WTF Happened to Blake Gillikin?

[stormingnorm]

Freshman year, looked like a future All-American

Sophomore year, a little inconsistent - but solid

Last year.... shaky, at best

This year? All over the map - and now they have him kicking some out of that "rugby" nonsense (which seems, to me, to be a bizarre thing to do with a Punter who is already struggling).

Is it possible he is not healthy?

Hard to imagine how/why a Punter could go from "where he was", to where he is.

It is hard to imagine that at some point this season - unless things get straightened out soon, the punt game isn't going to cost PSU.

 

[BBrown]

Freshman year, looked like a future All-American

Sophomore year, a little inconsistent - but solid

Last year.... shaky, at best

This year? All over the map - and now they have him kicking some out of that "rugby" nonsense (which seems, to me, to be a bizarre thing to do with a Punter who is already struggling).

Is it possible he is not healthy?

Hard to imagine how/why a Punter could go from "where he was", to where he is.

It is hard to imagine that at some point this season - unless things get straightened out soon, the punt game isn't going to cost PSU.

there were injury rumors with him last year but I haven't heard anything this year. Yea I don't like the rugby style either.
He hasn't been very consistent.

 

[Cletus11]

I think two things. getting to cute with directional punting and trying to pooch kick it. Second, I really think those 3 protector 's in front of him in the punt formation are a half yard too close to him and therefore don't allow him to fully extend his leg.

 

[ram2020]

One of the true oddities of the last few years. He was the #1 ranked punter out of high school and i thought he was a real weapon, a true game changer his freshman year. Since then, he is an average at best big ten punter. Even when he is at the spot of the field where he can let the dog eat and kick a big boot, they go about 39 yards. Just strange to me. Maybe the other posters are right, they have elected to make more of his punts non-returnable by having him kick it directionally or they tell him his #1 focus should be hang time and height.

 

[bdgan]

This would be a good week for him to turn things around.

 

[Fayette_LION]

Freshman year, looked like a future All-American

Sophomore year, a little inconsistent - but solid

Last year.... shaky, at best

This year? All over the map - and now they have him kicking some out of that "rugby" nonsense (which seems, to me, to be a bizarre thing to do with a Punter who is already struggling).

Is it possible he is not healthy?

Hard to imagine how/why a Punter could go from "where he was", to where he is.

It is hard to imagine that at some point this season - unless things get straightened out soon, the punt game isn't going to cost PSU.

He's been very inconsistent unless he is told to get hang time as his main priority. He booms a few and busts a few. I hope he can improve as the year goes on.

 

[Niteshift48]

I think two things. getting to cute with directional punting and trying to pooch kick it. Second, I really think those 3 protector 's in front of him in the punt formation are a half yard too close to him and therefore don't allow him to fully extend his leg.

We saw that nightmare before in 1982 in Birmingham at old legion field. Mike suter was a heavily recruited db from Ohio. For some reason Joe had him on punt upback, with giacamarro only 11 yards from center. Cost us the game that day

 

[Delco Lion]

He was ranked #2 in the BIG and #22 in D1 last year. #3 in the BIG and 33 in D1 the previous two years. Lets see what he does in the next six games. I think he will deliver.

 

[Columbus_Lion]

Gotta be his long hair.

 

[sluggo72]

Agree.

That's another thing with the punt game that has bit PSU in the ass (in the Bowl game against KU, most dramatically - - - when their punt returner made guys like CJThorpe look silly trying to track him down in the open field.... and on that cluster-f*ck punt fake).

Not only do those three guys always seem to be right in Gillikin's lap on the punt, but using three big OLinemen types (rather than using a single protector - or using LBer/TE/RB types there) means you're covering the punt with - for all intents and purposes - 6 cover men (as the Punter, the long snapper, and the 3 BigUglies) are of very little use trying to track down a quick, fast punt returner).

I thought - for sure - when they changed Special Teams Coordinators, that the new guy would dump that nonsense posthaste.
But - for whatever reason - it remains.

fwiw I've bitched about this for a while as well. The picket fence punt style never made sense to me either, but thats the way they do it. So if they didnt learn their lesson after the bowl game, I doubt they change that much in season.

 

[joeparules]

We saw that nightmare before in 1982 in Birmingham at old legion field. Mike suter was a heavily recruited db from Ohio. For some reason Joe had him on punt upback, with giacamarro only 11 yards from center. Cost us the game that day

Final score was 42-21 ... although very ugly, not sure that one play cost PSU the game.

Agree.

That's another thing with the punt game that has bit PSU in the ass (in the Bowl game against KU, most dramatically - - - when their punt returner made guys like CJThorpe look silly trying to track him down in the open field.... and on that cluster-f*ck punt fake).

Not only do those three guys always seem to be right in Gillikin's lap on the punt, but using three big OLinemen types (rather than using a single protector - or using LBer/TE/RB types there) means you're covering the punt with - for all intents and purposes - 6 cover men (as the Punter, the long snapper, and the 3 BigUglies) are of very little use trying to track down a quick, fast punt returner).

I thought - for sure - when they changed Special Teams Coordinators, that the new guy would dump that nonsense posthaste.
But - for whatever reason - it remains.

My problem with using three "big uglies" is they severely limit their options for an effective fake punt. They either have to try with a non-skill position player (like Evan Schwan in the Taxslayer Bowl fail), tip their hand by putting a skill position player as an upback or rely on the punter to run/pass for a first down. The current formation really only gives you one option unless you want CJ Thorpe running the ball.

 

[cavic]

Final score was 42-21 ... although very ugly, not sure that one play cost PSU the game.

My problem with using three "big uglies" is they severely limit their options for an effective fake punt. They either have to try with a non-skill position player (like Evan Schwan in the Taxslayer Bowl fail), tip their hand by putting a skill position player as an upback or rely on the punter to run/pass for a first down. The current formation really only gives you one option unless you want CJ Thorpe running the ball.

Good arguments. But, man, it would be awesome to see CJ running the ball

 

[Fibes]

He was ranked #2 in the BIG and #22 in D1 last year. #3 in the BIG and 33 in D1 the previous two years. Lets see what he does in the next six games. I think he will deliver.

Why let facts get in the way of another negative post?

 

[Fibes]

You're absolutely right.
But watching them, they have gotten away with a lot of shitty kicks that have ended up with decent "nets" from balls where the returner let the punt hit the ground and roll, or had outstanding tackles made by gunners in the open field.

They dodged a lot of bullets last year - - - and then it caught up to them and cost them the game vs Kentucky.

Who knows, but it appears they are playing with fire again this year.... IMO.

Translation: who you gonna believe, me or those pesky facts?

 

[richie83]

We saw that nightmare before in 1982 in Birmingham at old legion field. Mike suter was a heavily recruited db from Ohio. For some reason Joe had him on punt upback, with giacamarro only 11 yards from center. Cost us the game that day

I was there that day. But the season ended pretty good...

 

[Fibes]

Enjoy sniffing ass.

I'll try to squeeze one out for ya'


FWIW:
The "facts", Mr Shit-Sniffer, are that PSU has gone from 3rd (in 2016) to 3rd (in 2017) to 9th (in 2018) to 13th (2019 to date) in net punting among the 14 teams in the B10
https://www.footballdb.com/college-football/stats/stats.html?yr=2019&conf=10&mode=U&sort=puntnet

Your current position is tongue bathing the scrotum. Sniffing ass would be at least one step up for you.

 

[rohrmd9]

Second, I really think those 3 protector 's in front of him in the punt formation are a half yard too close to him and therefore don't allow him to fully extend his leg.

The shield formation on punts is awful. There's a reason no NFL teams use it.

 

[AtlantaLion]

Gotta be his long hair.

Sweet mullet.

 

[katchthis]

With Gillikan, he's stuck on an island love triangle, between Ginger and Maryanne. (No pics required).

 

[Howie'81]

This would be a good week for him to turn things around.

I'd rather he didn't see the field much.

 

[sluggo72]

The shield formation on punts is awful. There's a reason no NFL teams use it.

while I hate the shield or picket fence punt as much as the next guy, I believe there is another reason no one in the NFL uses it. In the NFL only the 2 end guys on the LOS are allowed downfield before the ball is kicked (the 'gunner's), while in college everyone is allowed downfield. So in college they let their guys go in while they go cover, leaving the blocking to the shield guys.

 

[bdgan]

I'd rather he didn't see the field much.

That would be ideal but I think Iowa has a better defense than Purdue.

 

[cpn1sgm]

Freshman year, looked like a future All-American

Sophomore year, a little inconsistent - but solid

Last year.... shaky, at best

This year? All over the map - and now they have him kicking some out of that "rugby" nonsense (which seems, to me, to be a bizarre thing to do with a Punter who is already struggling).

Is it possible he is not healthy?

Hard to imagine how/why a Punter could go from "where he was", to where he is.

It is hard to imagine that at some point this season - unless things get straightened out soon, the punt game isn't going to cost PSU.

Great post. I have wondered the same thing. Nobody said much about it last year, but his punting absolutely killed us vs OSU last year. OSU punter would flip the field with 50 to 60 yard punt with little return and Blake kept hitting 30 to 40 yard punts. ST’s can kill you in so many ways against quality opponents.

 

[MacNit07]

Great post. I have wondered the same thing. Nobody said much about it last year, but his punting absolutely killed us vs OSU last year. OSU punter would flip the field with 50 to 60 yard punt with little return and Blake kept hitting 30 to 40 yard punts. ST’s can kill you in so many ways against quality opponents.

Was concerned that Blake world leave early after freshman year - he looked like someone sure to see an NFL paycheck. Now - not so much. But he is a very bright kid, so he’ll make more $ as an MD.

 

[Bob78]

We saw that nightmare before in 1982 in Birmingham at old legion field. Mike suter was a heavily recruited db from Ohio. For some reason Joe had him on punt upback, with giacamarro only 11 yards from center. Cost us the game that day

Some revisionist history there. Suter was the upback on punt protection for most of the year, no? It was a fluke that he drifted off line and into Giacomarro. And a pointless dig at Paterno thrown in for good measure. From this article, we need to make the same dig at Bear Bryant.

From the next day's NYT:
Penn State suffered from so many mistakes and breakdowns in its 42-21 loss to Alabama Saturday that Mike Suter, who made the biggest mistake, could take solace in knowing that at least he was not alone.

Suter's mistake - blocking his team's punt at a critical moment of the game - was among many unusual plays that occurred in college football across the nation.

The play came with five minutes left and Penn State trailing, 27-21, at Birmingham. The Lions, with fourth down at their 49-yard line, set up to punt. Suter, the blocker in the backfield on punts, moved backward to his left, putting himself right in front of Ralph Giacomarro, the punter, as he moved forward to kick. The ball hit Suter in the back and bounded toward the Penn State goal line. Alabama recovered it at the 11. Two plays later, Linnie Patrick scored his second touchdown.

After the victory, which raised Alabama's record to 5-0 and dropped Penn State to 4-1, Coach Paul (Bear) Bryant said: ''I warn our team of that possibility on a punt every single week. It's happened to us.'' Joe Paterno, Penn State's coach, said, ''I hope I never see it again.''

Giacomarro described the play as follows: ''I went to step and, as I put my hand out to kick, I thought, 'Uh-uh, something's wrong.' Next thing I knew, I saw Mike in my way.''

Suter said: ''I don't think they had a rush on, but I thought I saw somebody come free on the left side. I was just getting back, and I got too far.''

 

[Delco Lion]

He was ranked #2 in the BIG and #22 in D1 last year. #3 in the BIG and 33 in D1 the previous two years. Lets see what he does in the next six games. I think he will deliver.

I hate to say I was right, but.......

 

[mn78psu83]

I hate to say I was right, but.......

It doesn't seem like you hate to say it.

 

[PennState_one]

Freshman year, looked like a future All-American

Sophomore year, a little inconsistent - but solid

Last year.... shaky, at best

This year? All over the map - and now they have him kicking some out of that "rugby" nonsense (which seems, to me, to be a bizarre thing to do with a Punter who is already struggling).

Is it possible he is not healthy?

Hard to imagine how/why a Punter could go from "where he was", to where he is.

It is hard to imagine that at some point this season - unless things get straightened out soon, the punt game isn't going to cost PSU.

Looks to me that his protection just blows and they are trying work around it. He is having to rush...

 

[Delco Lion]

It doesn't seem like you hate to say it.

I was pretty confident that he and ST were going to deliver in key BIG games and play a critical role in field positioning. I didnt want to call anyone out or brag about being right.

 

[fizzyskittles]

Good arguments. But, man, it would be awesome to see CJ running the ball

I believed they scored on that play and since we were in a hole psu threw a pick six I think trying to get back in the game .
So yeah, it was a big deal.

 

[nittanyfan333]

He was ranked #2 in the BIG and #22 in D1 last year. #3 in the BIG and 33 in D1 the previous two years. Lets see what he does in the next six games. I think he will deliver.

#2 in the B1G and #22 in D1 WITH ARGUABLY THE WORST ST COORDINATOR IN THE CONFERENCE

 

[mal106]

Blake Gillikin was booting it Saturday for @PennStateFball.

354 total punt yards.

Five inside the 20 and three inside the 10.

Earns his second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of the season.

 

[83wuzme]

Blake Gillikin was booting it Saturday for @PennStateFball.

354 total punt yards.

Five inside the 20 and three inside the 10.

Earns his second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of the season.

His performance in those conditions could arguably make him POG.