Alabama Football: The Kicking Game Better Step It Up or They'll Get the Boot

In 2009, Leigh Tiffin, son of Crimson Tide legend and the leg behind "The Kick" (video) Van Tiffin, capped off his career as the best kicker in Tide history—a very tough claim to argue against. 

That year he helped win the national championship, which included a game against Tennessee where he scored all 12 of Alabama's points. 

And then he graduated. 

Leigh Tiffin, arguably, left the largest shoes to fill when he left, and his successors, by Tiffin's margin, have flopped. 

Jeremy Shelley has been Nick Saban's choice for point-afters, and he's gone 19-19 this year.  It's too bad for him that Saban doesn't trust him to kick anything beyond 30 yards.  He has Cade Foster for that. 

Ah, Cade Foster.  He was a star middle linebacker in high school, but was highly touted due to his kicking game.  Kicking is all he does these days, but he has made some mean tackles on special teams. 

He looked pretty sharp as a kicker in 2010, going 7-for-9 in attempts.  One miss was over 40 yards, the other was over 50.  His longest was 49.  He made five out of his six attempts of 40-49 yards.  Pretty sharp. 

He also racked up 10 touchbacks, but that didn't place him in the top 50 in the nation for touchbacks.  I always believed the value of a touchback was underrated, as it completely eliminates the chance of a game-changing touchdown. 

2011 is looking a lot different.  He's only garnered one single touchback, good for a whopping three percent touchback percentage.  He's currently ranked close to last in the nation on kickoffs.

Foster does, however, put a lot of air under his kicks.  This gives plenty of time for the Tide special teams defenders to get to the ball.  But is this what Nick Saban is going for, or is he actually peeved that Foster's kickoffs usually land around the 15-yard line?

In a clinical study, nine out of 10 coaches recommend touchbacks. 

Finally, there is Cody Mandell, the man who was to replace the Tide's Ol' Reliable, P.J. Fitzgerald, as punter.  In 2010, Mandell averaged about three yards less on punts than Fitzgerald did in 2009.  At least he had the "I'm a freshman" excuse. 

Unfortunately, he's now averaging a yard less than he was last year.  Punting is a bit different though.  Sometimes longer is not better.  Sometimes it's better to punt it 30 yards with hopes to down it at the five rather than letting the other team start at the 20. 

I can't knock on Cody Mandell, really.  The Tide hasn't had to punt for squat this year.  Only Jeremy Shelley and Cade Foster have gotten in-game leg workouts. 

Overall, the kicking game was lacking in 2010, and that seems to be the outlook for 2011. 

The Alabama kicking specialists have yet to be faced with a situation where they could win or lose the game for their team this year.  Field goals, extra points, opponent's field position—none of those have been a factor in Tide lopsided victories. 

The day may soon come, however, when they are put in a situation similar to 2009's Third Saturday in October.  These three young men better be prepared. 

If they come up dry, Nick Saban just might call up this guy (video).