Kicking World

http://blog.nola.com/jeffduncan/2008/10/martin_gramatica_gives_new_orl.html

Martin Gramatica gives New Orleans Saints a kick in the gut

Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune October 07, 2008 8:10PM

Categories: Saints

SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES-PICAYUNESaints kicker Martin Gramatica has missed four of his past seven tries, including two big ones in the Saints' demoralizing 30-27 loss to Minnesota on Monday night at the Superdome.

No Saints player's approval rating has suffered more damage in the past three weeks than kicker Martin Gramatica.

The diminutive Argentine is being disparaged around town almost as bad as referee Ed Hochuli these days.

In his first 5¤1/2 games with the Saints since being signed to replace Olindo Mare last season, Gramatica nailed all nine of his field-goal attempts.

But in the past three weeks he's missed four of his past seven tries, including two big ones in the Saints' demoralizing 30-27 loss to Minnesota.

In the blink of an eye, Automatica has become Erratica.

To be fair, Gramatica has battled a groin injury this season. Because of the injury, punter Steve Weatherford has handled kickoff duties the past two games. But if the injury is truly hindering Gramatica -- he sure looked fine as he futilely chased Antoine Winfield on the blocked field-goal return -- then he shouldn't be playing. He's hurting his team.

So it should surprise no one if a new kicker is in a Saints uniform when the team hits the practice field this afternoon.

At this stage, how can Sean Payton have confidence in Gramatica.

You don't know what you're going to get from him from one kick to the next these days. One minute, he's drilling a 53-yarder straight between the uprights. The next, he's hooking a 46-yard potential game-winner badly to the left.

And Payton deferred twice Tuesday when offered opportunities to give the veteran kicker a vote of confidence. Instead he left the door open.

"We have a pretty good idea of who else is available," Payton said. "I'm not sure if Martin is 100 percent healthy right now, let alone whether he's my guy. So we'll see."

Finding a replacement for Gramatica was almost certainly at the top of Payton's to-do list Tuesday, right behind the call he likely made to NFL supervisor of officials Mike Pereira.

Payton said Monday night he plans to hold repeat offenders accountable this week. I assume that means Gramatica, as well.

After all, he's now 6-of-10 on the season and has missed two makeable tries that could have given them late leads against Denver and Minnesota, games they lost.

In the wake of the Monday night meltdown, Gramatica no longer can be considered a first-time offender.

It's hard to feel sorry for Payton and the Saints on this one. They created this mess when they released John Carney in the spring of 2007 to make room for Olindo Mare.

Since then, Saints kickers have missed or had blocked 11 of 32 field-goal attempts. A 65-percent conversion rate doesn't cut it in the NFL.

And the club has wasted two draft picks -- a sixth-rounder in the 2007 trade to acquire Olindo Mare, and a sixth-rounder this past season to select Taylor Mehlhaff, who was cut before the start of the season.

At the time, the Saints spun Carney's release as a chance to get a stronger leg on the roster. Carney, they reasoned, was costing the team critical "hidden yards" with his short kickoffs, which rarely landed inside the 5-yard line. He was also costing them a roster spot because they had to keep kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff on the roster.

Maybe so. But Carney makes field goals, especially clutch ones.

The 44-year-old veteran was 23 of 25 on field-goal attempts for the Saints in 2006 and is 12-for-12 for the Giants this season.

And oh, by the way, his average kickoff distance is a respectable 62.9 yards; Gramatica's is 66.5. Also, with Weatherford handling kickoffs, the Saints appear to be doing just fine with his distance and placement.

The decision to part with Carney is even more puzzling because he's exactly Payton's kind of player: smart, dependable, accountable, professional. Those are traits we've seen far too few of from Mare and Gramatica in their short tenures.

Carney might come available soon. The Giants' regular kicker and NFC championship game hero, Lawrence Tynes, has recovered from a knee injury and is ready to go. At some point, the Giants will need to part ways with either Carney or Tynes.

Don't be surprised if the Saints take a long hard look at Carney if becomes available. They'd be foolish not to. Thanks in part to Erratica's wayward boots, they're already two games behind Carolina in the NFC South division.

Another Gramatica error and bringing in Carney should be automatica.

Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3404.

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Matt Bryant's son passed away yesterday. 

Bryant, 33, was a finalist for the 2007 Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year Award, given to players for their work on and off the field.

Gruden asked Bucs fans to pray for the Bryants, while asking to respect the family's privacy, also.

As to how the loss will affect the team, Gruden said only that the child's death put "things in real perspective."

"We'll deal with it from a football standpoint," he said. "Right now, we're worried about Matt and Melissa from a personal standpoint. They're great friends."

Bucs punter Josh Bidwell added: "Like everyone, the news of Matt and Melissa Bryant's son Tryson hit me hard today. Having kids of my own, I couldn't imagine the pain that is associated with such a terrible loss. The entire extended Buccaneers family will be there for the Bryants in every way possible to help them during this difficult time. We hope that everyone keeps them in their thoughts and prayers."

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view/2008_09_25_Infant_son_of_Buccaneers_kicker_Matt_Bryant_dies/srvc=home&position=recent

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Jason King
Yahoo! Sports

EUGENE, Ore. - A year ago, after she helped him move into his dorm at Oregon, Todd Doxey took his grandmother, Gladys, to Autzen Stadium and fantasized about his first game as a Duck.

"We stood there on that empty field," Gladys said, "and he pointed at the tunnel. He talked about how exciting it was going to be to storm into that stadium in front of all those fans.

Todd Doxey died eight weeks ago, leaving behind a legacy greater that belied his youth.

Gladys looked away. Her voice began to tremble.

"Today," she said, "was supposed to be that day."

One year later, true to her word, Gladys made the trip from San Diego to Eugene for last Saturday's season-opener against Washington. But a few hours before kickoff, she and Doxey's closest relatives and friends were nowhere near Autzen Stadium. Instead, 13 miles away, they gathered on a bank of the McKenzie River. Kneeling one by one, they dipped their hands into the cold water and gazed at the bridge 40 feet above.

"We needed to see it for ourselves," said JayDee Luster, Doxey's best friend. "We needed to see where Todd took his final breaths.

"We needed to see where he died."

Eight weeks have passed since Doxey, 19, drowned during a float trip down the McKenzie River and everyone, it seems, still is struggling to cope.

Nearly 3,000 people crammed into the pews for Doxey's funeral in his native San Diego, where he carried a 3.5 grade-point average and became the first person in his high school's history to have his football jersey retired.

In Oregon, tears trickled down players' cheeks Saturday as video clips of Doxey flashed across the JumboTron during a pregame ceremony.

Doxey, who redshirted last season, was expected to see significant playing time in the Ducks' loaded secondary this fall. Still, ask his friends and former teammates to tell stories about Doxey's life, and football isn't the first the thing they'll mention.

They'll tell you about kid who, each week last season, gave his four complimentary Ducks tickets to a young fan in a wheelchair.

They'll laugh about how Doxey bellowed Chris Brown songs in the shower, and they'll beam with admiration when explaining how Doxey emerged from a neighborhood infested by gang members, drugs and prostitution to become the first member of his family to attend college.

"The impressive thing is that, for the last eight weeks, we've heard all these people talking about Todd," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. "But they're not talking about how he died. They're talking about how he lived."

Read the full story at:

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=845128

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I would like to invite all kickers, punters, family, and coaches to this very special seminar put on by my Physical Therapist Kevin Rausch of Rausch PT in Laguna Niguel.  I see Kevin 3x a week for training and he is dramatically helping me improve my strength, balance, and flexibility. 

He has enlisted some top guest speakers who will be discussing the mental side of sports, competition, how to increase speed, prevent injury, and recover from injuries quickly.  This seminar is a MUST for anyone serious about taking their kicking game to the next level.  Also, parents will get a lot out of this and you Mom's can win a free massage when attending!  Give me a call and I'll be glad to bring you along as my guest for FREE.  Also free pizza and drinks will be served. 

Full Seminar Details Below:

Technique, Health & Mind Workshop

We invite you to join us August 6th from 6pm - 8:30pm for an interactive workshop about "Technique, Health and Mind = Improved Performance". The workshop will feature 3 category experts to share their performance techniques, injury prevention methods, and mental training to help you reach personal excellence.  

Here's the run-down of presenters & topics:

Triathlon - Mike Collins, Head Coach Multisports OC & NOVA Masters

• Discuss pacing/ interval training and shorten the learning curve to increase speed
• Technique instruction
• Race specific training tips

 Health/Injury Prevention - Kevin Rausch, Owner Rausch PT & Sports Performance

• Review injury prevention for the straight-ahead athletes
• Discuss horizontal training methods to improve your overall health & fitness
• Demonstrate 3 simple exercises to prevent common injuries such as IT band, tendonitis, runner's knee and more.

Sports Psychologist - Dr. Jack Singer, Certified Sports Psychologist

• Are you self-sabotaging yourself in races due to lack of focus and mental toughness? Jack will teach:
  • Mind training formula to turbo charge your athletic performance for consistent results
  • Discuss ways to stay motivated to persist and achieve

Raffles will be held for Massage, Pilates & other training items, so please bring your business cards.

Pizza, salad & drinks will be provided.

Location:
Rausch PT & Sports Performance Center
28202 Cabot Road, Suite 110
Laguna Niguel
92677

***RSVP to Coach Brent of Kicking World at 949-610-3600 by Monday, August 4th  to reserve your spot

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We had the Tempe, Arizona Kicking Camp yesterday and amidst the 105+ degree Arizona heat, the camp was a major success.  Billy Cundiff, 7+ year NFL veteran kicker previously with the Dallas Cowboys & Kansas City Chiefs and owner of www.cundiffkicking.com conducted the camp with me.  He was great to work with and all the kids learned many new skills and techniques both from Billy and I to help propel their performance to an entirely new level.  I am going to be posting a before and after section of photos and videos of the camp as there were several kids who dramatically improved from start to finish of the camp, particularly in their contact position and follow-through.  Andrew C. won the most accurate field goal competition and several of the kickers really impressed us, particularly the 13 year old Garret W. who hung in there with the older guys and Rocky F. from Tucson.

 It was a pleasure working with everyone at the camp and many parents expressed interest in meeting again in Arizona for private lessons.  Since so many of you who live in Arizona want to meet again I am going to work out arrangements so I can come out for a small group lesson day or 2 day session with those interested. If you live in Arizona and want to partake in the lessons please get in touch with me as this is being tentatively planned for sometime in the next month or 2.  Call me at 949-610-3600 with any questions or help I can provide you with.  Check out the picture gallery under the 'gallery' section of the website which has about 8 pages of camp photos from Sunday.

 -Coach Brent

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We had the University of North Texas kicking camp at Fouts Field yesterday in Denton, Texas.  The camp was a success and we had a lot of great talent there.  The temperature read 105 degrees outside the stadium but on that field turf stadium I believe it was over 115 degrees!  While the temperature was hot, I believe the kicking talent was hotter!

 Robert S. won the 'most accurate field goal kicker' award for the 15+ year old competition group.   He won a pair of Coreshorts compression shorts.  Garret C. won the under 15 year old competition group and won the UNT logo apparel.  He is only 13 years old and kicked as well as most high school upper-classmen!  Ian M. won the most accurate punter award and won the kicking world logo apparel.  Everyone did well in both the instruction portion of the camp and the competition. 

 At the end of the camp every parent spoke with me and/or e-mailed me how much of a good time their sons had at the camp and how beneficial it was for them in getting ready for the 2008 football season.  3 of the students want to set up private lessons in the near future, so it looks like I might be making a trip back to Texas very soon for a group lesson weekend.  If you live in the Texas are and want to take part in the next camp or be a part of the group lesson we are tentatively scheduling, please give me a call.

 Since it was my first time in Texas, I've included some pictures of my trip in Dallas and Denton at http://www.kickingworld.blogspot.com and on the gallery page of www.KickingWorld.com.  My favorite stop was at Rudy's where I had peppered tenderloin, corn on the cob, and home-made potato salad.  Texas sure does everything BIG and I noticed how much pride Texans have in their state by seeing the Texas state flag flown everywhere I went!  Also I saw the southern hospitality by the nice and calm demeanor of the people and friendly and helpful attitudes.  I enjoyed my trip and anticipate coming back soon.

 -Coach Brent

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NEW!

PRIVATE GYM TRAINING & POOL WORKOUTS WITH COACH BRENT

In addition to private kicking & punting lessons, Coach Brent is now offering kicking-specific training in the gym and pool for all kickers & punters at his beautiful workout facility located in Irvine, California. You will have access to state of the art gym equipment, cardiovascular machines, resort-like pool ammenities, and the professional knowledge and guidance of Coach Brent working out with you 1 on 1.

Brent realized the benefits of aqua-therapy after rehabbing an injury. He learned many new strategies and techniques that several of the top Division 1 College Football programs and NFL strength coaches are using to help keep their kickers healthy and get them stronger and longer!

The private training is available in single sessions or multiple sessions and we can create a custom package for you if you want to stay in Orange County, CA and workout with Coach Brent in Irvine for 2 or 3 days of complete kicking training (kicking and/or punting lessons, gym training, pool workouts). Please call us to schedule private training and/or private kicking lessons.

Visit the Training page and Private Lessons page for more information!

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Vai Sikahema knocks out Jose Canseco in the first round.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoAUP4ufh7s

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/blog/box_experts/post/Canseco-knocked-for-a-loop-in-boxing-debut?urn=box,93737

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Ravens' kicker Matt Stover aims toward heavenly goal Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003 By Sharon Mager & Bob Simpson http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=4100

Matt Stover COLUMBIA, Md. (BP)--Baltimore Ravens punter Matt Stover is one of the most accurate place kickers in the National Football League. In the 2000 season, he hit 81 percent of his 293 regular-season field goal attempts and had up to that time missed only three extra points in 11 NFL seasons. During the Raven's Super Bowl year, they went through Week Five to Week Nine when they didn't score a touchdown for 21 quarters. During that time, Stover had a five field goal game and a four field goal game to help the Ravens to victory. The Ravens played excellent defense and held the opponents points to a minimum. Stover scored 49 straight points on 16 field goals and an extra point. He was awarded Pro Football Weekly's Golden Toe Trophy for this accomplishment. Stover points towards heaven when he scores a field goal for his team. He gives God the glory for the victory. Stover also points to heaven when he misses. He still gives God the glory. Through my career I have to first and foremost honor Him, Stover said. It's not about me, it's about Him. When I point up I'm giving thanks -- not only when I get a field goal but also when I miss one. It's life's trials that make you grow the most, not the good times. It's an opportunity Stover knows he has and he uses it. Rather than worship the god of football, Stover surrendered football to God. Stover learned about Jesus as a child but didn't have a personal relationship with Him. He pictured Jesus behind a door. When needs arose he opened the door; otherwise it stayed shut. He began his love affair with football while in first grade. Stover was a punt-pass and kick champion when he was 11. He played punter, kicker and wide receiver in high school but began specializing in kicking. He went to Louisiana Tech on a full football scholarship and his dream came true in 1990 when the New York Giants drafted him. In 1991 he signed with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns relocated to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1996. By the second year with the Browns, Stover thought he had it all. ... the ball field, the financial success -- hey, this was it! he said. As a young man, Stover identified manly success with the two Bs - the billfold and the ball field. Through those things I was trying to find happiness and fulfillment in life and they all left me empty, Stover said. In 1991 while playing against the Houston Oilers, Stover missed a 19-yard field goal. He went down on one knee and said, God, help me. The reverence he found in himself surprised him. It made him aware that he knew he was accountable to God. Stover attended a pro-athlete conference in California in February 1992. The speaker talked about the god of football. He referenced Mark 8:35, 36: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? I had the whole world but didn't have my soul covered. This game of mine, which should have brought me happiness, didn't. It dropped me on my head. God gave me an opportunity to discover my true purpose -- to be loved by Him and love Him in return and accept Him as Lord and Savior. And I did that. Stover said as his relationship grew. God began chiseling him -- big chunks real fast. I grew quickly, he said, but still wasn't willing to let go of football. In September 1992 Stover got injured. He kicked the ball and lay afterwards in severe pain. On the ground he felt God saying, I can take this from you anytime. Are you willing to give it up? I surrendered and said, Lord, it's yours, Stover responded. After rehabilitation he went on to become one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history in 1994 and remains on the top 10 list of NFL kickers. Stover also held the record in 2001 for the most consecutive games with field goals. God was also working on Stover's relationships. Life was about Matt, he said. God changed that and began restoring relationships in Stover's life, drawing him and his wife, Debbie, closer. Stover began to reach out and love those around him like he had never done before. God produced more miracles in Stover's life by blessing him and Debbie with two children -- a daughter, Jenna, born April 26, 1995, and exactly one year later his son, Jacob. Debbie Stover grew up in Dallas and attended First Baptist Church, Dallas, under the pastorate of W.A. Criswell. She came to know the Lord when she was 11. �She is a huge influence in my life. She showed me that it doesn't matter how good you are if you don't have your sin taken care of. Stover knows he has to be a role model on and off the field. He knows people watch how he responds to others and how he walks. He wants to show by example that being a Christian isn't a 'fuddy-duddy' lifestyle, but is vibrant and fun. The guys will cuss around you and say excuse my language. They'll sit next to me ... all beat up, and say 'Stov, this coach is killing me. I need some encouragement.' I'm a big encourager. When I'm down I encourage people the most. Playing football is a very insecure career. There is no guaranteed contract. You can be cut at any time. The average time for a football player is 3 years, 3 games. At 35 I'm the oldest guy. The average age is 26.� He knows God blessed him with the gift of administration. Stover works with team ministry and outreach. Stover and other Christians on the team work together to host a large outreach each year at the Ravens' stadium. They pay for about 3,500 people, mostly from the inner city of Baltimore, to meet and shake hands with some of the players and hear some of them give their personal testimonies. During the football season. a group averaging anywhere from eight to 15 Christians on the Ravens team meet for Bible study on Wednesday nights. About 40 people attend Saturday night chapel. The Ravens have a chaplain, Rod Hairston, who is allowed in the locker room and travels with the team. Not all coaches allow that privilege. Hairston's arrival, Stover said, was the result of a strong commitment of prayer in 1999 -- a year before the team won the Super Bowl. Brian Billick is a good coach with regard to religious freedom, Stover said. Stover and his family worship and are actively involved at Grace Fellowship Church in Timonium. He is still a member of his hometown church, First Baptist Church, in Georgetown, Texas. I can look back and say being a professional athlete has been such a blessing to me, and hopefully I have used the platform given to me to bless others. God will hold me responsible for how I've handled myself. --30-- Used by permission from Baptist Life, newsjournal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware. Sharon Mager is a staff writer and Bob Simpson is the editor of Baptist Life.

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There was a time when kicker Rob Bironas took aim at the narrow uprights of the Arena Football League.

Now he is connecting in the NFL for the Titans and basking in the adulation that comes with kicking back-to-back game-winning field goals.

Don't think the two are unconnected.

Bironas played three years of arena football, spending 2003 with af2's Charleston Swamp Foxes and then moving up to the AFL with the Carolina Cobras and New York Dragons in 2004. He joined the Titans in 2005.

He said his time in the arena league served as a "stepping stone" to the NFL.

"I had some scouts tell me that (playing in the AFL) showed them that I was doing something when I was at home rather than just kicking on my own," Bironas said. "You're in game situations and there's a little bit of pressure, and the AFL was becoming more recognized by NFL.''

A fact that, in turn, is becoming more recognized by kickers trying to get to the big time. For those who want to be like Bironas, the Nashville Kats are offering an opportunity.

The team will hold an open kicking tryout today in the bubble at Baptist Sports Park. The only kicker currently on the Nashville roster is Jason Witczak, who joined the team midway through last season.

Strength, accuracy key

The tryout, conducted by Dean Cokinos, director of player personnel for the Kats, will consist of three phases.

There will be a test of leg strength, gauging a player's ability to consistently hit the net behind the goalposts on kickoffs.

Then accuracy will be tested. Each participant will be required to make a certain number of extra points in order to continue the tryout.

The final phase will be a field goal contest.

Cokinos said an AFL kicker has to get over the potentially intimidating idea of kicking through AFL goalposts, which are 9 feet apart. NFL goal posts are 18 feet, 6 inches apart. The AFL field is also just 50 yards long.

"Like everything else in Arena Football there is reduced space for kicking," Cokinos said. "The goal posts look like they are two inches apart. So it is a psychological thing for these guys. They have to have the mental strength not to let the reduced space affect them.

"They also have to have the leg strength to get it to the net, and they have to be a good onsides kicker to make it in arena football."

Other AFL grads

Bironas had those abilities, but he's not the only kicker to turn an arena league stint into something more.

Matt Bryant, who connected on a 62-yard field goal for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, played for the AFL's Iowa Barnstormers in 2000.

Mike Vanderjagt, who spent eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and was recently cut by the Dallas Cowboys, kicked for the AFL's Minnesota Fighting Pike in 1996.

Bironas still uses AFL goal post standards as an accuracy tool when he trains.

Cokinos said Bironas is the perfect example of what an AFL career can become.

"He's a testament to kicking," Cokinos said. "We tell all these guys, 'You got to play and got to be seen. If you are not practicing your craft you have no chance.' By Rob kicking, and kicking at a lower level, he showed the self-will that got him to the NFL.

"And we hope to find another guy like him." -

Courtesy of: http://www.footballforum.com/afl-forum/11441-bironas-afl-time-aided-nfl-success.html

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