Why do NFL teams ignore kickers?

In 2014 during an Arizona <a href="latestcheapjerseystore.com">latestcheapjerseystore.com</a> State football practice, I saw kicker Zane Gonzalez wander over to the Jugs machine. The receivers were through using it, so he fired it up and started <a href="latestcheapjerseysale.com">latestcheapjerseysale.com</a> catching passes. I jotted it down in my notes, and included the <a href="latestcheapjerseyshop.com">latestcheapjerseyshop.com</a> tidbit in an article about the team.

Readers reacted quickly. A few <a href="latestcheapjerseys.com">latestcheapjerseys.com</a> were excited: Arizona State had clearly devised a trick play involving Gonzalez, some direct snap or pass play that would end up with the ball in his hands. Others were angry at me for reporting it and potentially tipping off future opponents that a trick play could be coming.

The reality was much less interesting: There was <a href="cheapjerseysshops.com">cheapjerseysshops.com</a> no trick play. Gonzalez was playing with the Jugs machine because he was bored. He had caught a pass earlier in the season for a two-point conversion, but it was clear that he <a href="cheapjerseyssales.com">cheapjerseyssales.com</a> wasn't taking real reps; he just had nothing else to do.

While every other position in <a href="cheapjerseysoutletclubs.com">cheapjerseysoutletclubs.com</a> football is coached down to the tiniest detail, kickers and other <a href="cheapjerseysoutletclub.com">cheapjerseysoutletclub.com</a> specialists are mostly left to themselves. According to Inside the Pylon <a href="cheapjerseys9sale.com">cheapjerseys9sale.com</a> kicking expert (and former college kicker) Chuck Zodda, in a two-hour practice, a kicker is often supervised for just 12 to 15 minutes of team drills for kickoffs, extra points, and field goals. Kicking more than 30 or 40 times in a day is ill-advised.

The rest of the time, they’re largely on their own.