In this space, we look at the snap-to-hold operation on field goals and extra points. After some pretty light weeks, we have 6 to look at this week. If you watched the game you know a lot of these did not have pretty outcomes, but we’re going to slow down the operation and see how it looks.
Let’s start with the snap location for the holder. How did it look this week?
Kick 1: Extra Point (Made)
The first snap we’ve seen this season that’s at the face of Whelan. It’s not over the helmet – more at the facemask – but it’s a high
snap. Whelan is able to get the hold down well. Good hold: slightly forward, leaning away from Smack.
Kick 2: Extra Point (Made)
This one is beautiful. Slightly inside, but over the hold spot. Good rotation on the snap, allowing Whelan for an easy hold-and-spin. Good hold. The wind seems to be doing some swirling here, with both flags pointing inwards at some point. Smack drives it through with a punch.
Kick 3: Extra Point (Miss)
Snap is a little high but over the hold point (I may have to add a couple new squares in my little location grid). Good hold. To me, it looks like Smack may be slightly overstepping on his plant foot here. He’s close to the ball and the back of his heel is aligned with the ball. That leaves his back shoulder flying open a bit compared to his previous kicks, which leads to him pulling the ball.
Here’s Smack right before contact on the Kick 2:
And here he is on this kick:
I am not a kicking expert (trying to get there), so if I’m off here, please let me know.
Kick 4: 35 Yard Field Goal (Made)
Snap is over the hold, good rotation, good hold, good kick. The flags aren’t moving here, but the hold has the ball leaning forward more than we had previously seen. You typically see that when they’re trying to cut through the wind or when it’s a longer attempt. Could be they’re anticipating wind here. It cuts inside the right upright.
It’s worth noting that Jordan Morgan [77] loses his man to the inside and Karl Brooks [94] isn’t able to get a hand on his man to alter his path. This could easily have been a block. We talked about Brooks on the edge last week, so that’s certainly something to keep an eye on. (This is the first time I’ve noticed Morgan as an issue.) Brooks also didn’t alter the path on the previous kick. He’s keeping his hands too high. When guys can dip under, he’s got nothing for it. Same issue as last week.
Kick 5: 43 Yard Field Goal (Miss)
Snap is to the body of Whelan, but not a bad location. Whelan is easily able to grab it & spin it to an ideal hold. Smack just pulls it. Put a pin in that.
Kick 6: 47 Yard Field Goal (Miss)
Snap over the hold point, good hold. Smash pushes it.
Let us, once again, play a game of screenshot comparison. Here is Smack just before the pulled kick on Kick 5:
And here is Smack just before the kick pushed on Kick 6:
What do you see? After staring at these images for long enough to have afterimages in my vision, I believe a see a difference in leg angle from Smack. I actually saved these as unnamed images, and opened them at random a number of times, seeing if I could guess the outcome of the play. Every time I called Kick 5 as a pull and Kick 6 as a Push. He’s planting to drive on Kick 5, while looks like he’s being more deliberate in trying to kick straight on Kick 6.
On the snap front, the high snap on Kick 1 comes in as his worst snap of the season, but everything else was good. Could’ve been better from Orzech, but these misses seem more on Smack than anything else. Another stellar day from Whelan.
Albums listened to: Wilby – Center of Affection
