Five Things The Alabama Crimson Tide Can Improve On For 2014

Nov 30, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide kicker Adam Griffith (99) attempts a 57 yard field goal with 1.0 second remaining in the game which was returned 100 yards for a game winning touchdown by Auburn Tigers cornerback Chris Davis (not pictured) at Jordan Hare Stadium. RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Field goal kicking

Every Tide fans knows the significance of that picture. During last year’s Iron Bowl, the Tide field goal unit missed field goals of 44 and 33 yards, had a 44-yarder blocked as well as the near-impossible 57-yard attempt that was returned for the winning touchdown. The field goal kicking woes didn’t start there, but have been known for a while.

Last year, the unit knocked 13 through the uprights on 20 attempts. Cade Foster made 70 percent of his, and went a perfect 5 for 5 inside the 30-yard line. Foster also was 7 for 12 past the 30-yard mark. Adam Griffith was 1 for 3, with his misses coming from 20 yards and out.

Those aren’t terrible numbers, but it seems the misses come when the score is needed the most. Most will remember the LSU game from 2011, but those were some long kicks. Jeremy Shelley and Cade Foster split two from 37 and 46 yards and missed on four from 44 yards and beyond. Shelley finished 21-27 that year, but Foster wrapped up the season 2-9 on long distance tries. In 2012, Shelley was perfect on 11 tries inside the chip shot range, while Foster was 4-9 from 40 yards plus.

Better consistency is needed. Enter Adam Griffith.

Griffith missed two field goals and an extra point during the spring game this year, but from the sounds of things, he has started to settle down. During the last pre-season scrimmage, Saban said during his press conference that he made either 4-4 or 5-5 with one being around 45 yards or so. That sounds promising. Let’s hope that translates to the field this year in a game time setting. Alabama may need him during crunch time.