Kickers?

Last year is was no secret that the Gators had a problem with the kicking game. Chris Hetland in the 2005 season did a great job as Florida's PAT and Field Goal Kicker, but in 2006 Chris Hetland got into some kind of slump that worried many a Gator throughout most of the season. He still had the leg to kick the ball, but for the 3 point attempts he was missing the uprights by just a bit. It was great to see Chris Hetland redeem himself in the win over Ohio State that helped us win our second National Championship in ten years.

Now here in the 2007 season we have Jonathan Phillips and Joey Ijjas competing for the starting job. Of the two I have no idea on who will get the nod. I know very little about Jonathan Phillips and Joey Ijjas did most of the kick offs last season. I do know both have a good leg and can kick the ball a good distance, but I understand both are having problems with the short kick. This hopefully will be worked out with some coaching on both kickers behalf, but what I also find interesting it that this year the NCAA has move back the kick off line from the 35 yard line to the 30 yard line.

As anyone knows a little bit about Football field position is paramount for any chance of success in consistent scoring, and the kickers on any team now are notched up in importance a step or two in making a team effort in winning or loosing any given game.

Jonathan Phillips and Joey Ijjas I wish the both of you the best in this 2007 season, and I hope with the great coaching and team organization that Florida has that 2007 will bring us another SEC Championship (which seems to be a stepping stone to the National Championship game in many cases), and a back to back National Championship in Football too.

Go Get 'em Gators!

- Ric