Clarification of what makes a kicker a kicker...

[MJT]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Sorry to come upon this thread a year late. My att'n was called to it by the software from another thread.


That's interesting. Wouldn't the fact that an opponent making contact was trying to block the kick be evidence that the kick was anticipated by that opponent? While if the player was just trying to tackle the runner, that would be evidence that a kick was not expected?

Robert

Robert, I am a R in HS and college and most R's will do exactly what I stated as far as having less of a chance of RTK if the guy is on the run and kicks it quickly while on the run.

Now I agree that if a guy lays out to block a kick, then it was pretty obvious that a kick would be made and if he took out the kicker, we'd have RTK. I think the flexibility comes when the defense is about to get to the runner/kicker, he quickly decides to kick the ball, so the defender sticks his hand out to block it but doesn't get it blocked and then there is contact. In that scenario I think RTK is less likely to be called.