Eskimos contemplate change in kicking game
Eskimos contemplate change in kicking game
Fleming could be relieved of field goal duty to concentrate on punting
Vicki Hall
The Edmonton Journal
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
EDMONTON - With boos from the fans echoing around Sean Fleming's head, Eskimos head coach Danny Maciocia is thinking of relieving the veteran of his field-goal duties and allowing him to concentrate on punting.
American kicker Hayden Epstein arrived in Edmonton last week, and he has looked solid in practice. If that trend continues, the rookie could make his first appearance Friday when the Eskimos host the Montreal Alouettes (8 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium).
"We're going to take a look at our options," Maciocia said Monday as Epstein and Fleming took turns kicking field goals at the end of practice.
"Sean's done a tremendous job of punting all year, so I don't know if I want to mess around with that. If we do make a move, it would definitely just be the kicking facet of the game."
Fleming is averaging 42 yards on punts, but he's only 11-of-19 on field goals. He hit one of two attempts through the uprights on Saturday in a 22-18 loss to the Toronto Argonauts.
"If anything, this could remove all that pressure -- all that mental stress that he puts on himself," Maciocia said. "I think this will probably help him if we decide to take this route."
Throughout his 14-year CFL career, Fleming has gone through his share of slumps, but he's always worked his way out of them.
"It's really all mental for me," said Fleming, 35. "To get over that, you have to do well in games and I'm still waiting for that to happen. Everybody goes through that. I've done that in the past, but I've
always been able to rebound. It's taken me a little longer this season.
"Hopefully, I can get things turned around. Really, everything I need to do is internal. It's not physical. It's not that the game has passed me by."
So how will he feel if Epstein is pressed into action?
"If there's a point where it's time to put him in the game, I think that means the coaching staff feels I can't get out of my slump," Fleming said. "I'd obviously like that opportunity to do it, but it's a team game.
"The coaches make the decisions and they have to do what they think is the best for the team."
Epstein was a seventh-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002. As a rookie, he made five of nine field goals before the Jaguars placed him on waivers.
The 25-year-old knows he's in a tough position competing with a popular veteran like Fleming.
"I just have to be ready if I'm called upon," Epstein said. "Sean's a great kicker. He's proven that time after time. I mean, he's played for 14 years, so they know he can do it.
"He's a good guy, and it's fun to be around him."
Epstein kicks without a tee, but he doesn't see that as a problem.
"Kicking with a tee is a lot easier," he said. "You're going to get more distance and more height. But what I've been doing for the last eight years is kicking off the ground. So I'm not going to change that right now."
Short yardage: Wideout Trevor Gaylor sat out practice on Monday with a shoulder injury, but expects to play Friday against the Als.
"I just wanted to take a day away as a precautionary thing," said Gaylor, who caught 10 passes for 123 yards against the Argos.
vhall@thejournal.canwest.com
Fleming could be relieved of field goal duty to concentrate on punting
Vicki Hall
The Edmonton Journal
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
EDMONTON - With boos from the fans echoing around Sean Fleming's head, Eskimos head coach Danny Maciocia is thinking of relieving the veteran of his field-goal duties and allowing him to concentrate on punting.
American kicker Hayden Epstein arrived in Edmonton last week, and he has looked solid in practice. If that trend continues, the rookie could make his first appearance Friday when the Eskimos host the Montreal Alouettes (8 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium).
"We're going to take a look at our options," Maciocia said Monday as Epstein and Fleming took turns kicking field goals at the end of practice.
"Sean's done a tremendous job of punting all year, so I don't know if I want to mess around with that. If we do make a move, it would definitely just be the kicking facet of the game."
Fleming is averaging 42 yards on punts, but he's only 11-of-19 on field goals. He hit one of two attempts through the uprights on Saturday in a 22-18 loss to the Toronto Argonauts.
"If anything, this could remove all that pressure -- all that mental stress that he puts on himself," Maciocia said. "I think this will probably help him if we decide to take this route."
Throughout his 14-year CFL career, Fleming has gone through his share of slumps, but he's always worked his way out of them.
"It's really all mental for me," said Fleming, 35. "To get over that, you have to do well in games and I'm still waiting for that to happen. Everybody goes through that. I've done that in the past, but I've
always been able to rebound. It's taken me a little longer this season.
"Hopefully, I can get things turned around. Really, everything I need to do is internal. It's not physical. It's not that the game has passed me by."
So how will he feel if Epstein is pressed into action?
"If there's a point where it's time to put him in the game, I think that means the coaching staff feels I can't get out of my slump," Fleming said. "I'd obviously like that opportunity to do it, but it's a team game.
"The coaches make the decisions and they have to do what they think is the best for the team."
Epstein was a seventh-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002. As a rookie, he made five of nine field goals before the Jaguars placed him on waivers.
The 25-year-old knows he's in a tough position competing with a popular veteran like Fleming.
"I just have to be ready if I'm called upon," Epstein said. "Sean's a great kicker. He's proven that time after time. I mean, he's played for 14 years, so they know he can do it.
"He's a good guy, and it's fun to be around him."
Epstein kicks without a tee, but he doesn't see that as a problem.
"Kicking with a tee is a lot easier," he said. "You're going to get more distance and more height. But what I've been doing for the last eight years is kicking off the ground. So I'm not going to change that right now."
Short yardage: Wideout Trevor Gaylor sat out practice on Monday with a shoulder injury, but expects to play Friday against the Als.
"I just wanted to take a day away as a precautionary thing," said Gaylor, who caught 10 passes for 123 yards against the Argos.
vhall@thejournal.canwest.com
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