What is going on with Gibbons?

Submitted by MGoGolf on

Seems like Seth has not found his kicking game, and Gibbons only had a few games before he was pulled.  Shouldn't we give hime another chance? - what is going on in practice with him?

Tha Quiet Storm

November 15th, 2010 at 12:07 PM ^

I agree with you that Gibbons should get another shot. Against UConn, he went 1/2, and the one he missed was perfectly straight on but directly into a stiff wind. Against ND, both misses were from about 40 yards out, on the road in a hostile environment in pressure situations, and were pretty close compared to some of the absolute shanks that Broekhuizen has had.

The dude is only a rFr. and it seems like we are throwing him away without giving him enough of an opportunity. If guys like Gallon can go out week after week and consistently make mistakes, then why shouldn't Gibbons get a another chance?

umchicago

November 15th, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^

he's got a few years to figure it out.  he's still on scholarship.  a pray RR doesn't go the saban route and find a medical schollie for him (psychological issues?).

it looks like another schollie will have to be used on a kicker.  it's up to gibbons to beat out the newcomer.  it's on nobody else.

goblue7612

November 15th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^

To all those saying that they should give Gibbons another chance, they are doing exactly that. Rothstein discussed that at the end of his notebook (http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/sloppy-field-conditions-big-…).

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said after the game redshirt freshman Brendan Gibbons, who is on scholarship, might receive another chance to win the job.

“Probably,” Rodriguez said. “It’s just again a disappointing day. They’ve been kicking great in practice, but struggled all year.

“But (Seth is) clearly the better one in practice, so you got to go with that.”

bluenyc

November 15th, 2010 at 12:14 PM ^

I thought it was interesting when Hagerup and Gibbons was having problems early on, Coach Rod defended Hagerup but not Gibbons. Maybe he needs to get into the game and get his confidence back.  I don't think we can afford that so, I am not sure he will ever be our kicker.  

Magnus

November 15th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^

Gibbons is a redshirt freshman.  It might take some time before he adjusts to playing in front of so many fans and kicking the ball on a college field.  Expecting much from anyone who's a freshman - redshirt or true - is probably unwise.  Hopefully he improves in the coming years.

MGoShtoink

November 15th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^

Who do you focus on moving forward? 

Both are RS Fr, Gibbons is 1-4 and Broekhuizen is 3-8. 

I think one way you get the butterflies out is to get him kicking PATs.

That said, I'm not a coach nor do I claim to be, so if the coaches continue to use Broekhuizen, I trust them, they obviously know better than I do.

Magnus

November 15th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^

I think you bring in another kicker if you have to.  I mean, that's the only reasonable option.  I think Hagerup has been handling the kickoff duties fairly well, you hope that Broekhuizen and Gibbons can improve, but you can't afford to hit only 33% of your field goals for the next two or three years, either.

umchicago

November 15th, 2010 at 5:46 PM ^

i don't get that talk either.  if gibbons had the stronger leg, why wouldn't he be kicking off all year.  it's been kind of a merry go round there too.

i also noticed at halftime of the illinois game that gibbons was just standing around while 3 or 4 other guys were practicing field goals.  i really thought that was odd.  i mean, shouldn't you prepare in case the starting kicker gets injured.

Magnus

November 15th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^

Maybe Gibbons' attitude/lack of preparation is what's keeping him off the field.  I don't have any inside info, just throwing that out there.  It does seem odd that a field goal kicker wouldn't be practicing field goals with the other field goal kickers.  Or maybe he's got a pulled groin or something.

Michigasling

November 15th, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^

Since we can't afford a coach to specialize in helping the kickers, is it a violation to have a volunteer help them with their technique, confidence, etc.?  Do we have any retired Michigan kickers who could come in and help out, even once or twice as a "master class"?  Jay Feeley is still playing, and don't know what his relationship is with the program, but maybe he could drop by for spring practice.  And, speaking of former kickers, whatever happened to Hayden Epstein? 

I can't imagine a kid like Gibbons who was so good in high school doesn't have it in there somewhere just waiting to be coaxed back out.

Astrophysicks

November 15th, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^

My brother played D1 Football in the 90s at Cincinnati and he stated that sometimes these kickers have a hard time adjusting to kicking from the grass instead of a tee in high school football.  But someone needs to really help this kid out so we can get this squared away.  Its already looking like we have 2 5-Star busts two years in a row with (Big Will) being the other one.

Taeyang

November 15th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^

I was watching the special teams unit warm up after the halftime show during the Illinois game and what went down was:

Hagerup doing his thing, booming punts

other kickers practicing their field goals

ANNNNDDD...

Gibbons playing catch with some trainer. At one point he even threw it to one of the fans in the student section, and after he got the football back, proceeded to continue playing catch with his buddy.

MaizeNBlu628

November 15th, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^

Kickers are a funny bunch, sometime they just need to make one big kick and everything will just click. I remember a while back when I was a Maryland fan (orginally from there), they had a kicker named Nick Novak. In his redshirt freshman year, he started off just horrible, only making something like 3 out of his first 12 kicks. Then one game he was brought in against GT, and he made a surprise 45ish yard fg to force OT, then a game winner. And from that game on, he was just lights out and finished the season like 12/14 and went on to be All-ACC the rest of his career. Maybe Gibbons just needs a similar moment to get his confidence and finally click. Hopefully he'll get a chance and capitalize on it!

markusr2007

November 15th, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^

is only punting.

But yeah, it's official, Michigan has the worst FG kicking in the league at 38% FGM.

Michigan would be wise to go for it or punt every time and wait until next year.