"Eric" Wenger needs an edit Pat...

Love the comments from Turk's coach, I'm about as excited about a kicking/punting prospect as could be. That said, I was pretty pumped about Burkhart a few years ago too...at the time I loved how Charlie wouldn't wait for Kai Forbath's decision and gave the schollie to Burkhart instead. Boy, hindsight sure is 20/20...
Tony Spilotro | Email | Homepage | 06.15.08 - 11:33 pm | #

It really is embarrassing how often I write Eric instead of Dan when talking about Wenger. Thanks Tony.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.15.08 - 11:39 pm | #

Tony,

To be fair, you never know what you are gonna get with kickers/punters. I think one of the main reasons that major colleges are reluctant to give out scholarships for kickers and punters is for the simple reason that so much of it has to do with a players head. Just cause a kid can kick a ball off a tee 50 yards doesn't mean he can aim it, or make the kick when it counts.

Heck, even in the NFL its very rare for a kicker to make it long. Even someone like Mike Vanderjagt, who at one time was one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, is now out of the league.

That said, I think this kid is a steal because of his pedigree. I've always thought that punting is one of the most underated aspects of college football, because he is the player who has the most control over field position.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.15.08 - 11:42 pm | #

I'm a little more worried about kickers than punters, to be honest. I'm happy we landed a highly rated punter (very interesting point about the junior colleges, Pat), but I feel like that's a position easier to fill with a guy that possesses a good leg, whereas a kicker needs far more accuracy and cojones to be successful. And I think the past few years have highlighted the critical importance of having a reliable kicker.
IrishGush | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 3:58 am | #

Well said Irish Gush. One thing that really baffles me about the coming year is what CW plans to do about the kicking game. So far, I do not see how or any plan to improve the kickers and he did not recruit one unless he has a soccer player lined up.
GB | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 5:27 am | #

What I find encouraging here is that despite ND's recent woes, it is pretty clear that Young and Wenger didn't discourage their homey from joining them in South Bend. I may be reading a lot into it, but perhaps a positive, bright, winner's outlook is, once again, becoming pervasive on the team. And that sure would be a good sign.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 9:54 am | #

Speaking of kickers, I remember some talk about Tamba Samba (sp?) possibly getting a look at PK - when he signed on w/ the soccer team & more recently. Any rumblings about that possibility, or does it still look like CW is confident in Walker improving his consistency?
baIrish | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 10:03 am | #

Having a good kicker is of utmost importance, but haivng a solid punter can be just as vital. How many times in the past few years have we gone for it on 4th down from the 35 because we can't kick a 52 yard field goal and Weis thinks his punter will kick a touchback thus gaining only 15 yards of field position. Well, if you have confidence in your punter you can pooch it or angle kick down to inside the 5 and gain 30 or more yards, set yourself up for a safety, force the other team to punt from their own endzone and get a good return, etc. How often is the defense super pumped up when the opponent is pinned down at their 1 yard line? It's a huge morale booster, even more so than successfully converting a 4th and long (which is more a sigh of relief than anything). If you don't have confidence in your defense to hold them from the 1, you certainly can't be confident they can hold them from the 35.

So, the question is this: Have we not had a punter who can down the ball inside the 5 or is it Charlie's philosophy to keep the ball as long as possible? If I'm a premier punter and the only skill I'm going to get to showcase at ND is a 60 yard punt, I might look elsewhere because the NFL is all about versatility in punters.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 10:50 am | #

P.S. Welcome, Ben! I hope ND springboards you into a long NFL career like your uncles.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 10:51 am | #

Good news about Turk but can we get a kicker that can put the ball in the endzone once in a while. I'm tired of seeing teams start on the 40 yard line. Go Irish!!!
Paul | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 11:18 am | #

I completely agree about the importance of punting, but I don't think there are a lot of teams that would punt from the other team's 35. I am not that worried about losing a punter because Charlie has a tendency to go for it more than other coaches. Rather, they are probably asked to do a bit more because he likes to run fake punts, etc.

Granted coaches have a lot more experience than I, but I have always thought football's general distaste for quality kickers and punters to be foolish. A good punter is one of the greatest weapons a team has. Nothing is more demoralizing than starting every series on your own 10 yard line because the other team's punter can kick it 60 yards. And as Erik mentioned above, when you can pin someone short, it is like trying to pitch with a man on third. Any little screw up and you have a problem.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 11:18 am | #

Don't mean to nitpick, but if Turk is the #6 punter, it should be the four of the FIVE ahead of him that are JC players.
Adrian | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 11:55 am | #

Nice catch Adrian. Feel free to nitpick.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 12:28 pm | #

Anyone recall a movie, Turk 182? I must have been 14 yrs old..

Don't be surprised to see a sign up like that in ND Stadium in a couple yrs..

A good pick up by CW and staff.
I22 | Email | Homepage | 06.16.08 - 7:45 pm | #