Flat_Iron_Rising
Homebrew & Prime Time = HEAVEN
OK so 10 seconds left we are down by 1 to braska. We have the ball it's 4th down we need to pull a 52 yard field goal out of our ass! Hell yeah this is another piece of the puzzle we need!
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'23 TNFR K Alejandro Mata (Signed to COLORADO)
- Thread starter Buffnik
- Start date
I agree with this. If you are planning on actually winning close games, you cannot risk being without a good kicker. It's definitely a tough scholly to give up. But having three scholly specialists is not completely unreasonable. Clearly, HCP feels very comfortable this this kicker. This one surprised me more than any other transfer, no doubt.
Update - if a PWO, that would obviously make MUCH more sense.
Make him a PWO, if he beats out Becker, great, if Becker feels like he needs to transfer, then he moves into his scholarship spot
I am a kicker advocate and believe that it is that 1% difference to winning games, so make sure it is solid and go from there
Can we get Mason Crosby to underwrite the Kicker NIL and do some coaching when he has some time
FYI... Becker is a career 59% kicker from 40+ and a career 58% kicker from 40-49. This is really a non issue
ahoelsken
Well-Known Member
To add to that-When you're trying to overhaul a roster like Prime is, carrying 2 scholly kickers is kind of pointless.
Good luck to Becker.
Can the Punter from Louisville do that?
With both feet while drinking a mai tai.
I agree. Good luck to Becker. I thought he was a solid kicker, but the fact that HCP is even looking at improving the kicker position tells me something about his plan and standard. We haven't had this sort of competition for every position in a long time. Interestingly, the one position where there doesn't seem to be competition is QB, and I'm really happy to have a real QB here. (Ok. Maybe CB1 is locked up, too. lol)
Do men from Oz drink mai tais?
I think it's likely we pickup another QB with more experience than the incoming Frosh to be QB2
TMac
Well-Known Member
Not sure where you’re getting your numbers. From Howell at the BDC:
Becker, who was a sophomore this past season, was one of the few bright spots for a CU team that went 1-11. He made 11 of 13 field goals, with a long of 49, and was 20-of-21 on extra points. He also had only seven of 43 kickoffs returned, with 34 going into the end zone for touchdowns.
In two seasons at CU, Becker went 25-of-33 on field goals and 45-of-46 on extra points. His career long field goal is 56 yards. After an 0-for-3 start to his career, Becker made 83.3% of his last 30 field goal attempts at CU.
Becker’s overall field goal percentage of 75.8% is the best among the 13 Buffs’ kickers with at least 21 made field goals. He is tied for sixth in CU history with 25 career made field goals.
this is one area I thought we were good. Mata may be ok, but hasn’t shown any distance and does not handle kickoffs which tells me he doesn’t have a leg.
I'm getting my numbers from the stat sheet off ESPN, not Brian Howell's obviously biased reporting where he cherry picks stats to pretend Becker is an elite, NFL prospect that Prime is running out of town.
The problem here is Brian also decided to report that he had private conversations with someone at JSU that said Mata had a maximum range of 45 yards, which then lead many to take that for gospel and run with a narrative that Mata can't make FGs beyond 40 yard.
Therefore, I was pointing out that in his two year career at CU, Cole Becker was 10/17 (59%) from all kicks beyond 40 yards, and actually worse from 40-49 yards at 7/12 (58%).
Becker was one of our bright spots last year, with our offense other than getting a pick six or having a defender fall down he was our best chance for points.
Simple fact is though that Prime is obviously more comfortable with Mata. We can look at stats, we can compare distances, we can argue about how they tie their shoelaces if we want to. Bottom line is that Head Coach Prime is rebuilding this program almost as if he is starting a new program from scratch.
For his reasons he is more comfortable with Mata. I'm sure Becker was given the opportunity to stay and compete but decided his best course of action was to move on. He has been good enough that if he doesn't have some quality options then some coaches are making a mistake.
Time will tell if this decision for Mata, Becker, and Coach Prime is a good one but it is the decision, the decision of the the coach we are trusting to take a program which has been a doormat and turn it to at least respectability.
In the long run I don't expect that we will be concerned about it once games are being played.
Simple fact is though that Prime is obviously more comfortable with Mata. We can look at stats, we can compare distances, we can argue about how they tie their shoelaces if we want to. Bottom line is that Head Coach Prime is rebuilding this program almost as if he is starting a new program from scratch.
For his reasons he is more comfortable with Mata. I'm sure Becker was given the opportunity to stay and compete but decided his best course of action was to move on. He has been good enough that if he doesn't have some quality options then some coaches are making a mistake.
Time will tell if this decision for Mata, Becker, and Coach Prime is a good one but it is the decision, the decision of the the coach we are trusting to take a program which has been a doormat and turn it to at least respectability.
In the long run I don't expect that we will be concerned about it once games are being played.
And Mata has apparently made zero from beyond 40. But I agree that it’s a non issue. I’m sure that given the opportunity, Mata will be fine.
I would bet the punter could likely do kickoffs, he is an Aussie
There are usually a lot of kids that kick the ball far, but not accurately, and we just need to find someone like that.
There are usually a lot of kids that kick the ball far, but not accurately, and we just need to find someone like that.
89BuffsBest
Active Member
Brian Howell did not cherry pick the stats, nor have I heard him make a case that Becker is an elite NFL prospect (please cite a reference). The numbers he reports match what ESPN reports and what you quoted. The only difference between his numbers and what you quote is that you are focusing on total 2-year career stats and Howell's story focuses more on this past season and points out his made % after the 0 for 3 start to his career. I think a recency bias here is reasonable vs. a career number. He clearly improved in his sophomore season compared to his true freshman season, which is what you want and the most recent season's stats are a better indicator of the kicker he is now. It is also a better for comparison with Mata who only has one year under his belt. Mata's freshman season was really impressive and that bodes well for the future. However, Becker has been a pretty good field goal kicker over the last year and a pretty reliable kickoff man. Of the 102 kickers with at least 13 FG attempts this season, he is #37 on the FG made %. Mata is and will likely continue to be a good kicker but he has not had to try a lot of long kicks because the Jackson State offense was really good (hopefully that experience translates here and we don't have to worry about an offense that regularly stalls out at the 30 yard line). I trust HCP and am happy he is comfortable with Mata but the stats over the last year are pretty comparable between the two kickers. It is not clear that this was a problem needing a solution.
Becker could’ve said to the coaches, “I will prove that I am the best kicker in every Spring Practice.” Instead, he entered the portal. Prime told the band of 1-11 that he was going to “try and make (them) quit.” Statistics are one thing. Being a winner is another.
TMac
Well-Known Member
I don’t want to get into a pissing match with you, but what the hell are you talking about? Show me one article Howell has written that remotely suggests Prime is trying to run off Becker. Prime might want Becker to go, but I’ve read nothing from Howell cherry-picking Beckers stats. And this is straight from ESPNs page. Your numbers aren’t close. The worst he did was 2-6 from 40-49 in 2021. Everything else is pretty solid.
Career Stats
See All| STATS |
|---|
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| FG% | FG | 1-19 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | LNG | XPM | XPA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84.6 | 11-13 | 0-0 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 5-6 | 0-1 | 49 | 20 | 21 | 53 |
| 70.0 | 14-20 | 1-1 | 3-3 | 5-6 | 2-6 | 3-4 | 56 | 25 | 25 | 67 |
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/4699353/cole-becker
He didn't cherry pick the stats. He just selected the ones that were best for his argument.
TMac
Well-Known Member
We had 1 good kicker.
Then we had 2 good kickers.
Now we have 1 good kicker.
And I'm completely confused why anyone is spending mental energy on the topic beyond what I typed above other than maybe trying to learn about the new guy and thanking Becker for being a good Buff for 2 years.
Then we had 2 good kickers.
Now we have 1 good kicker.
And I'm completely confused why anyone is spending mental energy on the topic beyond what I typed above other than maybe trying to learn about the new guy and thanking Becker for being a good Buff for 2 years.
Reread what I wrote and then come back and tell me my numbers are aren’t close.
This is representative of what I see as the effort Prime is making to not only rebuild the roster but to build a culture that believes it can win and will do what is necessary to make that happen.
Not implying that Becker is not a winner but he is a part of the old team, the old program.
It isn't unusual in business that when an office, a branch, or a department needs to be significantly changed some good people find themselves out the door along with the rest of the those working there. Even if they were a good part they were a part of a culture that needs replacing.
TMac
Well-Known Member
I’ve already done that and made the edit before your comment. Now re-read what you wrote and show me where Howell is deliberately cherry-picking numbers and says Becker is elite.
Like bcs?