Spotlight on Placekicker Kenny Allen (Walk On)
"Allen didn't make the field as a freshman and played sparingly the last two seasons, earning a varsity letter in 2014. However, the scholarship offer didn't materialize until this, his senior year at Michigan, after head coach Jim Harbaugh decided Allen was his placekicker and central to a unit that's made huge strides.
"I'm very pleased with the monumental improvement in the kicking game," said Harbaugh, "and the operation of the field goal unit -- the protection, the snap, the hold, the kick. We've probably come as far in that area since spring practice as any area on our football team. It's a vast improvement."
Source: Steve Kornacki, Mgoblue.com, 9/15/2015
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091515aab.html
September 16th, 2015 at 9:14 AM ^
From the article:
Allen hasn't made a field goal longer than 40 yards, but said he's kicked a 65-yarder in practice.
"My range that I am comfortable with is probably 55 to 57 (yards)," said Allen.
Interesting. We'll see if Harbaugh is willing to let him try one from outside 40.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:24 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 9:25 AM ^
Agree ... that 44 yarder had the distance, it was just a bit to the right. But had plenty of leg to it.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:38 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:15 AM ^
Did they win? 2 minutes is a hell of a long time to hold a 3 point lead in a rivalry game.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:38 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:40 AM ^
oops. Wrong comment chain
September 16th, 2015 at 10:41 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
"Easily could've made it from 53, if not further." Why 53? Seems like a random number.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 9:15 AM ^
I've been pleasantly surprised, so far, with his placekicking. He's only had a few attempts, but even his one miss didn't look half bad. They all looked like he made solid contact and had good power.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:26 AM ^
Was nervous as hell given the reports coming out of camp that we'd see a return to the glory days of Bo/early RR kicking woes. But at least so far that hasnt been the case at all. He looks good (even his miss wasnt horrible by any means) and he seems to have a really strong leg.
It's a long season but based on a two game sample size I think we can safely cross-off "kicking game" from our team worries.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:51 AM ^
It's a long season but based on a two game sample size ...
Hey, extrapolation based on two data points is what we do here. So draw that line! :-)
September 16th, 2015 at 9:18 AM ^
He has already made as many field goals as Rich Rod's kicker in 2010, so we have that going for us.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:37 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
Honestly, I don't remember much from 2008-2010 and 2012-2014. I had forgotten about the Akron disaster until this week
I remember that we beat Notre Dame a lot and then we lost a lot of games and won some games we still should've lost.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^
A real nice kid who is thoughtful and humble. He looks like a tight end in person and I don't doubt his range is 55+.
Always root for the walk ons like Kerridge and him who passed on other "lesser" school schollies for a chance to win the job at Michigan.
No entitlement here!
September 16th, 2015 at 9:58 AM ^
I love to see walk ons, like Brian Griese, earn starting roles.
That said, we should always have at least one or two scholarship kickers on the team. I don't know why kickers get so little respect, especially since having a good one can win a lot of games for you.
September 16th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
Don't tell Oregon State the long snapper isn't important. Biggest play of the game and momentum changer was snapping the ball over the punters head.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:34 AM ^
I've been very positively surprised with the kicking performance so far this year. Big fan of Allen.
But WOOF - that form is rough in the picture. Let's clean that up, please, Baxter.
September 16th, 2015 at 9:38 AM ^
You obviously know a great deal about kicking. Care to elaborate what is wrong with Allen's form?
September 16th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
His left calf is not nearly muscular enough. Look how weak and scrawny it looks when compared to the right calf! GET SWOLL, Kenny Allen's left calf!!!
September 16th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^
I don't know much about kicking but I would also like an explanation. I know Kenny very well and he has been going to kicking camps since he was a little kid and has trained with all the top specialist coaches like kornblue. If there is a lapse in form I am sure it is an anomaly.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 9:36 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:08 AM ^
Kickers are to college football as Sporty Spice was to the Spice Girls...
September 16th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
Not sure I see your point.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:14 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:40 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-3054274813703093474/vid…
Btw - nice to have some more people from the area here.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 11:56 AM ^
No. Sorry, I can't make that game. Oh, you weren't talking to me?
September 16th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^
September 16th, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
is the kicker for Rockford High School. He just kicked a 51 yard FG last weekend. Been a big Michigan fan his whole life but was offered by Penn State and committed to them.
September 16th, 2015 at 10:45 AM ^
Apparently that was because we told him we dont have room, he was ready to commit. Although there has been reports we are opening tthings back up with him since we are worried about our kicking situation in the future.
September 16th, 2015 at 11:38 AM ^