Ash Ketchum wrote: ↑Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:41 pm
PA, Charch and Greenway were actually just talking about this exact topic a few minutes ago on my drive home.
Charch posed the question to Greenway (who played special teams early in his career): "How much is Preifer to blame for the kicking woes?"
Greenway and PA both stated like I've always said around here: In the NFL, the special teams coordinator is mostly in charge of coordinating and coaching the blocking units, coverage units and return units... how players lineup on kickoffs, gaps, who to block, all that kind of stuff. Basically, the X's and O's of special teams.
The specialists (K, holder, snapper) literally practice off by themselves like 90% of the time, just kicking and taking rep after rep, and then they join in during the times at practice when they are needed. Anyone who has been to Mankato for TC can see this for themselves.
Greenway also said that they don't really mess with kickers' mechanics much at this level, basically that there's a reason these kickers are NFL caliber, and they don't try to mess with things too bad. Very different than coaching technique for, say, a DE's hand placement or a WR's footwork.
If you want Preifer gone, that's fine. But just remember that the way the ball comes off the kicker or punter's foot isn't really something Priefer can control. It's all mental. The kicker either makes it or not.The punter either hits a good ball or not. The return units, philosophy on kickoffs and coverage units would be way more effected.
If this is the case, and I'm not doubting that, then clearly we have had kickers with mental issues. Which brings up back to the words out of Priefer's own mouth:
"Those are the things that we talk about, but I’m not a mental coach. If a guy needs a mental coach, he needs to go elsewhere. In fact, I’d be the last guy – you can ask my kids that – I’d be the last guy to be a mental coach. I’m a little emotional, get a little fired up, but at the end of the day, if that’s what a young man needs, then he’s got to find that outside the building, so to speak. I’m here to coach football.”
Sound like a guy that should be coaching something that's all mental, now doesn't it?
I’m not in the building so I can’t see if Preifer’s approach with his kickers is affecting them poorly in terms of the mental side, but no one on this site is.
Maybe he’s an overbearing asshole to these guys behind closed doors, and that’s affecting their confidence.
BUT I doubt it. I agree with him that if you can’t handle that stuff, you should probably seek help elsewhere or find a different line of work.
Again, success on FGs is predicated on (A) the snapper, (B) the blocking up front, (C) the holder, and (D) the kicker. If ANY of A,B, C or D makes a mistake, it can effect the kick. But for whatever reason, D (the kicker) is the only one to ever take blame.
Whether it’s Bailey or a cheaper younger option in 2019, they need to find that guy, and figure out if Wile is going to be the holder and let those two guys work together for as long as possible before the season.
I still contend that bringing in Wile as late as they did and changing Carlson’s holder in the middle of preseason wasn’t the best move for his confidence leading into his rookie season.
He's shown no willingness to assist with what is for the most part a mental game, and his absence on that factor is the issue. He doesn't have to be overbearing, he said he doesn't care to deal with that stuff.
I don't agree that it's as simple as "you can't handle it, find a different line of work". That's why we're in this spot. That's been tried. That's not the answer.
Like it or not, as a coach, you do need to be involved with your athletes and their confidence/mental stability. Sure, talk to a counselor too, but your coach should understand aspects of the job that a counselor doesn't.
If this is the case, and I'm not doubting that, then clearly we have had kickers with mental issues. Which brings up back to the words out of Priefer's own mouth:
"Those are the things that we talk about, but I’m not a mental coach. If a guy needs a mental coach, he needs to go elsewhere. In fact, I’d be the last guy – you can ask my kids that – I’d be the last guy to be a mental coach. I’m a little emotional, get a little fired up, but at the end of the day, if that’s what a young man needs, then he’s got to find that outside the building, so to speak. I’m here to coach football.”
Sound like a guy that should be coaching something that's all mental, now doesn't it?
I’m not in the building so I can’t see if Preifer’s approach with his kickers is affecting them poorly in terms of the mental side, but no one on this site is.
Maybe he’s an overbearing asshole to these guys behind closed doors, and that’s affecting their confidence.
BUT I doubt it. I agree with him that if you can’t handle that stuff, you should probably seek help elsewhere or find a different line of work.
Again, success on FGs is predicated on (A) the snapper, (B) the blocking up front, (C) the holder, and (D) the kicker. If ANY of A,B, C or D makes a mistake, it can effect the kick. But for whatever reason, D (the kicker) is the only one to ever take blame.
Whether it’s Bailey or a cheaper younger option in 2019, they need to find that guy, and figure out if Wile is going to be the holder and let those two guys work together for as long as possible before the season.
I still contend that bringing in Wile as late as they did and changing Carlson’s holder in the middle of preseason wasn’t the best move for his confidence leading into his rookie season.
He's shown no willingness to assist with what is for the most part a mental game, and his absence on that factor is the issue. He doesn't have to be overbearing, he said he doesn't care to deal with that stuff.
I don't agree that it's as simple as "you can't handle it, find a different line of work". That's why we're in this spot. That's been tried. That's not the answer.
Like it or not, as a coach, you do need to be involved with your athletes and their confidence/mental stability. Sure, talk to a counselor too, but your coach should understand aspects of the job that a counselor doesn't.
The fact that needs to be said is comical. Look back on some of the "debate" in this thread. It's fn priceless.
I am surprised they are trying to resign him. Must be something Zimmer really likes about him. I think overall the ST has been pretty good but he has failed at Kicker. Coverage and Punter appear to be in the top tier of units.
I think Spielman and Priefer must be really close. Priefer only guy retained from previous staff.
Priefer also was selected as interim coach when Zimmer couldn't coach.
Face The Facts wrote: ↑Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:54 am
I think Spielman and Priefer must be really close. Priefer only guy retained from previous staff.
Priefer also was selected as interim coach when Zimmer couldn't coach.
He was not the only guy retained and it's very likely that was more RS than Zim. There is something to him being asked to be interim guy, however.
Regardless is asinine the guy still has a job. If Zim is main reason behind that, then he is highly rippable.
thinktank wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:15 am
I’m a successful consultant for some of the biggest and best companies in the world. I tell you about systems architecture, not the other way around.
thinktank wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:15 am
I’m a successful consultant for some of the biggest and best companies in the world. I tell you about systems architecture, not the other way around.
FargoBison wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:46 pm
I guess Zimmer finally got tired of firing kickers...Should have been canned years ago.
Sounds like he left on his own.
thinktank wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:15 am
I’m a successful consultant for some of the biggest and best companies in the world. I tell you about systems architecture, not the other way around.
He did a very good job here for awhile but something started going wrong the last couple years.
We were in a downward spiral on the special teams side of things.
It's been 32 years since one of MN's four major sports teams has been to the Championship/Superbowl.
Every single year is failure until we win one. 4 teams, 32 years. That's roughly 128 consecutive failed seasons.
If Priefer was such a bad coach, how come he was this coveted by the rest of the league?
I posted the same tweet above. It seems like a lot of people thought Priefer was on the same path as John Harbaugh, maybe he still is I guess? Maybe lame duck status finally hit on Zimmer?
thinktank wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:15 am
I’m a successful consultant for some of the biggest and best companies in the world. I tell you about systems architecture, not the other way around.
This franchise is so embarrassing. This assclown should have been fired, period. Losing another talented K because he couldn't get it done and then worse yet, his embarrassing comments about Carlson's departure - multiple reasons to have moved on from his dumbass.
Instead they allow him to create a scenario where it appears they wanted him and that he left them at the alter. Just a Mickey mouse operation.
