Unpopular mechanics

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/09/2011 (5314 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mike Renaud had a week to sit on it; a week to work on the issues that have crept into his game and caused many to question his ability to punt a football.

He’s sought out guidance from trusted voices and he’s worked extra hard after practice, booting bags of balls into the sky in an effort to regain his form. His recent performance has obviously been on his mind, but the question still caught the Ottawa product off guard.

So what happened in Montreal, Mike?

Cue the ‘sigh’ — a necessary release of a week’s worth of frustration and searching for answers.

“You know, not the best game I had, but those things happen,” Renaud offered after 30 minutes of extra punting practice Thursday. “You just have to pick up and move on. It’s not something I’m discouraged by — I actually look forward to the challenges.”

Those who tuned into Winnipeg’s 25-23 win in Montreal last Sunday saw the third-year punter struggle. His seven punts averaged only 34.6 yards, a total that was well off his 44-yard average coming into the game, and one of his kicks went for just nine yards. With a 10-yard penalty for flying it out before the 20-yard line, the Bombers actually moved back a yard on the play.

Yeah, it was a long day.

“Once you get to a point where you’re second guessing and you’re thinking too much — that’s when you run into trouble,” Renaud said of the mental aspect of punting a football. “It was pretty evident in the game, just by watching film, seeing that my mechanics were pretty much thrown out the window. You try to correct one thing, and it’s a snowball effect and it goes downhill from there. It’s nothing you can’t fix.”

Punters and kickers on a football team are like relief pitchers in baseball. They’re out on an island sometimes, away from the team and they’re expected to be perfect when called upon. When that doesn’t happen — when kicks are missed and punted are shanked — it’s sometimes difficult for coaches to relate to what those players are going through.

What did head coach Paul LaPolice say to Renaud after the game?

Not much.

“I spoke to him but more importantly, we tried to help him,” said LaPolice.

Following the Alouettes game, Renaud was allowed to stay an extra day out east, where he visited with his old Concordia coach Gerry McGrath (a former CFL kicker). Two days ago, once everyone was off the practice field in Winnipeg, former Bomber punter Bob Cameron met with the current kickers (Justin Palardy was also in on the meeting) to discuss technique.

“Having (Cameron) in your corner is something I will never take for granted,” Renaud said.

The punt problem was simply poor mechanics that led to balls not being driven high enough to travel. Playing in the Winnipeg wind, successful punters use a lower drop of the ball to make for an earlier strike point and thus a low trajectory into the breeze.

Without really knowing it, Renaud adopted that method for every punt. Kicking into the wind wasn’t the issue; kicking with the wind — typically a perfect storm for punters — was suddenly a problem as his low-flying balls were being knocked down by the back breeze. Renaud’s kicks were simply not getting enough air under them.

An adjustment has been made, the 28-year-old said, and he looks forward for his chance to punt again Saturday. The anticipation does come under a yellow caution, though, as Argos speedster Chad Owens will be the guy receiving his kicks.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca