Seminoles' Kicking Game to be Force Multipliers This Season
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Talented
special teams can be a force multipliers for your football team, especially in
the kicking game.
The ability to score three points from any reasonable distance
and your punter pinning the opposition deep in their own territory consistently
is crucial to the success of the overall game plan.
Last year,
Florida State kicker Jake Weinberg was 63 percent on field goals (12-of-19). In
the final two games of the season, Weinberg was 1-for-4 on field goals in
losses to NC State and Florida. In a three-point loss to Pitt, coach Mike
Norvell called for the field goal unit out only once.
This
season, Norvell will call on kicker Gabe Panikowski. Panikowski transferred
from the dumpster fire that was the Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-11), but for some
reason saw no game action. He stood on the sideline as the starting kicker made
75 percent of his field goals (15-of-20).
The season
before while at Idaho State, Panikowski was converting kicks from all over the
field. Panikowski was a perfect 15-of-15 on field goals, with nine coming from
distances between 30-39 yards out, and was 44-of-47 on point after attempts.
Against Northern Arizona, Panikowski converted the fourth-longest field goal in
school history, from 55 yards. He also averaged 63 yards on kickoffs.
For his efforts,
Panikowski earned the Fred Mitchell Award as the nation’s best non-FBS kicker.
He also was named first-team FCS All-American and first-team All-Big Sky.
During
fall camp, Panikowski showed consistent accuracy from 45 yards plus, and also converted
from 50 yards or further. Panikowski showed he could send the football 2-3
yards deep in the end zone, and also a hang time of 4.132 seconds. He has also been named to the Lou Groza Award watch list for this season.
When the
situation arises, Norvell should call on Panikowski to score points and, if necessary,
to win football games. He has the leg and the accuracy to make an impact.
The next
in a long line of talented Australian punters, Daniel Hughes will handle the
punting duties for the Seminoles, and is a weapon that should not be overlooked.
Last season at New Mexico, Hughes averaged 45.4 yards per punt and was a
semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, given to the top punter in college
football. With pinpoint accuracy, Hughes pinned 13 punts inside the 20-yard
line, and boomed 13 punts 50 yards or farther. Against San Jose State, Hughes
launched a 64-yard punt.
Panikowski
and Hughes will be critical to Florida State playing winning football this season,
something they have failed to do over the last 24 games, going 7-17 the past
two seasons. Norvell has a strong and accurate kicking game that can be a force
multiplier for the Seminoles and can help erase the stigma of two consecutive
losing campaigns, beginning with a win against New Mexico State on Saturday.
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