Kicking game on Monday night

[Lynch Mob]

I think one aspect of monday nights game that's overlooked is if Garrett Hartley is not able to kick it out of the endzone i think the hawks are starting from the thirty yard line or better all night. I would'nt be suprised to see them squib them if he really starts to do damage because you can tell by his interveiws he is eager to return some kicks. I know the Saints recently brought in some kickers to compete for Hartley's job so that don't sound good for him.

 

[RolandDeschain]

They avoided kicking to Leon all night the last time they were here. I'll be curious to see if they do it again here. Probably not, even though Percy's more dangerous than Leon; but who knows?

 

[Zorn76]

I think one aspect of monday nights game that's overlooked is if Garrett Hartley is not able to kick it out of the endzone i think the hawks are starting from the thirty yard line or better all night. I would'nt be suprised to see them squib them if he really starts to do damage because you can tell by his interveiws he is eager to return some kicks. I know the Saints recently brought in some kickers to compete for Hartley's job so that don't sound good for him.

Great point.

Hartley's a career 82% FG kicker, but is only hitting 76% this year (20/26) thus far.

And according to this link, he hasn't had a single touchback all season.

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/ro ... 66302b08c/

With inclement weather a definite possibility, it ain't gonna help matters, either. Field position is going to be key, and having Harvin back there to return may force the Saints to squib kick, giving us an excellent starting point. I also wouldn't rule out Payton calling for an unexpected onside kick early in the game. They could get burned by our return team, no doubt.

 

[supersaint]

You guys are hilarious!!! Thomas Morestead is the one who kicks off so of course Hartley doesn't have any touch backs. Morestead will definitely be kicking it out of the end zone.

 

[KARAVARUS]

It will be hilarious if he doesn't and PH balanced for men takes that shit to the house. Laugh it up, fuzz ball.

 

[supersaint]

Not trying to be funny. I just think it's funny how you guys post idiotic things without doing any research.

 

[RiverDog]

I think one aspect of monday nights game that's overlooked is if Garrett Hartley is not able to kick it out of the endzone i think the hawks are starting from the thirty yard line or better all night. I would'nt be suprised to see them squib them if he really starts to do damage because you can tell by his interveiws he is eager to return some kicks. I know the Saints recently brought in some kickers to compete for Hartley's job so that don't sound good for him.

It's an outdoor game, at sea level, and with the prospect of sub freezing temperatures. That would tend to indicate that we'd see fewer kickoffs for touchbacks. Squib kicks might not be such a bad strategy for either team.

We probably won't see any 50+ yard FG attempts, either.

 

[PlinytheCenter]

Not trying to be funny. I just think it's funny how you guys post idiotic things without doing any research.

He does have a point...

 

[KARAVARUS]

Not trying to be funny. I just think it's funny how you guys post idiotic things without doing any research.

Look, I will defend these guys to the end, so please, if you're gonna post here, don't come in here with this kind of attitude. I'm asking you nicely. Every fan base has its share of idiots, but you need to be respectful somewhat if you're gonna play here. Lambasting someone for not researching kicker is kind of petty--And you're coming off as the kind of guy that's not going to last here.

 

[PlinytheCenter]

Not trying to be funny. I just think it's funny how you guys post idiotic things without doing any research.

Look, I will defend these guys to the end, so please, if you're gonna post here, don't come in here with this kind of attitude. I'm asking you nicely. Every fan base has its share of idiots, but you need to be respectful somewhat if you're gonna play here. Lambasting someone for not researching kicker is kind of petty--And you're coming off as the kind of guy that's not going to last here.

Seriously? Look at the page; how many times do members on this site lambaste people for not researching articles/comments about the Seahawks? I didn't think it was troll-type comment at all; attack the post, not the poster, right? It's the holiday season boyo...goodwill and all that.

 

[KARAVARUS]

I don't want a saints fan coming in here huffing and puffing like they been here forever in their first five posts. So yeah, I was serious.

 

[keatonisballin]

Not trying to be funny. I just think it's funny how you guys post idiotic things without doing any research.

Look, I will defend these guys to the end, so please, if you're gonna post here, don't come in here with this kind of attitude. I'm asking you nicely. Every fan base has its share of idiots, but you need to be respectful somewhat if you're gonna play here. Lambasting someone for not researching kicker is kind of petty--And you're coming off as the kind of guy that's not going to last here.

I agree with this man. Youre a visitor here son, learn some respect. And omg sorry we didnt know who your kicker was lol do you know who ours is off hand? Highly doubt it.

 

[supersaint]

Not trying to be funny. I just think it's funny how you guys post idiotic things without doing any research.

Look, I will defend these guys to the end, so please, if you're gonna post here, don't come in here with this kind of attitude. I'm asking you nicely. Every fan base has its share of idiots, but you need to be respectful somewhat if you're gonna play here. Lambasting someone for not researching kicker is kind of petty--And you're coming off as the kind of guy that's not going to last here.

I agree with this man. Youre a visitor here son, learn some respect. And omg sorry we didnt know who your kicker was lol do you know who ours is off hand? Highly doubt it.

Yes sir I am so sorry for offending you guys. Just stating the facts. But just to let you know I am not a boy

 

[Alexander]

Not trying to be funny. I just think it's funny how you guys post idiotic things without doing any research.

Look, I will defend these guys to the end, so please, if you're gonna post here, don't come in here with this kind of attitude. I'm asking you nicely. Every fan base has its share of idiots, but you need to be respectful somewhat if you're gonna play here. Lambasting someone for not researching kicker is kind of petty--And you're coming off as the kind of guy that's not going to last here.

Seriously? Look at the page; how many times do members on this site lambaste people for not researching articles/comments about the Seahawks? I didn't think it was troll-type comment at all; attack the post, not the poster, right? It's the holiday season boyo...goodwill and all that.

Most of the lambasting on this forum is directed at pundits, whose sole job is supposedly to know what they're talking about. I think most people here are pretty forgiving of opposing team fans not knowing much about the Hawks.

 

[SalishHawkFan]

You guys need to own up to being guilty as charged. If we're going to discuss the kicking game Monday night, let's at least get the actual kicker right. Lambasting the Saints fan for laughing at your ignorance isn't going to rectify the mistake, you left yourselves open for it. Man up and let's actually discuss the kicking game.

Morestead puts them in the endzone. New Orleans ranks 5th in Kicker Touchback % (65.26%). That said, they're 7th in most yards allowed per kickoff return average. So while Morestead puts them in the endzone, when he doesn't, the Hawks should get a good return out of it. Thinking Harvin is going to give us an average start at the 30-35 isn't a realistic expectation, however. On 2/3rds of their kickoffs, we're starting with the ball on our 20.

It's that 1/3rd of Moresteads kickoffs that we have a chance to do something.

Seattle kicks touchbacks approximately half the time. We rank 8th in most yards allowed per kickoff return. So the Saints are going to get the ball past the 20 more often than we are.

Punting, otoh, is going to favor the Hawks. They've given up 15 yds TOTAL in punt return yards the entire season. The Saints average a little over half a yard more in average punt distance than the Hawks, so that's negigible. But Golden Tate is one of the leading punt returners in the league. Seattle is 5th in punt returning, New Orleans is 31st.

So you've got the leagues very best punt return coverage units facing the next to worst punt return unit. Seattle opponents have Fair Caught the ball 18 times. New Orleans opponents have only Fair Caught the ball 6 times. Oddly enought, New Orleans punt returners have fair caught the ball 18 times. Seattle punt returners only 6, to the stats are completely inversed - and yes, I double checked that with multiple sources. New Orleans isn't getting any punt return yards and the Seahawks are going to gain about 10 yards field position per punt. This more than outweighs any gains New Orleans may have from the kickoffs.

Then comes FG kicking. Hauschka is one of the top FG kickers in the league and is kicking 96% and has kicked 24 FG's. League leader has 26. Hartley has kicked 20 FG's and it 77% accurate. But most importantly, Hauschka is 12 of 13 from 40+ yds out while Hartley is 9 of 13. From 30+ yds out, Hauschka is 19-20 while Hartely is only 14 of 20. So the FG advantage is definitely in the favor of the Hawks.

In a nutshell, Tate and Hauschka are advantages for us. Morestead is an advantage for them. Harvin is negated for the most part by Morestead, but he'll get one or two shots at it. Overall, special teams advantage goes to the Hawks because while the Saints might get one, possibly two more kickoff returns than us, we'll get far more punt returns than they will and our FG kicker is better than theirs.

 

[captSE]

I wonder how long supersaint waited to have something important to say such as defending his kicker.
Haha. Thanks for ruining our party. j/k

Happy thanksgiving.

 

[KARAVARUS]

Salish...you're missing the point, man. It's not about the mistakes made by other fans. (Not me, I was just defending our home) It's about telling this person that We would like to have them here, but not if the first two posts are going to be of this nature. There is way to let them know they were mistaken without taking the stance of, "I'm here to laugh at you and make trouble" in your first two damn posts. I hate that shit, and now here we are freaking talking about it ten posts later.

 

[SalishHawkFan]

Sorry, Karavarus, but I've seen a billion Hawk fans post the exact same kind of response on opponents boards. If we're going to dish it out, we better be ready to serve up up to ourselves as well. Hawk fans should at least get the kicker right before posting about it. It makes us all look stupid. You leave yourself open to that, you deserve what you get.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

[Exittium]

How about this thread is just full is assery that doesnt need to be here? And I agree with a lot of people, I don't give a sh!t if someone maybe wrong about something he did the research he may have missed some detail, which in this case its he had the wrong kicker, NOT a big deal, as im sure we've all done the same, but when someone comes into our home and calls us idiots thats just plain ass nine, a correction could have been done without the name calling and attitude.

 

[gargantual]

Laugh it up, fuzz ball.

Made my day there. Thanks!