Michael Dickson sophomore slump?

[seabowl]

Just curious if anyone else thinks that Dickson has been only average so far this year? After seeing him have an incredible year last season it seems he has had more kicks now that are either too low or just short. I know he had 3 out.of 4 yesterday inside the 20 but he just doesn't seem to be as unique of a weapon as he was.

Thoughts?

 

[Vesuve]

Just curious if anyone else thinks that Dickson has been only average so far this year? After seeing him have an incredible year last season it seems he has had more kicks now that are either too low or just short. I know he had 3 out.of 4 yesterday inside the 20 but he just doesn't seem to be as unique of a weapon as he was.

Thoughts?

I have to look at his stats. We're only 4 games in, also.

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

Very disappointed in him so far. His short punt was a large factor in the Saints' return for a TD last week. Wondering if he's spent too much time trying to refine different types of punts instead of just continuing to boom them.



@Tical in soon to say "I told you so" btw.

 

[Mad Dog]

He was pretty good yesterday. So maybe it was a few off games and he'll get back on a roll. In reality he's only had a couple real terrible punts this year. But one got returned for a TD so that sticks in everyone's mind.

 

[quadsas]

He's had off games last year too. I have to assume that his style of kicking is fairly inconsistent but if he is on point, he's a massive weapon

 

[Sox-n-Hawks]

His kicking mechanics appear a bit different too. Of course, this is just the eye test and I could be reading way too much into it.

 

[Jville]

A week ago, Special Teams had a particularly bad outing verses the Saints .... in pretty much all areas. That was a wake up call. Also, the press has asked about the punt and coverage team, from time to time, dating back to last year.

Yesterday was a reminder of how much better a punter will execute when given enough time to punt the ball away and when supported by well coordinated down field coverage. With special team members coming and going, it can a challenge to refine a punting game built around a unique punter .... and then maintain it.

 

[sutz]

Very disappointed in him so far. His short punt was a large factor in the Saints' return for a TD last week. Wondering if he's spent too much time trying to refine different types of punts instead of just continuing to boom them.

@Tical in soon to say "I told you so" btw.

It wasn't really because of the shortness of the punt, though that contributed. The coverage really sucked on that kick. I seem to recall that at least 3 or 4 guys overran the punt and were behind the receiver when he caught it. The return team was blocking 10 on 6 or so.

The coverage guys have to be more aware of where the ball is coming down than that.

 

[hawksfansinceday1]

Very disappointed in him so far. His short punt was a large factor in the Saints' return for a TD last week. Wondering if he's spent too much time trying to refine different types of punts instead of just continuing to boom them.

@Tical in soon to say "I told you so" btw.

It wasn't really because of the shortness of the punt, though that contributed. The coverage really sucked on that kick. I seem to recall that at least 3 or 4 guys overran the punt and were behind the receiver when he caught it. The return team was blocking 10 on 6 or so.

The coverage guys have to be more aware of where the ball is coming down than that.

Without being an argumentative dick, would they have overrun it if it wasn't short though?

 

[sutz]

Very disappointed in him so far. His short punt was a large factor in the Saints' return for a TD last week. Wondering if he's spent too much time trying to refine different types of punts instead of just continuing to boom them.

@Tical in soon to say "I told you so" btw.

It wasn't really because of the shortness of the punt, though that contributed. The coverage really sucked on that kick. I seem to recall that at least 3 or 4 guys overran the punt and were behind the receiver when he caught it. The return team was blocking 10 on 6 or so.

The coverage guys have to be more aware of where the ball is coming down than that.

Without being an argumentative dick, would they have overrun it if it wasn't short though?

Well, yes, I said that contributed. But my point also stands, the coverage team is responsible to not run themselves out of position to make a play. They probably thought he'd get his usual booming punt off, but making that assumption led to the TD when he had a bad one.

 

[Seymour]

Over rated IMO. Does not look like a HOF kicker to me. He's been outkicked a couple games already this season, and I couldn't care less about the trick kicks when it seems to net no advantage I can see.

Good kicker? Yes
HOF kicker as hyped? Don't see signs of that myself.

 

[jammerhawk]

Far too soon to say if Dickson is in the Ray Guy class of punter, however he does have his moments.

For him he has the ability to far out kick the coverage, and for him that creates open field areas that allow for returns. Too me criticizing him for a return or two where the coverage tackled poorly is short sited.

last season he surprised the league by incredible directional punting, but at times where the ball didn't reach the sideline being kicked toward created return opportunities b/c the coverage was unable to get as far down field as they needed. To me this is largely a coverage issue and weak tackling by the ST, as was completely evident in the punt return TD given up against the Saints.

I think he has a genuine ability to flip the field and was worth the the draft pick. Is he destined to be a HOF punter? Time alone will tell.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

He had at least one Pro Bowl punt yesterday. Hopefully he pulls himself out of it.

 

[DomeHawk]

I was noticing that too, not nearly as dynamic as he was last year.

Resting on his laurels?

 

[hangumhi]

I see fear in his mechanics. He's rushing his mechanics and it's resulting in a lack of follow through. He seems fearful of the rush. A little work with him and it can be fixed.

 

[Seymour]

I see fear in his mechanics. He's rushing his mechanics and it's resulting in a lack of follow through. He seems fearful of the rush. A little work with him and it can be fixed.

Actually I think he's always punted like that with very little follow through.

 

[KiwiHawk]

SMH

The point of punting is not to boom it for touchbacks all the time.

His first punt was 47 yards to the AZ 6. Precisely what part of that do you guys have a problem with? Only 47 yards? you would have preferred maybe 57 yards?

Dickson punted 4 times yesterday, each one within the 20, and for a TOTAL of 1 yard returned. That is exactly what you want your punter to do.

4th quarter, AZ is looking for anything to spark their offense so a decent return would be fantastic. Dickson punts 51 yards and bounces it 1 yard from the sideline and then out of bounds at the 20. That's about as good as that gets. No chance for a return, and no chance for anyone to screw up the coverage. Could be longer, but you sacrifice a bit for accuracy.

I though Dickson did a fantastic job yesterday.

 

[THE TABS]

Very disappointed in him so far. His short punt was a large factor in the Saints' return for a TD last week. Wondering if he's spent too much time trying to refine different types of punts instead of just continuing to boom them.



@Tical in soon to say "I told you so" btw.

Agreed.

Coverage seems to be an ongoing issue, but Dickson had an uncharacteristic miss there. He kicked short, and coverage inadvertently over pursued.

 

[TwistedHusky]

Last year he was booming then, then the returner was returning it 20-30 yards, if not more.

This year, the punt goes not as far but the return is almost nil.

If we can get punts off without long returns afterwards? Not sure what the OP is complaining about.

We are getting more consistent results this year from him. Less homeruns but lots of base hits.

I don't need the opposing team pinned at the 5, I need them to get the ball with a long field to drive. We are getting far less long returns this year, so he isn't outkicking the coverage.

 

[KiwiHawk]

At the Cardinals, it's not so much out-kicking coverage as it is there's not much more room to kick the ball. All of his punts were inside the 20. That's the KPI for punters other than raw distance if the end zone is not going to be a problem.

Yes, instead of the 14 it could have been the 12, or 7, or 3, but anything within the 10 the returner is not supposed to touch so the risk of touchback goes up exponentially.

We *want* then to catch it, because you can't muff a punt unless you try to catch a punt. So Dickson's target are is between the 10 and 20, which is where he's landing his punts. There really isn't any more room for distance without increasing touchbacks.