On the heels of a string of game ending field goal attempts being wiped out by last second timeout calls, including Sebastian Janikowsi's week two 52-yarder that would have defeated the Broncos in overtime, NFL coaches are making adjustments to their game plans to counteract the trend. Numerous special teams coordinators, speaking on condition of anonymity, have announced plans to instead ice opposing place kickers by not calling a late timeout, therefore confusing the kicker and likely causing him to miss his initial attempt."The last second timeout is played out," one coordinator said. "They know it's coming now. Kickers are a squirrelly bunch, but highly adaptable, so once they get used to being psyched out one way then it's time to pull the super-psych on them and completely switch it up. Then when they get used to the new tricks that's when we'll be like, 'Oh psych, we're not doing that anymore, we've got a new way to have intercourse with your mind.'"
Kickers are known to be highly emotional, superstitious and regimented people, so the slightest alteration to their routine can send them into a tizzy, often rendering them less effective. Kickers must have mismatched Adidas Copa Mundials, tiny shoulder pads and single bar facemasks in order to feel comfortable and prepared to kick. They are also afraid of spiders, cockroaches, mice and going to the bathroom by themselves.
No one is more aware of kickers' idiosyncrasies than special teams coaches and they pride themselves on using that knowledge to prey on their opponents' weaknesses.
"Kickers gossip with each other constantly," another coordinator said. "Sometimes it's the usual kicker stuff- "Did you see what the quarterback is wearing? or "Why are punters such bullies?"- but every once in a while they actually talk football. That's why we always have to rework our strategy. The word's out there now and they all know about the late timeout trick. A lot of them are walking up and shanking their first attempt expecting that it won't count anyway, but man are they going to be pissed when they find out head coaches aren't automatically calling timeouts. I expect there to be more than a few slap fights."
2 comments:
I bet that guy with the small balls from the last posting was a kicker for his local girls powder puff team.
This is the same strategy teams used to use against my son, Daniel when he played soccer for his mom at Fairview HS. He was the fastest guy on the team. He later went on to UD to become the #1 best athlete of the graduating class of 2003.
- Kelly Spiker
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