Ciabatti working on Aussie punt
USF senior punter Mattias Ciabatti led the AAC in punting last season with an average of 43.3 yards per punt, but said Thursday he’s working on a new style of punting which could elevate him to new heights.
The Aussie punt, which Ciabatti picked up at Kohl’s National Elite Camp for kickers and punters in Wisconsin, is a variation of punting in which the punter kicks the ball with the nose down rather than a side of the ball.
“You want to drive it and get that ball to drop like a golf ball,” Ciabatti said. “You want it to start out low and drop so it has the backspin on it. It’s a little bit of luck because you can’t tell the perfect rotation, it could hit the nose and go right in the end zone, but most likely it’ll stop if you hit it correctly.”
He said he spent much of his practice time Thursday working on sending the Aussie punt in different directions and he’s getting more comfortable with the feel of it.
“Did it today actually a lot,” Ciabatti said. “Started off only being able to go left, but I’ve been working on going both way and now I can go left and right.”
Linebackers and special teams coach Raymond Woodie said he doesn’t mind which style Ciabatti uses as long as he keeps up the punting that earned him a spot on the preseason Ray Guy Award watch list.
Woodie said he’s not worried about the results, just not overworking the senior before the games come around.
“We just have to make sure we don’t kick his leg out,” Woodie said. “He’s been complaining a little bit of it being sore. But as far as his hang time and distance, that’s good. I know he had a 65-yard punt the other day in a tight situation.”
Changes to return game
With former punt and kick returner Hassan Childs sidelined for the season, the USF coaching staff is forced to look at other options.
As far as kick returns go, Woodie said Thursday that Rodney Adams looks to be the headliner of a group that includes D’Ernest Johnson and Deangelo Antoine (Oak Ridge High).
Woodie said he was primarily just concerned with punts being caught, no matter who was returning them. But he did say if he had to pick a starter, he would go with freshman Jordan Reed (Plant).
“Reed, the freshman from Plant, is doing really well,” Woodie said. “We have four right now. Chase Whitehead is a dependable kid and Tajee Fullwood as well. As far as punt returns go, we just want it caught.”
If he had it his way, Woodie would just slot AAC Rookie of the Year Marlon Mack as the returner, but coach Willie Taggart wasn’t about to put his electric playmaker at risk.
“I want to use him, but that’s not my call,” Woodie said. “I would love to, but coach told me ‘I don’t think so, you can find someone else.’”
Mo’ Money?
Although a starting kicker has yet to be named, the media was only allowed to speak with Emilio Nadelman on Thursday.
Like the player he very well may replace, Nadelman said he doesn’t let emotion get in the way of kicking, because misses are just a part of the game.
“I try to look at things in a positive perspective,” Nadelman said. “The way I think about kicking is being smooth, the smoother you are, the better things will go for you. You can’t worry about a miss because you have to keep moving forward.”
Another way Nadelman may be like his predecessor, Money Kloss, is in the length of kicks they can hit.
Kloss was known for his accuracy on long kicks, regularly attempting and making kicks of 50 or more yards. Nadelman said his range goes up to about 55 yards for games and he’s been having success at that range in practice thus far.
“I’m pretty accurate and I feel comfortable going 55 and below,” Nadelman said. “Last week, I attempted a 58-yarder. I was a little left, but I had the distance for it, so I’m pretty confident in myself.”
Quote of the Day: “And that Aussie punt, NFL guys love that Aussie punt, they salivate over it. If you can just pin it to the ten yard line every time, I guarantee it’s not going into the end zone.” - Mattias Ciabatti on his new preferred style of punting
Here are some videos to show the differences in Aussie punts and normal ones.
Aussie:
Normal:
USF senior punter Mattias Ciabatti led the AAC in punting last season with an average of 43.3 yards per punt, but said Thursday he’s working on a new style of punting which could elevate him to new heights.
The Aussie punt, which Ciabatti picked up at Kohl’s National Elite Camp for kickers and punters in Wisconsin, is a variation of punting in which the punter kicks the ball with the nose down rather than a side of the ball.
“You want to drive it and get that ball to drop like a golf ball,” Ciabatti said. “You want it to start out low and drop so it has the backspin on it. It’s a little bit of luck because you can’t tell the perfect rotation, it could hit the nose and go right in the end zone, but most likely it’ll stop if you hit it correctly.”
He said he spent much of his practice time Thursday working on sending the Aussie punt in different directions and he’s getting more comfortable with the feel of it.
“Did it today actually a lot,” Ciabatti said. “Started off only being able to go left, but I’ve been working on going both way and now I can go left and right.”
Linebackers and special teams coach Raymond Woodie said he doesn’t mind which style Ciabatti uses as long as he keeps up the punting that earned him a spot on the preseason Ray Guy Award watch list.
Woodie said he’s not worried about the results, just not overworking the senior before the games come around.
“We just have to make sure we don’t kick his leg out,” Woodie said. “He’s been complaining a little bit of it being sore. But as far as his hang time and distance, that’s good. I know he had a 65-yard punt the other day in a tight situation.”
Changes to return game
With former punt and kick returner Hassan Childs sidelined for the season, the USF coaching staff is forced to look at other options.
As far as kick returns go, Woodie said Thursday that Rodney Adams looks to be the headliner of a group that includes D’Ernest Johnson and Deangelo Antoine (Oak Ridge High).
Woodie said he was primarily just concerned with punts being caught, no matter who was returning them. But he did say if he had to pick a starter, he would go with freshman Jordan Reed (Plant).
“Reed, the freshman from Plant, is doing really well,” Woodie said. “We have four right now. Chase Whitehead is a dependable kid and Tajee Fullwood as well. As far as punt returns go, we just want it caught.”
If he had it his way, Woodie would just slot AAC Rookie of the Year Marlon Mack as the returner, but coach Willie Taggart wasn’t about to put his electric playmaker at risk.
“I want to use him, but that’s not my call,” Woodie said. “I would love to, but coach told me ‘I don’t think so, you can find someone else.’”
Mo’ Money?
Although a starting kicker has yet to be named, the media was only allowed to speak with Emilio Nadelman on Thursday.
Like the player he very well may replace, Nadelman said he doesn’t let emotion get in the way of kicking, because misses are just a part of the game.
“I try to look at things in a positive perspective,” Nadelman said. “The way I think about kicking is being smooth, the smoother you are, the better things will go for you. You can’t worry about a miss because you have to keep moving forward.”
Another way Nadelman may be like his predecessor, Money Kloss, is in the length of kicks they can hit.
Kloss was known for his accuracy on long kicks, regularly attempting and making kicks of 50 or more yards. Nadelman said his range goes up to about 55 yards for games and he’s been having success at that range in practice thus far.
“I’m pretty accurate and I feel comfortable going 55 and below,” Nadelman said. “Last week, I attempted a 58-yarder. I was a little left, but I had the distance for it, so I’m pretty confident in myself.”
Quote of the Day: “And that Aussie punt, NFL guys love that Aussie punt, they salivate over it. If you can just pin it to the ten yard line every time, I guarantee it’s not going into the end zone.” - Mattias Ciabatti on his new preferred style of punting
Here are some videos to show the differences in Aussie punts and normal ones.
Aussie:
Normal:
