Red Shirting A Kicker On Scholorship

[BigoBoys]

?

[Poker_hog]

I can only assume he is not better than what we saw. Hard to believe considering the hype.

[Wildhog]

If he was better than Henson he'd be out there.

[Razorback_Mack]

I can only assume he is not better than what we saw. Hard to believe considering the hype.

Your assumption is not valid. I've seen him kick. He's very talented.

[ricepig]

I can only assume he is not better than what we saw. Hard to believe considering the hype.

Yeah, I'm sure they went with the other guy for shirts and giggles, nothing to do with winning the competition they had.

[Calling All Hogs]

It's not like a kicker gains a lot by spending a year learning the system.

[Danny J]

I can only assume he is not better than what we saw. Hard to believe considering the hype.

He HAS to be better. They need to try something different there. You can't keep consistently getting to the opponents 35yd line on in and either punting or going for it. That is ridiculous. I told my father late in the game we should have either punted or went for it. I had no faith he could make it and it wasn't even close. Hell....he missed the entire net.

[Razorback_Mack]

If he was better than Henson he'd be out there.

He's much better. Made a national record 51 field goals in high school. Easily has 50 yard range.

[Wildhog]

They aren't intentionally playing the lesser player.  Henson won the competition.  Jesus.

[Wildhog]

He's much better. Made a national record 51 field goals in high school. Easily has 50 yard range.

So explain Henson winning the job.

[Beaverfever]

If he was better than Henson he'd be out there.

Unfortunately this. 

[Razorback_Mack]

Yeah, I'm sure they went with the other guy for shirts and giggles, nothing to do with winning the competition they had.

When he gets to kick in a couple of weeks you'll see.

[ShadowTheHedgehog]

If he was better than Henson he'd be out there.

I think Hedlund is better but it did not show during camp because the other kicker was overachieving. They both looked equally good during camp, and they seldom missed FGs. That is why it made sense (based on the camp competition) to Red Shirt Hedlund. I think we will see him kicking in two weeks.

[Wildhog]

When he gets to kick in a couple of weeks you'll see.

Maybe you're right.  But you have to earn your PT.

[ricepig]

When he gets to kick in a couple of weeks you'll see.

Why didn't he win it in the fall? Why isn't he kicking off?

[grayhawg]

They aren't intentionally playing the lesser player.  Henson won the competition.  Jesus.

Could he have a bad case of nerves when the lights come on like another kicker we had a few years ago.

[Razorback_Mack]

So explain Henson winning the job.

He must be immature or they don't think he's ready for the big stage. Only logical explanation

[ShadowTheHedgehog]

So explain Henson winning the job.

During camp (With no/minimal pressure) they both looked pretty equal, so CBB Redshirted Hedlund for the future. CBB said this week that the team is better but "we haven't rounded the corner yet". I think CBB and the coaches believed that they could get by without Hedlund this year.

[Razorback_Mack]

Maybe you're right.  But you have to earn your PT.

The competition was a dead heat. They went with the experience. They made a mistake.

[Beaverfever]

During camp (With no/minimal pressure) they both looked pretty equal, so CBB Redshirted Hedlund for the future. CBB said this week that the team is better but "we haven't rounded the corner yet". I think CBB and the coaches believed that they could get by without Hedlund this year.

The idea that we're saving a better kicker would make me angrier than today's game.  No way Bielema isn't playing the kicker he thinks gives him the best chance. 

[farmhawg]

The idea that we're saving a better kicker would make me angrier than today's game.  No way Bielema isn't playing the kicker he thinks gives him the best chance. 

I would hope not.....

[Wildhog]

The competition was a dead heat. They went with the experience. They made a mistake.

You've got two equal players.  One has experience.  The other does not.

Any coach would have made the exact same decision. 

[Beaverfever]

The competition was a dead heat. They went with the experience. They made a mistake.

I don't get that.  If it was a dead heat between a solid, but unspectacular junior walk on with some experience then I could see giving him the nod.  Neither kicker had any resume but one we are spending good money on.  In that dead heat I'm taking the kicker with the accolades and assuming he's a gamer.  Bielema played the kicker he thought was better. 

[Kevin]

What field goal kicking experience did Henson enter the season with.
Curious decision

[EastArkHog 47]

If anybody thought our kicker was going to make a 44yd FG, they were drinking some serious Kool-Aid

[Razorback_Mack]

You've got two equal players.  One has experience.  The other does not.

Any coach would have made the exact same decision.

No, many would try to develop the one with a stronger skill set for the future.

[Razorback_Mack]

What field goal kicking experience did Henson enter the season with.
Curious decision

Being a college football player I guess

[Wildhog]

No, many would try to develop the one with a stronger skill set for the future.

Sorry, Mrs. Hedlund.  Cole will probably get another opportunity to win the job this year.  Hang in there.  I know it's tough for players and their parents, too.

[ShadowTheHedgehog]

The idea that we're saving a better kicker would make me angrier than today's game.  No way Bielema isn't playing the kicker he thinks gives him the best chance.

If you have a walkon kicker that on camp (from the distances attempted) is pretty much on par with the one on schollie, would you not RS the schollie kicker and get him ready for the future?

[Beaverfever]

If anybody thought our kicker was going to make a 44yd FG, they were drinking some serious Kool-Aid

Nobody did, he shoudn't have put in that position.  Our offense was our best weapon and we made our freshman kicker and arkansas quality defense try to win the game.  Everyone knew A&M couldn't get the ball back. 

[Beaverfever]

If you have a walkon kicker that on camp (from the distances attempted) is pretty much on par with the one on schollie, would you not RS the schollie kicker and get him ready for the future?

NO NO HELLLLL NO.  Never ever. The future was today and even if it wasn't you don't get kickers ready in practice.  You get them ready by making them kick 45 yarders with the game on the line. 

[Razorback_Mack]

 

Sorry, Mrs. Hedlund.  Cole will probably get another opportunity to win the job this year.  Hang in there.  I know it's tough for players and their parents, too.

If I'm Coles mom I guess I joined this board when Cole was in 6th grade. I'm a fortune teller

[ricepig]

What field goal kicking experience did Henson enter the season with.
Curious decision

Made a FG against LSU under Johnelle

[Soooie21]

I don't know...bet he could have gotten a half mile closer on the missed fg..

[Wildhog]

???If I'm Coles mom I guess I joined this board when Cole was in 6th grade. I'm a fortune teller

Didn't know Cole's mom was a fortune teller.  Interesting line of work. 

[Kevin]

Whoopie.  By potentially running a fake, told me they don't believe in him. If you don't. Let hedlund kick

[ricepig]

Whoopie.  By potentially running a fake, told me they don't believe in him. If you don't. Let hedlund kick

Was he even there?

[ShadowTheHedgehog]

NO NO HELLLLL NO.  Never ever. The future was today and even if it wasn't you don't get kickers ready in practice.  You get them ready by making them kick 45 yarders with the game on the line.

And that is why you are not a coach. The future of this team IS NOT this year. I know it hurts to lose games, in particular like we did today, but you have to think about the future, and about building a consistent and complete team that can be the foundation for an ongoing program.

[navyhog24]

If anybody thought our kicker was going to make a 44yd FG, they were drinking some serious Kool-Aid

It's not that he missed, but about how bad it was missed. The thing was nowhere to being close. It was the most god awful kick I've ever seen since before the Tejada days

[Beaverfever]

And that is why you are not a coach. The future of this team IS NOT this year. I know it hurts to lose games, in particular like we did today, but you have to think about the future, and about building a consistent and complete team that can be the foundation for an ongoing program.

The recruiting/media exposure lost this year would be a substantial trade off for one more year we might get for a kicker who's value is still unknown. 

[Razorback_Mack]

Didn't know Cole's mom was a fortune teller.  Interesting line of work.

Man you got me. I do what I do. I've gotta pay for these kicking clinics.

[Soooie21]

Sure do miss Hocker...

[ShadowTheHedgehog]

The recruiting/media exposure lost this year would be a substantial trade off for one more year we might get for a kicker who's value is still unknown.

That is a valid point. Do you think today's OT loss will hurt recruiting? The media has been praising the Hogs all evening.

[N HOG]

You've got two equal players.  One has experience.  The other does not.

Any coach would have made the exact same decision. 

Experience at what?

[Wildhog]

Experience at what?

Background
2013:
Henson participated in three games, appearing vs. Louisiana, vs. Auburn and at Ole Miss
Henson was 1-of-1 on PAT attempts and registered a 65-yard kickoff in Arkansas' season-opening victory vs. Louisiana

2012:
Henson appeared in two games, seeing action at No. 12 South Carolina and vs. No. 8 LSU, and scored seven points
All of his points came in the season finale against the Tigers, when he was 2-of-2 on field goals and 1-of-1 on PAT attempts
His field goal makes were from 25 yards in the third quarter and 17 yards in the fourth quarter




It's not just a ton of experience, but he's been out there before and paid his dues.  Oh, and there's that whole 'winning the job' thing.

[N HOG]

Background
2013:
Henson participated in three games, appearing vs. Louisiana, vs. Auburn and at Ole Miss
Henson was 1-of-1 on PAT attempts and registered a 65-yard kickoff in Arkansas' season-opening victory vs. Louisiana

2012:
Henson appeared in two games, seeing action at No. 12 South Carolina and vs. No. 8 LSU, and scored seven points
All of his points came in the season finale against the Tigers, when he was 2-of-2 on field goals and 1-of-1 on PAT attempts
His field goal makes were from 25 yards in the third quarter and 17 yards in the fourth quarter




It's not just a ton of experience, but he's been out there before and paid his dues.  Oh, and there's that whole 'winning the job' thing.

So, I guess we were shocked at how badly this one missed.

[GlassofSwine]

And that is why you are not a coach. The future of this team IS NOT this year. I know it hurts to lose games, in particular like we did today, but you have to think about the future, and about building a consistent and complete team that can be the foundation for an ongoing program.

This is such BS. The coaches and players didn't go out there today playing for the future. They were playing to win today.  Winning that game against the No. 6 team in the country would have done more for the current team  and the future teams than yet again being heartbroken.

[pigture perfect]

I don't believe it's just a matter of Henson being better. I think it is a matter of red shirting for a purpose. Cole Hedlund is also a terrific punter. If he can red shirt this year, he can handle all the kicking duties for the next 4 years. He wasn't going to beat out SIH as the punter this year.

[N HOG]

According to the announcers we have not made a field goal longer than 25 yards this year. Just like the statistics always show, when a kicker misses a field goal the opposition scores 83% of the time on the following possesion.

According to the preceding "stats" he has NEVER made one longer than 25 yards.

[moses_007]

I don't believe it's just a matter of Henson being better. I think it is a matter of red shirting for a purpose. Cole Hedlund is also a terrific punter. If he can red shirt this year, he can handle all the kicking duties for the next 4 years. He wasn't going to beat out SIH as the punter this year.

We recruited one of the nation's best punters in our 2015 class.  We don't need Hedlund to punt.