There are a few places in the National Football League that fans don’t even think about until something bad happens.
Holding for spot kicks is one of those areas.
That’s considered a normal part of the game, almost an automatic task while watching games from your couch. But it’s a lot harder than it looks, and there are a lot of moving parts. From making sure the field goal unit is set up to keeping the cleat clean, placing the ball in the right position and driving the straps away from the ball, and finally getting the angle of the ball right based on the ball’s personal preference.
It’s something I did for four years in college, so I know what it’s like when it goes right… and I know what it looks like when everything goes haywire.
That brings me to Jacksonville Jaguars punter — and owner — Logan Cook, who had a starring role in Jacksonville’s 19-17 win on Sunday.
Jacksonville lost long snapper Ross Maticic to a shoulder injury in Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles in London. That forced Liam Coyne and Jacksonville’s Davon Hamilton to turn to the defensive end to tackle the tight ends against the Eagles.
Hamilton’s first long surprise Sunday, at one point, perfect things were not right after that.
Before we get into these clips, let’s talk about how the retainer works. Cook grabs for Cam Little, right leg kick. Here’s what happens before the penalty: Cook takes his position about seven yards behind the ball, gets into his stance, puts his left hand down to mark where the ball will land, and then rests his left elbow on his left leg as a guide. Cook does this by bringing the ball back with both hands after picking up speed, stopping the movement of his left foot, allowing the youngster to place it where she is waiting.
In the image below, you can see Cook tucking his left elbow into the inside of his left leg as he waits for the snap. He catches the ball in a clean sweep, pulls the ball back with both hands, drives his left elbow to guide it with his left foot, places the ball in his left hand and spins to the right to take the snap.
That’s when everything falls into place.
But when it doesn’t work, the container needs to work a little magic.
Jacksonville went into the game looking for extra points after Hamilton, Cook and the Jaguars’ field goal unit jammed. Hamilton’s clip was great, but how Cooke takes the set up, puts the ball in and then…takes his left foot before the camera pans away.
Although Cook has to adjust to maintain the maximum speed, he lands the ball in a slightly less predictable position. However, his adjustment to catch the cookie moves his left leg slightly, and in the direction of the least swing. So Cook lifts that leg up a bit and gives the little one a clear path to the football.
The same thing happened on the field goal attempt after the game: a high move, a good adjustment from Cook and a last-ditch move with his left foot to clear the way for Little:
Here is a better view:
The kicking operation seemed to affect how Coyne handled certain decisions on Sunday’s fourth-down. Late in the game, the Jaguars were facing 4th-and-goal from the Philadelphia 1-yard line, and instead of attempting a field goal to make it a 14-10 game, Cone threw the offense on the field.
A Jet sweep was stopped for a six-yard loss.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Jacksonville again faced a 4th-and-goal decision, now trailing 14-10, and Coyne kept the offense on the field. Trevor Lawrence’s pass fell incomplete.
There was another highlight in the game following a spectacular touchdown reception from Parker Washington Jr. Hamilton’s snap, but Cook still managed to get the ball down, but time may have run out when Little pulled the shot wide.
The Eagles responded with a goal in the final minute to take a 17-16 lead, which was a moment that would play a pivotal role in this game. But on the ensuing kickoff, Jaguars returner Ameer Abdullah returned a 53-yard punt return that put Jacksonville in Little’s home range.
And giving Cook one more chance to come up with something special.
Again, Hamilton’s scan was high, but Cook controlled it, Minor split the upright, and the Jaguars won 19-17.
But when it comes to cooking, it’s one of those specialties you don’t think about unless you need it. And usually, in those cases, it’s because something went terribly wrong.
But sometimes, it’s because the holder has something special.
Like Cook Sunday in London.
