The biggest blow to our team...

Godfather · « **on:** January 22, 2014, 11:05:16 AM »

Quote

Daniel Carlson, Jimmy Hutchinson trying to fill big kicking shoes for Auburn's special teams

For the most part, the holes left in Auburn's roster by the departing stars now going through the NFL Draft process have experienced options ready to take on bigger roles.

Except for kicker and punter, a pair of spots where redshirt freshmen Daniel Carlson and Jimmy Hutchinson will be under a microscope.

Carlson, the kicker from Colorado Springs, and Hutchinson, the punter from Marietta are next in line to fill the big shoes left by Cody Parkey and Steven Clark, two deadly field-position weapons who will both graduate, leaving gaping holes for Auburn special teams coordinator Scott Fountain to fill.

"Big-time," Fountain said at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday. "It's like losing -- to me, a special teams coordinator -- it's like losing a starting quarterback. I'm really going to miss those guys."

With Parkey and Clark in the fold, Auburn has rarely had to worry about its kicking game the past three seasons.

Parkey, one of two kickers selected to the Senior Bowl, finished three seasons as Auburn's primary kicker with a career conversion rate of 73.6 percent and the most touchbacks in the country. Clark, who punted in the East-West Shrine Game, was a three-time Ray Guy semifinalist who dropped 26 punts inside the 20 and allowed just five returns.

Weapons like those two can be hard to find in the college game, particularly at the kicker position.

Knowing that Parkey and Clark would be leaving, Auburn brought in possible replacements on scholarship in the 2013 signing class. Hutchinson was rated the nation's No. 1 punter, and Carlson the No. 1 kicker by Kohl's Kicking Camps, the leader in rating the two positions.

When Parkey and Clark were freshmen, they got a few chances to kick behind outgoing seniors Wes Byrum and Ryan Shoemaker, but Fountain decided against going that route with the Tigers' youngsters this season.

"It was good having them here this year," Fountain said. "I debated playing them in a game, but we decided to go ahead and redshirt them."

Fountain will truly start to test the two freshmen when they begin spring practice, placing them under the spotlight as the No. 1 at both positions.

But their performances so far have encouraged Fountain that his two youngsters are on the right track at positions that are often forgotten but incredibly important.

"I think Daniel's a little bit ahead of Jimmy right now," Fountain said. "But I think we're going to be in good shape with them. We'll see where we are in the spring, but I'm glad to have them there. They've been in the program, know what to expect."

By Joel A. Erickson

"Mr. Automatic" and "Mr. Within the 20" will be missed.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2014, 11:45:02 AM »

pfffffffttt....it all begins with the long snapper.

Saniflush · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:29:32 PM »

Thought this article was gonna be about Jake.

AUownsU · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:32:51 PM »

Mehh. Its not like either one was All-SEC or anything.

Godfather · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:33:24 PM »

Quote from: Saniflush on January 22, 2014, 12:29:32 PM

Thought this article was gonna be about Jake.

I hear Jake is going to be a first round pick for Dancing with the Stars.

Saniflush · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:43:52 PM »

Quote from: Godfather on January 22, 2014, 12:33:24 PM

I hear Jake is going to be a first round pick for Dancing with the Stars.

Everybody knows he's going pro in something not sports related.

Godfather · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:47:51 PM »

Quote from: Saniflush on January 22, 2014, 12:43:52 PM

Everybody knows he's going pro in something not sports related.

Who are you talking too?

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:50:27 PM »

Jake....from State Farm

Saniflush · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:52:47 PM »

Quote from: Snaggletiger on January 22, 2014, 12:50:27 PM

Jake....from State Farm

What are you wearing Jake, from State Farm?

Godfather · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2014, 12:55:15 PM »

She sounds hideous.

Kaos · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2014, 01:21:26 PM »

Quote from: Godfather on January 22, 2014, 11:05:16 AM

"Mr. Automatic" and "Mr. Within the 20" will be missed.

Mr. Automatic hurt us in the championship game. Everybody forgets he missed an automatic field goal that would have changed the whole complexion of that game and its ending. And if the kickoffs had gone out of the endzone like they did in every other game all season long.

Sorry, but it's true.

Saniflush · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2014, 01:38:47 PM »

Quote from: Kaos on January 22, 2014, 01:21:26 PM

Mr. Automatic hurt us in the championship game. Everybody forgets he missed an automatic field goal that would have changed the whole complexion of that game and its ending. And if the kickoffs had gone out of the endzone like they did in every other game all season long.

Sorry, but it's true.

Completely true.

Godfather · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2014, 01:45:10 PM »

Quote from: Kaos on January 22, 2014, 01:21:26 PM

Mr. Automatic hurt us in the championship game. Everybody forgets he missed an automatic field goal that would have changed the whole complexion of that game and its ending. And if the kickoffs had gone out of the endzone like they did in every other game all season long.

Sorry, but it's true.

Agree, he did hurt us. It was also a complete team loss, we left a lot of points out there that weren't Cody's fault. I would say his career speaks for itself.

Saniflush · « **Reply #13 on:** January 22, 2014, 01:45:49 PM »

Quote from: Godfather on January 22, 2014, 01:45:10 PM

Agree, he did hurt us. It was also a complete team loss, we left a lot of points out there that weren't Cody's fault. I would say his career speaks for itself.

Like A.J.'s?