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Dolphins Kicker Orlindo Mare |
Kickers may be the most important players on the team. Kicking a football forty or fifty yards through uprights with wind and howling fans is not very easy. The record length of a field goal is sixty three yards originally kicked by by Tom Dempsy who only had half a foot! Jason Elam later tied the record in the late nineties. Elam is still active and he is regarded as one of the leagues best kickers. |
Eagles Kicker David Akers |
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Rams Punter Sean Landeta |
Punting is a situation where you need to get rid of the ball. Most punts occur when the offense can't gain 10 yards for a first down. The punts usually happen on 4th down. When you punt drop the ball and swing your leg before the ball hits the ground. Be sure not to drop the snap! |
A Standard Punting Formation |
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A Standard Kickoff formation |
A kickoff is when the kicker and ten other players kick/give the ball to the other team. Kickoffs usually occur after a team scores points. They can either score a field goal, touchdown, or a safety. When a game is close possession is the key to success. If a team just scored and that team wants the ball they usually do an onside kick. An onside kick is when the kicking team kicks the ball on the ground and tries to get it back. The kicking team has skilled players to recover the kick. If they get the ball the offense goes back on the field. |
Bengal Punter Lee Johnson |
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Titans Kicker Gary Anderson |
In close situations a field goal can be the deciding factor. Field Goals are worth three points and they are sometimes the points that decide an overtime game. It isn't very easy to kick a forty yard field goal. You need a lot of leg power to send a ball that far. Most place kickers are the kickers that kick on the kickoffs. |
Former Bronco Kicker David Treadwell |
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