The Michigan Panthers’ kicking coaches are starting to look like geniuses. A few years ago, they helped to develop Jake Bates from a brick salesman to a playoff-level kicker for the Detroit Lions. Now, they’re working similar magic with B.T. Potter. Except here a different yet very important aspect of kicking is being worked – and that’s the game of field position.
Kickers have been trying out some interesting tactics ever since the dynamic kickoff rule was implemented last season. For example, did you know that kicking a ball out of bounds (resulting in a penalty placing the ball 25 yards from the spot of the kick) can actually be a beneficial play now? Imagine that you have a 15 yard penalty enforced on the kickoff. Since you normally kick from your own 35 yard line, you now are kicking from center field. A touchback results in the ball coming out to the 30, but if you just kick it out of bounds here the receiving team will now start from the 25. But what if we could pin them deeper than that?
Enter B.T. Potter (#33), kicker from Clemson and the current kicker for the Michigan Panthers. In their opening match for the season, he debuted a new kickoff style where the ball is placed sideways on the kicking tee. From there, he’s able to kick it in a fashion that people are calling the knuckleball of kickoffs. Receivers have a hard time tracking it down, causing them to have to fall on the ball similar to a deep punt. When they do make it to the ball, they still have to stop and track it in a way that gives up precious seconds that could have been used to find a running lane. Momentum is also lost if they stop to catch the ball rather than being able to plan grabbing it on the run.
I’m excited to see what other things the Panthers and other teams try this Spring season. These new techniques and strategies are being watched closely by NFL staff as they plan what to incorporate into their own schemes.
Leave a Reply