Anders Carlson’s field goal struggles continue

[aubiefifty 18,230]

Anders Carlson’s field goal struggles continue

Posted Nov 24, 2019

3-4 minutes

After eight games where Anders Carlson missed just two field goals, he missed his fifth field goal in three games Saturday.

Carlson has made 70 percent of his field goals this season, but looking at recent games, that percentage steadily drops. In the last three games, Carlson has made just 37.5 percent of his field goal attempts. Against Samford, he made one of his two attempts in the 52-0 win.

When Auburn’s drive stalled at the Samford 25, coach Gus Malzahn decided the Tigers should kick the field goal instead of go for it on fourth and six. As the rain poured down, the Bulldogs blocked the 43-yard attempt and recovered it at their own 25.

Malzahn isn’t putting Carlson at fault for that one, though. The weather was wild — it was “raining like crazy.” It also wasn’t a straight-up miss.

“Well, the one got blocked,” Malzahn said. “I think it was more of a snap and a hold.”

Normally, Sage Ledbetter is the holder, but he has been out with the flu. Punter Arryn Siposs stepped in. Generally, Siposs takes reps as the holder once a week at Tuesday practices. With Ledbetter out the past two days, Malzahn said Siposs has taken a lot more reps than usual.

“That was kind of part of it,” Malzahn said. “(But) Carlson has complete confidence in him, too.”

In the second quarter, Carlson came back in and made a 29-yard field with the rain still falling in sheets, which Malzahn thought was good.

But after his performance against Samford, Carlson is 3-of-8 in field goal attempts, and he’s missed all six from 40 yards out. Before missing those six, he was 4-of-5 from 40-49 yards out.

Carlson’s trouble started when Auburn hosted Ole Miss on November 2, two games before. The Tigers had trouble finishing in the red zone and made five field goal attempts. Carlson turned just two of them into points.

His first two attempts were from 42 and 49 yards out. Carlson missed both. He made the next two, which were from 20 and 38 yards out but then missed the final one, another 49-yard attempt.

“That’s uncharacteristic,” Malzahn said after the game. “As well you know, he’s an excellent kicker.”

At the time, Malzahn said he thought having a new long snapper out there might have had something to do with it. Bill Taylor was out, so Clarke Smith and Jacob Quattlebaum split long snapping duties. Smith took the punts and Quattlebaum took kicks. Malzahn did not say either did poorly, just that having a new guy out there might have affected Carlson.

Auburn still pulled out the win, but it only had 20 points to show for 507 yards of offense. But, the next game, his missed field goal had a bigger effect.

On the first drive against Georgia, with Quattlebaum snapping and Ledbetter holding, Carlson missed a field goal 47-yard field goal. It was the only field goal the Tigers attempted that game. Malzahn categorized the miss with the other “inopportune” things from that game that could have turned it into a win.

After Ole Miss, Georgia and Samford, Carlson is 13-20, but he remains perfect from inside 40. He’s also doing well with his other kicking duties. On his 64 kickoffs this season, he’s averaging 60.5 yards per kick, and he’s had 41 touchbacks. The most any of his kicks has been returned is 33 yards.

[bg5 536]

My understanding is that the kid from Thompson wants to come to Auburn but he is to good to not get a Scholarship. If we offer I think he comes. Kid is about as good as I have seen in a long time. Kickoffs to the back of the end zone and very accurate on field goals and extra points. Can kick long FG's as well.