This has been a weird, yet exciting season for Alabama football in more ways than one.
We expected the Crimson Tide to be strong on offense. Even with losing Tua Tagovailoa to the National Football League, there was enough talent around the quarterback position to keep it rolling. Along with having Steve Sarkisian in his second year, all cases also shifted toward the team being improved on defense too.
Both aspects have shown accuracy, especially the defense as of late, but not too many people saw perfection from Alabama’s kicking game.
The tripod of Thomas Fletcher, Mac Jones and Will Reichard has served as the the biggest surprise for the Tide — seeing how Reichard has not missed a field goal.
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Through nine games, all three players have been consistent.
Fletcher has not botched a snap, Jones has secured each hold, and Reichard has made Alabama fans overjoyed to have a placekicker for the first time in a while. The sophomore from Hoover (Ala.) High School is a perfect 10-for-10 on field goals, including a make from 52 yards versus Georgia. Reichard also made a pair of kicks in a matchup against LSU on last week.
Nice W in the bayou pic.twitter.com/womRazlT7B
— Will Reichard (@WillReichard) December 6, 2020
To pair alongside his success on field goals, he’s connected on all 59 of his PAT attempts too.
The success in the kicking game has earned the Tide more opportunities to have semifinalists for national honors, as Fletcher (Patrick Mannelly Award), Jones (Peter Mortell Award) and Reichard (Lou Groza Award) are candidates for awards.
𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲.
𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲.
𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁. pic.twitter.com/aAE33wvO3F— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 10, 2020
The Patrick Mannelly Award goes to the top long snapper in college football. The Peter Mortell Award is presented to the best holder in the sport. The Lou Groza Award is for the nation’s most outstanding kicker. Alabama carries all three.
In 2009, the Crimson Tide had its first tripod.
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People will credit Mark Ingram’s run to the Heisman Trophy, timely completions from Greg McElroy and a stingy defense for Alabama’s lone undefeated national championship squad; nevertheless, the kicking game was marquee that season too.
It was the trio of Brian Selman (long snapper), P.J. Fitzgerald (punter/holder) and Leigh Tiffin (kicker) that assisted the placekicker to be a finalist for the Groza Award. Tiffin drilled 30 of 35 field goals — 85.7 percent — and made 42 of 46 PAT’s.
Much like 2009, this year’s group for the Tide is looking to go undefeated. On Saturday, Alabama will face Arkansas at 11:00 a.m. CT.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
