Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Mike Brohard
In Position: Carrying a specialized focus
6/21/2019 12:00:00 PM | Football
Kickers have their tasks, with Reiter the tie that binds
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Each task is different. So too are the improvements needed.
When it comes to Colorado State's specialists, there most definitely are good parts. Ross Reiter was extremely efficient longsnapping as a true freshman. Punter Ryan Stonehouse was all-Mountain West and garnered second-team All-American honors from the Sporting News. In Braxton Davis, the Rams saw enough potential to redshirt him so he could take over placekicking duties.
Special teams coordinator Chase Gibson also knows there are deficiencies, so the message was simple: Get to work.
"We meet with them after the season and after spring ball, and we give them goals and where they are at and what we need them to do to have this team be successful," Gibson said. "We sat down with them and said this has to be their emphasis, your priority.
"What can help our team? Practice that, work that, along with the other skills."
As varied as the mechanics are for Stonehouse and Davis, the tie that binds is Reiter. While he was job-focused in his first season for the Rams, the offseason has provided the opportunity to really gain a rhythm with the two kickers he serves, and in his view, that's vitally important.
"Coming in as a freshman last year, it's a whirlwind. You're kind of nervous for everything and you don't really get to focus on building chemistry," he said. "You're kinda focused on not messing up for the coaches. Having the spring as a freshman helps you. Everyone has a different timing. Wyatt Bryan was a little slower, and Braxton is a little quicker with it, so it's just about getting the timing down with each other.
"For us, it starts more in January. If you put the work in like we do, and do it all offseason, the season is the fun part."
Last season wasn't always fun. There were protection issues on the punt team, and Reiter actually was able to clear up some of them, adding to his duties and making the muscle memory of his skill all the more important.
He also wants to make sure his timing is perfect for Davis, just as it was for Bryan. The hometown product from Poudre High School started off rough in spring camp, but with a switch to Joe DeLine as his holder and more work with Reiter, the finish was impressive.
"It's always the thing. Especially starting out the spring. It was nasty," Davis said. "It was not the best thing that went down. I mean, I switched holders from Ryan to Joe, and we finished the spring 20 for 22, and in the spring game we were eight for eight. Consistency is the big thing. The more we get out here, the more we work on it, the smoother everything gets.
"It took me the start of the spring, and near the end I started gaining confidence and hitting balls again. As of now, it's smooth sailing, staying as confident as I can. Hopefully everything falls in place from there."
Which is what Gibson wanted. As for Stonehouse, in some regards, it's taming his talented leg which led to a 48.3-yard average per attempt. Anyone can see he can boom a ball, but Gibson said it's too much sometimes.
"The big thing for Stonehouse has been all spring and this summer is going to be his hang time. He has a great leg, we all know that," Gibson said. "He can boot it 65-70 yards, but he's outkicking the coverage a lot of times. A lot of times guys with big legs will do that. His big thing is hang time. Maybe not 65, but maybe 48-50 and it's hanging in the air a lot longer. And placement."
Davis, who has carried out kickoff duties in past seasons, understands they all need each other. They see things the others may not, and that information has to be passed along.
They spend most of their days together, off from the rest of the team, so a trust and camaraderie must be developed for the cause. They all have those minute ingredients, which they understand more than some, and helping to keep those on track is part of the work.
"The more you pay attention to detail, the better everything works out and the smoother you get," Davis said. "You want to keep improving on everything you do. If I can point out stuff they don't see, it works out better for me, and they do the same."
When it comes to Colorado State's specialists, there most definitely are good parts. Ross Reiter was extremely efficient longsnapping as a true freshman. Punter Ryan Stonehouse was all-Mountain West and garnered second-team All-American honors from the Sporting News. In Braxton Davis, the Rams saw enough potential to redshirt him so he could take over placekicking duties.
Special teams coordinator Chase Gibson also knows there are deficiencies, so the message was simple: Get to work.
"We meet with them after the season and after spring ball, and we give them goals and where they are at and what we need them to do to have this team be successful," Gibson said. "We sat down with them and said this has to be their emphasis, your priority.
"What can help our team? Practice that, work that, along with the other skills."
As varied as the mechanics are for Stonehouse and Davis, the tie that binds is Reiter. While he was job-focused in his first season for the Rams, the offseason has provided the opportunity to really gain a rhythm with the two kickers he serves, and in his view, that's vitally important.
"Coming in as a freshman last year, it's a whirlwind. You're kind of nervous for everything and you don't really get to focus on building chemistry," he said. "You're kinda focused on not messing up for the coaches. Having the spring as a freshman helps you. Everyone has a different timing. Wyatt Bryan was a little slower, and Braxton is a little quicker with it, so it's just about getting the timing down with each other.
"For us, it starts more in January. If you put the work in like we do, and do it all offseason, the season is the fun part."
Last season wasn't always fun. There were protection issues on the punt team, and Reiter actually was able to clear up some of them, adding to his duties and making the muscle memory of his skill all the more important.
He also wants to make sure his timing is perfect for Davis, just as it was for Bryan. The hometown product from Poudre High School started off rough in spring camp, but with a switch to Joe DeLine as his holder and more work with Reiter, the finish was impressive.
"It's always the thing. Especially starting out the spring. It was nasty," Davis said. "It was not the best thing that went down. I mean, I switched holders from Ryan to Joe, and we finished the spring 20 for 22, and in the spring game we were eight for eight. Consistency is the big thing. The more we get out here, the more we work on it, the smoother everything gets.
"It took me the start of the spring, and near the end I started gaining confidence and hitting balls again. As of now, it's smooth sailing, staying as confident as I can. Hopefully everything falls in place from there."
Which is what Gibson wanted. As for Stonehouse, in some regards, it's taming his talented leg which led to a 48.3-yard average per attempt. Anyone can see he can boom a ball, but Gibson said it's too much sometimes.
"The big thing for Stonehouse has been all spring and this summer is going to be his hang time. He has a great leg, we all know that," Gibson said. "He can boot it 65-70 yards, but he's outkicking the coverage a lot of times. A lot of times guys with big legs will do that. His big thing is hang time. Maybe not 65, but maybe 48-50 and it's hanging in the air a lot longer. And placement."
Davis, who has carried out kickoff duties in past seasons, understands they all need each other. They see things the others may not, and that information has to be passed along.
They spend most of their days together, off from the rest of the team, so a trust and camaraderie must be developed for the cause. They all have those minute ingredients, which they understand more than some, and helping to keep those on track is part of the work.
"The more you pay attention to detail, the better everything works out and the smoother you get," Davis said. "You want to keep improving on everything you do. If I can point out stuff they don't see, it works out better for me, and they do the same."
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