Kicking Prospect?

[Kadeezy]

I'm not convinced that Diniz 2.0 is going to work out... I know it's early, but I'm skeptical...

I was with a buddy of mine who coaches at St. Helena high school and took notice of this young man's kicking ability...

His name is Manuel Gomes and he's very athletic. He's played in exactly two high school football games (he's a senior now) but I think he has the potential to be a DI kicker.

When I was watching him, nearly every kick off was a touchback. And, I saw the kid nail two 55 yard FG in a row and come close from 60. He's a little raw accuracy wise, but I think he could be a gem.


http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/high-school/multitalented-gomes-big-leg-benefits-saints-grid-pitch-teams/article_ee35dbf0-e4e3-11e0-91da-001cc4c03286.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[FamousBaller]

It's sadly interesting when fans pick on kickers, even when they are near perfect. Why are the blog comments regarding kickers and punters so much more harsh than comments about other positions, calling for their replacement etc. Seems weak to me in light of the fact that those same fans never dare risk offending bigger players. It's especially lame when posters obviously don't understand the components necessary for good kicking and punting. Swing technology is a science that elludes many casual observers. Missing the "sweet spot" by a half inch can result in ugly ball flight, a short punt or a missed FG. Add in the pressure of a live rush, angled wind, variable snaps / holds etc. and you have a play that is truly more difficult than it seems.

Just imagine trying to hit a PERFECT golf shot (that someone else tees up for you) while you are running forward..... as large screaming people are diving at your feet trying to block it. No problem right?

The idea that specialist should be perfect because "that's all they do" is ridiculous. The expectation that any athlete could warm up (hang around for an hour or more) then go in and be perfect is unreasonable. Too often unknowledgable persons believe "Big Power" is the panacea of successful kicking. Everyone loves to see the ball fly far but that's not the only consideration for a team trying to win football games. And very often big power comes with a big ego which results in big misses and bigger problems.

How about we support our team along with our very dedicated and successful specialists as we appreciate their daily efforts to get better.

 

[Green Laser]

It's sadly interesting when fans pick on kickers, even when they are near perfect. Why are the blog comments regarding kickers and punters so much more harsh than comments about other positions, calling for their replacement etc. Seems weak to me in light of the fact that those same fans never dare risk offending bigger players. It's especially lame when posters obviously don't understand the components necessary for good kicking and punting. Swing technology is a science that elludes many casual observers. Missing the "sweet spot" by a half inch can result in ugly ball flight, a short punt or a missed FG. Add in the pressure of a live rush, angled wind, variable snaps / holds etc. and you have a play that is truly more difficult than it seems.

Just imagine trying to hit a PERFECT golf shot (that someone else tees up for you) while you are running forward..... as large screaming people are diving at your feet trying to block it. No problem right?

The idea that specialist should be perfect because "that's all they do" is ridiculous. The expectation that any athlete could warm up (hang around for an hour or more) then go in and be perfect is unreasonable. Too often unknowledgable persons believe "Big Power" is the panacea of successful kicking. Everyone loves to see the ball fly far but that's not the only consideration for a team trying to win football games. And very often big power comes with a big ego which results in big misses and bigger problems.

How about we support our team along with our very dedicated and successful specialists as we appreciate their daily efforts to get better.

Excellent! :clap:

 

[SDHornet]

Great post, but I disagree with this statement, especially when talking about the pro level (which we aren’t):

The idea that specialist should be perfect because "that's all they do" is ridiculous. The expectation that any athlete could warm up (hang around for an hour or more) then go in and be perfect is unreasonable.

It’s D-1 ball, and everyone on the team needs to perform. I think it’s too early to say Diniz 2 won’t develop into a solid kicker. So far he is 1/2 on FG’s (hardly a sample size large enough to project into his remaining 3.72 years left of eligibility) and a perfect 7/7 on PAT’s. If any kicker needs to be benched it’s Heath 1. I’ve seen enough lame duck punts result in great field position for opponents over the last 14 games to realize he isn’t going to get it together. :twocents:

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

If any kicker needs to be benched it’s Heath 1. I’ve seen enough lame duck punts result in great field position for opponents over the last 14 games to realize he isn’t going to get it together. :twocents:

Totally agree here!!

 

[SacHornet]

so you think a high school kid with virtually no experience can do better then what we have right now? and unless i miss read the article the kid is 2 for 5 on the season and that is with a slower rush and wider high school uprights. It will only get faster with smaller uprights in college. You also mentioned he kicks nothing but touchbacks, something any soccer player with a decent leg can do in high school considering they kick from the 40 and if the ball goes one yard into the endzone it is an automatic touchback giving the returner no chance to bring it out.

Now dont get me wrong im all for bringing in competition, and the coaches wouldnt be doing their job if they didnt look at bring people in to compete at every position but im sure there are plenty of better more proven prospects out there.

Its also way too soon to determine how well Diniz 2 will perform but i do feel that Heath 1 has had over two years to show us what he has and it has not been impressive.

 

[Kadeezy]

Mrs Diniz, your son just choked on a chipshot. Point made.

 

[SDHornet]

Mrs Diniz, your son just choked on a chipshot. Point made.

No arguments here. He even had the wind at his back. Inexcusable at the D-1 level.

 

[Kadeezy]

I had a perfect view. SHANK 100%

 

[HornetHope]

Kadeezy,

I agree, and was sick to my stomach when he missed the chip shot. I was looking straight out from where i was sitting and there was nothing wrong with the snap or hold, he just rushed up on the ball. I was thinking having the kicker hook the ball on kickoffs may not pan out in field goals. Yep i was right on that.

 

[Kadeezy]

Kadeezy,

I agree, and was sick to my stomach when he missed the chip shot. I was looking straight out from where i was sitting and there was nothing wrong with the snap or hold, he just rushed up on the ball. I was thinking having the kicker hook the ball on kickoffs may not pan out in field goals. Yep i was right on that.

I pick the Hornets to upset the griz and they do. I speak my opinion on Diniz 2.0 and he makes me look like a genius. Must be my week...

Diniz has zero leg on kickoffs and minimal accuracy and control of his trajectory. He will cost us a game this year if we let him. Sperbeck doesn't trust him either. . . Yes it's still early, but I can see the writing on the wall...

 

[Green Laser]

Dinez 2.0 was really low with that field goal attempt before halftime. his PATs looked good. Placekicker is a very important position especially in the BSC where there is so much parity. Dinez 2.0 is young and needs to be given a chance to develop. Who else do we have this year to come in and do a better job at placekicker?
Speaking of placekikers, did anyone pick up Montana State's 15 point victory over Eastern Washington yesterday was due to 5 field goals? A real Dinez 1.0 like effort!

 

[superhornet]

I know you guys see more than I do, but I have a question here that might be pertinent. It seems like we're laying a lot on a kid just because of his relation to an outstanding player in his brother. This is like the old grade school guilt trip parents put on their younger kids: "Why aren't you more like your older sister?"

But there's something we might be missing here. Is it really the younger Diniz' fault? There are at least two other factors in play here: the holder and the long snapper. Are they performing their duties well? If the snaps are out of place, one can only imagine how much the placement can be slowed down, which can EASILY mess up a kicker. If the holder is subtly placing the ball at a bad angle, that can affect a kicker, too. And, actually, (as seen in the notable case of Nate Kaeding) the horizontal position on the field can play a factor. All too often coaches forget that and don't bother (for end-of-game kicks, anyway) to center the ball as was SOP even twenty years ago. Another thing (which we won't run into much of except possibly at Portland State) to consider is the condition of the turf (or lack thereof). Just today, Sebastian Janikowski missed a "mere" 56-yard FG off the infield at the Oakland-Alameda County Colliseum, just a week or two after he tied the NFL record at 63.

My point is that we should consider ALL of this before we blame a young kid just because he's not his older brother.

 

[Green Laser]

I know you guys see more than I do, but I have a question here that might be pertinent. It seems like we're laying a lot on a kid just because of his relation to an outstanding player in his brother. This is like the old grade school guilt trip parents put on their younger kids: "Why aren't you more like your older sister?"

But there's something we might be missing here. Is it really the younger Diniz' fault? There are at least two other factors in play here: the holder and the long snapper. Are they performing their duties well? If the snaps are out of place, one can only imagine how much the placement can be slowed down, which can EASILY mess up a kicker. If the holder is subtly placing the ball at a bad angle, that can affect a kicker, too. And, actually, (as seen in the notable case of Nate Kaeding) the horizontal position on the field can play a factor. All too often coaches forget that and don't bother (for end-of-game kicks, anyway) to center the ball as was SOP even twenty years ago. Another thing (which we won't run into much of except possibly at Portland State) to consider is the condition of the turf (or lack thereof). Just today, Sebastian Janikowski missed a "mere" 56-yard FG off the infield at the Oakland-Alameda County Colliseum, just a week or two after he tied the NFL record at 63.

My point is that we should consider ALL of this before we blame a young kid just because he's not his older brother.

Good point SH. I'm not sure who was snapping or holding for the kicks or if it was a issue last night. The radio crew mentioned 3 or 4 times during the Weber State game that Fleming was having problems with low snaps which took him out of sync.

 

[Kadeezy]

Snaps have been on line and Fleming's holds solid. Last night, I was looking straight on.

 

[cats25061]

Dinez 2.0 was really low with that field goal attempt before halftime. his PATs looked good. Placekicker is a very important position especially in the BSC where there is so much parity. Dinez 2.0 is young and needs to be given a chance to develop. Who else do we have this year to come in and do a better job at placekicker?
Speaking of placekikers, did anyone pick up Montana State's 15 point victory over Eastern Washington yesterday was due to 5 field goals? A real Dinez 1.0 like effort!

FG's from 55, 55, 31, 32 & 43 yards, over 200 yards of field goals, 18 points total counting the XP's for Cunningham

 

[Kadeezy]

http://sacstatesports.com/2011/09/27/despite-two-big-victories-place-kicking-problems-mount-for-sac-state/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Kadeezy]

It's sadly interesting when fans pick on kickers, even when they are near perfect. Why are the blog comments regarding kickers and punters so much more harsh than comments about other positions, calling for their replacement etc. Seems weak to me in light of the fact that those same fans never dare risk offending bigger players. It's especially lame when posters obviously don't understand the components necessary for good kicking and punting. Swing technology is a science that elludes many casual observers. Missing the "sweet spot" by a half inch can result in ugly ball flight, a short punt or a missed FG. Add in the pressure of a live rush, angled wind, variable snaps / holds etc. and you have a play that is truly more difficult than it seems.

Just imagine trying to hit a PERFECT golf shot (that someone else tees up for you) while you are running forward..... as large screaming people are diving at your feet trying to block it. No problem right?

The idea that specialist should be perfect because "that's all they do" is ridiculous. The expectation that any athlete could warm up (hang around for an hour or more) then go in and be perfect is unreasonable. Too often unknowledgable persons believe "Big Power" is the panacea of successful kicking. Everyone loves to see the ball fly far but that's not the only consideration for a team trying to win football games. And very often big power comes with a big ego which results in big misses and bigger problems.

How about we support our team along with our very dedicated and successful specialists as we appreciate their daily efforts to get better.

Mrs. Diniz?

 

[Winghunter]

It's sadly interesting when fans pick on kickers, even when they are near perfect. Why are the blog comments regarding kickers and punters so much more harsh than comments about other positions, calling for their replacement etc. Seems weak to me in light of the fact that those same fans never dare risk offending bigger players. It's especially lame when posters obviously don't understand the components necessary for good kicking and punting. Swing technology is a science that elludes many casual observers. Missing the "sweet spot" by a half inch can result in ugly ball flight, a short punt or a missed FG. Add in the pressure of a live rush, angled wind, variable snaps / holds etc. and you have a play that is truly more difficult than it seems.

Just imagine trying to hit a PERFECT golf shot (that someone else tees up for you) while you are running forward..... as large screaming people are diving at your feet trying to block it. No problem right?

The idea that specialist should be perfect because "that's all they do" is ridiculous. The expectation that any athlete could warm up (hang around for an hour or more) then go in and be perfect is unreasonable. Too often unknowledgable persons believe "Big Power" is the panacea of successful kicking. Everyone loves to see the ball fly far but that's not the only consideration for a team trying to win football games. And very often big power comes with a big ego which results in big misses and bigger problems.

How about we support our team along with our very dedicated and successful specialists as we appreciate their daily efforts to get better.

Mrs. Diniz?

To call someones Mom out is classless, get a life before someone stomps some sense into you. Disclaimer.. I've never met either of the Diniz boys or their parents.

 

[jj2319]

I do agree the loss itself is not the fault of Diniz and no one is suggesting it is. 7 plays were run inside the MSU 5. Two were poor throws (one hit the DB in the facemask), two were stacked up runs and one was a very costly and stupid fumble by Fleming where he turned and hit the ball on his pulling tackle's leg.

Its just more than a little disconcerting when your kicker misses a 22 yard fieldgoal by 15 yards wide right. That missed kick is Diniz's fault under any circumstances. I have no confidence in the guy so I can only imagine how Sperbeck & Co. feel.