got in the endzone, the returners just brought them out anyway knowing they had a pretty good chance of getting it back to at least the 20 anyway because of our coverage.

 

[Bware_Dware]

If this is true, that he is being told to directional kick the ball instead of just driving it into the endzone..........then it may very well be the most stupid thing I have ever heard of. Unless you have the greatest kick coverage team that has ever been assembled in the history of the NFL ......this is sheer stupidity and a classic example of a coaching staff that is outsmarting itself by getting TOO CUTE. I REALLY hope this isnt true.

I agree and its the first time I have ever heard/witnessed someone being told NOT to generate a touchback. Anyone have the percentages of balls that were run back for 6 during a touchback?

exactly, he is not purposely trying to let them return the ball.