N.D. Kalu's statements concerning kickers

Hello to everyone!

This is my very first post here, so I thought I'd start some very pertinent discussion.

In Monday's Chronicle, there was a small half-column concerning N.D. Kalu and his views on kickers/punters:

"I don't like kickers, but Kris is my favorite player. I've always had something about kickers and punters being called football players, but he's definitely a football player..."

N.D. makes a blanket statement about kickers, then praises Kris, then makes another blanket statement concerning kickers/punters, then contradicts himself with his final words.

I'm not a kicker/punter - I played tight end. But every time I hear a "player' say this type of stuff it really sets me off. Kalu had what, ONE assist yesterday? How about we remove all of Kris' performances from games over the last five years...what do we have? And that goes for kickers/punters in general.

If you play a position and help the team win, you are a football player, semantically or otherwise! I know, what Kalu says is 'no big deal', etc. But it does continue around the league.

It's not the end of the world, just some fodder for debate!

Thanks for a great forum!

Beat y'all to it:

"Leave the kickers 'alone'"

Anyway, welcome to the board....

It's nothing new for players to discount kickers as football players. Heck, there are some coaches that hate kickers (i.e. The "Big Tuna"). But you're definitely gonna pull for your guy and when he comes through, throw some love his way...

Kickers have never been really 'accepted' as regular football players.

Former Lions great Alex Karras once observed about kickers, "You battle for 59 minutes, and then some little guy with a clean uniform comes in to kick a field goal to win the game, and he says, 'Hooray, I keek a touchdown, I keek a touchdown.'"

To repeat, it's nothing new.

Winning is a TEAM effort, and that includes the kicker, regardless of how much time he spends on the field. At the end of the day POINTS on the board is all that matters. Stats don't mean crap, if you lose the game.

I tried not to read to much in to that statement made by ND. I don't think he meant to be disrespectful to a member of his football TEAM. BUT, that's JMO!!

sodastir said:

Hello to everyone!

This is my very first post here, so I thought I'd start some very pertinent discussion.

In Monday's Chronicle, there was a small half-column concerning N.D. Kalu and his views on kickers/punters:

"I don't like kickers, but Kris is my favorite player. I've always had something about kickers and punters being called football players, but he's definitely a football player..."

N.D. makes a blanket statement about kickers, then praises Kris, then makes another blanket statement concerning kickers/punters, then contradicts himself with his final words.

I'm not a kicker/punter - I played tight end. But every time I hear a "player' say this type of stuff it really sets me off. Kalu had what, ONE assist yesterday? How about we remove all of Kris' performances from games over the last five years...what do we have? And that goes for kickers/punters in general.

If you play a position and help the team win, you are a football player, semantically or otherwise! I know, what Kalu says is 'no big deal', etc. But it does continue around the league.

It's not the end of the world, just some fodder for debate!

Thanks for a great forum!

Click to expand...

Doesn't he have a broken hand ?

sodastir said:

Hello to everyone!

This is my very first post here, so I thought I'd start some very pertinent discussion.

In Monday's Chronicle, there was a small half-column concerning N.D. Kalu and his views on kickers/punters:

"I don't like kickers, but Kris is my favorite player. I've always had something about kickers and punters being called football players, but he's definitely a football player..."

N.D. makes a blanket statement about kickers, then praises Kris, then makes another blanket statement concerning kickers/punters, then contradicts himself with his final words.

I'm not a kicker/punter - I played tight end. But every time I hear a "player' say this type of stuff it really sets me off. Kalu had what, ONE assist yesterday? How about we remove all of Kris' performances from games over the last five years...what do we have? And that goes for kickers/punters in general.

If you play a position and help the team win, you are a football player, semantically or otherwise! I know, what Kalu says is 'no big deal', etc. But it does continue around the league.

It's not the end of the world, just some fodder for debate!

Thanks for a great forum!

Click to expand...

I think it would also matter how he said the statement. I only read the statement and in print it comes off a little disrespectful, but if he's smiling and saying it in a joking way, then it's just an attempt to be lighthearted. I'd have to see video of him saying it to make a final judgement.

Kris Brown cannot rush the passer and N.D. Kalu cannot kick a game winning 57 yard FG.

Players are specialists in the NFL, and each has their rightful place on the team.

I think when Kalu talks about "most kickers" he's talking about how Kickers/Punters don't have to go through the same workouts as the rest of the team...

They don't practice nearly as hard...The coaches aren't as demanding...They don't have to do any kind of contact drills...

Basically, all in all they are generally the least hard working men on any given football team....They don't have to be in any great shape...Plenty fat old kickers...

N.D gives props to Chris by basically saying he doesn't fit those stereoptypes...He works hard...He's in shape...He practices his craft...He looks to make tackles and not just get in the way....

Relax.

Methinks there was a bit of tongue in cheek in ND's remark that went undetected.

He also said,

He had all that pressure on him. You might see me (wearing) a jersey that says 'Brown' on it this week."

Click to expand...

A little football humor - not a serious put down. imo

He can't keek a touchdown either.

I think it was definately tongue in cheek.

real said:

I think when Kalu talks about "most kickers" he's talking about how Kickers/Punters don't have to go through the same workouts as the rest of the team...

They don't practice nearly as hard...The coaches aren't as demanding...They don't have to do any kind of contact drills...

Basically, all in all they are generally the least hard working men on any given football team....They don't have to be in any great shape...Plenty fat old kickers...

N.D gives props to Chris by basically saying he doesn't fit those stereoptypes...He works hard...He's in shape...He practices his craft...He looks to make tackles and not just get in the way....

Relax.

Click to expand...

^^Yeah, that's what I see.

I HEARD the interview and he was definitely playing around, having some fun.

sodastir said:

Hello to everyone!

This is my very first post here, so I thought I'd start some very pertinent discussion.

In Monday's Chronicle, there was a small half-column concerning N.D. Kalu and his views on kickers/punters:

"I don't like kickers, but Kris is my favorite player. I've always had something about kickers and punters being called football players, but he's definitely a football player..."

N.D. makes a blanket statement about kickers, then praises Kris, then makes another blanket statement concerning kickers/punters, then contradicts himself with his final words.

I'm not a kicker/punter - I played tight end. But every time I hear a "player' say this type of stuff it really sets me off. Kalu had what, ONE assist yesterday? How about we remove all of Kris' performances from games over the last five years...what do we have? And that goes for kickers/punters in general.

If you play a position and help the team win, you are a football player, semantically or otherwise! I know, what Kalu says is 'no big deal', etc. But it does continue around the league.

It's not the end of the world, just some fodder for debate!

Thanks for a great forum!

Click to expand...

I agree. It's a football skill and a good kicking game is often the difference between a W and an L.

SheTexan said:

Winning is a TEAM effort, and that includes the kicker, regardless of how much time he spends on the field. At the end of the day POINTS on the board is all that matters. Stats don't mean crap, if you lose the game.

Click to expand...

I'd like to build upon the TEAM sentiment by offering up a simple thought experiment, for everyone's consideration.

If kickers are unimportant to the TEAM because of <whatever>...

With 6 seconds left on the clock, let's let a DT line up to take the 54 yarder.

suddenly that "pretty boy" kicker is looking pretty valuable, huh?

just a thought...


NEVER MIND -- tongue in cheek so I'm told.

rickyb said:

I'd like to build upon the TEAM sentiment by offering up a simple thought experiment, for everyone's consideration.

If kickers are unimportant to the TEAM because of <whatever>...

Click to expand...

It's not that kickers are unimportant to the team, it's that kickers aren't usually PART of the team.

A bond grows among the members of the team because they're out there going through the drills and sweatin and fighting and kickin, scratching, and clawing. And the kickers aren't a part of that. Because of that, they don't share the same bond of having shared all that hardship and pain. They don't have to practice as much, as long, or as hard as the other players on the team.

On top of that, kickers have generally been a little bit different mentally and emotionally than most football players. They frequently don't blend in and fit in with the guys just hanging around.

So, kickers are very important to the team but most kickers aren't really considered a part of the team.

The Pencil Neck said:

It's not that kickers are unimportant to the team, it's that kickers aren't usually PART of the team.

A bond grows among the members of the team because they're out there going through the drills and sweatin and fighting and kickin, scratching, and clawing. And the kickers aren't a part of that. Because of that, they don't share the same bond of having shared all that hardship and pain. They don't have to practice as much, as long, or as hard as the other players on the team.

On top of that, kickers have generally been a little bit different mentally and emotionally than most football players. They frequently don't blend in and fit in with the guys just hanging around.

So, kickers are very important to the team but most kickers aren't really considered a part of the team.

Click to expand...

If kickers are not part of the team...

With 6 seconds left on the clock, let's let a DT line up to take the 54 yarder.

suddenly that "pretty boy" kicker is looking pretty valuable, huh?

just a thought...


NEVER MIND -- tongue in cheek so I'm told.

Let's put this thread to rest. Here's what Kris Brown had to say.

(on if he heard what DE N.D. Kalu said after the game) “I did hear it. For me, that’s what I want. I want guys to look at me not as a place kicker. That’s the biggest compliment that I think I can get from my teammates is for them not to look at me as a place kicker, but look at me as a football player who kicks. When somebody says that, that brings a big smile to my face.”

Click to expand...

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=3753

I don't think I'm ready for this thread to be put to rest. I think there is still good ground to cover, if we switch gears. I'm less interested in the Kalu comments, and more interested in the attitude to kickers in general as an "underclass" of sorts.

Kickers make, what, 70% of their chances? The good ones? (If it is more like 65%, please don't sweat me on this. Stay with me here.)

Assume the process (of a kicker kicking) is within statistical process control. The next kick can therefore be expected to successfully convert 70% of the time. (ie, the mean)

Now, consider a kick to decide the game. And let's make a leap of faith to say that THOSE kicks are represented by the same statistical process. That is, the kicker has ice in his veins and is immune to pressure.

70% of the time, that PK is the toast of the team and the town. And 30% of the time, he is a goat. All this emotional response (e.g., can you recall all the calls for Kris' head during the recent draft? "Draft Crosby! Kris sucks," went the mantra from a vocal few.) for information that we already know: that "stupid kicker" is going to choke on 30% of his chances to win the game.

Look, I get the frustration. You sweat, bleed, punch, and think about how dang much all this is going to hurt tomorrow, and you turn the game over to a kicker to decide with his fancy soccer-style motion (and aforementioned clean uniform)?!

I just don't get the hate. Why hate on the kicker? He did not write the rules. Why not hate the rulebook? If kicks are so offensive, forget about kicks altogether. (I am not suggesting this.)

No -- I'm not a kicker, nor ever was.

I just: a) enjoy a good intellectual discourse, b) am tired, and c) cannot sleep. Oh, and I am a bit edgey because my child cried for 1.5 hours straight before finally going to sleep. ugh.

Later,
Rickyb

sodastir said:

Hello to everyone!

This is my very first post here, so I thought I'd start some very pertinent discussion.

In Monday's Chronicle, there was a small half-column concerning N.D. Kalu and his views on kickers/punters:

"I don't like kickers, but Kris is my favorite player. I've always had something about kickers and punters being called football players, but he's definitely a football player..."

N.D. makes a blanket statement about kickers, then praises Kris, then makes another blanket statement concerning kickers/punters, then contradicts himself with his final words.

I'm not a kicker/punter - I played tight end. But every time I hear a "player' say this type of stuff it really sets me off. Kalu had what, ONE assist yesterday? How about we remove all of Kris' performances from games over the last five years...what do we have? And that goes for kickers/punters in general.

If you play a position and help the team win, you are a football player, semantically or otherwise! I know, what Kalu says is 'no big deal', etc. But it does continue around the league.

It's not the end of the world, just some fodder for debate!

Thanks for a great forum!

Click to expand...

I think kickers want to play a bigger role in the game. LSU's kicker has done exactly that this year, but I guess it depends on what play the coach sends in.

Also some games have started with an on-side kick. It's rare, but it has happened