YouTube has resulted in a range of arrests, singing contracts, and other recognitions for their virtual celebrity status. However, Havard Rugland may be the first to get a NFL tryout from a YouTube posting. The Norwegian posted this video showing his incredible kicking skills. It went viral and now he has had a tryout with the New York Jets.
Kicking coach and former NFLer Michael Husted worked with Rugland in San Diego. Rugland felt it went well — it had to be better than the last season for the star-crossed Jets.
The 27-year-old Rugland would like to secure an NFL contract for 2013. He would not be the first Norwegian to make the cut. One of the three kickers in the NFL Hall of Fame is Norwegian Jan Stenerud who kicked for the Chiefs, Packers and Vikings for 19 seasons. He also was a four-time Pro Bowler to boot.
Source: Daily Mail
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Jan Stenerud is the only dedicated kicker in Hall of Fame. There are two other kickers but they also played other positions. The flaw of early kickers was their physic. They couldn’t have stopped a return if their life depended on it. Rugland, a seasoned soccer-player, stand 6’2 and weighs in at 142 lb. I have the same background (Norwegian, soccer, weight and height) as Rugland and it took me 60 days to place in as a tight end on a college football team back in the 90′. I only had to learn what to do when but as many of you will recognize, tight end is a little “weird” position and therefore you don’t have to be that acknowledgeable on football to play there. There is no reason Rugland shouldn’t be a sensation as a kicker in NFL. Mind you, I have no experience on the difference between college and pro-ball but I am sure he will persevere.
mespo, There’s a high school coach in Arkansas who has raised eyebrows w/ his game plan of using all 4 downs on offense and not punting. I love people who give the finger to conventional wisdom.
mike, yea, i know. unlikely b/c if he misses the other team takes it there. but still…… score tied, time for only one more play, a kicker who’s strong enough to do it, especially with a qb who hasn’t been connecting. It could happen. Hope I’m watching.
@bettykath – lol…the 60 yard line
bk,
Most teams use a ‘special teams’ group of players for the kicking game. The key, of course is the kicker. Kickers are either a punter (kicks the ball after dropping it) and the place kicker (kicks from a tee). There are a few multitalented people like the fellow in the video who can do both.
mespo, lol. I understand that you want the other team to start as far away from their goal as possible, but which team is on the field? Is the defensive team still on the field? Is the offensive team (that wasn’t able to go 10 yds in 3 plays) still on the field? If so, are the previously defensive team able to run it back? Is the offensive, now defensive.team able to stop them? Or did the punter coming on the field call for a complete change of offensive team to defensive team and vice versa?
I used to watch but anything in my brain that’s that old tends to be forgotten and I don’t have tv so I can’t watch to try to figure it out.
bettykath:
Punting is the safest way to turn over possession of the football. You get to kick it as far away from your goal as you can before the other team receives it. I once had a coach in college who said it was the best offensive play we had since it usually averages 35 or more yards – net. I guess he forgot at the end of the play you lose the ball. He liked it so much that one time he ordered a punt on third down and 20. That was great for our morale. He’s not coaching anymore as you probably guessed. I think he’s a motivational speaker.
Frankly, What is a punting situation? I guess a punting situation is anytime a player kicks the ball rather than run or throw it? Exceptions being kickoff and point after and field goal. This guy did a successful 60 yard kick. So field goals rather than punts once they get to the 60 yard line.
bettykath
In a punting situation, no. Once the ball is kicked it technically belongs to the receiving team and the kicking team can only spot it at the site then catch it at.
However, a kick off is actually a ‘free kick’ and as long as it goes 10 yards its anybodies ball. I doubt anyone could get down field fast enough for a TD reception but it could make for some pretty exciting ‘on-side’ kick attempts. If he can hit a guy 15-20 yards down field it could be a game changer.
The NFL would issue new rules preventing this the first time one of their premier teams lost on the play. There used to be a lot more blocked field goal attempts until the Miami Dolphins lost a play-off spot to Matt Blair’s ability to time his leap. Shula got that made illegal at the next competition committee meeting.
Woosty,
Football is not my game. But I loved catching final scores just to see the off result which indicated that a field goal made the difference. His coordination is super-unreally high.