Is “Icing” a kicker Overrated?

• mallymal614

  We see it a lot in football. Coaches calling a timeout right before a big kick, hoping to "ice" a player to miss it. I personally think it’s a bit overrated and that it actually helps the individual. Instead of that player having to rush things and panic, it gives him time to calm down and get his composure when the pressure builds up. That’s just my opinion. Anyone else agree?
• Al Capone

  I think it hurts the kicker if you call it before he kicks. I seen coaches call it to late and basically give the kicker a practice kick.
• jpake1

  

  I think it is overrated. I would pass on doing it. It's gotten to the point where kickers now publicly say they expected a timeout to come. I think not calling one when they expect one to be called could keep them from fully focusing. But a kicker is either going to make it or not.
• mhs95_06

  jpake1 wrote: I think it is overrated. I would pass on doing it. It's gotten to the point where kickers now publicly say they expected a timeout to come. I think not calling one when they expect one to be called could keep them from fully focusing. But a kicker is either going to make it or not.

  I agree that the most effective way to disrupt the kickers focus is to not call it when he is expecting it. Also I think that calling it late enough that the kicker makes a kick that doesn't count is more disrupting that if he doesn't ever kick it before the time-out is taken.
• ricola

  

  yes
• Fly4Fun

  

  Yes, I feel like I've seen it backfire more often than not. The coach calls it at the last minute... kicker still kicks ball and misses, but it doesn't matter since the TO. Kicker comes back out and nails the one to win the game.
  
  I've seen that scenario more often then seeing icing a kicker actually screw with him.
• krambman

  

  I think that when people first started doing this it was effective. Now the kicker know when he trots out there if the other team has a time out and they assume it's going to happen. The Texas kicker last night said that he went out onto the field knowing that Pelini was going to try and ice him. Now I think it may be more effective to NOT call the time out. If the kicker expects for the other team to ice him then he's not going onto the field in the mindset to actually have to make the kick.
• Strapping Young Lad

  

  I think it depends on the kicker....He could either use the time to focus or freak himself out. Just depends. I think I'd freak myself out by overthinking, so it'd work on me....
• darbypitcher22

  

  I don't. Its a crapshoot sort of thing, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
• dwccrew

  

  jpake1 wrote: I think it is overrated. I would pass on doing it. It's gotten to the point where kickers now publicly say they expected a timeout to come. I think not calling one when they expect one to be called could keep them from fully focusing. But a kicker is either going to make it or not.

  I agree with this.
  
  I think Pelini totally screwed the game up last night. Playing for the FG with that much time left and Texas' offense was stupid. Then tying to "ice" the kicker? Gave him more time to calm down and focus on the kick. Nebraska should be celebrating a Big 12 title if it wasn't for Pelini.
• unique_67

  YES... Highly overrated, and rarely works on a good kicker. In fact, I'd say that most kickers relish being in a position to kick a game winning FG, and they use the "icing" to help them focus even more on making the kick.
• unique_67

  krambman,
  
  The reason I think it may have been effective at first is because coach's were waiting until right before the ball was snapped to call the TO. And, in several instances, the ball would be snapped, the kicker would kick the kick and make it, only to have it waved off because of the TO being called before the snap.
  
  But, this tactic has been used so much, that now kickers and the entire kicking team expect the opposing coach to call a TO. In my opinion, I think a better strategy now is not calling a TO, simply because the opposing snapper, holder, kicker all expect one to be called. Not calling a TO could well catch one of these 3 individuals, or 1-2 lineman off guard, and result in a kick being missed because the kicking team was not 100% focused as they were waiting for the TO to be called.
• krazie45

  

  I don't think it hurts, especially if you have a timeout that is otherwise worthless. I remember Phil Dawson making what was thought to be a GW field goal against the Raiders a few years back but Lane Kiffin called a TO right before the kick and Dawson subsequently missed it on the second attempt.
• Nate

  I think it works.
• End of Line

  

  Very overated.