Hopefully it was a one game thing and he gets back on track
Kicker problem...
- Thread starter nicky
- Start date
I've never wanted a kicker to make a kick so bad. Not just because we needed it, but because I know he would have been devastated. Fans can be awful towards kickers. Such a thankless job to deal with so much pressure. Not sure why anyone even wants that role. Hopefully that last make gets him back on track.
It was a 33 yarder which is a high percentage make in today’s game. The 42 yarder he missed wasn’t even close and zero excuses for missing from 26. That’s like missing a break away dunk with no one around you. Glad he bounced back but I still would not want to rely on him to win us a game. More concerned about our punter though, he has an average high schoolers leg. How in the world did he end up with the punting duties.
Look at his history. Missing was him being on track.
I used to joke that they should be able to go get someone off the women's soccer team that should be able to do better. Then I saw Vanderbilt actually did it a few years ago and realized how wrong that was.
He was definitely devastated after the missed kicks. But I was impressed with the way coach Stein consoled and encouraged him after his two misses. Then he came back with a good kick to tie the game. Good coaching to bring out the best in his player. 
He wasn't expected to be starting. AZ was filling in for our returning kicker. But Stein thought AZ earned the job with his performance so far.
Looks to me if he hits the FG at 5 minutes LSU plays to attack from then on. All they would need is a field goal for the lead with little or no time left. Looking back him missing those kicks were a blessing even though I didn't realize it at the time.
Jacob Kauwe was 12/13 from inside 50 yards last year. It may be time to give him the job back since he’s supposedly healthy and we were simply riding the hot hand (or foot as the case may be) with Zouagui. Zouagui’s track record was extremely poor before he got here.
Love how Stein handled it on field but truth is we just need to take a look at change there. We just cannot be consistently missing anything inside 40 yards in today's cfb. We were really lucky we overcame those two misses.
Oh
agree, but I would like to take my chances with Jacob Kauwe going forward.
I’m more interested in how a guy who went 4 of 12 at Davidson gets a spot at an SEC school.
Kickoff specialist was what he was recruited for.
I was surprised Stein didn't bring in Kauwe for the last FG. Maybe he's not actually healthy, or it was too big a moment for his first kick of the season.
Idk but we need to recruit way better kickers for next year.
Actually it was 4-16. I can’t recall ever seeing a stat line that bad for a college kicker. He had only missed one prior to last night this year so he was in his own head.
Yewh. We need to go back to Jacob
I don’t know if I have ever seen a D1 kicker be that bad. He not only continued to be a starter, but go to a better school. I have no idea why he’s at Kentucky.
Jacob Kauwe needs his job back. He has to be the kicker going forward. We almost blew the game last night due to kicking.
Kid missed a couple last night but he has been pretty damn good so far if I remember correctly. Hit that incredibly important bomb at TxAM to put the game away.
Give the kid a break. show me a kicker that hasn‘t missed a field goal in a season in college football.
Little surprised by sticking with AZ. Also, how do we not have a better punter? I don't ever like putting down a current player for a Kentucky team, but kicking is certainly a concern for this team and that can't be glazed over. On the flip, maybe there's something to be said for Stein being loyal to players.
I think we see Kauwe take over FG duties going forward. Leave the other kid on kickoffs. He’s done a good job there.
This team just has been blessed so far. I just watched a podcast that pointed out that if Kentucky's kicker had made the second kick to tie the game, then Kiffen probably goes for that 4th and one and probably gets it and there's a very good chance LSU wins in regulation time.
Kicking is like a golf swing. Some kickers get the yips from time to time. Ill trust the coaches judgement on this one. If he remains the starter I expect he will be on a very short leash.
He was not bad his first year at Davidson in 2023 for Field Goals (7 for 9), but also his longest made was 39 yards. (So that means his two misses were also from 30 something yards). The 4 for 16 stat was from the next year, 2024, when Davidson's field goal execution was horrible.
For example, in ONE game (against Dayton) in 2024, 3 of 4 of his FG attempts were blocked. And all three blocks count toward those 12 misses for the year.
In 2025, he transferred to South Florida and attempted ZERO field goals, and was used almost exclusively for kickoffs.
REGARDLESS...
But, knowing why 2024's stats are misleading compared to his actual hit/miss history, doesn't make it any better that he missed two easy kicks Saturday. And I'm sure if it continues, we'll see the other guy.
On the other hand, SO FAR this year, prior to the LSU, he has been 8 for 9 on FGAs (albeit, with one of those being the lucky bounce when it hit the upright at Texas A&M). And so far, he's 100% (24 for 24) on his PATs.
If LSU was an aberration, then he's a pretty decent kicker based on average for made FGA's. The biggest issue to me seems like his range might be limited compared to other SEC caliber kickers RE field goals.
I would say outside of the LSU misses he has been very good not just decent. I have seen his range questioned more than once on here and I don't get it. He hit a 52 yarder at A&M and he boots most kickoff's out the back of the endzone.
I hope you're right. And to your point, Stein did say at the beginning of the season that both kickers had made FGs from 60 yards in practice.
Coach Stein said all positions are available on an “ Earn it” basis. At this point - GOTTA TRUST WILL STEIN - & his decisions on all things KY FB
Longest made does not mean the misses were shorter than the longest made.
True but that woman does happen to be Kathy Ireland.Women in MENS SPORTS
BLASPHEMOUS
Required reference photo:
True. But if he tried longer ones, then he missed on all of them. So, it still defines him THAT year (2023) as only being able to make a field goal less than 40 yards. But now (2026), under Stein, he's kicked 60 yard FG's in practice.
And I'm confident Stein knows what he's doing regarding which kicker to use.
My understanding is that the competition for the FG kicker spot is week-to-week. So, whoever plays the best in practice this week, is the FG kicker this week. Just as it should be.
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