On special teams, in the scrimmage redshirt freshman punter Patrick Fisher kicked nine times for a 48.5 average... that sounds like all-american numbers to me. although it surely isnt as easy in a real game, that is unreal to average nearly 50 yards on 9 punts. and with the headhunters we have on the coverage unit along with escalating consistency from the kickers, not to mention the best punt/kick returner in the game we may have truly 'special' special teams this year.
yeah that is a good average, but Saban said that they a were not getting the hang time that he wanted. He said that the punts were low driving punts and that he needed to work on hang time. Regardless its still a great average and he will only get better with time. At least we know he has the leg.
From reports we've gotten Fisher really needs to work on his drop and get much more height on the ball. I't not All American numbers as the return yardage would be very high as he is kicking way too many line drives that are returnable. Remember it's not how far a punt goes, it's hang time and direction that are most important. He has also been having trouble in his direction. When the coverage is designed to hem in the returner to one side and the ball is kicked to the other, that is a big problem. The coaches have been working with him on these things and have not seen much improvement so Jackson has also been getting a lot of reps at punting during practice.
I trust that Fisher or Jackson will get it together just fine by the time the season rolls around. If he could average around 42,43 with some terrific hang time than we are in business with the type of special teams players we have flying down the field.
I would think that every coach in the country is looking for exactly that, much easier said than done though.
