Auburn's "special" specialists

[quietfan 233]

Man, we're going to miss these seniors next year:

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/huntsvill....xml&coll=1

Friday, November 03, 2006

Huntsville Times

John Vaughn, place-kicker

No. 2 nationally, No. 1 in SEC in field goals made with 17

No. 2 nationally, No. 2 in SEC in field goal percentage on 17-of-20 for 85 percent.

No. 1 in SEC in scoring with 77 points

Holds Auburn career record in scoring with 295 points

Kody Bliss, punter

No. 1 in SEC with 46.4-yard average, would be No. 1 nationally but is 4 punts short of qualifying

13 of 29 punts have covered 50 yards or more

Had 71-yard punt against Tulane

Matt Clark, kickoffs

No. 1 nationally in touchbacks with 38, representing 77 percent of his kicks off

Next closest touchback percentage in SEC is 49 percent

Had streaks of 16 and 13 consecutive kickoffs for touchbacks

Tristan Davis, kickoff returner

No. 1 in SEC, No. 13 nationally with return average of 27.6 yards

Has had kickoff returns of 45 or more yards in three consecutive games

I think it's safe to say we have the overall best kicking team in the country!

(Has a punter/kicker ever been drafted in the first round?)

[jw 4 au 526]

I agree, good article about our special teams. But Tristan Davis is a sophmore I think, not a senior. WWe got him for a couple of more years.

Now with Tristan being that good on kick returns, shouldn't we at least try him on punt returns??? I found it interesting that the "Special Teams" article did not include punt return stats. I know returning punts is a different animal since the coverage gets there a lot faster, but come on, give someone else a try!

[quietfan 233]

I agree, good article about our special teams. But Tristan Davis is a sophmore I think, not a senior. WWe got him for a couple of more years.

Now with Tristan being that good on kick returns, shouldn't we at least try him on punt returns??? I found it interesting that the "Special Teams" article did not include punt return stats. I know returning punts is a different animal since the coverage gets there a lot faster, but come on, give someone else a try!

Yeah, I know Tristan isn't a senior--that comment was directed to John, Kody, & Matt. But I agree, it would be interesting to see Tristan on punts. Maybe he doesn't have the hands to handle punts--different situation than catching kickoffs--but I don't know. Of course, after seeing his brief appearance as a running back last year, I wouldn't mind seeing him get a carry or two on the offense, either.

[sogaaufan 27]

I have been saying all year that Matt is probably the player that we will miss most next year. His ability to put nearly every kickoff into (and sometimes out of) the endzone is something that we tend to take for granted. The next time you watch a game, make a note of how many kickers can even make it to the endzone. It is a pretty comforting thought that even if a team has a dangerous return man, Matt will probably nullify him and not give him a chance to return one.

Matt has been a great asset to this team and is often overlooked.

[cehuff21 0]

I think Kody Bliss has been huge this season. You could say he has bailed us out of a lot of games. Think about the LSU game for a second. LSU never scored a touchdown, but did they move the ball??? Yes, they moved it pretty well. And how many time did Auburn start inside their own 20 and end up having to kick from inside their 20? Kody Bliss made masterful punts putting them back deep in their own territory. To all the special teams... Job well done but I think Kody Bliss is going to be the one we are going to miss the most. Touchback are crucial on kickoffs but not as big of a factor as when you are trying to punt within your own 20. He is going to be tough to replace.

[Kriegadler 0]

There have only been two kickers/punters ever taken in the first round. Ray Guy and Sebastian Janikowski. Also, both were taken by the Raiders.

[Tennessee Tiger 16]

There have only been two kickers/punters ever taken in the first round. Ray Guy and Sebastian Janikowski. Also, both were taken by the Raiders.

Not true. Charlie Gogolak was drafted by the Redskins with the 6th overall pick in 1966 I believe and I also remember Russell Erxleben being drafted in the 1st round in the 70's. Never the less, this is not something that happens often.

[Kriegadler 0]

There have only been two kickers/punters ever taken in the first round. Ray Guy and Sebastian Janikowski. Also, both were taken by the Raiders.

Not true. Charlie Gogolak was drafted by the Redskins with the 6th overall pick in 1966 I believe and I also remember Russell Erxleben being drafted in the 1st round in the 70's. Never the less, this is not something that happens often.

I apologize for the misinformation. Ray Guy is still the only punter ever taken in the first round. Sebastian was not the only kicker. My bad.