Through the fog and mist of subpar defensive performances for the Alabama Crimson Tide as of late, their kicking game has been quietly consistent through the first three games of the season.
After missing a good portion of last season, starting placekicker Will Reichard has been perfect on field goals and PATs. The Hoover native has made all nine of his PAT attempts and has nailed two field goals so far with one coming from 34 yards out. At this point last season, Reichard was 4-6 on field goals and had missed one extra point.
In a Monday press conference before the Crimson Tide took on the Texas A&M Aggies, Saban said he felt confident in Reichard’s abilities to kick field goals and serve as a kicker on kickoff when asked if the former No. 1 kicker recruit in the nation would kick on kickoff this season.
“Will has done a great job,” Saban said. “He is 100 percent, he has kicked the ball well. He can kickoff but we needed another kicker because he needed a role. That is where he got injured last season….but we have 100 percent confidence that if Will goes in the game, he will do a great job kicking off as well.”
Alabama has seem success with using freshman place kicker, Chase Allen to kick the ball off. The Texas product has kicked the ball off in each of the Tide’s first three games and has accounted for seven touchbacks. None of his kickoffs have been returned for touchdowns.
Since field goals have played a large role in some big games for Alabama in the past, the Crimson Tide faithful should feel confident in Alabama’s kicking game heading into their biggest game of the season to this point with the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs head to Tuscaloosa for quite possibly the most anticipated college football game this season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CDT for this matchup.
