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Post by Gene on Sept 17, 2007 10:37:06 GMT -5
On Friday afternoon, Reading Express GM/Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski signed former Reading Central Catholic, Kutztown University and two year Express Star linebacker Matt Sola. Also signing on Friday afternoon, from the now famous Appalachian State University, our two year standout out, All-Star kicker, Erik Rockhold.
“Having these two vets back and signed are huge steps in creating a solid defense and special teams.” said Nowotarski. “Matt is a big part of our defense and he is a part of the defensive roster puzzle that I am glad to have taken care of. Your kicker is the key to your special teams in the indoor game and having Rock signed is a great start to the special teams.”
Nowotarski added, “This year I can call both these players local players. Matt is from the Oley area and attended Central Catholic and Kutztown University as I mentioned in the beginning. However, this year Erik stayed in Reading after the season. He found an apartment and kept his job with Berks * Fire* Water Restorations as an electrician.”
“I am currently in talks with many players from all over the country and I will continue to look for the best athletes I can, but more importantly, I am looking for outstanding young men with a sense of community.” said Nowotarski.
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Post by rkozak201 on Sept 17, 2007 10:41:40 GMT -5
That's good news to have Sola back on defense. I had a pretty good idea that Rock was going to re-sign after speaking to him a few times at the gym.
Hopefully we can get some more of the veterans back as well. Namely Adam Vogel. He is an all around good guy and makes the game a lot of fun for the fans.
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Post by exit322 on Sept 17, 2007 11:04:55 GMT -5
You have to wonder if having a good kicker like Rockhold is more of a bane than a benefit. How many times did the team decide to take the 3 on fourth down instead of going for it in a game where you've got over a 50% shot of making it?
I firmly believe this is what cost Lehigh Valley at least two wins in 2006 in the GLIFL - having a kicker so good that you never go for it on fourth down unless you need six late.
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Post by rkozak201 on Sept 17, 2007 12:11:52 GMT -5
What kind of comment is that? Any team in the league would pick up Rock or any kicker of his caliber. You put points on the board any way that you can and you need to have the best kicker available to give you those opportunities. Rock has been clutch and won many games for the Express with his foot.
And if you remember, teams to get a point for splitting the uprights on a kickoff. That is why he is Erik "The Rouge" Rockhold.
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Post by exit322 on Sept 17, 2007 12:45:50 GMT -5
But how many has he lost because the team refuses to go for six when three is so easy?
That's not his fault; you want the best players at every position. But you can't tell me having a great indoor kicker like Rockhold isn't too much of a safety net for coaches when it's 4th and short.
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Post by Gene on Sept 17, 2007 12:52:40 GMT -5
But how many has he lost because the team refuses to go for six when three is so easy? That's not his fault; you want the best players at every position. But you can't tell me having a great indoor kicker like Rockhold isn't too much of a safety net for coaches when it's 4th and short. Readings lost 7 games or so in 2 seasons including the post season. I'd hardly say its a detriment...........  |
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Post by exit322 on Sept 17, 2007 12:59:39 GMT -5
How close were those games they lost? How many field goals were attempted on fourth and less than 3? I don't really know, because I don't know where the stats are to look it up myself.
I'm not saying Rockhold shouldn't be on the team, because a great kicker is always helpful. But he could be "too" helpful if the coach is worried about taking heat for missing on fourth down.
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Post by Gene on Sept 17, 2007 13:08:36 GMT -5
How close were those games they lost? How many field goals were attempted on fourth and less than 3? I don't really know, because I don't know where the stats are to look it up myself. I'm not saying Rockhold shouldn't be on the team, because a great kicker is always helpful. But he could be "too" helpful if the coach is worried about taking heat for missing on fourth down.
That said, i am glad Erik is returning. He's a class guy and a great kicker and all us EXPRESSFANS welcome him back with open arms. |
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Post by exit322 on Sept 17, 2007 13:58:34 GMT -5
The GLIFL was a lot more defensive than the AIFA and I just think Lehigh Valley killed themselves by kicking so many field goals. Apparently Reading doesn't have that same issue here. With the AIFA's ruleset (is there a hidden stat page somewhere, I'd like to further study this theory), I don't think kicking on 4th and < 3 is advantageous anywhere on the field in "normal" situations.
This doesn't apply to all teams with reasonably good kickers - kicking 50 field goal tries with a 30% kicker is stupid (though some teams will try it anyways), but it has always seemed that Reading has kicked an awful lot of field goal attempts (like Lehigh in '06 with Chris Reed, who would be in the AFL right now if he wasn't pulling in six figures with his real-life job). It's always an interesting thing to wonder.
Let's put it to numbers: Great indoor kickers will probably hit about 60% of the time. That means, on the average field goal try, you're going to get 1.8 points. The average team in the AIFA probably scores touchdowns on half its drives, so any time a team goes for it on fourth and short, the odds are they're going to get 3.0 to 3.5 points (pending the PAT...closer to 3.5 with Rockhold). Unless it's late and you're up big, I think it's beneficial to have the odds going for 3.5 points opposed to 1.8. THAT'S why having the big leg kicker may hurt some teams as much as it helps.
Now, the rouge with the AIFA makes the kicker even more valuable (and is the major reason I've turned myself to like the rule). So that does lessen this theory a little bit.
A by-the-way: If Wyoming stays in the AIFA (likely at this point) and stays with Dan Macieczjak as the head coach...he'll be more apt to find a lineman to boom the kickoffs even with the point - I think in Rapid City in '06 in twelve games, they kicked two PAT attempts. Wonder if the rouge rule in the AIFA will change that.
ADDENDUM - Trey Ransom still kicked for the Cavs this past year, even with coach Magic - so never mind. He's been there forever...
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Post by Coach Bernie on Sept 17, 2007 16:38:21 GMT -5
WOW...all i wanted to do was announce a signing...i didn't think my kicker would lead to a debate! but i'm gonna tell ya...i have been involved with organized football since i'm 6...and if you think i'm trading in a great kicker for an average or so so one, than you don't know me very well....you can't survive without a good kicker, well let me change that, your making it tough on yourself without one
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Post by xmradiodave on Sept 17, 2007 16:44:26 GMT -5
An almost guaranteed three points or the risk of none and turning over on downs? Choice seems simple to me.
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Post by xmradiodave on Sept 17, 2007 16:46:57 GMT -5
WOW...all i wanted to do was announce a signing...i didn't think my kicker would lead to a debate! but i'm gonna tell ya...i have been involved with organized football since i'm 6...and if you think i'm trading in a great kicker for an average or so so one, than you don't know me very well....you can't survive without a good kicker, well let me change that, your making it tough on yourself without one No doubt Bernie. The Blackbirds learned that lesson. Their kicker was terrible. You have to take points wherever and whenever you can. If they come fro 1 or 3 from the kicker, then the team s doing something right. |
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Post by exit322 on Sept 17, 2007 17:03:10 GMT -5
I'm not saying to trade in the kicker - I'm saying...is the "guaranteed 3" the reason the team wouldn't go for the "maybe 6" more often?
Though the results on the field have been obvious towards this not being correct (probably because of superior talent more than anything else), it's an interesting theory.
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Post by expresszac on Sept 17, 2007 18:53:40 GMT -5
One big thing being missed here is that there is no punting. So in some aspect if the field goal is missed it puts them deep in their zone instead of in Reading territory alot of times. Hell last year I saw too many kickers that couldn't even kick it to the uprights. A rouge is almost a free point if made that any team will take whenever they can get it. Welcome back ROCK AND SOLA. AIFA CHAMPIONS FOR 2008= READING EXPRESS
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Post by exit322 on Sept 17, 2007 19:24:48 GMT -5
It's a 50-yard field. You're in scoring position with the start of every drive. Believe it or not (I studied this in detail with the GLIFL), teams starting on the short side of the field didn't score appreciably more often than teams starting on their own side of the field.
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